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l5 s1 spinal fusion recovery

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Posted 7/9/2015 5:47 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone, it has been a while since I have posted on here. I went back to work after lam, micro discectomy with both of my calves full of that electric pain and it is just a struggle to do that. I am scheduled for a spinal fusion on Monday and of course the doubt has set in, especially after reading some posts on the web. I really like my Job and am hoping for a fast return as I don't want my position filled. I work as a shop manager/purchasing agent for a railroad contractor and they cannot go too long without someone in that seat. So what are the best outcomes you have had following a similar surgery, I am hoping to be back at work after 2 weeks. Am I just crazy for trying to go back that fast? The good thing is that my boss told me just this week that he feels lucky to have me there and I am doing a great job, nice to hear right before going into the operating room.
Posted 7/9/2015 8:24 AM (GMT 0)
You do NOT want to return to work in two weeks unless your gunning for a failed fusion! Never seen anyone return fulltime to a job at 4 weeks that didn't have issue's and most ended up back off work. Sorry but if that's what you were told by your surgeon or whats expected its out of the question without great risk to your fusion. If you have been reading then you already know why and if you really want a good idea use the forum search and read more there will be hundreds of hits when you enter the criteria for search.

If your jobs that important and your risking losing it after two weeks then definitely postpone that surgery for awhile if there's no great risk to your health and neuropathy is the only symptoms. Many of us live daily with neuropathic pain conditions and do ok without a fusion and many still live with it after fusion since there's no guarantee that fusions going to fix the problem. I am being blatantly honest here with you and none of this should replace your Drs advice but understanding their expectations post op is very important and differs greatly from whats reality. Have you discussed this with the surgeon or got a second opinion? Very good advice is to get one even if you have to postpone until you do.

Good luck and if you go through please read CP 101 at top of the forum. Many people have shared their experiences as to what to expect and things to have on hand to help make fusing and your comfort priority.
Posted 7/9/2015 12:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Nuke, I wondered what you have been up to, its been awhile since we have heard from you. You bet your thinking of returning to work 2 weeks post op spinal fusion is crazy, that or you are trying to kid yourself. People are usually off anywhere from 6 months to a year before they are able to return to work. This also depends on how well they have done post op without any problems. Since you are having all of this leg pain it sounds very much like you have a pinched nerve & the purpose of this proposed surgery is to get the pressure off of the nerve. Then that nerve has to heal on its own & that can take months & months. Something else to know is if this is a pinched nerve just know that waiting too long can cause nerves to become permanently damaged. That leg pain does not go away immediately. Once 18 months has passed a patient can tell by then just how successful the surgery has been. As you can see all of this takes time. Surgery is not a quick solution by any means.

And as always, I would get a 2nd opinion before consenting to any spine surgery & it would be with the very best neurosurgeon I could find. The neuros have more experience dealing with nerve issues involving the spine.

If you try to push through thinking this will speed up your recovery you are mistaken. That thought will back fire on you & then most likely you will be worse than what you were before surgery.

People do have fusions & do well but they are not hanging out on public forums, they are out living their life. But these folks had a long recovery & went by the book with their post op care. And above all they had an excellent surgeon & did their research in finding the surgeon.

If any dr tells you sure you can go back to work in 2 weeks, you better run as fast & hard as you can the opposite way because this one has no clue. Their textbooks tell them patients can do many things right after surgery but that means nothing. It has nothing to so with every day living Nuke. If it sounds too good to be true then it usually is just that.

I am only being honest with you but I also think you already know all of this. Good luck.
Posted 7/10/2015 1:58 AM (GMT 0)
I guess you can say that I heard what I wanted to hear, after talking with my boss today I have calmed down quite a bit. I had been up for two days, mostly wondering if I was making the correct decision. I have read so many posts and there are so many different outcomes as to what will happen, and in the end I am going ahead with the surgery as I have been in pain for a year which means my nerves have been pinched that long. I am not going to put anything before my health, not even a job that I truly enjoy.

My doctor told me we would talk about it after two weeks, also my boss will not let me go back to work until I bring his release. I do not believe he will release me after two weeks unless I am doing extremely well, which is possible but I will just have to take that day by day or even week to week. I can tell yall that I am so tired of hurting and cant wait too wake up on the other side to the possibility of no pain in my legs.

As far as living with neuropathy, no way I will pass up any chance of pain relief. I have gotten to the point I want to take a butter knife to cut a hole in my back big enough to stick my finger in and just dig until I get those darn wires uncrossed..... crazy ass anology but that is how I feel at times as it just wouldn't be any more painful.

Thanks as always... there is a reason I have bounced in and out of here from time to time, wisdom can be a painful thing to get and there is so much of it here
Posted 7/10/2015 6:32 AM (GMT 0)
Then I wish you luck and healthy healing!! Please if you haven't check out the part of the CP 101 thread about the things to have on hand prior to having surgery to aid in comfort and healing after you get home,great ideas and suggestions from those who have been there.
Posted 7/12/2015 3:57 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Nuke, i truly understand your decision to have surgery. I also remember that you did not have the outcome from the micro surgery that you had hoped for too. A year of what you have gone through is a long time. I do hope that your surgery is a success. My biggest concern for you is that you will attempt to return to work way too soon & possibly undo what could be a successful surgery if given the proper time to heal. Time is going to be your best friend after this surgery along with a lot of patience all on your part. You will not be able to do much right away except walk to build up your strength again. Don't do it thinking it will speed up your recovery because it will not, it will have the opposite effect.This surgery is a two fold deal, one having the best surgeon available & the patient taking care of them self after surgery.

When you are up to it after surgery please come back & let us know how you are doing.
Posted 7/13/2015 8:45 AM (GMT 0)
I will keep the updates coming, I know how I am at this point. I wished I had a crystal ball to see the future but I do not so I scour the posts to find the latest ones hoping to read some miraculous story of success. I am at the point where I have no choice but to go ahead with the surgery, should have pushed to do this sooner due to the risk of long term nerve damage.

My current symptoms include

Pain in my calves (bed ridden without a min of 5 mg oxycodone 3 times a day).

Sciatica - pain in my right buttocks and thigh that has come on like a raging bull over the past month, I take 10 mg of oxycotin 2 times and 7.5 mg oxycodone 3 times a day and it doesn't even touch it.

Drop foot - While walking it doesn't respond fully when taking a step, worse when
I just get up from a long period of sitting.

That's it, but that is more than enough. I am only hours away from surgery and just keep trying to wrap my head around someone cutting me open, splitting my spine, taking out a disc, installing a new one, then screwing some rods into my vertebrae. It is a lot to process......thanks for reading and letting me have a place to vent the things I normally keep to myself.
Posted 7/13/2015 1:59 PM (GMT 0)
You are welcome to vent and update here, whatever you need to do. Perhaps your posts will be the next ones to encourage someone else who has this decision to make.

Best wishes for success! THINK FUSION!!
Posted 7/13/2015 10:31 PM (GMT 0)
We will keep you in our prayers thats for sure. You have a lot on your mind but just remember you will get past this too.
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