Sciatica Pain - how long is recovery from spinal fusion and laminectomy surgery

2 years ago in May I had 8 vertebrae fused, L6-L1 and T10-11,with 4 rods, 16 screws and a couple of hooks! My surgeon was Dr. Corenman, a specialist in spine surgery at the Steadman Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Colorado.I started Physical therapy around 8 weeks-I was on heavy narcotics, but my other half took care of me-fed me, bathed me, wiped me, rubbed me, held me....I think I cried for an entire year and a half. I finally got off the narcotics with the help of a chronic pain Dr. and lots and lots of exercise and walking. I was diagnosed with firbromyalgia, which  sometimes happens after difficult surgeries, and have been on Nuerontin, which has really helped.

 I had a second surgery that August, to remove debris, and they found a bone chip against a nerve that goes to my leg (sciatic?) My left leg is still recovering, numbness, jerking at night (I take a Flexeril at night to control that) and it is smaller and colder than my right leg. My calf muscle has atrophied despite exercises, and my toes have curled under; which is why I finally got some orthotics.l I still am walking on the left side of my foot, which really wears out that side of my shoes. I have to wear shoes that fasten on as my foot cannot grasp. I began physical therapy again, and was there twice a week for 20 visits, which is all my insurance would pay for. I exercised at home until I begin teaching again, and I am so exhausted at the end of the day that I just get into bed and ice my back. I tried exercising in the morning before school, but had a hard time making it through the day. I have had Botox injections in my back to try to release muscles that are in constant spasm, and that seems to help. I cannot wear anything like pants or skirts around my waist as that makes my muscles spasm. Ice really helps, and I am taking Tramadol for pain, Ibuprofen for inflamation, and the Nuerontin.

 Walking really helps if you hurt; it seems to loosen up the muscles. While you walk do some deep breathing and try to relax your body and enjoy your environment. New places take my attention off my pain; like walking downtown or in a new park or path.  I still limp a little, and have gained weight which I know is not good for my back. I couldn't run if you asked me to!! Stretching is also good-I try to stretch before I get out of bed-my dogs remind me of that; they stretch every time they get up from sleeping. If I can help or support anyone out there that is struggling please ask, or if someone  can help me, I would really appreciate it.

 

I am a little over a month post op fusion L4/5. My paoin fwas in my leg before now I am having pain in the groin of the same leg as the fusion was, I am really scared because the Spinal Dr. said if the pain became greater ikn the groin it would mean it was the Hip causing the pain Just what I need.

One month ago my boyfreind had a fusion from S-1 to L-2 a well know Orthopedic back surgeon performed this.  With great pain they did a catscan of the area and found six complete fractures in the back from over torquing the screws three complete fractures in L-2 alone.  Now the doctor talks that if there is not enough support he'll need to go back in and extend the rod five more levels because he is leaning forward with no support in his back from l-2 and up.   His post op has been very painful and the doctor wants to wait to see if the fractures will heal on they're own without additional surgery.  How will this effect his recovery and his future for the fusion needing to be done higher up.  Plus we are not sure we want this same doctor messing with his back.  Has this happened to anyone else out there and what should we do.

I live in texas and had a work related injury in october of 2009. I had an l4 ls fusion. 2010 i had the surgery and felt no pain relief after. Later they di an mri and found the screws to be fractured, so 2011 i had another fusion. I still had no relief, the pain was unbearable. It had caused permanent nerve damgage down my right leg and must use a cane now. I'm 36 years old and at a pivitol point in my life. I came back to texas to finish my senior year in college. Earlier this year another mri was conducted my screws had translucency about then, so i had surgery last month. The insurance company cut off all monetary benefits and now i am almost homeless. I've been stuck here in lubbock. Texas for four years. My doctor never released me to work or go to school since 2009 due to a chance of further injuring myself. I need help!! I have no family and very little friends. I'm in my own little prison. I'm also unable to drive!! How is this legal?? Please someone help!! I'm at the point of why am i here!! Any replies would be nice!! Thank you and god bless!!!

I had the same surgery and I had two within the same year2009.Still to this day am having problems pain in back and leg again. I take pain pills, arthritis pills and get injection still I have pain. When done with work I just want laid down

Do you have a Worker's Comp attorney? If you do not, contact one immediately. While you were off of work, you should have received a percentage of your wages on a weekly basis, up to the allowed limit your state permits for Worker's comp. If your doctor did not release you back to work, you should have received Worker's comp for at least two years and then be eligible for Social Security. Get an attorney ASAP. There should be no fee to consult with them.

Hello I am 30yrs old & just under went a laminectomy. My surgery was just 2mnths ago and I still have a lot of back pain. I to am very depressed and have became very antisocial. I have been to the dr's once since surgey. The Dr told me my left siatica nerve is not only inflamed but irratated. I suffer a lot of pain, feeling at times I can't even get out of bed. Is there anything that I can besides meds, exercise, and injections. I suffer with rotational scoliosis/arthitis in the back. But having the surgery i thought things were suppose to start getting better. (by the way I am very happy that your friend started feeling a lot better) Please I am in desperate need of help. I have not have no xrays after my surgery. Barely starting Pt and also seeing a pain management. All I want to do is sleep to take away my pain so please any help is great help thank you. 

I, notice lots of folks haveing the problem as I have had, had fusion in lower back 2 rods and a plate back is fine, surgery was may 23 this year still have lots of pain in my leg and foot. had several test run and found no pinched nerve.I also had bad nerve damage to right arm in 2004 it took 8 months to heel ,so all of you who are expriceing sciatic pain after this surgery please be patient it is a slow process but it will heel in time.thank god for the injury to my arm ,if it wasnt for that I would have given up on pain from this sciatic nerve, but now I know these nerves only heel about a cintimeter a day.

Larry your Post gives me a better feelin. I am 5 weeks out of L2-L5 surgery with fusion rods & bolts and also grafting. The electrical shocks are killing me, the numbness in my toes and the lower back pain non-stop. My right knee is swollen so I cant do therapy.I can no longer stay in my temperpedic bed so I am in a guest room...To think this will take a year or two, I cant imagine.....

Hi there, I'm sorry to hear of your friends pain level being so high at this point in time. I'm 7 weeks out from having the L4 L5 fused also. I was depressed because I didn't feel like I was healing as fast as I thought I should be too. What I did was went to you tube and watched a fusion being done. At that point I realized what all they had done and how invasive the surgery is. At that point I cut myself some slack & began to do and not do everything the dr said. I'm now healing at a pace that is more acceptable to myself. Please if you haven't watch the surgery do so. And if you're friend still isn't getting results she should seek out a second opinion. Tell her to hang tough and do not lift things she shouldn't.

I am 4 weeks out from fusion L5-S1.I had terrible Sciatica in my left side down my leg with pain and numbness. I worked up until 10 days before surgery when I could not bear the pain any longer. I am a RN and could not take narcotic when I worked and now know what pain is.  I withstood a great deal of pain and worked. I did not get a pat on the back for it, all I got was a memory of horrific pain. I do not understand those who say they are not taking narcotic pain meds. I would not be able to move without them. I suffered enough for a lifetime with pain. My pain is also different now then before surgery but like stated I was in so much sciatic pain it over took any other pain I had/have. I have what I call back migraines:throbbing pain where my sciatic pain used to be. I think it is the nerve trying to settle down. After surgery my whole lumbar area around my incision felt like a 2nd degree sunburn when someone would slap your skin. It was almost intolerable. This has gotten better though I still have my left buttock area very sensitive. My left leg and buttocks suffer from muscle spasms and across my lower back area. my thighs and buttocks muscle are very weak and I have trouble getting up and walking but after I am up I can walk short distances. I do my walking like I am told. I have not been released for PT yet. I too thought this would be a piece of cake, I can say it is going to take time. I am not going to rush and end up in surgery again. Yes I do use the drugs my doctor gave me just so I can walk and move. Anyone with this surgery should not go through pain and tough it out it only reinforces the pain pathways to your brain. You should sleep 7-8 hours a night and keep your pain level below a 5 with activity or inactivity with what ever medications it takes to accomplish this.  I judge my baseline pain level in the morning after I wake up from sleep.  I have an excellent neurosurgeon who deals with chronic along with acute pain. He stays with you and works with your family physician to deal with your pain and sleep issues. It is very important you do not overdo. This is not a contest but a healing process. I cannot sit more than 10 minutes, and I can walk for 12 minutes before the pain gets to intense. Good luck! bayfoxnw

I had the same surgery 37 months ago. The pain from the crushed spinal cord completely healed the next day, but ever since surgery I have had lower back pain that is really debilitating. After 3 years it is really discouraging. I wish I knew what to do.

I had L4/5 & S1/2 spinal fusion with screws and cages placed in Aug of 2012, after having 2 prior laminectomy surgeries. I have severe degenerative disc disease with severe stenosis at the age of 39. I have struggled with back and crippling sciatica nerve pain since 2010. After my surgery this last August I woke up with neuropathy, footdrop and severe sciatic nerve pain in my left leg due the surgeon having to scrape off/clean the sciatic nerve. The nerve pain was worse after surgery than what it was before I had my surgery, but I no longer have any back pain. I left the hospital on Lyrica and strongest dosage of Hydrocodone 20mg every 4 hrs. I started PT 8 weeks after my surgery and my surgeon said that most patients are off of work anywhere from 6-12mths after a fusion. He also said that it can take up 2 years for the nerve to settle down and sometimes the sciatic nerve can have permanent damage which then I'd have to deal with it the rest of my life, unfortunately at the age of 39.  The kicker for me is that I have 3 discs above of fusion that are also bad and it will be a matter of time until those blow out, which then I will be disabled.  I will stated that Lyrica has helped with the nerve pain....I'm a moderate dose and I do have room to increase my dosage, but it does make a person have increased fatigue. I'm still currently taking Hydrocodone at night at bedtime, but at a lower dosage to help take the edge off so I can sleep. FYI: When I was taking Hydrocodone 20mg every 4 hrs and stopped taking them, I went through major withdrawals and felt extremely weak, headache and actually my left leg gave out on me. So before careful, if you have been taking pain killers for length of time.  Hope info can help someone.

I am also a law enforcement officer who had a L5-S-1 fusion and a L4_L5 Lapinecomy. I am 6 months out of surgery and workman comp. is trying to force me back to work already. I am 1000% sure that I am not ready to go to work at this time. I am fustrated because I don't know if I will ever be able to go back to full duty.
Everyone is telling me to go back to work and suck it up for my last 7 years until retirement. They don't understand the pain and stuggle we go through. Please inform me if you were ever able to get back to full duty again.

A friend of mine had a laminectomy about 10 years ago, in Alberta Canada. He was off on WCB for 9 months before he went to work. First day back at work the boss gave him a hand auger and made him drill post holes... Well he did it and hasn't looked back. He was in extreme pain for 6 months and laid around a lot. He is completely well today. I just had laminectomy 19 Oct 2012. I am disappointed because I had hoped I would be pain free. I had suffered chronic pain and weakness in my right side for 10 years which was most notable in my right foot and back. I easily applied the brake on my car with my left foot. I saw my family doctor two weeks ago and he said the reason I initally felt some relief was because they lay down a line of cortisone along the nerve at the time of the operation which eventually wears off. Today I walked the mall and I would say I have no improvement from my pain in my back and foot. I am back to icebags and Ibuprofen. I can't use the percacette they prescribed. I suffered everyone of the two pages of side effects that came with the prescription. DEPRESSION IS ONE OF THEM.