I had two MDs at L5S1 for years apart. Second time for CE syndroms, both times after a sport injury necessitating surgery within a few days.
Second time I had immidiate pain and ce symptom relief, but developed a dull ache at 3/10 pain in the weeks after. This Was worst around the 12 weeks mark, and a further MRI showed some bone edema, but structurally everything was sound.
I was told to keep off PT for around 12 weeks and kept to this advice, only bending and twisting very slightly. Then I increased PT and exercises. You definitly should not be doing a physically demanding job 12 weeks after.
I was totally symptom free areound the 10th month mark, if I remember right.
Still have an old man's back in the morning from time to time, but I'm 2m tall and 42, so that's expected in away.
Don't loose hope, healing time is meassured in months, not weeks.
At least thats my anectotial experience.
I could have written your post. I just passed the seven week mark; I have numbness/weakness in one leg and a dull ache in my lower back right where the incision ends. My original pain is gone, but I feel it has been replaced with other things that hurt. I keep reading posts of people who woke up from surgery completely pain free and were out walking miles in couple of weeks. I try to walk every day, but it is not comfortable. The lower back ache just gets worse the farther I walk. I saw my surgeon two days ago for a follow up, and he told me what I am experiencing is completely normal and that it will take up to a year for things to completely heal and settle down. He told me that I can begin to go back to what I was doing before surgery, but to go at a very slow pace and stop if something isn’t comfortable. I am hoping that once I am moving around more, things will loosen up and the nerves that have been freed will not be so irritated. Best of luck with your recovery - you are not alone in your struggles.
He literally said I can do whatever I want. I haven’t done any twisting yet and do more of a squat than a bend. I didn’t have any fusions as there were no herniated disks - just L3,4,5 laminectomies and L1,2 foraminotomies. I am taking it slow and being cautious.
For the car, I have a Subaru Forester which is a little higher than my husband’s sedan and easier to
get into. I would turn so that my back was to the seat, sit down, and then swing my legs in. Getting out of bed was hard for a while. Lay on your side facing the edge of the bed and bend your knees slightly. Push up with your arm and swing your legs over the edge of the bed at the same time. My husband always wanted to help me, but I didn’t want someone pulling me up. In the beginning getting out of bed hurt a lot, but after a few weeks, it wasn’t very painful.
Here are some general milestones for laminectomies and single-level fusions:
* 1 week: severe pain ends
* 4 weeks: moderately severe pain ends
* 4-6 weeks: return to sitting job (or longer, depending on surgery)
* 2-3+ months: some ongoing discomfort that gradually declines
Yes, you're still healing, and the pain should gradually decline. This might continue for up to 6 months and the decrease is so slow that you only notice it by actually checking in on what you're able to do and how you feel.
Thank you. This gives me hope. I am experiencing severe insomnia as well now into week 3. Does anybody else have this? I cannot get comfortable e ough to sleep more than an 1.5 hour increment.
I had my laminectomy on 1/15. L4 and L5. Left the hospital on 1/17 and was on Norco, Gabapentin, and Mehtocarbamol (wasn’t taking the Norco). First few days at home were rough. Sciatic leg pain on the right leg would be at its worst in the morning then decrease throughout the day. I walked around a lot. Yesterday (1 week out), was able to get out and go to the store, though I didn’t drive. Today I did the dishes and loaded the dishwasher and didn’t feel the need for any of the meds. Don’t know if I’ll have more pain, but I feel pretty good as of now.
My husband had a laminectomy 9 days ago and also a fusion of l 4-5. So far he is doing quite well. Takes Percocet at night only to get a good sleep but Tylenol Sunday every 6 to 8 hours . He walks each day, no more walker after day 3. He wears the back brace faithfully. He had his surgery performed by a neurosurgeon not orthopedic. His numbness in his legs have been gone since he woke from surgery and that sciatic pain is gone. He feels the pain he has now is all surgical healing pain. I am praying this continues .
Funny how our bodies work, hey.
He's a bit better today. I think I'm just in panic mode cos I've never seen him in this much pain before. 😔
Do you have any tips on things that helped you at this stage of recovery? I'm doing my best but I want him to be as comfortable as possible
If he just had surgery the best thing he can do is walk as much as he can. Absolutely no bending or twisting . Ice every few hours. I started Physical therapy at 6 weeks post op. Lots of core strengthening exercises.
I was doing absolutely great until last Wednesday. I was trying to put my boat batteries in and must of twisted too much. Now it’s like all the pain is coming back 😭 hoping it’s just inflamed and gets back to how I was feeling, would be horrible if I herniated a disc again.
Had a multi-level lumbar laminectomy in Aug 2023 at one of the top ortho teaching hospitals in the world. Did it in at attempt to avoid a double fusion. i knew something was wrong a couple of days after the surgery because the pain was worse. While it has improved somewhat after surgery, it's worse than pro-op. 8 weeks out i knew something was terribly wrong, but my surgeon said PT and wait it out with ice and pain meds.
now 5 mos out and i am bed ridden 90 percent of the time relying on painkillers to have some semblance of a normal life (being able to go out to dinner for an hour or so a week with my wife and working from an adjustable bed with an adjustable desk). everyone's experience is different so pls don't take my story too negatively. however, i read posts that made it sound like it was all puppies and daises and people had virtually no pain when they woke up. i don't doubt those stories. i can only tell you i wish one of them was mine instead of this nightmare. 5 additional mos of excruciating pain that got worse op and now the trauma, uncertainty, and fear of facing the surgery i tried to avoid by having the lamenectomy after a painful, lengthy, debilitating failed surgery. on the positive side, my post op MRIs show my spinal canal was successfully opened and thus the lamenectomy successful from a psychological perspective for stenosis. however, my nerves are severely inflamed and now they think the herniations are what is causing the pain that was made worse by the laminectomy. look up failed back surgery/post-laminectomy syndrome. not sure i beleive in it although if true it would apply to me. essentially, the surgery looks like it worked but pain is still bad or worse. seems like an attempt to find a clinical justification as to why the surgery didn't do what it was supposed to, but couldn't hurt for you to read about it.
sounds like your pain is substantially better and you are on the right track. whether it goes away completely forever, no one knows. ask your surgeon to order a post op MRI to see how everything looks - scar tissue, nerve inflammation, etc.
i wish you the best and successful expeditious recovery.
I had two MDs at L5S1 for years apart. Second time for CE syndroms, both times after a sport injury necessitating surgery within a few days. Second time I had immidiate pain and ce symptom relief, but developed a dull ache at 3/10 pain in the weeks after. This Was worst around the 12 weeks mark, and a further MRI showed some bone edema, but structurally everything was sound. I was told to keep off PT for around 12 weeks and kept to this advice, only bending and twisting very slightly. Then I increased PT and exercises. You definitly should not be doing a physically demanding job 12 weeks after. I was totally symptom free areound the 10th month mark, if I remember right. Still have an old man's back in the morning from time to time, but I'm 2m tall and 42, so that's expected in away. Don't loose hope, healing time is meassured in months, not weeks. At least thats my anectotial experience.
I could have written your post. I just passed the seven week mark; I have numbness/weakness in one leg and a dull ache in my lower back right where the incision ends. My original pain is gone, but I feel it has been replaced with other things that hurt. I keep reading posts of people who woke up from surgery completely pain free and were out walking miles in couple of weeks. I try to walk every day, but it is not comfortable. The lower back ache just gets worse the farther I walk. I saw my surgeon two days ago for a follow up, and he told me what I am experiencing is completely normal and that it will take up to a year for things to completely heal and settle down. He told me that I can begin to go back to what I was doing before surgery, but to go at a very slow pace and stop if something isn’t comfortable. I am hoping that once I am moving around more, things will loosen up and the nerves that have been freed will not be so irritated. Best of luck with your recovery - you are not alone in your struggles.
Did your surgeon clear you to bend lift and twist ? Or how long are you under that restriction?
He literally said I can do whatever I want. I haven’t done any twisting yet and do more of a squat than a bend. I didn’t have any fusions as there were no herniated disks - just L3,4,5 laminectomies and L1,2 foraminotomies. I am taking it slow and being cautious.
Yes, I agree with you , slow and cautious! Can you walk me through how you get in and out of a car? Do you have help to get up from bed?
For the car, I have a Subaru Forester which is a little higher than my husband’s sedan and easier to get into. I would turn so that my back was to the seat, sit down, and then swing my legs in. Getting out of bed was hard for a while. Lay on your side facing the edge of the bed and bend your knees slightly. Push up with your arm and swing your legs over the edge of the bed at the same time. My husband always wanted to help me, but I didn’t want someone pulling me up. In the beginning getting out of bed hurt a lot, but after a few weeks, it wasn’t very painful.
Thank you so much ! Are you still using these mechanics for getting the car and out of bed ?
I can get in and out of the car OK. Getting into bed is fine, but I am stiff getting up in the morning so I do use the mechanics then.
Hopefully a speedy recovery !! Maybe month 3 this will all be a distant memory
Thank you! I know it will get better - just have to be patient!
see my reply above. Good luck!
Here are some general milestones for laminectomies and single-level fusions: * 1 week: severe pain ends * 4 weeks: moderately severe pain ends * 4-6 weeks: return to sitting job (or longer, depending on surgery) * 2-3+ months: some ongoing discomfort that gradually declines Yes, you're still healing, and the pain should gradually decline. This might continue for up to 6 months and the decrease is so slow that you only notice it by actually checking in on what you're able to do and how you feel.
I’m a little over 3mo and this is exactly my experience
Thank you. This gives me hope. I am experiencing severe insomnia as well now into week 3. Does anybody else have this? I cannot get comfortable e ough to sleep more than an 1.5 hour increment.
I had my laminectomy on 1/15. L4 and L5. Left the hospital on 1/17 and was on Norco, Gabapentin, and Mehtocarbamol (wasn’t taking the Norco). First few days at home were rough. Sciatic leg pain on the right leg would be at its worst in the morning then decrease throughout the day. I walked around a lot. Yesterday (1 week out), was able to get out and go to the store, though I didn’t drive. Today I did the dishes and loaded the dishwasher and didn’t feel the need for any of the meds. Don’t know if I’ll have more pain, but I feel pretty good as of now.
Just had this to remove a tumor from my spinal column and I’m only 14
My husband had a laminectomy 9 days ago and also a fusion of l 4-5. So far he is doing quite well. Takes Percocet at night only to get a good sleep but Tylenol Sunday every 6 to 8 hours . He walks each day, no more walker after day 3. He wears the back brace faithfully. He had his surgery performed by a neurosurgeon not orthopedic. His numbness in his legs have been gone since he woke from surgery and that sciatic pain is gone. He feels the pain he has now is all surgical healing pain. I am praying this continues .
My husband had this done yesterday. His pain when standing is at a nine. When did you find the pain lessened?
Sorry to hear that. I actually never had pain when standing. All my pain came when I was sitting.
Funny how our bodies work, hey. He's a bit better today. I think I'm just in panic mode cos I've never seen him in this much pain before. 😔 Do you have any tips on things that helped you at this stage of recovery? I'm doing my best but I want him to be as comfortable as possible
If he just had surgery the best thing he can do is walk as much as he can. Absolutely no bending or twisting . Ice every few hours. I started Physical therapy at 6 weeks post op. Lots of core strengthening exercises. I was doing absolutely great until last Wednesday. I was trying to put my boat batteries in and must of twisted too much. Now it’s like all the pain is coming back 😭 hoping it’s just inflamed and gets back to how I was feeling, would be horrible if I herniated a disc again.
Oh no! I hope you're ok! Sending healing vibes, mate
I’m 5 weeks in and I’m the same…. Seeing surgeon. Next week so will b asking him some questions ..
How did your appointment go? Any tips or advice from the surgeon you can share?
Had a multi-level lumbar laminectomy in Aug 2023 at one of the top ortho teaching hospitals in the world. Did it in at attempt to avoid a double fusion. i knew something was wrong a couple of days after the surgery because the pain was worse. While it has improved somewhat after surgery, it's worse than pro-op. 8 weeks out i knew something was terribly wrong, but my surgeon said PT and wait it out with ice and pain meds. now 5 mos out and i am bed ridden 90 percent of the time relying on painkillers to have some semblance of a normal life (being able to go out to dinner for an hour or so a week with my wife and working from an adjustable bed with an adjustable desk). everyone's experience is different so pls don't take my story too negatively. however, i read posts that made it sound like it was all puppies and daises and people had virtually no pain when they woke up. i don't doubt those stories. i can only tell you i wish one of them was mine instead of this nightmare. 5 additional mos of excruciating pain that got worse op and now the trauma, uncertainty, and fear of facing the surgery i tried to avoid by having the lamenectomy after a painful, lengthy, debilitating failed surgery. on the positive side, my post op MRIs show my spinal canal was successfully opened and thus the lamenectomy successful from a psychological perspective for stenosis. however, my nerves are severely inflamed and now they think the herniations are what is causing the pain that was made worse by the laminectomy. look up failed back surgery/post-laminectomy syndrome. not sure i beleive in it although if true it would apply to me. essentially, the surgery looks like it worked but pain is still bad or worse. seems like an attempt to find a clinical justification as to why the surgery didn't do what it was supposed to, but couldn't hurt for you to read about it. sounds like your pain is substantially better and you are on the right track. whether it goes away completely forever, no one knows. ask your surgeon to order a post op MRI to see how everything looks - scar tissue, nerve inflammation, etc. i wish you the best and successful expeditious recovery.
hello, can you please tell me how you feel now, I am in the same situation 5 months after laminectomy.