Like the last poster. I too was in much better shape immediatly after than before. Mine too was cervical (single level Prodisc-C), so maybe not the best comparison. As far as my pain went, virtually pain free after surgery on day of operation. Next day felt like I could have run a marathon (lots of adrenalin and wanting to get out of the hospital, coupled with residual effects of anesthesia and narcotics). Went home around 4:30 PM and slept fine. I woke up on what I will call day 3 in 10 of 10 pain! Could not even be touched by the Vicodin and Skolaxin. On day 4 visited nurse practitioner of my spine Dr, she wrote Percoset and Valium. It took a day to take effect both within 24 hours was down to 3 of 10 pain on day 5. By day 6 pain was 1 of 10 (on Percoset/Valium x 2 each day (one AM one PM of each). By day 10 only taking 1 Percoset/Valium at bed time to make sure that if I rolled the wrong way I would not be awake. By day 16 no more pain meds... Sleeping well, no pain... I must add that I have been on 400mg of Celebrex since day 3 after surgery and will stay on for two months to reduce potential of hetertopic ossification...
My only advice is to follow directions during the recovery process and do not take on too much too fast. I took a big step backwards over the last several days due to trying to do too much (too many hours back at work and too much typing and talking on my phone without my bluetooth headset (leaning me phone to my shoulder) generally working around the house, picking things up off the floor, washing clothes, putting away dishes, and bar-b-q ing 20 pounds of beef ribs for the 4th, etc. I felt fine, so I thought that I was capable of a lot more (this was all about 3 weeks post surgery). Two to three days later I am now back to lots more inflamation and pain again (disc x-rays are fine - just had them re-done this morning), but back on pain meds (Percoset) (had been off for a week), etc. The swelling was actually visible in my upper back and left neck. The bottom line is that you may feel better than you really are and if so, BE CAREFUL. It is a good problem to have to feel so much better, but please learn from my mistakes...
Best of luck with your surgery and recovery!
__________________
41 y/o Male, Successful Disc Arthroplasty Procedure (Prodisc C in Tampa, FL) with excellent outcome June 2011... January 2012 had 3rd episode of "throwing out my back", Lumbar Pain radiating down buttocks and into both legs, MRI shows centrally Herniated L5-S1, Bilateral S1 ESI scheduled beginning March 2012...
|