11 Days Post -Op. No change in back pain

Sharon · #1 01-18-2007, 12:53 PM

Hi Everyone,
I know this probably sounds crazy but I am feeling very anxious about my back pain after surgery. I know it is early days yet but I just wanted some reassurances from some of you that have already been there! My back pain feels worse than before surgery, I have been taking things very slow, I have been doing a lot of resting and walking 2 or 3 times a day for 15 minutes each. My stomach incision is still sore but have had it looked at and Dr said is healing just fine. I am finding it very difficult to get comfortable in bed at night. I have a bunch of pillows and sit almost upright, I can't wait until I feel comfortable enough to lay down on my side, what time frame has anyone else noticed for this?
Anyhow I am sorry about the whine, but am feeling a little nervous.
Sharon

Terry · #2 01-18-2007, 01:15 PM

Sharon:

You are only 10 days out from having major surgery. I don't know how many levels you had done but the anterior approach is a butt kicking experience. I was drained for days afterwards and in pain for some time.

Like Alastair says; "Slow and steady wins the race". A wise sage. I am ten weeks out and still have some discomfort. The key is realizing that it probably took years to get you to the operating table. It requires patience and allowing yourself the time to heal. What are you doing for pain management? Do not be afraid to take pain medication. Used as prescribed it binds with the mu receptor site and blocks pain signals to the brain. You may become physically dependent through time which only requires a taper down from a competent pain management specialist. Pain medication will also help you sleep thereby helping with the healing process. You will not heal well unless you get some sleep. If necessary, have your doctor prescribe a sleep aid for a short period of time to help with sleep in coordination with the pain medication.

You will get there with time. If the pain persists after a couple more weeks you may want to consult with the surgeon. It sure sounds like what you are going through is normal.

Hang in there.

Terry Newton

Sharon · #3 01-18-2007, 03:34 PM

Terry,
Thanks for your reply... Still not sure if I should be noticing a difference in how my back feels. It feels the same if not worse then before surgery and I was just wondering if I should be seeing any sign(s) that this surgery has worked or is it too early.

Is there anyone out there who could comment on at what point (how many weeks out from surgery) they noticed a positive difference and that the surgery worked?

Kim · #4 01-18-2007, 09:03 PM

Sharon
I know exactly what you are talking about. My back pain and the incisions there bothered me much worse after surgery than anything else did. I had very little incision pain in the abdomen thank goodness. I cant remember exactly how long it took to be able to lie comfortably in bed but seems like it was close to 3 weeks before that was possible. I did a lot of pacing at night when I would not be able to get comfry or woke up in the night.
I did find that one of the big long body pillows was a great asset in that. I could get on my side and have the pillow nexxt to my back and then prop one leg over it to break the tension in the sciatic nerve. Icould never get comfy with regular pillows. And it was such a pain moving them all trying to find a spot.
Heres to more healing for you.
Kim

JL · #5 01-19-2007, 10:58 AM

Hi Sharon, I see your Dr. Is Fabian Bitan. I have met with him twice. He is as real as real gets. I know he is very, very careful patient screening. And I doubt he makes any junk.

I was fortunate that after surgery I felt they, "got it", but I had doubts for a long while too.

Keep faith and hope strong, no time for giving up now, the hard part is done.

Alastair · #6 01-19-2007, 11:57 AM

Its a matter of being a Patient ,Patient so take your time
Best
Alastair

Sharon · #7 01-20-2007, 07:31 AM

Thank you all for your replys. Everyday I can feel small changes but I just wish I had a crystal ball and could see when the pain will start to ease up. I am very pleased I am not suffering with any distraction pain, I didn't really think I would have any as I had great disc height. I went out for dinner last night for the first time since surgery, I feel that was quite an acheivement at 11 days post op, we were only out for an hour, still great progress. Can anybody else tell me how long it took to really feel that their adr surgery worked?
Thanks,

Alan K · #8 01-20-2007, 07:39 PM

Hi Sharon,

I sorry your surgery has been so painful. I'm six weeks post-op myself, and while it appears that I've had an easy time than you, there were days that I thought I had jumped from the frying pan into the fire! I could only sleep on one side or occassionally on my back if I padded the bed into exactly the right shape for my back. But there were days that from morning to night I saw a big improvement, and days where I slipped back, but never all the way. It does take time, and now at six weeks I'm pain-free.

My doctor, my GP, suggested taking high doses of Vit C throughout the day, and Vit E and a multi amino acid to help with the healing. She also recommended Wobenzym N, a natural anti-inflamatory. I found that taking 6 tablets 3-4 times a day between meals would greatly reduce my pain without any side effects of prescription pain killers or anti-inflamatories.

Good luck! Alan.

1996 ruptured L4-5, microdiscectomy and laminectomy
2006 L4-5 Activ-L ADR, L5-S1 STALIF cage fusion, Dr. Zeegers

jeffdanto · #9 01-22-2007, 10:00 AM

Sharon,
I felt the same way that you do now. I was totally freaking out after my surgery, worried it didn't work, scared by every pain... it sounds like you're on the right track. (I also had surgery with Bitan) It's a huge surgery and it will take you a long time to recover.

I'm now 7 months post-op and am postive that my surgery "worked". It's a slow process... for me each week I gained something new, could walk further, sit longer, take less pain killers... then one day it just hit me - things were a lot better and I was able to relax and enjoy the ride. I think I hit that point around 3 months post-op.

Things will get a lot better after you are beyond the 6 wk point. That's you're first big milestone. I couldn't get comfortable sleeping until around then either.

Here is a suggestion - I wore a pedometer all day everyday the first few months and it let me see that each week I was walking further and could do more... that really made me feel better and helped calm the nerves.

Take care and please take it slow.

Texas-T

Sharon · #10 01-22-2007, 10:37 AM

Texas-T Thank you for your e-mail. It was so reassuring to me. My hardest thing is I am a very active person , so it is hard to make myself rest!! I did too much this weekend , I went shopping, helped my mum cook dinner and a bunch of other stupid things. Now today my back is screaming I can't believe how much pain I am in. I MUST REST I am only making the recovery longer for myself!! I too am hoping I will notice a big difference in 3 months, that is my goal to have significant pain reduction by the end of march, this is such a long recovery!!
Well thanks again,
Sharon