[Artificial Disc Replacement / Revision] Post L5/S1 Fusion on Charite Artificial Disc Replacement

[mark-Perth]

Sorry that U R still in pain after your op. Its very incouraging that the pain is different to before surgery though. I too have different pain to before the surgery which ive been told is from me wearing a brace allday which weakens the muscles and from the realignment of my spine. That combined with me starting exercising after so long of doing nothing. Ive been told to take things very slow with my rehab and build up alittle more each day. The muscles around my PLIF also hurt when I exercise which is expected as well
My PS also said the other day that he usually has to do facet joint injections above and sometimes below fusions for the first yr until they readjust to the altered mechanics of the spine.
I also used to take tramadol and found it helped for a while but have found out alot of bad about it since stopping it. When it is combined with other opiates it blocks the other opiates working, regardless if they are stronger or not as it has a stronger bond to the MU opiate receptors. It was stopping oxycontin working on me due to this which my doctors didnt realise until I showed them articles on it so its best used on its own. But with any pain meds, its best to use what works on U and U R happy with as everyone reacts differently.
I hope that U continue to improve and dont need more surgery.
Take care
Mark

[Justin]

Alison,

Congrats on the weight loss! :thumpup: I hope your dip in the pool was successful.

[ajj1001]

Managed 12 lengths but didn't use my legs and I was SO exhausted afterwards. Just makes you realise how unfit you are (used to do a mile if I had the time). My left foot is a bit floppy from the force of the water but not too painful.

[dalhousie]

I don't know how long the pool is but 12 lengths is fantastic :thumpup:. You've managed to build up really quickly. Congratulations on the weight loss as well. You should be really proud of yourself. Hope you're not too sore or exhausted today post-swimming.

I'm finding progress really slow at the mo & am realising as you've said you don't appreciate how weak your back muscles get during the rest/recovery process. I seem to get tired so quickly & easily. I wish spine rehab wasn't such a long haul.

Keep up your good work.

[Justin]

Managed 12 lengths but didn't use my legs and I was SO exhausted afterwards. Just makes you realise how unfit you are (used to do a mile if I had the time). My left foot is a bit floppy from the force of the water but not too painful.

Alison--you are making incredible progress!

[Katie]

Congratulations Alison! Twelve lengths is incredible progress, especially since your earlier post said that you were mainly floating. That's what I do on a good day, pre-op .

I'm very proud of you and am watching for your progress updates. You are a real inspiration with that and being able to lose weight as well.

[ajj1001]

you don't appreciate how weak your back muscles get during the rest/recovery process.

Its how rubbish my core stability that is such a shock. It makes me roll in the pool awfully, I'm not using my legs but I'm going to try to having them banded together next time to see if the joint weight stops the roll a bit. 12 is a bit of drop from the 64 (mile) i was able to do but sure better than 0!

[dalhousie]

To quote what my specialist said to me the last time I saw him - don't be so hard on yourself . As Katie has said to go from floating around to 12 lengths in such a short space of time is amazing.

When I think back to the rehab following my last spine op it was very slow & gradual. I increased a bit at a time ESPECIALLY at the beginning. It took me a long time to build up from 0 minutes to 50 minutes CV work. Rehab feels a bit like climbing Mount Everest (don't know what the American equivalent is?)

Hope your plan with the bands works out the next time .

[Justin]

Its how rubbish my core stability that is such a shock. It makes me roll in the pool awfully, I'm not using my legs but I'm going to try to having them banded together next time to see if the joint weight stops the roll a bit. 12 is a bit of drop from the 64 (mile) i was able to do but sure better than 0!

Wow! I must have missed this post, Alison. 12 laps is an incredible accomplishment! Soon you will be swimming a 128 laps!

[ajj1001]

Unfortunately I can do it but the next day my nerve pain goes way up so just sticking to floating for the moment. I've tried banding my legs up to limit movement but its my trunk moving that must be aggravating it.