Lumbar laminectomy

Scorpiogirl, I have not had this surgery but when I worked saw many of our clients hve this surgery. I saw so many over the years that there is no way I could even come up with a number. They all did very well, but it is a long recovery. Unfortunately, some drs tend to tell patients oh, in a few weeks or two months you will be back to your old self, wrong, it does not happen that fast at all. It takes several months, closer to a year to totally recover from a fusion. Drs do not want to tell the patients this because they like to read from the text book. Text book and reality are two different things.

If the patient will not overdo and so many do this and it knocks them down hard, do nothing but walk and listen to your body you should do well. Never let the post op pain get out of control, its too hard to get it back down, don't go home thinking you need to clean house or sweep the floors or mop. GrandmaRoses just had a fusion done and she was doing wonderful, but, she over did major and the dr had to tell her to go home and do nothing but walk, she is having a real hard time right now from over doing things.

I am very glad to see that your are using a neurosurgeon they are best when it comes to this type of surgery. Are they going to be putting in hardware? We do have others her that have had fusions and they will pop on.

Take care....Susie

Maybe see about getting a second opinion. Many well wishes
and prayers..

Hi scorpio-girl, I can't be of any help to you on the lumbar surgery, at least not yet, I have had three fusions in my neck but everyone has told me the cervical fusions are much much easier than the lumbar. I have seen a neurosurgeon here where I live just last month, and he says I need a foraminotomy with a far lateral fusion at L3 and L4, I don't want to have the surgery done here, as I am alone so, I am seeing a neurosurgeon down in Lexington Kentucky, the 19th of June to see about getting it done down there, as I have a sister and family down there, So I will be following your post carefully as I to would like to know more about the recovery, I know my surgeon here said that I would need therapy and rehab for a whille during recovery. I am also about your age. Have you been scheduled for your surgery yet? Please keep us posted on your progress.

Good Luck to You.

White Beard

Hi scorpio-girl from what I have been told it is when they surgically open up the foramin by removing bone ( the passage that the nerve roots pass through) that is what my surgeon wanted to do here, he told me that the surgeon down in Lexington might want to do something else, either ,more or less or even differently, He told me most neurosurgeons have there own ways of doing things, and they are some times different from others, I know my surgeon said he was doing the minimum, and only fixing the very worst of the worst, as he said my entire sping was a mess! So I will just have to see on the 19th what this surgeon wants to do, I am hoping that I can get it done ASAP so I will be able to move when my lease is up the first part of November, I have had so much done to my neck, and I have allot wrong with my thoracic spine but they will not do surgery on that, and that is what ended my nursing career and put me on disability, Oh well what can you do?? It is what it is! smile.

Keep us posted scorpio-girl

White Beard

I'm also considering laminectomy along with a fusion of the L4/L5 verts. I'd like to know about people's results: good, bad, nothing. I've always been wary of back surgery but my current pain is so debilitating that I'm afraid I have no choice. I've know pain before--10 knee surgeries--but this pain makes that seem like love taps.
My pain is mostly in the buttocks; one side, both side, it moves around. I can barely walk and that only bent over at nearly 90 degrees. I'm a very fit 63 year old (up 'til now, that is) and would have no trouble working towards recovery. As others have said, though, I'd also be inclined to over-do so I'd to hear about what you could and couldn't do and when. Getting back to exercise and golf (especially golf!) are my goals.

Members, please do not post here, lets wait for Grouchotoo to make an intro post.

Thanks.