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L4-L5 / fusion (Spinal stenosis)

I'm sorry to hear of everyone's pain.
I'm 57, 4 weeks post L4-L5 lumbar fusion surgery, (I had a bulging disc). I have no idea how and when it happened . Having the surgery has of now, was the best decision I made.(I can sit in a car, I can walk, all pain free) I didn't need any of my pain meds 4days after my discharge, my only discomfort is where the incision is still healing and the worst right leg pain only at bed time. I couldn't sleep, constant leg pain, tingling right big toe (never when standing). I was told to take the meds for the pain when needed, I told them those meds is not helping my leg pain. I was told to give it few more days, I called again left msg, 2 days later the nurse called me, I was giving a prescription for gabeping ( I didn't tell nurse the leg wasn't as restless/ painfull)  so today will be my first day taking the gabeping, my 6 weeks follow up is 2 weeks away, I will soon start PT, hopefully the leg pain be totally gone. I do walk a lot and right leg is slightly tender so I llimp. Still nervous/ scare about my future. Surgery was not a choice in my case, after 2 yrs of trying everything w/no success I knew I couldn't live with the pain it got worse.  Walk walk and try and wean yourself soon off of meds.
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7721494 tn?1431627964
You are one of the lucky ones.

The best way to maintain your low-pain state is to get the right kind of exercise, and avoid postures that will stress your lower back.

Getting the weight off your gut also helps reduce stress on the low back.

A good rehabilitation doc or PT can help you with behaviors that will help maintain your state.

As far as weaning off pain meds, that is always best done with medical supervision, and taken very slowly.

Opioid withdrawal is a dangerous medical condition that can cause death in certain at-risk patient populations.

Wean slowly, 5-10% a month, max. If your current doctor does not have the skills to help you wean, see a board certified pain doctor -- they know how to do this.

Best of luck.
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Avatar universal
Sounds like you're making great progress, I was still in a lot of pain 6-8 months after my lumbar fusion. Be careful with the Gabapentin until you get use to it, it can make you extremely drowsy and a little unsteady on your feet. It should help, it helped me with the nerve pain in my leg.

Perfectly normal to be concerned about your future, but based on how you're doing so far. I'd say the future looks very good.
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