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

[nonickname57]

i had the same thing done in 2001 and pain lasted at least 1 yr, he botched the surgery, i cannot stand straight, i recently fell on my back and am having a very very hard time walking without aid, dont know what to do, Dr did a cat scan and said things look good, but why do I have groin pain to where i need my crutches again? your pain will go away dont be afraid, you should also have every kind of pain meds there are out there my DR did give me everything, untill i was well out of pain it will never go away completley I wanted the surgery to be out of pain because i was on my feet all day as a medical assistant and i thought it would help but it made me loose my job, and am now on medicare, it really makes me angry. good luck and do what they say , go to therapy if need be.

[mac815]

to all of the sufferes,my heart goes out to you.I fell from a roof back in 2005 herniating c4 c5 c6 and c7.The pain in my neck was awful.The er dr refered me to my orthopedic surgen who initialy put me on perc 10-325 3 times a day along with 350mg soma.That was all the pain meds he could give me he said.Anyway after a year of waiting for approval from workers comp for the fusioin surgery to be approved he fused 3 levels with no relief.I went for a follow up and told him i was going to kill myself becaus i couldn't live with the pain.He sent me to a phycyatrist who finally prescibed oxycontin 40mg 2x a day along with 2 10-325 pers and 10mg vaium 2x a day.I finally have a little relief.I wish theese doctors would listen better to all of us in real pain.

[kimmi1010]

hey you are not alone,I had the fustion and it made me worse ,but it might work for you,I would weigh the pros and cons and say can I go on like this and can I understade that it could be more painful with surgery. I know these are big questions for anyone and your husband sounds like he has your back so to speak fill him in and know this is a big deal  Ill pray and I know from expear. that doent seem like much but keep looking up change will happen and get a second opion

[kimmi1010]

had fustion of l4 and l5 and six weeks after surgery worse than ever, went to doc. today and he made it sound like I pushed for surgery! Had the discecty first, then fustion fell at a store and hurt back just this last march! tore the spine lining and hernated three disks and cracked one he said no other way then blamed fall on weight! Well you were right dont get the fustion it was the worse mistake I ever made,lining tore again and they put me in hospital for two and a half weeks and my family doc. says when they went in they made the spine lining weak, so now it can happen again! I cant feel when I go pee and the pain is worse now! I have to sell my new lincon because its to low to ground cant bend back right and hard to excuse me wipe my tush!!!!! good call and hope this helps people to not go with surgery on back and no fustion!

[dianaloper481]

I am very truly sorry that u r going thru that pain. If I could, I would take that pain on 4u. I am only 46 yrs. old. proved myself n this mans world, injured my back n 1998. surgery n 1999. fussion, L4, L5, S1, I have a cracked sacrum. I fell out of my big trk. backwards and cracked my spine. tech. I should b parylized from the waist down. but by the grace of God, I am walking, 4 now. i have been restricted from driving, working, I can only work 2 hrs. a day. that includes bathing, cooking, doing dishes, cleaning house, ect. .... well, even my elders remind me that im 2 young 2b on ssi/disability.. it makes me cry. but, if i can take somebody eles pain away thru prayer, and keep mine, then so b it. God bless u and keep u under his almighty wings of love.

[Theresa3858]

Hi, i am 53 years old, i haven't had had surgery yet, but i am due to meet my neurosurgeon tomorrow to see what he suggests. I have been told before by him that i should have a double spinal fusion (L5-S1). I really need advice/opinions please? I have a bulging disc, which is pressing on my spinal nerve and causing severe stabbing/burning leg pain in my right leg, this cleared up by itself for a year but returned about 4 weeks ago, my back is in a bad state, i have a old fracture @ L1 - one disc has fused by itself, and my back pain is extremely bad. But i am a spinning instructor (spinning and cycling are the only things that keep my going, i can only move after exercise and it sometimes really helps my pain), my surgeon will not answer questions, he simply says if you have the surgery we can talk about it then but how can i decide to have surgery if he won't answer my questions? If i have the sugery will i be able to sit on a bike? Is it going to help my leg and back pain? What would you suggest? I really don't know what to do?!!! I am soo terrified of making the leg and back pain worse! Has any1 had the leg pain disappear on its own?