4 and a half hours of lumbar back surgery.

[BamBam]

Ugggggggh. I couldn't even imagine this pain before waking up Tuesday afternoon. They finally sent me home from the hospital yesterday because my insurance put a max of 5 days on my stay. I can barely move. It is pathetic. Soooooo much pain.

Anybody that has had a 3 level lumbar fusion want to chat or offer a word or two of encouragement? I'd really appreciate it. It's only been six days, but it feels like it's going to hurt like this forever. I feel like I'm 150 years old and have been dead for 45 of them.

Yikes.

I hope all is well in T4R land. :help:

 

[Thai]

Are you getting physical therapy at home?

 

[theizzardking]

hope all is well man, i have degenerative disc disease and have talked a few times with my doctor about this, i'm hoping you get through it pretty quick, i've been trying to avoid whole fusion thing since i'm still young but know one day i'll be right there with you buddy, can't offer any advice, but can offer some best wishes to a speedy recovery man, just make sure you get the really good drugs so you can just sleep it off for a few more days.

 

[MikesToy]

how could you type all this in here?

 

[4runr30]

Hope they sent you hope with a good analgesic. Hope you have a speedy recovery.

 

[BamBam]

How did I type all of that? Laid on my bed and stared at the ceiling and used my iphone. It took about 30 minutes.

About physical therapy.... the only therapy I can receive was how to walk again, how to get out of bed, and how to get on the toilet and a chair (and off again). That's IT, because you have to do everything with your back held perfectly straight. Brutal.

They said I can't do anymore therapy for 3 months because I have to wait for the bones to fuse. I am fairly young as well (36) and have done every crazy procedure to avoid this as possible, but it was unavoidable.

As for the analgesics, they did quite a poor job. That is part of my anger at the hospital mentioned above. I was seeing a pain management doctor, and post this most painful of surgery (by some it is considered the most painful non-cancer surgery there is) I was given medication that was maybe 25% as powerful for the first 12 hours after surgery than I was taking on the day previous just to deal with my day-to-day pain. So of course I had built up some tolerance. The next day a nurse realizes the mistake and gets me feeling a bit better by getting me up to where I was pre-surgery at least, and the next shift nurse on again goes back to the original orders and cuts it in half. Then his replacement does the same (24 hours of sheer, unexplained hell).

I saw the pain management doctor today (so painful to get into a car and have my mother drive me over of all people) and he mixed things up and was baffled at what happened at the hospital considering all of the notes they had sent over in advance and my care plan and such. They just reverted back to "standard back treatment" for somebody who comes in off the street and needs surgery and has not been in pain management for the last 26 months. How am I typing now? I am lucky enough to have been given a muscle relaxant and pain pill to take this evening six days out from surgery. Holy nightmare thus far.

Oh, and 12 of the 40 metal stitches (the top 12) won't stop leaking and I keep bleeding through undershirts. I'm going to have to make a run to Target and load up on some Hanes when I get feeling better I guess. At least I got the kids halloween costumes all ready. Blood drenched white t-shirts never fail to make a good impression.

Thanks all for your support and advice and even mockery if you want to. Laughs are appreciated too, even if they are at my expense!

 

[MikesToy]

Hope everything goes very well for you especially post-surgery. Not to scare you nor anyone in here, but i ran into some old folks from CA, NV, CO, MS, TX, and UT. They ALL said: "when the doctor says you need back surgery, do a thorough research and think about it not only twice before you go under the knife". Sorry, i don't want to post their stories in here.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Damn! I hope the pain subsides soon and you can get back to life.

 

[BamBam]

Hope everything goes very well for you especially post-surgery. Not to scare you nor anyone in here, but i ran into some old folks from CA, NV, CO, MS, TX, and UT. They ALL said: "when the doctor says you need back surgery, do a thorough research and think about it not only twice before you go under the knife". Sorry, i don't want to post their stories in here.

You are 100% right Mike, and I'd appreciate it if you'd keep letting people know that. This place has a well deserved reputation on being way too quick on the surgery finger.

We waited for 26 months from initial complaint and did absolutely everything humanly possible to avoid surgery. Even the surgeon said he didn't want to do it until there were no other options because it is a rough procedure on the patient, it is unreversisble, I am still young etc.

He is one of the most respected neuros in the country and there is no way i let anybody but his business partner near me. They are the two top rated surgeons in the intermountain region and two of the best and most respected in the nation.

Unfortunately across the street there is a very famous "chop shop" that will work on anybody the first time they show up in the ER on a Sunday with a sore back from
cleaning the garage.

I actually had six separate opinions done, interventional procedures, a year of therapy with the guy who literally wrote the book on physical therapy on back pain, and things just kept getting worse. It truly was my
last option. Spontaneously healing does occur innlike 85% of even severe back pain within three months. Then from 3 months to a year another 10% will heal through more rest, interventions, and therapy. Then you are
truly left with about 5% if people who will suffer the big two symptoms... Loss of use of one or both legs or bowel/urinary incontinence and the surgery isn't much of an option anymore. Unfortunately my left leg stopped working and my
right was on its way. I was out of options.

I wish more people would follow your advice out here. It seems to be open season on backs, in particular the elderly and those who are young and naive and get in over their heads. It is almost like new car shopping type business!!! Eeeeeek.

And that is what you do at 4 AM while trying to sit up for twenty minutes before taking a med dose too early. I made it!!!

 

[BamBam]

4 weeks out. Got my bill. $69,200! I could buy a 5th Gen and drive it around the world for that kind of money. Yikes.

Still not moving too well. But I got to drive a short distance the other day. It was the first time I'd stepped into the T4R in a month. It was nice to see it.

 

[MikesToy]

4 weeks out. Got my bill. $69,200! I could buy a 5th Gen and drive it around the world for that kind of money. Yikes.

Still not moving too well. But I got to drive a short distance the other day. It was the first time I'd stepped into the T4R in a month. It was nice to see it.

Good to see you can drive again. Send the $69K bill to the president. :lol: