[Spinal Fusion / Lumbar] May 2010, Fusion: L4-L5 & L5-S1

[MaddySpondy]

Hello, I have been lurking for some time, and am now finally an official member. I appreciate reading everyone's feedback and questions.

I am a 35 year old. When I was a teenager, I had a bad fall during gymnastics and another as a cheerleader, and caused some slippage. Since then, I have had lower back pain, which was usually resolved by chiropractic, pills and/or exercise. 3 years ago, pregnancy and a c-section made my spondylothesis 10 times worse. I began physical therapy, chiropractic, specialized yoga and pelvic manipulation. For the last year, I've had several epidural steroid injections. I have been taking a lot of vicodin for the last 6 months. So, I took the plunge and got a surgery consult. He explained that I had grade 3 spondylothesis and needed a L5/L4, S1 fusion. So, I had a 6 hour surgery on 5/21/2010, spent 5 days in the hospital and am now recovering at home. I would like to be off narcotics ASAP, but I realize that I need to give myself some time.

I thank everyone for your comments, support and feedback....as I've made my way through the back pain journey

[Cindylou]

Welcome to SPS MaddySpondy! That sounds like quite a surgery you had. I look forward to getting to know you and reading more about your recovery. My best to you in your healing phase. Remember: slow and steady wins the race.

[KBear]

Welcome to the forums! I would take your time getting off the medication, I think my rush to get off slowed my recovery. Like CL said, slow and steady wins the race. You only get one shot at healing correctly. You are very early out, and have plenty of time to wean off of medication.

[scduggan]

Dear Maddy,
Congratulations and welcome to the other side. You were in surgery a long time. I have always heard the longer you are under the longer it takes to shake the anesthesia. I had to chime in to say I was just like Kbear. I had my surgery three months ago and I am still on narcotics. I understand the huge motivation to be off the meds. Take a deep breath right now and tell yourself "I will get off the pain pills when it is time". You will know. I am tapering but thought I would be able to put them behind me by now. On the days when I am really stubborn about only taking a couple lortabs.....I feel pretty crappy and end up in the bed. The fact that you are so motivated will help you when it is time. Hang in there and I wish you the best.
CD

[KBear]

Dear Maddy,
Congratulations and welcome to the other side. You were in surgery a long time. I have always heard the longer you are under the longer it takes to shake the anesthesia. I had to chime in to say I was just like Kbear. I had my surgery three months ago and I am still on narcotics. I understand the huge motivation to be off the meds. Take a deep breath right now and tell yourself "I will get off the pain pills when it is time". You will know. I am tapering but thought I would be able to put them behind me by now. On the days when I am really stubborn about only taking a couple lortabs.....I feel pretty crappy and end up in the bed. The fact that you are so motivated will help you when it is time. Hang in there and I wish you the best.
CD

This sums up my early recovery. I was so wanting off the meds, that I cut down too quickly and ended up just laying around; instead of doing my walking and physical therapy. I think if I would have just kept taking them and focused on strengthening my body, I think I would have healed a lot quicker. I started my final weaning in Jan. of this year (9 months post op) and had gotten off everything, then I quit the Cymbalta and had to start back on the Vicodin. I am now off of Cymbalta and once again weaning off of the Vicodin. It took waaay longer than I expected ; but I think that was what my body needed.

[MaddySpondy]

Thank you for all the replies. I'm going to slow it down a bit and take a deep breath! I want to heal, and that's my number #1 goal.

My hospital experience was horrible. I remember waking up from surgery in incredible pain, screaming for help. The nurses said they had given me enough pain meds to put down an elephant. I had been on pain relievers for about a year, just a few a day, but daily due to miserable pain. I think that's why I had a hard time with pain control right away.

I'm walking a lot, so i can get up to a few miles/day by 6 wks.

I'm going to do some searching, but my newest symptom is a very swollen foot, and weird sensation up my leg and to my hip. Anyone else have this swelling? Should I call my MD?
Madeline

[KBear]

Thank you for all the replies. I'm going to slow it down a bit and take a deep breath! I want to heal, and that's my number #1 goal.

My hospital experience was horrible. I remember waking up from surgery in incredible pain, screaming for help. The nurses said they had given me enough pain meds to put down an elephant. I had been on pain relievers for about a year, just a few a day, but daily due to miserable pain. I think that's why I had a hard time with pain control right away.

I'm walking a lot, so i can get up to a few miles/day by 6 wks.

I'm going to do some searching, but my newest symptom is a very swollen foot, and weird sensation up my leg and to my hip. Anyone else have this swelling? Should I call my MD?
Madeline

It could have been tolerance, but it's also possible that you just metabolize it quickly. After my back issues started, I realized this is my problem. I have had problems with the dentist getting me numb enough and had to 'tough out' more than one root canal. I had issues with both epidurals with having children, first one lasted less than 2 hours (including the refill). Second one they gave me a dose a woman having a c-section would get and it did nothing. I have not been properly sedated for about 50% of my procedures done on my back. I told them all of this going into surgery and the oh so confident anesthiologist said 'this is different'. First thing the dr said to hubby after surgery? That was like putting a horse down, she just wouldn't go down. They were giving me lots of medication, morphine, phenegran and oxycodone post op; but it just wasn't enough. I now realize that it is something about my body that causes me to be so tolerant, as I did wean prior to surgery and had these issues prior to ever taking narcotics (since I was 15 or 16 and had my first serious dental work).
There are several others on here who have similar issues to mine.... I believe Katie is one of them. I have also heard that red heads can have issues (not sure if their is any actual data to this).

[MaddySpondy]

kbear,
I think I do have a high tolerance for both meds and pain. After my MRI went to all my MDs, they were amazed I was still walking.

Same thing happened with my epidural why my daughter was born. Luckily, it did work for the C-Section.

i have read several of your posts, and your support to others is so helpful to all of us lurkers as well. THANK YOU.

[Cindylou]

Maddy, I also have had issues with pain management after surgeries. Screaming for relief to the nurses! One nurse actually told me the doctor on call doesn't return after hours calls! I just wept I was in so much pain. When my surgeon came in the next morning to check on me during rounds and saw me curled up in a ball in pain and I told him what the nurse said to me....he stormed out of there to find the head nurse! He was pissed! I did end up reporting that nurse. Not long after that the pain pump machine was wheeled in and I finally got some relief. My surgeon gave orders that only a head nurse could check on me after that. God bless him. I did want to comment also on the swollen foot and leg/hip pain. I definitely think you need to call your doctor and report that. That is not a normal symptom and should be addressed right away. Please call your doc. Keep us posted. (Maddy, I'm a twin cities gal too!)

[MaddySpondy]

Cindylou, Whether it's family, friends or our medical professionals (your surgeon)...we need advocates to help get what we need sometimes.
I'm calling my MD today, though the swelling did go down a bit last night.