[Spinal Fusion / Lumbar] L5 S1 Fusion; 1 month later and still in pain

[Katie]

Thanks for the feedback. I suspect my art took several turns over the past few years I hid, then threw out several pieces that reflected how I felt...totally trashed the paper/canvas with the palette knife. No one (including Dear Heart) knew about it till now Perhaps I should have tried to sell them instead of the 'feel good' images I normally do...could have paid for my surgery maybe!

I'll stick my nose in further, 'cause that's what I do best Have you tried an osteopath or similar treatment practitioner? For me, they have treated the whole body as a system, and not just a limited area. In short, they have been a god-send for me, much more than traditional PT.

Also, has anyone tried nerve specific medications with you, like Lyrica? I know there are others that I'm less familiar with, but when my neck was hurting along with my lumbar, it was that type of medication that reduced the neck pain. No matter how much narcotic I took, it didn't touch that area. A different drug, different relief.

Please remember to take it easy....my deadlines fell by the wayside in my recovery. Of course, hubby thought I should be completely back to normal six weeks into recovery. He needed a not so gentle reality check

And if you ever want to chat, I have a great long-distance plan!

[Dav1d]

The story continues...

Physiotherapy x 12 completed. I loved the tens machine I'd go on at the end of the sessions. I really need to get one of those. Success? Not really. The PT loosed me up in all sorts of ways and gave me confidence to do stuff around the house - medicated of course - and it feels like I'm reclaiming parts of my life back. But the pain is still there, right over the incission site, and it starts 30 mins after I wake and stays with me til I go to sleep at night. The original pain, the reason I needed the fusion, is banished yet this new one has taken up residence.

I may be a bit kooky but I try to do the morning PT sessions unmedicated. I feel like I've got to experience the pain raw to believe in it (previous posts have mentioned my addiction neurosis) does anyone else feel like that?

I see the Dr on Friday. The last time we talked he saw PT as the solution and hardware removal as plan b. We shall see.

[Katie]

Your pain sounds like mine, right over the incision. But mine is relieved substantially by exercising the muscle/ligaments associated with that area. What have the PTs been working on with you, what kind of exercises, stretching, etc.? I can be pain free for most of the day, then overdue it and have to work it out.

How fit were you before surgery? I lost all of my core strength (and every other muscle as well ) from being almost bedridden, so was almost as floppy as a baby post-op. If one therapist isn't helping, I would look at another...I don't expect the first and only one to get the job done...like mechanics. Some find the solution to the problem right away; others waste your time and money So don't give up. Perhaps your doctor has set too high an expectation for you?

Is it also possible that your body is telling you to slow down? I keep harping with this, I know, but if I had tried to follow your schedule after surgery, I'm sure I would have been bed-ridden again with pain. Was it difficult to watch life go by....da*n rights, but it has paid off in the end. And I am one of those driven types of people...I spent more than a few times crying in frustration at the limitations, but I had to listen to what my body was telling me. My hubby thought that I should be back to normal at eight weeks....after all, we were able to do some tourist things the week after surgery in Brazil, but I was still carrying a load of half-life narcotics at the time. When I got home, I started sleeping eighteen hours a day, and my body wouldn't let me do much of anything for several months.

But now, just over a year post-op, I am doing great. Will I ever get off the pain meds? Who knows....I am at very minimal amounts...unless the tail end of a hurricane comes by, then the throbbing/significant pain returns for a few days. But I am functioning again, and painting for hours at a time, then gardening...all physical work that I never thought I'd be able to do again, just two years ago.

(And yes, painting is very physical! ....lots of breaking of canvas over my knee when it doesn't work out ) And lots of sitting/standing/leaning forward that does aggravate things....

Hope this finds you in better spirits and with more optimism...and less pain.

[Dav1d]

Hi Katie
The PT has been varied but, apart from a few exercises that touched the pain, it acts more as if it's assisting me to live with the pain rather than to ease it. I've grown a lot more confident about the things I can physically do. I don't feel fragile any more. Equally I don't get easier days by being gentle with myself; the pain is pretty constant.

I read somewhere that your body conjures up pain to convince you you need the pills, so now I let it come so I'm sure it's authentic (oh it is!). Pre-surgery I was generally fit and active, never more than a pound or two over-weight. Top heavy though, which probably set this up for me.

I'm reasonably cheery right now. I'm putting a lot of optimism into the bolt extraction as a solution. It somehow "feels" like the solution and I'm eager for friday - when I see the Dr again - to get it moving. We shall see huh?

I pondered sometime about art and pain (our last exchange). I suppose The Scream is a famous depiction but for me Michaelangelo's captives are the more accurate. Fine bodies but still trapped in the stone from which they were made; the agony of limitation.

[Katie]

Fine bodies but still trapped in the stone from which they were made; the agony of limitation.

Brilliant observation! I think I'll print that off and put it over my easel to remind me to try and break through my own limitations.

Well, so much for my theory You blew all my ideas out of the water with your response....

The other thought, pain wise, that came to mind after reading your post is that your nerves really are ticked off. My brilliant surgeon warned me that sometimes they have too much memory after being aggravated for so long and forget to stop firing. They almost need a 'reboot'. If the screw issue doesn't resolve things, would an injection perhaps break the pain cycle? Give them a rest, so to speak? I'm grasping here, as you can tell

So do you paint as well? It is a great stress reliever....a palette knife filled with paint on a blank canvas can help relieve a lot of stress...not so good for the final image, but better than some other alternatives. Wasn't the Scream a result of the artist's mental anguish? Back to my art history books....

[Dav1d]

The nerve memory is a possible culprit although that should really follow the pre-surgery pattern, shouldn't it? I think my hopes are on the 2nd op. If that fails I'll try everything else.

Painting? No, I haven't that skill which is such a pity. I write, plus I'm fascinated by art that crosses borders, music in poetry, imagery and color as words, silence in music. This injury has left me with time and a preoccupation with pain [he with his pants on fire has very limited conversation ] - what form of art could express the isolation pain brings?

Ah well. I'll update on Friday after I see the Dr.

[Katie]

Don't sell yourself short on the painting skills. If you have the passion, the rest will follow. You'd be surprised at what might emerge. I've taught many 'wishful thinking' artists who, on picking up a brush turned out some beautiful pieces. They just had it inside them and because of lack of belief in skills, it sat there untapped for decades. I ventured into clay and free sculpture last year, and find the tactile sensation very cathartic when it comes to relieving my pain, or at least helping me forget for awhile. I don't need it for that much anymore, but it still works wonders for my mind. The blocks you get from the art store are fairly heavy, at least for me, so hubby brings it in and I forget the world for awhile.

As for pre-op/post-op pain, mine was quite different for awhile. I had distraction pain down my legs for several months; not quite sciatic-like, but definitely not pleasant. As I've said, now the pain is in the same area as my past pain in my lower back (not my incision....they were on my side & belly!). But it goes away fairly quickly when I do my exercises or change my activity. Different than yours, I know, but perhaps there is a combination of things going on. Now I'll quit doing my mom act and send good vibes that the screw surgery works wonders. Sorry, sometimes I'm WAY too helpful....

[Dav1d]

No, I appreciate the input and I thank you.

[Dav1d]

It's strange going back and reading the account of your journey. I often wonder how these people progressed after their threads dried up. But above is my piteous and confused journey from the L5/S1 fusion in May '11 and the pain that wouldn't go away. 9 months now and I head to the hardware removal op in a week or two. I tried the spine injection to test the pain but contrary to expectations it triggered more leg and butt pain, numbness in the leg. That was the point when we decided to get the metal out.

But there's questions surrounding the L4/S1 now, and I have fears of coming out with a fresh set of clamps one bone higher: no, I can't be that unlucky.

It sounds like 2 nights in the hospital and 3 weeks recovery lie ahead. I shall emerge in time for spring. I anticipate a fond farewell to the Vicodin but it ceases to be much of a pal; there was a time when 2 would banish the pain, now it just retreats a little and we throw Tramadol and Advil at it to stop it laughing. I personify this as the way to manage it.

Thanks for reading. I'll pop back and say goodbye late March, ok?

[Dav1d]

I had the surgery mentioned above on Feb 28. Going into it the intention was to decompress L4/S1 and to remove the hardware holding L5/S1. The decompression was uncomplicated and didn't need to be fused. The hardware removal was less successful.

Once the bolts were removed and the Dr was able to test the fusion it was found to be less than optimum. The decision was made to reinforce the insert and to change the bolts, producing a more comprehensive support. I suppose that really puts me back to the state I was in after the first operation and once again there's an expectation that the hardware will stay there, that I can resume my life

I'm now a week post-surgery and feel pretty good so far. The immediate aftermath of the operation was marked by excruciating pain (as before) but as that came under control and I could explore the differences I was a lot more confident about the outcome. The pain is different, the numbness and tingling around the legs has gone. It feels "right'".

I've since had one incident of deep lying leg pain - which cast a shadow on my optimism - other than that it looks good. I remain positive.

More in due course.