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Post surgery recovery - L5-S1 microdiskectomy, S1 Laminectomy
by armygirl46r, Jan 20, 2008 12:10AM
Hi all--I got so much good info from this forum PRIOR to my surgery, I want to chronicle my recovery for others to learn from, too. Thanks to all who have posted before me--your experience and your advice helped me prepare for my procedure and recovery. Thank you.
--Hours 1-12 post-op----> Pain Rx, intravenously--Dilaudid. I was on PCA pump, a dose every ten minutes if needed. Needed to pee a lot because the IV fluids and also I drank a lot of water--the anesthesia and pain Rx left me with cotton-mouth. It was difficult to pee, which is to say, I didn't have the muscle control at first. (The muscles were still "asleep", I guess.) I did quite a bit of walking from bed to potty, which made my wound bleed. My bandages had to be changed twice. I had a hard time learning how to log roll the first few times. ADVICE--The BEST way to get up and down from a sitting pos'n is to place all your weight on your HEELS--it forces your back to be straight and makes all your leg muscles work, taking the strain off your back. Place your feet shoulder apart and point your toes out like a duck. It helps--A LOT. Or at least it did for me.
--Hours 12-24 post-op----> Pain Rx was changed to Toridol, by injection. IV Rx changed to Morphine, PCA every 10 mins as needed. The Dilaudid and anesthesia coming out of my body made me ITCHY!!!! So I got benadryl in my IV to stop the itching. Slept for a few hours, then woke up at 4am and couldnt get back to sleep. Did a lil more walking, but not as much as the previous 12 hours. Appetite was back with a venegence! ;-D Only hit the Morphine twice in the 12-24hour period--and once was just because it was there and I couldnt fall asleep! LOL But right before leaving the hospital 24 hrs post-op, I hit it three times in 30 mins because I had about a 30 min car ride ahead of me and just wanted the little extra pharmaceutical help for the ride. Oh yeah--they gave me Colace to help loosen my stool and also IV antibiotics before I left. (I started passing gas in the 12-24 hrs post op.)
--Day 2, post-op-----> Consitpation. Not a lot of surgical or incision pain at this point. Insomnia again at about 4 am. (That has GOT to stop LOL!) Got out and about at the grocery store. Went to have lunch at pizza joint. Was a lil scary at the grocery--wearing the brace under my clothes where people can't see it makes me nervous--afraid to get bumped or jostled, esp with lil kids running around. Hypersenstivity to "touch", which is to say, I don't want people touching me, even my loved ones. I just want to be "left alone" in that way. I dont want hugs and I dont want hand or arm rubbing--my body is already hypersensitive at this point, I don't want more nerves "on alert." (Ordinarily, tho, I am a touchy-feely person...but the last couple of days I just want to be left ALONE!) Oh yeah, I am on Darvocet as needed for pain. I took one before bed last nite, one this afternoon at lunch. Took one just now (approx 2.5 days post-op) because muscle spasms are kicking in. Dont know if its because I was sitting in chair awkwardly or because I couldnt get comfy sleeping on my back so i slept on side w/pillow tucked between knees for a couple hours. in any casse, standing is best right now.
This is my experience so far. Oh yeah, the smallest movements are the hardest (like, scooching into a car seat sideways, or up or down on the pillows to get comfy.) If you have any advice or questions, feel free to post. I'd be happy to offer any help and/or welcome advice.
All in all, thus far, the recovery is fine. I feel ok (considering) and the pain is really just localized. And now it's time to get up because I've been sitting in this chair for waaay too long! :-)
--Hours 1-12 post-op----> Pain Rx, intravenously--Dilaudid. I was on PCA pump, a dose every ten minutes if needed. Needed to pee a lot because the IV fluids and also I drank a lot of water--the anesthesia and pain Rx left me with cotton-mouth. It was difficult to pee, which is to say, I didn't have the muscle control at first. (The muscles were still "asleep", I guess.) I did quite a bit of walking from bed to potty, which made my wound bleed. My bandages had to be changed twice. I had a hard time learning how to log roll the first few times. ADVICE--The BEST way to get up and down from a sitting pos'n is to place all your weight on your HEELS--it forces your back to be straight and makes all your leg muscles work, taking the strain off your back. Place your feet shoulder apart and point your toes out like a duck. It helps--A LOT. Or at least it did for me.
--Hours 12-24 post-op----> Pain Rx was changed to Toridol, by injection. IV Rx changed to Morphine, PCA every 10 mins as needed. The Dilaudid and anesthesia coming out of my body made me ITCHY!!!! So I got benadryl in my IV to stop the itching. Slept for a few hours, then woke up at 4am and couldnt get back to sleep. Did a lil more walking, but not as much as the previous 12 hours. Appetite was back with a venegence! ;-D Only hit the Morphine twice in the 12-24hour period--and once was just because it was there and I couldnt fall asleep! LOL But right before leaving the hospital 24 hrs post-op, I hit it three times in 30 mins because I had about a 30 min car ride ahead of me and just wanted the little extra pharmaceutical help for the ride. Oh yeah--they gave me Colace to help loosen my stool and also IV antibiotics before I left. (I started passing gas in the 12-24 hrs post op.)
--Day 2, post-op-----> Consitpation. Not a lot of surgical or incision pain at this point. Insomnia again at about 4 am. (That has GOT to stop LOL!) Got out and about at the grocery store. Went to have lunch at pizza joint. Was a lil scary at the grocery--wearing the brace under my clothes where people can't see it makes me nervous--afraid to get bumped or jostled, esp with lil kids running around. Hypersenstivity to "touch", which is to say, I don't want people touching me, even my loved ones. I just want to be "left alone" in that way. I dont want hugs and I dont want hand or arm rubbing--my body is already hypersensitive at this point, I don't want more nerves "on alert." (Ordinarily, tho, I am a touchy-feely person...but the last couple of days I just want to be left ALONE!) Oh yeah, I am on Darvocet as needed for pain. I took one before bed last nite, one this afternoon at lunch. Took one just now (approx 2.5 days post-op) because muscle spasms are kicking in. Dont know if its because I was sitting in chair awkwardly or because I couldnt get comfy sleeping on my back so i slept on side w/pillow tucked between knees for a couple hours. in any casse, standing is best right now.
This is my experience so far. Oh yeah, the smallest movements are the hardest (like, scooching into a car seat sideways, or up or down on the pillows to get comfy.) If you have any advice or questions, feel free to post. I'd be happy to offer any help and/or welcome advice.
All in all, thus far, the recovery is fine. I feel ok (considering) and the pain is really just localized. And now it's time to get up because I've been sitting in this chair for waaay too long! :-)
I did not have Spondy., nor did I have multi-level herniation. (I'm told mine was just really, really "big", as in--a LOT of disc material. My surgeons were very good about explaing and showing me everything on MRI ina way I could understand it.)
I had the same buttock/leg pain but only on the left side, as the protrusion was on my left side. No vein issues for me. My feet are cold since the surgery (3 days ago) but i attribute that to healing and my body working extra hard to heal my lower back, so of course, my circulation, although normal, may be a little off in my lower legs/feet. (go figure--I just had major surgery on my lower back! LOL)
What are your questions/concerns? Maybe I can help? I'm not a doctor, but maybe I can at least help you be a little less anxious. My experience continues to be a good one, and I will be happy to share any information/experience I have with you.
Take care of yourself and in the meanwhile, write down all your questions for the surgeon before your appt and do as much research as you can. These forums are great for that. Talk soon!
Any insight to how long the healing normally takes would be a great help. teacher19