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Pain a year after operation for spinal stenosis, L4, L4

Spine Health | Last Active: Feb 17 12:05pm | Replies (18)
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@upstatephil

To elizadolittle (I love that): recovery from major spine surgery is long and frustrating and at times infuriating. I’m certain you’ve felt all that and more.

Setting your post-op expectations correctly is helpful. You will not waltz out of the hospital upon release! Bone repair can take your body as long as 12 months and there’s little you can do (PT, drugs, stretching, anything…) to speed the healing process.

I suggest keeping a regular diary describing your progress that you can refer to in order to “see” your slow progress. But it can be frustrating nonetheless!

I am exactly (to the day) 12 months post 4-level cervical work and it is 98% great. Nine months post lumbar and that recovery is predictably less complete.

Good luck! Keep a positive attitude and keep your focus forward looking. Taking permanent nerve damage off the table is well worth your current struggles!

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Replies to "To elizadolittle (I love that): recovery from major spine surgery is long and frustrating and at..."
elizadolittle | @elizadolittle | Feb 14 12:10pm

Thanks for your comments. I agree about not setting your expectations too high. I just wish I had that information about a year ago. I am noticing some more improvement just this last week. I don't have to go to the bathroom every time I turn around.

I killed the pain yesterday by just using an ice pack. This is the first time I've tried that. I usually combine it with Tylenol Extra Strength. No sleepy, drowsy feeling either.

Thanks for your positive advice.

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Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | Feb 14 3:39pm

@upstatephil Congratulations on your surgery anniversary. I think we all do that and take note when the history of a date of surgical intervention changes our lives. Transplant patients do this too. It's funny, I also broke my ankle, but I don't remember what date. I do remember the date I had the surgical plate removed from my ankle. Perhaps it's because I planned that, but didn't plan for the injury and the initial 2 surgeries to fix it.

Jennifer

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