Lumbar Laminectomy; Recovery at Home

I had laminectomy/discectomy one week ago today. Before surgery I had problems for about 10 years. always did hard physical labor and it caught up to me. Well a week ago i bent down to get my sons shoe so we can get ready to go to church and I heard a snap. Then instant pain and los of feeling in right leg. Before that i was diagnosed with a bulging disk L5-S1. I had severe pain from my heals all the way up to my back. Especially in my right thigh were i had a bad charlie horse. I went through Physical therapy eithout any success. then I was ready to schedual steroid injections when this happened. But anyway when I whent down the pain was so severe that I couldnt even pick up my hands to crawl. I was stuck on my hands and knees. after an hour and a half of my wife trying hot and cold packs we decided its time to  call EMS. when they were transporting me to hospital I went into shock and started shaking uncontrolablly. When I got o the hospital the imediately started injecting me with morphine. eventually i came to a little and was able to calm down. That was christmas day so surgeons were not available. So on monday they did another MRI. Thats when they saw that my disk ruptured and they needed to do surgery imedietly. So I had surgery and was up walking about 4 hours after surgery. The pain I had in my Legs was gone after surgery. The actual incision site still is painful but is getting better. I am go9ing crazy not able to do anything. But almost done with the percosets and ready to step down to something less powerful. Cant wait to get back to a normal life.

how are you my name is john iam having the same surgery done can you tell me how long it will take to recovey

I'm having a laminectomy in April at L4 and L5. My doctor said I will be in the hospital for 5 days with significent blood loss. Recovery is expected to take several months.

I'm in such pain!

 

Had lumbar laminectomy for herniated disk at L5 S1 10 days ago. Ok for three days, now pain is back, just as before, in same place: down back of left leg, from buttock to knee.

It's always, it's very real, and no meds seem to help. Take vicadin & ibuprofen to try and stem the pain.

Maybe I went back to work too early? I don't know. All positions - sitting, standing, lying down - hurt, so why not be at work?

Doc keeps telling me to wait it out, it will get better -but it has been 9 days of bad pain, and I am so distraught and discouraged. I can't take it!

Any ideas????

Dear Sad and Sore in Saint Paul,

Back pain and nerve pain are the worst kinda pains I have EVER experienced!  It was excruciating at times and I was almost suicidle

I also had the same surgery for the same L5 S1, 4 weeks ago.  My doctor put me on leave from work for 5-8 weeks.  I do not see how you went back go work so soon.  I had someone with me the first 2 weeks to help me up and down.  I felt like I could do for myself but the doctor said DONT do for myself.  Even if I felt like I could.  For the first 10 days I wasn't suppose to sit no longer than 30 minutes at a time.  I really think these things were very important in my recovery.  I still have the tingle in my right leg, at times worse than other times, but for the most part nothing like the pain I had before surgery.  I go back for my follow up appointment next week and expect him to release me to go back to work part time only for a while and gradually work back into full time.  I have heard that it takes a while for the nerve to repair itself so I am expecting it more or less to be a few more months before any significant  recovery.  I had a nerosurgeon do my surgery.  Not sure if an orthopedic or nerosurgeon did your surgery but to me a nerosurgeon would be the best route when your nerves are at stake here.  I hope things get better for you.  Take it easy and give your body time to heal.  Its the only one we get so we need to take it easy and take care of it. 

 

Just wondering how well your doing, those that have had 3-6 months of recovery time.  I'm on 4 weeks and was just wondering what I had to look forward to.  I'm excited about where I am but anxious about where i'm going with this.  Still have the twangy nerve in my leg but not like the pain I had before surgery.  I didn't suffer long like some of the poor people I'm reading about.  Mine  happened all of a sudden.  I just had the severe pain shoot out of my back into my butt and down my leg.  I couldn't walk or much less do anything.  it was horrible pain.. I told my husband I would rather have 10 babies than to go through that kind of pain.  No pain meds would help.  Pain Block was out because L5 S1 was to far away from spinal cord to work so the only option was immediate surgery.  Still can't do a whole lot but was wondering how those of you were doing after 3-6 months of recovery time.  I know that everyone is different on recovery but would like to have some kinda idea on where this is headed.  looking forward to getting back to an active life style again but not being able to at the moment almost makes it seem like its never gonna happen.  I know I need to give it time to heal.  Im just getting anxious and want to get back to regular routines...

I am also recovering from a lumbar laminectomy and am 4 weeks post-op. I am so much better than I was before the surgery! I can stand and walk for more than 10 minutes - hallelujah. BUT I am not 100%. I was rear-ended 4x within 8 months (I know that's crazy - none my fault) andmy back took a beating. I did the oral steroids, had 3 epidurals and finally just had the surgery becuase I couldn't take the constantpain and inability to do normal things like shopping and cooking, much less the things I did before the car accidents: skiing, tennis every day, walking my dogs, travelling... . I am hoping to play tennis this summer... . My surgeon said maybe in 12 weeks. A friend who had this surgery said it was 6 months before he was back on the tennis court.

I had a lumbar laminectomy L4-S1 May 21st 2011... it's been almost a year and I am as good as new!!! No leg/nerve pain AT ALL!!! I owe it all to my fantastic doctor in Rochester, New York - Dr. Paul Maurer!!!!! A large part of you're surgery success depends on your surgeon. If you are fortunate enough to be operated on by Dr. Maurer, your recovery time should be about a week like mine :) I went on a 5 mile hike 8 days after surgery!!! Good Luck everybody, Lot of peace 

yes i am having the same procedure on mon5-7 and will have people around al week to help also am stay overnite after 1115am surgery

If all goes well and the pain meds work you should be fine to be by yourself after the third day. Standing won't feel good but getting up and moving around will help you recover so don't let people baby you! Get up and move as soon as you can. Power through the pain. good luck!

I too am getting this surgery in 3 weeks...I think getting all the help possible is a good idea. I have 2 dogs and live on the 3rd floor.I will not be able to care for them or myself from what I've been reading online...GET SME HELP

hi
 i had laminectomy and discectomy 2 months ago.  i have pain at the surgical site  and i still have pain in rt leg goes down to my big toe and i do have numbing in my leg. 3 weeks ago my leg went numb and i fell down. now i am experiencing the continued pain numbness but now i am experiencing swollen feet and they get hot. is this normal?  ive already told my neurosurgeon and hes ordered another 2 mris one with being  with contrast.  is this normal and what am i to expect from these new test.  if anyone can please respond.  thanks

i don't think you should be having nerve pain still. Hope the MRI's show something and the Dr can fix it - good luck!

I'm Adrian, 27, Dallas, Tx. On day 3 of recovery from laminectomy/ discectomy of L5/S1. My story: Have had issues with my tailbone for years. Had always been lower back pain that subsided in 2-3 days. In December 2011 I had another one of these episodes that did not cease. I tried rest and meds from my PCP for a few weeks before seeing a specialist. In that time I acquired severe "shocks" of pain through my right buttock, hip, and on down. Slight numbness, but the tingles and stabs were constant. Did first round of oral steroids which helped considerably for about a 1.5 wks. Beyond that we tried a selective nerve root block which helped for about a month. While on these treatments I still had some nerve pain. A little over a week ago, with no significant cause I had the worst sciatic pain I had experienced so far. A few days of steroids and stronger meds until I was cleared for surgery. My final MRI showed my disc was bulged over a centimeter out of place. My surgery lasted about 1.5 hrs, and was performed by Dr. Charles Banta of Dallas. ( two thumbs up) . Coming out of Anesthetia I was in tremendous pain, but could tell it was different pain. I was up and walking within 3 hrs of my surgery ( as instructed). In hospital for almost 24 hrs. Still in quite a bit of pain, but much less than I expected. Very little pain in leg. Physical therapist informed me that the simple exercises were the key factor in healing. Although the nerve has been relieved of the pressure of the disc, it is still "bruised". The therapy can be painful, but if not exercised, scar tissue can crowd the nerve and create similar symptoms of herniation. I'm expected to be cleared for work in 2-3 wks, but in no hurry. All I can say is perfect your barrel rolls out of bed, do your stretches, and stay aware of keeping your abs tight and your posture straight.

purrfectgrama wrote:

meal24a wrote:

I am set to have a lumbar laminectomy for a herniated disc at L5/S1 in two weeks. I was told that I should expect to be in the hospital for about 24 hours. I haven't had my pre-op appointment yet and I am wondering what recovery at home will be like. My husband is taking the first couple days off of work, but should I ask relatives and friends to come over to help me with tasks like getting out bed and taking my dog out to potty? Thanks!

I'm having a laminectomy in April at L4 and L5. My doctor said I will be in the hospital for 5 days with significent blood loss. Recovery is expected to take several months.

I had a lumbar micro laminectomy L4-L5 and a herniated disc..I was in the hospital for 24 hours and am on recovery day 5. The pain is pretty bad but my range of motion is better everyday. This being the first time on the internet and sitting down (not comfortable) it feels good to be almost normal again. Anyone who gets this surgery..GET SOME HELP at home.. You CANT do it yourself.. I have 2 dogs and live on the 3rd floor..,Thankfully I have a fiance that is taking GOOD care of me. Today will be my first attempt to go down the stairs and outside. Take it slow and dont try to do too much, recovery is long and slow for this one. Good luck to everyone who has this affliction..Its tough!!