Laminotomy, bilateral foraminotomy

**JRS11** · 06-26-2011, 01:43 PM

I got home from the hospital yesterday late AM. I slept from 5PM to 7:30 AM, I really needed that. The procedure was as expected, laminotomy, bilateral foraminotomy and cleaning up fragments of disc. I had a low fever of 101 when we checked about 2 PM, took two advil and it seemed to go down. My fever is really non fever today of 99.5. I think it is an after effect of the anesthesia, often after anesthesia I get very cold in the middle of the night and get the chills and I had that in the early morning (maybe 1AM) Saturday morning. Hospital staff felt that was normal and since I have had it before I do to. I did have to go home with a catheter as I was unable to void on my own and will have to have it removed in a couple of days by my Urologist.. Funny, they would not leave this in until the third attempt so I would fill up, be unable to void and then they would drain me. Finally the attached a bag. Other than that all seems good, I believe my leg pain is gone, hard to really know until I will be a bit more mobile but all seems good right now. Thanks for all of the support.

**JRS11** · 06-29-2011, 04:12 PM

Since I do not know how to edit a post I will add what is going on..

Last night I went to the ER as I suspected I had a problem with the catheter. I did, but more importantly with the fact that the hospital's policy of just draining a patient 3 times before leaving the cath in a bagging it caused a massive infection. Good news is that it is diagnosed, I am catheter free, feel better right there. Went to the Urologist as I had an appt today and the hospital said it would be a good idea to go there so they could follow all. They did another culture (so now two are out) and said if anything comes up that they would call if meds need to be changed. Since I work for a pharma company and they have a great drug for UTI's I got that as it is free for me and I can tolerate it.

So now to my back. I did do some walking and a bit more standing due to my freedom of movement. I notices a pain in my thigh not unlike the radicular pain I had but not as sharp, I also have a bit in the calf and a small bit in the buttocks. My understanding is that when a nerve is freed up as mine was after being impinged for so long (and I am hoping there was no permanent nerve damage) this is not out of the ordinary. So while I am not very worried I am a bit concerned but not enough to get nuts at this time. My incision is healing well, I can lie on my back, have been off of meds since Sunday evening and will drive when I go to see the doc on Jun 11 and not before.... Even though I have not gotten a reply I know this thread has been looked out, thank you. There is so much to read it is not easy to give feedback to all. I can only hope that this pain I am having is something that will cease soon.

best

joel

**JRS11** · 07-11-2011, 07:31 PM

My third update....in my signature you can see the difference in what I thought was done and what was done. Went for post op appt today. Was told that the pain may persist for quite awhile as the nerve calms down, when I pressed was told on the outside 9 months but maybe sooner, and to a lesser degree. I was encouraged to take lyrica to calm things down for now (or to at least to calm my perception of pain down). I have read some post about lyrica that are complimentary and others that are not. Any input would be appreciated, or at least I have this log for my self... Thanks for looking..... Feeling like I am alone on an island yet I know I am not, have not even felt good enough to get on the computer much.

**Gilbert P** · 07-11-2011, 09:38 PM

Hi Joel

We are on the same island, I am recovering from the same levels But had Coflex installed for stabalation and two weeks out feeling pretty good no pain meds I willl post more when I can stand long enough to post.

Rest and take it slow.

Gil

**JRS11** · 07-11-2011, 09:44 PM

Gil, good luck. I can stand but not walk very far without pain. I was given the OK to try to walk a bit more than I am right now and to try spinning as I have a bike on a trainer in the basement (rollers actually with a fork mount, so not very difficult). I hope your recovery is swift.