post spinal fusion surgery pain

[mishars]

I had spinal fusion on my L5 5 weeks ago, and i am now hurting now more then i ever did before surgery. My Doc said he had the surgery and was back to work in 2 weeks. At 2weeks for me i was hurting so bad i thought i had messed up my fusion. So i went to see my my doc and had an xray and was told it was fine. He gave me a RX and said it was my last one. So i have had nothing for pain since 3 weeks after surgery. Right after surgery in a drugged state I told him my leg hurts worse (I don't remember saying it) and his answer was " Then we shouldn't have done surgery"
I had no problem with my right leg priop to surgery, but now at 5 weeks i have to drag my leg, and it hurts unbelievably, i can't even lay on my right side. Sometimes it feels like ants are crawling under my skin. I can't sleep, 3 times now my leg hurt me so bad i got physically sick.
Also my Doc's nurse says pain is just a state of mind..........My pain is very REAL!!
Is this normal?
How long should i be on pain meds?
Thanks Dawn

[CheriRN7]

Ice, ice and more ice.  Ice helps to decrease inflammation and in turn helps with the pain. It will take 6-12 months for this to resolve but it will. Patience is the key when it comes to back surgery.

[LindaSueBob]

I am so bad now I start caudel injections the 21st for the pain

[Victoriasostress]

I'm 46 years old I just a l4 and 5 twenty days ago I don't feel the pain I had before my surgery but I'm feeling lots of tightness on my back muscles it's that normal to feel I'm confused

[Victoriasostress]

I'm 46 years old I just a l4 and 5 twenty days ago I don't feel the pain I had before my surgery but I'm feeling lots of tightness on my back muscles it's that normal to feel I'm confused

[LindaSueBob]

I have tried the tens unit since my surgery two years ago and it does nothing. going to a pain clinic this Thursday, hopefully they can help me. I can only walk maybe 15 steps at the most before I have to sit down. I know every store with a electric cart that I can use. I hate that I ever did this as well,

[rand4c]

Hello..New here and from MA.. Had spinal stenosis so they did a laminectomy at L3  in 2005 in Boston..Should have stopped there but 2 different surgeons told me I'd need fusion in 4 to 5 years so I might as well do both together..Big mistake..I would never recommend fusion to anyone..They fused L-3 to S-1 and for 18 months all was great..( results of the laminectomy ) ..Then I started to get muscle pain in the area of the surgery in 2007 and it gets worse each year..I have tried everything you can think of..
Injections,chiropractors,massage,yoga,palates,acupuncture ,drugs of course, 4 different PT's ,  exercise, stretching , etc. . I can't walk or stand for more than 15 minutes or so without pain..Nothing works but a TENS..I just wear it when I go for walks or working on my feet..If not for the TENS I have to sit & stretch every 15 minutes or so.. Hopefully a TENS ( mine are low cost ones from Amazon in the $60.00 -$100 price range ) can help some of you.. I'm told the pain probably comes from cut muscles and scar tissue but no one is sure ..I'd be very interested if someone has experienced the same post fusion pain I have and dealt with it effectively .