l5-s1 fusion 10 months ago

[Breeise]

I've had a L5-S1 lumbar fusion done 10 months ago. Back pain is better and I can actually walk now but I get alot of swelling in my lower legs and feet since then. I also need to know if anyone else that has had the same surgery have they had any trouble getting thier left leg moving again. I have a terrible time with my left leg i can't get my socks and shoes on my leg won't bend if i bend it i have alot of pain. Has anyone else experience this problem if so please help what do u do?????   I have notice that my legs swell if i'm up sitting very much also anyone know what is going on. I go to the doctor this month and i will be asking the doctor.

[coach-md]

About 9  months ago, I also had a spinal fusion at L5-S1.  The back pain is minimal compared to the horrific pain that I had before the surgery.  Walking and standing were extremely painful.  For the most part, I can walk and stand comfortably.  Except at night.  I am plagued wth leg cramps.  I am at a loss as to how to relieve the cramping

I was released from physical therapy several months ago.  They seemed to be more concerned about strengthening my core area with pilates exercises and they made it sound like my leg and foot would come along in time.  My doctor also agreed that the numbness would disappear in time.

I am curious as to what your doctor suggests.  Have you found any relief for your pan?

[big orange fayray]

I had Fusion April 05'. L-3,L-4,L-5 and S-1. The surgery was a (success) but, the pain is worse now than before. Since then I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and rum. arthritis. I began swelling summer 06'. I would swell so big I could not wear shoes. My rumy would drain fluid off both my knees and in a couple of days all the fluid would be gone. Within 3 to 4 weeks it was the same all over again. To make a long story short, I am alergic (allergic) to anti-inflamatories. I quit taking them and no more swelling but my body feels like it is on fire. Check your meds and try lasix if your dr. will prescribe them. If the swelling is not to bad the lasix will help. Good luck.
Soft hugs and prayers.
Big Orange Fayray

[bellaantoinette]

I had L5 S1 fusion 3 weeks ago yesterday. I too am having leg pain.. It seems to be when my back/incision swells. I ice the back area and it seems to help the achy, jumping nerve pain in my legs.  I have not had swelling.  Drink tons of water to flush yourself.   So far my back pain is so minimal compared to prior to the surgery.  I am hopeful but I am worried about this leg pain. It was not present prior to the surgery. It's my right leg.  Again I am hopeful and given the surgery was just 3 weeks ago there is so much that still needs time to heal.
I too have fibromyalgia. I've suffered with it for over 12 years.  In addition I have arthritis in my spine.   Not fun.  With FM everyone is so different.   Figure out what is causing your pain, I know that's hard too but it can be certain foods, or environmental issues.  Good luck!

[spcbaldy69]

Hi everyone i have been reading some of the comment people make on theis L5-SI and it's been very helpfull but lots of the problems that people go trew afther the sergery I'm already going trew it b4 the sergery you see I got Med Discharge from Active Duty "Army" do to some pain issues, i have an appointment with my Doc. on June 9th in West Heaven VA to talk about sergery date. I'm having the L5-SI TLIF Fusion done and for a while now I have been having lots of problems with my legs, they swell sometime I get very num,tier and if stand or walk for a short time i get lots of pain also I get very tier and struggel with pushing my self to do things. I was told by my Doctor that their is a small chance of things get better but I think that it's worth the try because I can stand taking Vic or any med for that matter. what do you guys think

[Kachuke]

I'm 24 and I started noticing pain in my spine last may of 08 when I was deployed to the desert.  I went to the doctor on base and he told me I had muscle spasims so he signed me shock theoropy.  The chorman gave me shock theoropy which hurt like hell.  After I couldn't go to the bathroom for almost a week so I went back and told the doc one more time that it felt like the pain was in my spine.  He finally gave me an X-ray and then told me I was fine.  I had to wait a few more months before I was back in the US where I could see someone else.  I seen a second chorman who gave me another x-ray and told me I had spina bifida.  I started to freak out because thats real serious problem.  He set me up for an mri which took three weeks to get.  Then it took a couple more weeks to get the results.  They told me I had a disc protrusion with an anual tear (not spina bifida).  They set me up for phisical theoropy which took another 3 weeks to get an appointment.  Was doing that for two months and I wasn't getting any better more off getting worse.  Told the chorman so they took me out of my battalion and put me in a limited duty station and set me up with a neorologist.  The neorologist said the next step was the epideral which I did and got no relief.  In fact I now have leg pains and numbness randomly.  The neorologist now wants me to get the spinal fusion on my L5-S1 discs.  I was going to wait till may this year (year after I started noticing the pains) But I just recently got into a car accident and now my leg pains and numbness are worse.  So I bumped my surgery to April 6th.  Any info or thoughts on if I should do it or not?  You can also email me at ***@****