Has Anyone Ever Had Lower Back Surgery?

[NiqNaq23]

Hi Cafe,

I have a lower back injury I received from work (2 slipped disc).  I was awarded future medical, and my back just recently flared up. I am thinking the disc could have shifted and are now hitting a nerve.  It is so bad that it's affecting my right side, hip/leg too. I am experiencing severe pain and am taking meds to deal with it right now.  (And I'm not a med taker) An MRI may take 2 to 3 weeks to get scheduled. 

My question is has anyone ever had back surgery, or the lumbar fusion surgery?  If so, can you please share your experience.  Although I am terrified of the thought, surgery is my last resource, and if it's going to aleaveate this pain I will consider it.    THANKS!

[BillysWife2006]

Oct. 20, 2008 at 5:32 PM

Hi, you replied to my post about back surgery and asked me to tell you about my experience, so here it goes!  I had a ruptured disc that I got from falling (my disc degenerative, a condition that I inferited from my dad).  The pain was so severe at times in my left leg that my muscles would go out and I would nearly fall.  It took my breath away.  My doctor told me my only real option was surger, so I did it.  It was my first surgery ever, so I was scared to death!  It was a fairly easy surgery (I had it 2 1/2 weeks ago).  I went into surgery at 9 in the morning and was out by right around 10.  I spent somewhere between 1 and 2 hours in recovery because I was nauseous.  After that the doctor kept me for a couple of hours just to make sure that I was doing well.  I didn't have much pain before I went home, but the pain kicked in later on that night.  The percocet and flexeril (muscle relaxers) kept it very managable.  I was told not to bend, twist, or reach too far above my head for the first week or so.  I had to walk 30 minutes a day to keep my muscles from getting too stiff.  I can't lift more than ten pounds for a month.  That's really the hardest part!  After a week I was able to completely go off of my meds.  I went back to work after a week and a half, although I still have to take it easy or I get very sore and tired.  I work at a preschool, so it's pretty hard on my back.  If you decide to have surgery, remember to take it easy.  Don't try to clean your house, go back to work, whatever your normal activities are until you feel up to it.  Let people help you as much as possible!  If you have any other questions, let me know!

[shinemom]

Oct. 24, 2008 at 10:16 AM

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