I'm my own worst enemy

Hi there,

I just posted this story on the Fibro forum as well....maybe someone here can relate, too, and tell me whether I was just stupid or really, REALLY stupid.

Long story short, I pulled open 2 big, heavy doors a week ago.  Now, I know I can't do this w/out a flare in pain, even normally, but especially because I just had spinal surgery 6 weeks ago.  Of course, now I'm in more pain and, if anything, it's getting worse.

Has anyone done something similar after spine surgery, and did you get away with it?  Is this just a temporary owie? 

Please, oh please???

Debbie 

Debbie I know it's very hard not to do the easy things like opening a door. I hope the pain settles down quickly

Debbie,

I don't know what procedure you had done on your spine, whether it was a discectomy or a laminectomy or fusion, but if you have had instrumentation ( rods and screws) put into your spine, there is a possibility of dislodging the screws by pulling or picking up something too heavy.

Where you given any restrictions for post op? Like no bending, lifting or twisting, or weight restriction? If you were, your safest bet is to contact your surgeon and go in for an xray to make sure things are okay. If the pain doesn't settle in a few days, your surgeon may decide to send you for an MRI or CT scan to check on any instrumentation and to confirm you didn't do any damage.

I know that recovery from spine surgery is long and drawn out and especially when you feel better, those restrictions can seem like they are getting in your way, but it is for your protection and your body's recuperation.

Hope you feel better soon...and just give your surgeon a call and try to rest as much as possible.

Sandi

Thanks for all the replies. SE, how are YOU doing by now?

Sandi and Jim, I had an open discectomy, no hardware, and no restrictions (well, for 6 weeks no bending, twisting, or lifting more than 5 lbs, but that period was JUST over. No one ever said anything about opening doors, though!) The handles were just a little lower than chest-level, and I pulled them open the bare minimum to squeak through. You know how it is when you're being paid for something - I was running late and had to get into the school building. Duh!

I'm just so freaked. My pain had been much better (but now that I think of it, a couple of things were already bothering me - like the fact that it was starting to hurt again when I blew my nose or coughed - and that was gone after surgery. Now, of course, it REALLY hurts to do that.)

I left a message a few days ago with the surgeon's assistant. I'm sure she'll tell me it's fine, not to worry, and actually, I couldn't afford any more tests anyway, unless ABSOLUTELY necessary. This surgeon is no help, anyway. If it keeps up, I'll run it by my regular doctor. I have to ask him to refill my Norco, anyway, and I know he won't want to...I don't want it, either, but at this time, I can't get by without it. I already had to go back to taking whole pills instead of halves.

Thanks again for taking time to read this. Venting is good, esp. when people understand as you all do!

Debbie

Debbie,
If you are still having that much pain, I would go see the surgeon. Just to make sure. How come the surgeon isn't taking care of your pain med needs? When I had both of my back surgeries, my surgeon took care of my pain meds for the first three months post op........that also helped when it came to any signs that things were improving or not ( in my case) .
A discectomy can reherniate when you are coughing alot or from pulling on something too soon post op, even though you were just past the 6 weeks post op restrictions, you really do have to be extra careful for more like 3 months since the disc can reherniate.
Take care Debbie and hopefully things will subside soon.......
Sandi

Hi Debbie,
I don't want to scare you, honestly, but discectomies are known to reherniate , and given that you are coughing alot and then the pulling on the door, and the increased pain that is still ongoing, combined with the return of the symptoms before surgery would make me concerned.
It may be nothing more than inflammation or a flare up of the nerves, but it could be more too and it is better to find out now, than to let the pain continue, and the symptoms so that they become permanent problems.
I hope that my concern is unwarranted but I have seen far too many problems pop up after back surgery not to be concerned.
Sandi