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

[romeround]

I had a fusion 1 yr ago. The best advice is to stay away from the pain meds. and go to physical therapy asap.

[romeround]

Here is just a suggestion.. please find yourself a good physical therapist, tapper off the meds very slow, ask for the medicine catapress .1 mg 3xday. Catapress will help you tapper off the meds. I have had bad pain and taking way to much pain meds for years. but now I feel better not being on  any pain meds because my natural endorphins has taken over. The process is about +6 weeks to do a tapper of 10 percent down every 2 days.

[PCB12]

I also had a L4-L-5 anterior fusion with a cage 41/2 years ago and my pain just got worse. They said I had pseudoathrothis(it did not fuse). So finally I agreed to a revision. 3 weeks ago they did a posterior fusion with rods. I feel really good some days and I think I overdue it the I am in pain for days but only at incision sites, It feels like something is stabbing me from the inside. Sometinmes my right leg starts jumping around and I can't control it. I don't know what is going on. I sure hope our 2nd surgeries fix us.

[cmomwstyle]

Going through the same thing.  Been going on for nearly a year.  I'm 38 and ready to give up.  I hurt so bad I ask people just to shoot me.  Pain pills dont help.  Wish I had better news for you.

[Vintagebabe]

I say Amen to that! I have tried everything else for nearly 5 yrs ( in 2007 I had fusion of L4 & L5) My husband has had pain in his shoulder for 20 yrs due to an accident,refuses pain killers, so this was his last option He is nearly pain free now after 8 X being treated with accupuncter.I am going this tues. to get started as well.......

[Vintagebabe]

This has helped me understand what might be going on with my back I had L4 &L5 fused about 4&1/2yrs ago.I too was told to get moving the pain was so bad I hurt for weeks!!!! even pilates hurt!.....I finally started Zumba about 1 month ago it puts me down too , but reading whats posted here makes me know that it will get better:)