Downer vist with doctor

Hi, just got back from another post-op with a doctor (I had lumbar disc surgery in March.)  Actually, I was supposed to go back after 3 months, but I forgot, so it was 4.

I walked in there feeling pretty good with how things are progressing.  But this surgeon (not mine) thought I should be feeling better than I am by now.  He seemed especially disconcerted by the fact that I still can't squat to anywhere near the floor, and that when I have gone too low, I get an awful pain in my knees and they completely give out.  When exercising, lying on my back, I can't draw either leg up very far towards my chin, particularly the left one (the one that was affected by the herniated disc.) 

He said I might need another MRI, and when I asked what for, he said that there might be something further going on....something, maybe, with the nerves.  I'm going to go back in 2 months if it's not better, or gets worse. 

Oh NOOO!    I am so bummed out.

Debbie

Debbie, I know this has to be be frustrating for you...I'm sorry you have this going on. Six months after my back surgery they did a lumbar puncture, full contrast...tilt table procedure with CT scan because my strength was not up to par in the right leg(the leg sciatica bothered). That leg is still considered weaker than the left. I still consider my back surgery a sucess...it gave me back my mobility.

I'm no Spring chicken, so squatting even close to the floor kills my knees. The older we get it takes us longer to recover from surgey...we aren't flexible. Two months of PT helped with strength and endurance but didn't really help with flexibility.

Just hoping your back and leg pain have subsided....knowing how bad that pain is...it is a big relief to have that pain quieted. Wishing you the best my friend :)

Hugs, Robin

I'm thinking the same as Karen, that maybe you just need a little more time. Keep stretching. Keep us posted.
Gentle hugs, Meg

Yeah, I'm trying to keep my sunny side up.  It just kind of shocked me.  Thanks, everyone, for the good thoughts!

Robin, my buttock, leg and foot pain are a LOT better, so in that way, I'd consider the surgery a success, too.  But I am still on Vicodin, 10-325 twice a day, alternating with 5-325 twice a day, sometimes skipping the last one (and Gabapentin at night.)  I feel like I'm slowly getting there, anyway.  Can I ask you - you said it kills your knees to squat to the floor, but can you do it if you have to, or do your legs actually give out, like mine?  Yes, this getting older crap is for the birds!!

Dustinshunny, good question - he didn't pick up on fibro being a factor, but I can't help thinking it must play in at least a little.

Debbie

     

Debbie, I can squat to get down but can't hold that position, I end up going to my hands and knees. My legs start wobbling and my knees are pretty crummy from arthritis.My knee cap actually can shift out of position. I find myself on the grocery store floor after squatting to get something off a bottom shelf, and then trying to pull myself up on my shopping cart that starts moving away from me :) My ligaments and tendons are always tight regardless of lots of stretching. Even as a kid, I could never touch my toes.

Are you able to stand on your toes? My neurosurgeon had me do that...first on both feet, then one leg at a time. My right leg was noticibly weaker.

Hope you get stronger each day...getting older does some strange stuff to our bods :)

Hugs, Robin

Debbie, I've had strangers give me a hand up and I have also asked people to grab things on a lower shelf for me. If there isn't anyone around, I go for it myself. Maybe it's time to get a "grabber."

I'm stubborn and that can be a problem for me at times :)

Always being an active person, if someone told me I'd be in this condition I'd tell them ...No way!!! My Dad was very athletic and he ended up with all sorts of numerous maladies.
Oh well...what can you do but grin and bear it and of course take it one day at a time.

Hugs, Robin

You said this was a different surgeon, if i read correctly. He has your medical records but he did not see you personally? I would talk to your regular surgeon who saw you before the surgery. While this one may think you should be further along by now, it depends on how you were before. Say the level you were at was a 4 and that is in your record. What maybe a 4 to one dr maybe something else to another dr. Does this make sense? You may be progressing at YOUR rate, not the average.

 

Yes, it does, Karen, but I am doing the stretching anyway. VERY carefully. I'm going to PT tomorrow, and I'm going to bring all this up, of course.

Diva, this surgeon saw me 3 wks after the surgery, but he's not the one who did it. So yes, he could just have different standards.

I can't help wondering if getting my sacral area "cracked" for 20-odd years contributed (gulp) ~ not that it does any good at this point to look back, but I have a hard time not.

Debbie