This is a discussion on Lumbar L5/S1 -- Kraze Kat, Germany, 6.24.09 within the Surgical Outcomes forums, part of the Spine Surgery Forums category; Originally Posted by Kraze Kat When does it get better??? Back home and trying to bear it. This part sux! ...
What kind of meds are you on? I was on 12- 10mg oxycodone a day for the first month. It was the 10 week mark before I got down to 5 a day and then switched to vicodin 10mg. I am on 2-4 vicodin a day still at 3 1/2 months post op. I am also on Lyrica for nerve pain, muscle relaxers and Cymbalta. I was in quite a bit of pain, any movement hurt for about the first 4 weeks. Each day was a bit better than the one before; but it was a good 6 to 8 weeks before I was feeling better. It's a slow process and I have heard it takes about a year to fully recover. It's a major surgery, be patient with yourself.Originally Posted by Kraze Kat
I definitely bloated, I had 'cankles' from all the fluid. I looked preggo in my belly, I was huge. I was told that it had to do with all the fluid they pump into during surgery. I was bloated for about 6 weeks. My legs and ankles ached from being so swollen, the skin was so tight, it hurt.
Best Wishes, Kathy
31 years old- 1/06- In wreck with 18 wheeler at 25 years old; 6/06- Head on collision on Interstate, both wrecks other drivers fault. Numerous MRI's, PT, chiropractic, acupuncture, TENS therapy, massage therapy, facet injections, epidural injections, Nerve study, Discogram, confirms pain in L4/5, IDET, decompression, Bi-lateral neurotomy L3/4/5, denied by insurance twice, in Active L clinical trial, had surgery March 17, 2009 in Miami, FL- received Active L disc at 29 years old. Pain and medication free as of October 2010!Mommy to Emma- 8 years, Ava- 6 years & had baby Eli after ADR, via c-section on March 25, 2011, completely pain free still!
Hey Kraze Kat, yes I had the bloating. I think it is fairly common. How are your pain levels? I hope you are not going off your pain meds too soon. Just me mindful that your body heals more quickly when your pain is being managed. Hang in there. We are here to help you with this new chapter in your life.
• January 2000 MVA passenger, used jaws of life to retrieve me, neck injury and months of PT
• June 2001 Bicycle accident, 2 compression fractures at T12/L1, Vertebroplasty Sept. 2001
• April 2006 right hip, labral tear and repair
• April 2007 3 level ProDisc @ L3/4, L4/5 & L5/6✷ ✷Lumbosacral transitional vertebra; Dr. Rudolph Bertagnoli
• July 2, 2008 ALIF & Laminectomy @ L6/S1
• July 30, 2008 re-opened 28 days later to remove bone cement that had leaked onto S1 nerve root
• August 2008 Pulmonary embolism, double pneumonia, collapsed left lung, re-hospitalized 1 week
• March 10, 2009 Right SI Joint Fusion
• April 27, 2010 2nd right hip arthroscopy to remove adhesions and release psoas muscle
• September 30, 2010 lumbar facet rhizotomy
• December 9, 2010 12 bilateral lumbar trigger point and steroid injections
• December 23, 2010 12 more bilateral trigger point injections w/o steroid
• February 15, 2011 ESI bilaterally in lower lumbar...relief only for few days. Considering 1 more.
Did Spinal Cord Stimulator trial from 5/11/11-5/17/11 with excellent results; Spinal Cord Stimulator surgery is Monday,
July 18, 2011
The most effective meds are the tramadol liquid and muscle relaxers. Here is the best part, though. The doc recommended 45 days recovery from discharge, but the Army will only give me 30 from the actual surgery date. Back to work in 2 weeks from tomorrow. 15 days to get better.
Yikes! That's a quick return to work date. Is there any way to petition to have an extension? I know it's the Army, so probably not...but it is definitely worth a try. Will a letter from your treating physician(s) help or a physical by an Army physician possible? (I'm not sure how the Army works...sorry, just throwing some ideas out there.)The most effective meds are the tramadol liquid and muscle relaxers. Here is the best part, though. The doc recommended 45 days recovery from discharge, but the Army will only give me 30 from the actual surgery date. Back to work in 2 weeks from tomorrow. 15 days to get better.
Good luck and please keep us posted on your return to work date and how you are feeling.
Justin Averna
Founder & President, Spine Patient Society™
www.SpinePatientSociety.org
A 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Nonprofit & Charitable Organization
I'm here to help.
- 1994: Football Injury, Severe Hyperextension
- 1997: Snow Skiing Injury
- 3/7/1997: Laminotomy L4/L5
- 1999 & 2003: Motor Vehicle Accidents (not at fault both times) --> Grade V Annular Tears L4/L5 & L5/L6
- 11/15/2003: 2-Level ProDisc® L4/L5 & L5/L6*, *lumbosacral transitional vertebra --> Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli
- 4/2008: 4.5 years pain-free before "new" leg pain
- 5/14/2009: Dynamic Stabilization System L4/L5, Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli
Questions? Suggestions? Need help with registering, creating a signature, etc.?
justin (at) spinepatientsociety.org
Disclosure: I have no financial relationships with any surgeons, spine clinics, device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, etc. -- the SPS Board of Directors serve without compensation.
Wow, only 30 days off! Crazy. I will be praying for a super speedy recovery!
31 years old- 1/06- In wreck with 18 wheeler at 25 years old; 6/06- Head on collision on Interstate, both wrecks other drivers fault. Numerous MRI's, PT, chiropractic, acupuncture, TENS therapy, massage therapy, facet injections, epidural injections, Nerve study, Discogram, confirms pain in L4/5, IDET, decompression, Bi-lateral neurotomy L3/4/5, denied by insurance twice, in Active L clinical trial, had surgery March 17, 2009 in Miami, FL- received Active L disc at 29 years old. Pain and medication free as of October 2010!Mommy to Emma- 8 years, Ava- 6 years & had baby Eli after ADR, via c-section on March 25, 2011
Wow, that is soon. I hope you can work something out, though I'm sure you can't count on it with the Army.
I feel up to going back to work now, at 6 weeks post-op, but I don't know if I could handle full time yet. And my recovery is going extremely well and quick, as my DDD wasn't too bad before I had surgery. I sure hope you can deal with the pain, and that your recovery goes really well.
Cathy
DDD
L4/5; L5/6(S1) pain generators
Two-level ADR with Dr. Bertagnoli May 26, 2009
Prodisc-L
SUCCESS!!
KK,
Hope you'll soon feel better~
I'm not post op recently (since '92 last back surgery) tho just hate bloating period. Such a pain in the arse! I've got it on a regular basis secondary to pain meds and laxatives to *keep the pipes clean*~ and that sux! Oh well it's life for now so just going w/it!
Hope to hear you're feeling better soon and the bloating will subside with time.
Hey KK,
How are things going post-op? I hope you are making good progress. I remember in another thread that they were trying to make you go back to work at 28 days post-op.
Any word on an extension in terms of time off or any accommodations to help make the transition easier?
Justin Averna
Founder & President, Spine Patient Society™
www.SpinePatientSociety.org
A 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Nonprofit & Charitable Organization
I'm here to help.
- 1994: Football Injury, Severe Hyperextension
- 1997: Snow Skiing Injury
- 3/7/1997: Laminotomy L4/L5
- 1999 & 2003: Motor Vehicle Accidents (not at fault both times) --> Grade V Annular Tears L4/L5 & L5/L6
- 11/15/2003: 2-Level ProDisc® L4/L5 & L5/L6*, *lumbosacral transitional vertebra --> Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli
- 4/2008: 4.5 years pain-free before "new" leg pain
- 5/14/2009: Dynamic Stabilization System L4/L5, Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli
Questions? Suggestions? Need help with registering, creating a signature, etc.?
justin (at) spinepatientsociety.org
Disclosure: I have no financial relationships with any surgeons, spine clinics, device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, etc. -- the SPS Board of Directors serve without compensation.
I spoke with KK the other day. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers as she is still recovering from surgery--she has a full plate to say the least.
Thanks for your support SPS.
Justin Averna
Founder & President, Spine Patient Society™
www.SpinePatientSociety.org
A 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Nonprofit & Charitable Organization
I'm here to help.
- 1994: Football Injury, Severe Hyperextension
- 1997: Snow Skiing Injury
- 3/7/1997: Laminotomy L4/L5
- 1999 & 2003: Motor Vehicle Accidents (not at fault both times) --> Grade V Annular Tears L4/L5 & L5/L6
- 11/15/2003: 2-Level ProDisc® L4/L5 & L5/L6*, *lumbosacral transitional vertebra --> Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli
- 4/2008: 4.5 years pain-free before "new" leg pain
- 5/14/2009: Dynamic Stabilization System L4/L5, Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli
Questions? Suggestions? Need help with registering, creating a signature, etc.?
justin (at) spinepatientsociety.org
Disclosure: I have no financial relationships with any surgeons, spine clinics, device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, etc. -- the SPS Board of Directors serve without compensation.
Please keep KK in your continued thoughts and prayers. They are much appreciated. :thumpup:
Justin Averna
Founder & President, Spine Patient Society™
www.SpinePatientSociety.org
A 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Nonprofit & Charitable Organization
I'm here to help.
- 1994: Football Injury, Severe Hyperextension
- 1997: Snow Skiing Injury
- 3/7/1997: Laminotomy L4/L5
- 1999 & 2003: Motor Vehicle Accidents (not at fault both times) --> Grade V Annular Tears L4/L5 & L5/L6
- 11/15/2003: 2-Level ProDisc® L4/L5 & L5/L6*, *lumbosacral transitional vertebra --> Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli
- 4/2008: 4.5 years pain-free before "new" leg pain
- 5/14/2009: Dynamic Stabilization System L4/L5, Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli
Questions? Suggestions? Need help with registering, creating a signature, etc.?
justin (at) spinepatientsociety.org
Disclosure: I have no financial relationships with any surgeons, spine clinics, device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, etc. -- the SPS Board of Directors serve without compensation.
Posting Permissions
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks