Lower back spinal fusion recover, how bad is it?

Think about how to make you car ride home as comfortable as possible. My ride home after surgery was very painful. We had a very comfortable vehicle to drive but that just wasn't enough. Travel smooth roads and avoid all bumps if possible.

Someone else said that too. We have a 3 hour drive. What would you say would have made it better?

@wandagoode it’s been a year since my L4-S1 fusion I still carry a cushion everywhere I go. It seems like my wife aims for the potholes.

@wandagoode it’s amazing things you learn to do differently the grabbers are my best friend especially picking my cane up when I drop it. I had an L4-S1 fusion April 2023 pain got getter then 3 weeks after fusion someone put their hands on my shoulder and twist me. Seen a he nurse practitioner on week 4 was told it might be a set back but I could start lifting 30 lbs( I started ll barely lift a gallon of milk) and bending and twisting after showering that night I bent down to dry my lower legs and felt a burning across my back. Neurosurgeon didn’t recommend no brace, said I would only be off work 3 months a year later I’m still off , he kept me off 4-1/2 months and said it’s healed and released me. I met my new family doctor and she signed me off the other 1-1/2 months. My pain is 10x worse but hey I can go play football, everything is healed sorry the surgery didn’t help I don’t recommend any more surgeries. Now I can barely walk with a cane , just got approved for disability yesterday, 29 years as a pipefitter and said I could climb ladders lift heavy pipe. With so much pain and numbness to the testicles and anus, sciatic nerves you never know when they will zap you, physical therapy on land and water didn’t help. I now go get in the water and walk. I was sent to a pelvic therapist that has helped the most . The he tailbone pains still severe it’s hard to sleep since I can’t lay on my back without legs going numb or on my side because legs go numb.

You will have a fresh wound on your spine that needs to heal. Just resting against your car seat will rub your incision with every bounce and turn the vehicle makes. I would try a soft pillow to reduce some of the friction on your wound and try to sit somewhat sideways. Don't travel for more than 30-45 minutes at a time if possible. Get out to walk and stretch your legs. Also try to change your position every 30 minutes while sitting or standing to reduce back pain. You could also lean forward on your car seat to try to avoid the friction. Riding in a vehicle could be uncomfortable for the first two to four weeks. You'll find sleeping on your side will be more comfortable. That helps relieve pain and pressure. In the hospital, they had pillows behind my back so I could sleep on my side. A body pillow would help with that. If you have a vehicle that would allow you to lie down on a soft pad on your side, with pillows supporting your back might be helpful. I had a 9 hour ride home and was constantly changing positions and leaning forward to try to avoid contact with my incision. I never did find a very comfortable position. That would be the one time I would suggest you use your pain medications as directed. Don't try to wean off until after you are home for a day or two. I also went to see a nurse in my family doctor's office to have a wound check a day or two after I got home. They changed the dressings for me at that time.

Oh, I feel for you. Potholes are still uncomfortable and we try to avoid them too. It has been four years since my surgery and the potholes don't cause as much discomfort as they used to. Hopefully you are starting to feel back to normal now and this next year should be pretty good for you.

Oh, my! The twisting wasn't good and lifting 30 pounds at a time that early was really bad. I didn't lift more that 15 pounds for at least a year. I still don't try to lift more than 20. I didn't need a brace either and I think it's probably better not to if possible. Walking in the water is the one exercise I do recommend. The water reduces the stress on your lower body and helps increase your strength also. I sleep on my left side. I pull my legs up but try to keep my spine straight. It took a long time to find a comfortable position. I still get sciatic pain and numbness in my feet. It has taken some time to adjust my thinking about what I can or cannot do. Now, I know that I need to sit when I am starting to feel sciatic pain in my left leg or weakness across my lower back. When my feet feel numb, I need to stand up and walk to relieve the pinch on a nerve. Most importantly, I need to remember that I still have a degenerative spine. There is no pain from L4-S1 but I still have problems with L2-L3. I don't want another surgery either. My job now is to take care of my back to hopefully avoid more back pain and surgery.
Keep walking with your cane and try to most days. I use walking sticks and they help when I walk my dogs, but I don't need to use a cane at all.

Hello. I am an active 65 yo ski instructor with facet arthritis at L3-S1 and degenerating disc at s1L5.
I have been proposed a fusion at S1L5 and facet resection with movement preserving hardware in Germany at L3-5.
My pain is increasing and will only get worse. Thoughts?

I have degenerative discs diseases L 3 and L4 with spondylolisthesis at L4L5. I was recommended spinal fusion L3to L5 With disectomy and implant l3 and L4. My surgery is the end of June. I had an epidural of steroids which helped back pain but it is pinching my back nerves cause nerve pain and loss of strength. My surgeon has had the same surgery and recommended it for me. He said the first two weeks will be awful but, I can go back to activities from 6 months to a year. I am doing it because I'm 49 and I'll hopefully heal fast now than later in life.

I agree with you on your age, and so much to look forward to. I was 59 when I had a spinal fusion at L4-S1, spondylolisthesis as well. The fusion didn't work as well, and had another disc slippage two years ago. After epidurals, PT, maintaining strength and flexibility in the gym, pls I am extremely active on the tennis court, I had a spinal cord stimulator placed in one year ago. various programs were fitted until one appeared to work well with me. I continue to be monitored, as the levoscoliosis aggravates my condition. I continue to play sports at age 69, and hope to be as active at 79 and beyond.