Post-op drives
Yeah, those 3 hr. post-op drives are a killer  . Sleep problems can be tough to face after this surgery. I would be up every 3-4 hrs with leg pain, so I'd go to the treadmill and do 10-15 mins at a slow pace and then go back to sleep. If you are having significant trouble, ask your doctor about short term use of Ambien, Ambien CR, or Lunesta. The addiction potential is very low, but using them longer than a few weeks can result in tolerance, decreasing their effectiveness.
Lack of sleep can worsen pain and slow recovery, so consider the meds to be part of recovery. Just be careful, and ask your doctor or pharmacist about interactions with your other meds.
Good luck (and good choice on the hardware, too IMHO  )
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L5-S1 rupture 11/04, left leg pain for 2 wks
Regular exercise/pain-free until 2007
L5-S1 degen. disease w/constant pain since 6/07
PT, ESI, SI jt injections, 3-level nerve root inj. x 2
Massage, heat, ice, TENS, etc
L5-S1 Charite Jan. 19th, 2009, very happy w/decision
New back pain in upper back though.
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