How much pain is normal after low back fusion?

[marytfree]

Can anyone help me with sharing their story of how much pain they had after surgery? I had a lower lumbar interbody fusion 2 1/2 weeks ago.  Before surgery I had Osteoarthritis and DDD which caused stiffness and back pain that got worse at night and early AM.  But ever since the surgery I am having terrible pinching nerve pain, I feel it with each step as I walk, I have terrible pain getting up and down from a chair or in and out of a car.  I basically went into surgery to help ease the arthritis and I feel like a crippled person now.  I had a follow up appt with the doctor 8 days post surgery and he said is to be expected and is normal....but how long will I have worse pain than before surgery?? I wish I never would of had it!  I am scared to death this was a terrible mistake and something is wrong! Please help me with your advice.
Mary

[marytfree]

Thank you for your response! It has been 3 1/2 weeks now and I'm finally feeling some improvment.  I'm not 100% by any means, but at least I don't have unbearbal pain anymore. Now it's tolerable.  I finally crossed that hump where it's downhill from here.

So for anyone that is going to have a lower lumbar fusion be aware that in my case there was tremendous pain after surgery!  I was trying not to take to much pain medicine but the doctor told me that I have to take the medicine in order to get ahead of the pain. The pain was so bad, I could barely walk and at times it'd make my legs buckle out from underneath me.  But after all this healing pain, I should be painfree eventually the doctor said.

If anyone needs my help or advice plz ask....I wish I had been better prepared as to what to expect after surgery, it would have helped me deal with things better. God Bless everyone dealing with surgery and recovery, it it horrible to go through but worth it in the long run.

[Pippy42]

I havent had fusion surgery but have heard from people who have that it takes quite a while for things to ease up afer these ops. Apparently the fusion doesnt just occur at hte op but fuses over time. Maybe you can talk to another specialist for 2nd opinion?