Post op pain one month out

[leagle97]

I had a l5 s1 microdisectomy/laminectomy on 8/13/2014 and am now about one month out. I am having some pain the left butt cheek and pulling on the outer part of the left leg when sitting. I am only working right now part time 5 hours a day but i sit all day. I get up every hour to walk and stretch and when i am walking i do not feel much pain at all. the worst seems to be sitting as it is putting pressure on the butt. The surgeon says that this is normal and that it is post op pain and will over time subside. I am also noticing that i am having slight ankle swelling and have pain on the bottom of my foot when i get home, however when i get up in the morning and have not moved around all day the pain is not there and wanted to know if this is normal and if anyone else has had this issue. This is not a fusion as they just took the herniated part of the disc out. I was told that this is all normal and that over time this will all go away. I noticed that my leg has been swelling and that at the end of the day after sitting all day that my foot hurts and so does my ankle. I have asked numerous times for another mri and they will not give one to me, Is all this pain normal after having surgery or should this be something that i need to be concerned about as i have been very careful with what i have been doing.

[philnoir]

I get it -- we raised 3 boys.

I imagine that the swelling is a consequence of post surgery and sitting for hours.

You've got to get that ankle above the knee when elevated, if only for 1/2 every few hours. Can you somehow lean back and put your foot on your desk? (I realize not every worker has this latitude.)

If all else fails, remember that this too will pass.

Best wishes.

[leagle97]

Thank you for getting back to me as you seem to be the only one that is helping with the question. I never noticed before my back pain started the swelling in my legs. It got real bad when i was not really using my leg for a few months and I was told to take water pills. I am feeling a little better but notice that when i come home from work is when the ankle is swollen the most. The sitting is what kills me but i have to work and try to rest when i get home, however with a ten year old that is kinda hard to do.

[philnoir]

Perhaps you are pushing too hard to come back?

If you really are a "legal eagle" then I know you guys are used to long days, especially as associates. Your medical condition contraindicates this behavior.

From what you say, it may all be a situation where you need more healing, which means more rest. One month is not enough time to heal  from a microdiscectomy. Your disc is still raw, the ligaments inflammed -- your doc don't need an MRI to know this.

Incidentally, sitting in a chair for 5 hours causes anyone's legs to swell. Perhaps you've never before noticed.

Rest, patience, mild exercise. The thing you are missing is that you should lie down and elevate that leg more often before walking. This will help drain tissue, and then the muscle action of walking will pump that fluid back into the circulatory system.

Best wishes. Be confident that you will heal -- just not on your schedule.