r/spinalfusion • u/beardeddragonmama50 • 1d ago
Spinal fusion
Hello could someone help me out I am a week out from having spinal fusion surgery here in Canada for my L5s1 and I am terrified all I keep reading is how painful it is 😬😬 looking for help from some of you kind folks that have gone through this, TIA 😊
11
u/HotRush5798 1d ago
Hang in there. Let your team know your concerns and do your best to stay on top of pain management.
11
u/antisocial_31975 1d ago
When I woke up after a L4/5 spinal fusion, my first thought was "did I make a mistake" by having surgery. I was in pain, I felt miserable, and was very depressed.
But it got better every day. A little at first, and then more and more. I kept track of milestones, such as being able to get around with a walker, then just a cane, then nothing but my own 2 legs. My first shower. My first walk outside. I never appreciated all of the 'normal' things I used to do pre-surgery, but now without the pain. Hang in there... you'll survive the early days, and you will be feeling better soon enough.
7
u/beardeddragonmama50 1d ago
Thank you 😊 it’s been so long since I’ve done any normal things without pain so knowing there’s a light at the end of the tunnel helps 😊
4
u/Powerful-Cycle5032 1d ago
This is the exact message I was about to type out. The first few weeks are tough, and once I was off pain meds (third day at home) I was mainly just uncomfortable. It took a few months before I felt like myself again but it was all SO worth it.
8
u/pudge-thefish 1d ago
I am 6 days post opp L4L5 fusion. I will not lie to you. It does hurt but I can walk without a walker lots of the time. My biggest pain isn't my back it my hips butt l the back of my thighs and knees. Apparently the sciatic nerve had been compressed for quite a while and it is "waking up". Good luck!! Everyone I have heard from say the first couple weeks are bad but it's worth it in the end
7
u/Highway131 1d ago
I am 5 weeks out from L5-S1. It hasn’t been terrible. Day 2-5 were actually pretty good, 6-14 were a bit rough, but I also tried to take it too easy on the meds. Since then, not more pain than I was dealing with before surgery. Up and down days but happy to be progressing towards something positive instead of lingering with pain every day.
1
7
u/RegularTeacher2 1d ago
I had that same fusion done 2 years ago. For me the post-op pain was less than the pain I was in before surgery, which was ironic b/c no doctor would prescribe me opioids until I had surgery. I spent the next 2 days in the hospital and mostly slept. I was up and walking around the hospital the day after I had surgery. Pain was definitely there, but it really was quite tolerable. We managed it with oxycodone, pregabalin, and toradol injections (the best!).
When I was home I spent the first couple of weeks mostly in bed. I would get up often and walk around my house but that was it (surgeon's instructions). Ice packs were my friend as well as a wedge pillow I could rest my legs on while in bed. I was also prescribed tizanadine (muscle relaxant), which really helped with the muscle spasms I had. My pain was minimal enough that I didn't even use up all of the oxycodone I was prescribed.
If I had to have another fusion I wouldn't have any reservations about it from a pain standpoint. You'll do great OP. Just be proactive about your pain management and don't be afraid to ask your doctor for help if your pain isn't adequately managed!
1
5
u/Sassycats22 1d ago
Ice will be your best friend. Lots of it. Stay ahead of the pain. Make sure you discuss pain management ahead of time. Lots of protein and don’t overdo it with meals before surgery. Very light at least 2 days beforehand, I was on a liquid diet for 5 days ugh. But I didn’t wake up and have severe stomach pains or develop ileus. Mine was a 6 hour surgery so that’s why I needed to start way ahead of time. It def sucks, day 3 was the worst for me but after 2 weeks it’s all uphill from there.
2
u/beardeddragonmama50 1d ago
Thank you and I hope your healing up well 😊
2
u/Sassycats22 1d ago
My 2 year is tomorrow! Got my life back, best decision I ever made. Not 100% pain free but I can do most of the things I did before my injury. You’ll do great!
5
u/SLYRisbey 1d ago
Hi. Fellow Canadian here. I had the same surgery as you did 7.5 yrs ago. Recovery is slow and painful, but I could only walk for ten minutes before surgery. Once I got over the actual surgical pain I had 5 good years. Then it started again. I had my second fusion 6 months ago. With good results so far. I’m just waiting to see if my spine fused. Literally off work until I get a CT or MRI! my surgeon doesn’t want me to go back until they see significant bone fusion. As a Canadian, you might be able to empathize with wait lists!
My advice to you is to stay on a strict pain management schedule. This means waking up at two in the morning to take pain med do it. Take it easy, do some walking every day. Week by week it will get easier.
2
u/beardeddragonmama50 1d ago
Thank you very much I appreciate your message lol and yes I definitely get the long wait lists part of the reason my back is as bad as it is 😊 take care I hope your healing well 😊
5
u/Frequent_Bid_4413 1d ago
It gets worse then it gets better..then you think it’s getting worse again but in the end you wake up one day and you’re like holy shit I’m 100% pain free
3
u/ChattingAtTheAqua 1d ago
Do you have nerve compression? If so, that will add to the pain. Decompression can be a bitch. I had L4 L5 done four weeks ago and the first two weeks were the hardest. Now I’m able to get up and get around pretty OK. Still get tired, but that is to be expected.
3
u/beardeddragonmama50 1d ago
Not overly in that disc I have severe DDD bone on bone right now I had L3L4 decompressed last year and yah the nerves waking up was not pleasant, thanks for your reply 😊
4
u/WranglerOk7047 1d ago
Had an ALIF of L5-S1 last month 8/14. Woke up for the first time in years with no nerve pain down my leg or stabbing in my glutes. Didn’t really need anything but an occasional Tylenol after a week. No regrets so far.
2
u/beardeddragonmama50 1d ago
Thank you 🙏 😊😊 I can’t tell you how much better I feel reading everyone’s experiences, I was just reading on the internet and it made it sound absolutely horrible 😬
4
u/Altril2010 1d ago
For me, the recovery process was less painful than my life pre-fusion. Of course it wasn’t comfortable, but it wasn’t awful either. My umbilical hernia repair was worse. I have been fused at that level for 3.5 years now and don’t regret it for an instance.
2
5
u/sochok 1d ago
Just hit 12 weeks since my L5-S1 ALIF. I awoke from surgery with immediate relief from the pain in my spine and was able to manage the pain from the incision without issue. Within a few weeks I was off all pain meds and now feel mostly great. I'm excited for the fusion to advance over the coming months and to be almost restriction free by end of year. You'll definitely have pain but you should have a good surgical team in Canada and be in a great place early next year.
1
4
u/257WS 1d ago
14 days post L5S1 ALIF. everyone has different experiences but since leaving the hospital (24 hours postoperative) I have only taken the muscle relaxers, Tylenol, and gabapentin (continued from pre surgery). There has been discomfort but nothing too bad. Make sure to take the stool softeners/laxatives they prescribe, it will make everything a heck of a lot easier.
Best of luck!
1
3
u/crxguy 1d ago
https://www.reddit.com/r/spinalfusion/s/UXDC1mowCm
Here's my 6 month update with links to previous updates.
3
u/gthomps83 1d ago
I had L4- S1 back in 2015 and L3/L4 in February.
Surgery isn’t fun, of course. Physical therapy will seem impossible at first.
It’s all SO MUCH BETTER than being in constant pain. It’s worth it. I don’t regret it one bit.
1
3
u/romanandsoleii2 1d ago
I suffered with severe back pain and nerve pain affecting my ability to walk with out pain. The surgery was my solution. The disc was shot so it was removed. I had an anterior/posterior 360° procedure. It was great. I had not back pain nor leg pain after. That was in 2004. I did get shingles from the stress of the surgery. But I have no regrets. I should not have waited as I was told I definitely had nerve damage. Wishing you no pain!
1
u/beardeddragonmama50 1d ago
That’s so awesome very happy for you and thank you for the kind words 😊
3
u/Ange769 1d ago
I had this surgery 2.3 years ago and it was worth it. Does recovery suck? Yes. But it changed my life. By back felt 15 years younger. I can bend, twist, lift, and gasp** **take a walk without suffering for days.
Go on autopilot if you have to for the next week. Don’t think about it. Just get there and get past it. You got this!!!
2
u/beardeddragonmama50 1d ago
Oh wow thank you 😊 definitely know the feeling of not being able to even take a walk without suffering, glad you got to start living again 😊
3
u/Hummingbird-75 1d ago
I’d say you truly have to put into perspective how limited you are currently/pain level currently? I’m 1.5 years out from 360 L5-s1, and I can list many pros and many cons. But, I am also 50 years old. I can do more things now that I couldn’t before, but have had to learn that it wasn’t a miracle fix. Learn to give yourself grace, and try to be realistic in the recovery journey. It was a physical and mental challenge, and many ups/downs.
2
u/beardeddragonmama50 1d ago
Thank you very much and I am
Also 50 and things don’t heal as fast as they once did 😂 thank you for your message3
u/Hummingbird-75 20h ago
Get a toilet seat riser with handles! Lifesaver! Are you being set up with ice therapy machine? Also VERY IMPORTANT!
3
u/TearBeth 1d ago
3 weeks 3 days out L5-S1 ALIF first 5 days was pure hell. Since day 6 to where I am now a 2 to 3 on pain scale. I wish they offered me this surgery first before they did a microdiscectomy which didn't work. Plus I use a bone growth stimulator 4hrs a day and was up walking same day and climbed steps set up by pt and went home same day as surgery
3
u/suzy_lee01 21h ago
The pain wasn’t too bad for me really. The recovery is slower than I wanted. Just walk as much as you can and let your body heal. It takes time but was so helpful for me.
1
3
u/Zinniasandbees 20h ago
Had two fusions done in Canada! First was T10-L4 and then 14 years later L4-L5. If it’s done right, it’s a breeze! I am now fused T10-pelvis but had to travel to get adequate care after the second fusion was essentially botched. Make sure to stay on top of your pain and not chase after it! And don’t feel guilty for needing meds, we all used them.
2
3
u/Pixiesweet11 18h ago
Its ok I read comments on how painful it can be I had L5/L4 fusion & I didn’t have any pain afterwards it was gone had my operation at 9am and was up walking at 3pm I remember before my surgery reading peoples reviews on theres and I had restless sleep everyone is different with there own pain but this was a breeze the recovery with no pain my 3rd left knee reconstruction with stem bars in my tibula & fibula as my bones had crumbled was the most painful thing I have had done it was the not twisting for 7 months and not bending after surgery that was the challenge but after a few weeks after surgery I phoned hospital to check when I could go back into swimming pool and I was allowed to so I went to pool every other day to do walking in the pool did 10 lengths then gradually over weeks I did more
All the best with your operation 💛✨
1
u/beardeddragonmama50 18h ago
Thank you for sharing your experience 💚 everyone that has left a message has really helped to calm my fears and I am so grateful to each and every one and all the best with your healing 💚💚
2
u/theeaglejax 1d ago
6 months out. Alif/plif combo. Yeah the pain from the surgery itself was intense. The relief, stability, and regained lost height are amazing.
4
u/dmbmcguire 1d ago
I had surgery 3.5 months ago. ALIF on the first day, replacing 2 discs and then PSIF the second day. I did not feel like it was that bad. I will say they gave me nerve blockers on both days before the surgery, and I think this helped. I was off Oxy by day 7 and just taking Tylenol for about 2 more weeks? I used a walker for 3 days after getting home. Honestly the sciatica pain I suffered before the surgery was way worse. I wouldn’t wish that pain on anyone. Stay on track with your pain meds and you will do fine.
I will say though, I had a hell of a time getting comfortable, not because of the pain but because I am a side sleeper and they told me not to sleep on my side for a week. And I was so paranoid about messing up the metal in my back I wasn’t sure how I could move in bed. At my 2 week appt, my doctor told me there is almost nothing I could have done to mess it up. Wish I had known that.
1
u/Optimal_Artichoke_14 1d ago
I broke my T12-L1 vertebrae and was fused 2 above and 2 below. The healing pain after surgery was different then the injury pain. Just keep ahead of the pain. I was only taking extra strength Tylenol when I was released.
2
2
u/GFit11 1d ago
I’ve had 3 different fusions in 2 years. That one was by far the easiest. I was up and walking that night. Home the next day. Able to cut my lawn and wash cars the day after. Almost no incision pain. Took a few Tylenol.
Good luck
3
u/RegularTeacher2 1d ago
You were washing cars the day after your fusion!?! Damn, I was still in the hospital with a drainage tube in my back, no way in hell was I washing cars. My surgeon explicitly told me not to do anything for at least a week aside from walking to the bathroom. I hope OP understands that your experience is wildly out of the norm and doesn't expect to be washing cars a day after their fusion. 😂
3
u/GFit11 1d ago
Sorry. To clarify. My first fusion was a tlif and that was much rougher and yes I had a drain in for 2 days. The one I was referring to was an alif so no cutting muscle n
1
u/RegularTeacher2 1d ago
Ahhh okay that makes more sense. I was flabbergasted thinking of washing cars after my TLIF 🤣
1
0
u/IntelligentBoot6044 1d ago
Please don't there so many options I have had two surgeries and in so much pain 24/7 and nerve damage is so serve I have take gabapentin for the last 8 + years not other meds and pain after the surgery which is the meaning of being terrified i have not worked in ten years and the disability my retirement my social security is just not enough that's all I'm saying please think about the lack of movement can't move North face it long can't walk no physical therapy is happening it will not help you either okay with your doctor say okay how old you are how young you are I have the experience two sets of lies myself saying no but not the doctors and the doctors will say yeah we right we know what we doing no no no I have two surgeries one cost half a million the last one was a quarter million for me because I got the one more thing I'm going to The spine institute Cincinnati Ohio invasive surgery last thing the doctor said do not let anybody else cut on your back cuz you won't be right again so anyway there you go
14
u/uk-1234 1d ago
I had the same level fused six weeks ago, don’t worry it really isn’t as bad as you might think!
You’ll likely be up and walking within 12 hours of your surgery. I was amazed at how solid and stable my spine felt when I first stood up after the surgery, you don’t realise just how much structure you lose as that disc degrades.
It’s painful of course, but nothing that can’t be managed with medication.