L3 - S1 level fusion all done

**Pbchoclovr** · 08-28-2011, 08:17 PM

Hi Phil- Nope, not just you. Today, I must have moved or slept the wrong way, because I'm feeling things today. From my experience, I went through a period where I didn't hardly sleep at night. I would go to bed on time and then wake up somewhere between 2 and 3. I would then be up for the rest of the night. It didn't matter what meds I was on. It was almost like clockwork. It's only been the last couple of weeks, that I've managed to sleep through the night without waking up. I find this to be a step in the right direction since, I was supposed to go back to work tomorrow on a half time basis. That looks like it's going to be delayed due to the hurricane that just came through yesterday. I'll return to work sometime in the next couple of days, but only half-time. I don't think I can do a whole day at this point. I start PT on Wednesday.

Hope you enjoyed your trip to the pub!

Linda

**Kimberly** · 08-31-2011, 12:39 PM

Phil,

After my 2-level ALIF, I also had trouble sleeping through the night. I think my sleep patterns were just out of whack. I would wake up around 2 or 3 am and just be awake. I'd get up, walk around, watch TV, read, if in pain (and it was time) take a pill. Little by little that has gotten better. I am napping less during the day and sleeping better at night. I think this is normal.

As for positions....I slept on my back (with pillows under my knees) or on my side. If I was on my side, I put a pillow between my knees and also a long pillow at my back and a long pillow along my stomach. Head was on another pillow. It was like a big "U" shaped cocoon! I know it seems crazy, but it brought me comfort and relief and also made me feel stable, like I couldn't move around too much in my sleep and cause pain.

I had to steal everyone else's pillows to achieve this. Hope they still love me :-)

Kimberly

**Pbchoclovr** · 09-01-2011, 03:49 PM

Kimberly,

Sounds like we have the same sleep process and are about the same place given our surgeries on the same date!

Phil- As to your being able to increase your walking. I met with my PT yesterday for the first time since surgery. We already had history because she was my PT pre-surgery. So we kind of picked things up where we left off. She went over a bunch of recommendations/orders (She's very intense about what she does!) and told me that she wanted me walking in a pool at least once a week for the rest of my life!! She said that walking 5 minutes in the pool would be like walking 10 minutes on land, but would put no stress on joints in the pool. I had only been able to walk around the block (about 800 yds.) up to this point before I became tired out! I guess I'm headed to find a year round pool. My neighborhood pool closes this weekend. I've also managed to do 3 half days of work. The first day I dragged myself into the house at lunch time. Each day has gotten a bit better.

Hope you're doing well and finding some sleep.

Linda

**Phil_b** · 09-04-2011, 10:45 AM

Hi folks

Sleeping is the bane of my life at the moment! Tried pillows all round and under and still cant get comfortable. I am getting about four hours of undisturbed sleep then its up and down like a yoyo LOL. Problem I am finding is that when I turn over the rods are catching or restricting movement in my lower spine. I guess things will sort themselves out over time but boy I am so tired at the moment.

Still off the tablets which I think is a major step for being just four weeks post op, exercise is ongoing only walking (if you can call it that). I have to say the other thing that is doing my head in is bordem. I am in the middle of trying to a house up and it has come to a grinding halt. I am chomping at the bit to get out and do some work but I keep getting told dont do that!

On a lighter note I had a look in my bee hives today and I reckon I am going to get about 40lbs of honey from one hive alone. Really pleased at that as it is a brand new hive this year.

Thanks for sharing your tips folks - it makes things a lot easier to read about other peoples experiences rather then try to muddle through on your own.

Regards

Phil

@Linda A good night was had by all at the pub

**Pbchoclovr** · 09-08-2011, 10:17 PM

Glad you enjoyed the night at the pub! It's good to get out and try to be normal for just a little while. I know for me it is, anyway. Reminds me there is a life again after all this is over and done.

Enjoy all that honey!

Linda

**Phil_b** · 10-06-2011, 05:31 AM

just over eight weeks post op now and its like I have been reborn (apart from sleeping LOL). I am walking 3 1/2 miles every day now (in one go) and whilst it takes me an hour and a half to do it I am getting there. I just wish that they had done this operation many years ago. I wont know if the fusion has taken for another 6 weeks when I see the doc again but if I have to live the rest of my life with things as they are then I will settle for that.

Still numb over the hip graft donor site and get trembles and shakes in both my legs but I am putting that down to exercise and the fact I can now feel whats going on in my legs. Hope the doc will give me the go ahead to get on a push bike when I see him again.

Regards to all and hope your medical outcomes are at least as good as this one has been.

Phil

**runagain** · 10-06-2011, 06:20 AM

Phil,

You sound very normal.
Indeed.
I was doing that waking up at 4 am at first, but that seems to be gone.
I got a hospital bed (which insurance paid for) and sleep downstairs.
My husband is upstairs in our bed, which is high off the ground and therefore is not available to me.
I am only supposed to go up the stairs once a day or so.
The hospital bed is harder than my bed, which according, to a physical therapist I had who did a home visit, told me was better for me.
I sleep with the head of bed raised and on my back. I have a like a temperpedic-type pillow under my knees (which i got a while ago from relax a back store).
The PT told me this is a good position for me.
I sometimes get on my side but it is not as comfortable.
My incision is low down and that might have something to do with it.
You are further on than me in your recovery as my surgery was on Aug 30th, on the L5/S1.

Keep up the good recovery,

R

**Phil_b** · 11-24-2011, 10:14 AM

Hi folks - quick update on whats been happeneing. Saw the consultant in England yesterday - first time after discharge from hospital back in August. Had a couple of x-rays done scaffolding now in my back looks interesting! Been told to carry on taking things easy (I wish) for another nine months (he doesnt want to see me again until then). Pain levels have greatly reduced although still numb of hip graft site, no pain meds and havent had any since about two weeks post op. I am walking the dog three and a half miles a day (all weathers - and trust me it has rained here this past three months!). Lots of things I cant do now that I used to (including picking things up off the floor). Driving is not too much of an issue although I did 16 hour sof travelling yesterday and can feel it this afternoon - sciatic nerve in right leg playing up but hopefully that will wear off again a couple of days.

Doc reckons the pain I have now (minimal) will probably stay with me now but the good side is it shouldnt get much worse.

All in all if I have to live the rest of my life with what I have now then the surgery and the outcome has been a complete success - cant thank Mr Balian enough!

Regards

Phil

**Phil_b** · 01-29-2012, 02:26 PM

First off apologies for not posting on here as of late - surprise surprise I seem to have taken a major leap backwards in the past six weeks. I have developed major sciatic pain in my left leg which just will not go away - getting sleep is a major event at the moment and to say I am like a bear with a sore head is an understatement! How my good lady puts up with me is beyond me.

And to make matters worse - I have had problems with my neck and left arm for years and it now seems that there is every likelyhood of needing surgery to try and rectify that as well. Cant raise my arm more then 45 degrees, loosing strength in my arm, cant grip anything, pins and needles in my hand and a feeling of deep gloom descending. I am trying to get back to the surgeon but I have a really bad feeling about this now. I have known for many years my neck was nearly as bad as my lower back but I was hoping not to have to have any surgery done on it - GP thinks I need surgery as soon as possible.

As they say in the song they shoot horses dont they!

Phil