Spine surgery recovery

They arent telling you because your spinal cord got accidentally severed.

Best wishes on a recovery!

Had a fusion and disc replacement of my L5-S1 disc back in April. I had to walk before they let me leave the hospital. I wore my back brace for about a month if I ever left the bed and then I would periodically wear it if my back was in a bunch of pain. I had my wife install some bars on the toilet to assist me when I sit down. Find some and have them installed. It will make your life a little bit easier.

They initially had me on Flexiril and hydrocodone but due to the invasiveness of the sugery regarding my nerve endings, the initial meds didn't work and I would wake up at home feeling like my legs were on fire so they swapped out my meds and I got put on Oxy and something else. I still am struggling with some basic things like standing too long, or bending over repeatedly but I think the bending is more or less because they inserted 4 screws and 2 rods in my lower back so my mobility has been altered a bit. I'm able to walk 3 miles if I want to, or walk any distance I've tried so far. It only hurts when I stop walking and stay stationary.

It took me about 2 months before I could start driving again and that was a combination of the medications just being really strong and the fact that my back just couldn't handle that position for too long. Whatever you do, DO NOT rush it. The spine is critical to your health, both immediate and future. If the doctors tell you to sit your arse down for the first 3 months, you better find some TV shows to watch or something.

Did you get any screws put in or just a decompression?

That will make a big difference in recovery

Just decompression. I think I was very lucky compared to most patients. Even the hospital staff is saying I'm far more mobile and active than most patients.

damn man! Walking an hour after surgery? That's crazy. How long was your procedure? My procedure took 5 hours, and I really don't remember much of my hospital stay outside of walking a couple of times and getting my catheter removed (I hope I never have one again).

I'm hoping things get better for me as well Doctor said general recovery time is about a year, so hopefully I don't have any major setbacks and can be fully recovered here soon.

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still am struggling with some basic things like standing too long, or bending over repeatedly

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I have these issues after hurting my back several times. I've never had surgery, yet. Otherwise perfectly fine but those issues mentioned concern me.

I had low back surgery in October 2000. It was outpatient, and my recovery was pretty quick.

Walked home and did unsupervised PT at home.

Back to full activity by Christmas.

If you had plates, screws or a cage put in, I'd guess at least double for recovery time.

BTW, MD should have told you BEFORE surgery about expected recovery time.

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your spinal cord got accidentally severed.

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Spinal cords don't accidentally get severed, this was done on purpose.

OP do you know anyone who might benefit from you becoming paralyzed? How are things with your wife?

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Coach Oeaux going balls deep.

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Please don't use this.

It can be Coach O or Coach Eaux (though that is plural), but NOT Coach Oeaux.

Oeaux, if it was a word, would be pronounced Oh-Oh.

Please excuse this brief thread hijack.

They put me under at 10AM and I woke up in recovery at 2PM. I think I got up and walked around 3:30. Granted, I was on very effective some pain medicine.
I was originally told that surgery is 90% successful but from what I'm hearing lately most people won't really know until a year down the road. So yup we will both be taking it easy. Good luck man!

ETA- Frick catheters. I'm still burning haha