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Post-op Laminectomy. Week 2. This recovery is hard. Should it be?

Posted by denman55 @denman55, Apr 29 11:47am

I had a Lumbar Laminectomy/microdiscectomy on April 19th.
I was discharged on April 21st.
I am finding my recovery to be very challenging. I'm in pain, weak, fatigued, have bowel/bladder issues, and overall just don't feel as if this recovery is going .
Has anyone else had a Laminectomy and what you're post-op experiencce?

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anoyymous123 | @anoyymous123 | May 26 8:45am

Over a year ago my wife was talked into by spinal surgeon to do a laminectomy, discetomy, intertranverese fusion
plus removal of 3 interpinious spacers. Net result pre surgery moderate stenosis with back and leg pain n d after
operation a virtual cripple with spine now misaligned can hardly walk anymore. for over a year. You can always find someone to operate on you the question is finding someone ethical who wont operate. Consider yourself lucky is pain post op lasts only a few month. Tried 2 different surgeons for 2nd opinion neither would commeny on failed op.

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Phil, Alumni Mentor | @upstatephil | May 26 9:01am
In reply to @bkatz43 "Hi Folks, I have the pleasure of having recently a spinal fusion/laminectomy for severe spinal stenosis...." + (show)
@bkatz43

Hi Folks,
I have the pleasure of having recently a spinal fusion/laminectomy for severe spinal stenosis. I suffer from severe constipation so I opted out of any pain killer post op except for acetaminophen. No opiods. Recovery for the first 4 weeks was like out of a horror film, but I made it and am now in week 7. Started p/t for back/legs and only have tingling in mostly left foot. The real issue for me is this chronic constipation. I have tried everything but pharmaceuticals either make me extremely crampy, bloated, nauseous, full, no appetite, et.al. I have also tried fiber supplements and I believe I ingest enough water, but that doesn't work either. RD's suggestions for a fiber smoothie only cramps me up. I literally do not know what else to do. I have good days followed by very bad days. Sad thing is that the constipation affects my walking (significant pain), hence back recovery. Any thoughts?

Beth

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@bkatz43 - You didn't mention which area of the spine you had surgery? From your comments, I figure lumbar...

First off, I'm smiling. Congratulations on soldiering-through that trying initial recovery period. It can be rough but you've reached a good place where you can start to regain strength and function. It can still take awhile from the seven-week point...Set your expectations accordingly.

I get the constipation challenges. I had those, too. Also took no narcotics. Yet I was so bloated and constipated I even went to the ER at 10 days post. It took awhile but I got this issue "fixed" and I believe you will find a way to return to regularity.

Good luck and congrats on your early success!!!

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1 reply
Phil, Alumni Mentor | @upstatephil | May 26 9:23am
In reply to @karen1986 "I am 3 months post op L4-L5 laminectomy. At one month post op was doing well...." + (show)
@karen1986

I am 3 months post op L4-L5 laminectomy. At one month post op was doing well. Two weeks later pain increased, standing and walking less than a quarter mile results in intense pain. Did PT for 3 weeks and continue to do exercises/stretches as directed. Not getting any relief, pain in back down thigh. Repeat MRI unremarkable. MD doesn’t seem phased. I’m looking for a second opinion.

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@karen1986 - The recovery process from lumbar work can be very frustrating at times. I learned that recovery is NOT a linear process - that is, I didn't experience anticipated regular, small improvements every day. Instead, there were times when I went backwards! How can that be?

Two thoughts: (1) Maintain a journal to describe how you feel as you recover. This will help you in expressing your recovery frustrations as they naturally occur - plus you will be able to more easily identify real improvements. I was losing track of time and there were occasions where I thought I was making no progress... but by going back a week or two or three in my journal I could readily identify some elements of improvement. (2) I hit the wall with my initial PT people. They were great but their approach didn't take me very far. I asked around and tried a physio-therapist (a little different that a PT person). She came at my recovery in a different way and I have made tremendous progress under her direction! Don't be bothered by making a change...

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bkatz43 | @bkatz43 | May 26 11:08am
In reply to @upstatephil "@bkatz43 - You didn't mention which area of the spine you had surgery? From your comments,..." + (show)
@upstatephil

@bkatz43 - You didn't mention which area of the spine you had surgery? From your comments, I figure lumbar...

First off, I'm smiling. Congratulations on soldiering-through that trying initial recovery period. It can be rough but you've reached a good place where you can start to regain strength and function. It can still take awhile from the seven-week point...Set your expectations accordingly.

I get the constipation challenges. I had those, too. Also took no narcotics. Yet I was so bloated and constipated I even went to the ER at 10 days post. It took awhile but I got this issue "fixed" and I believe you will find a way to return to regularity.

Good luck and congrats on your early success!!!

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Thank you. BTW, it was L4-5 . Pretty bad.

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ikcooley | @ikcooley | May 26 11:21am

I am curious how recovery is going for you now denman55. Are you in a better place? Is recovery moving along?

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1 reply
denman55 | @denman55 | May 26 11:27am
In reply to @ikcooley "I am curious how recovery is going for you now denman55. Are you in a better..." + (show)
@ikcooley

I am curious how recovery is going for you now denman55. Are you in a better place? Is recovery moving along?

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I was just discharged from the hospital yesterday after having an L3-L5 spinal fusion. I am on pain medication every 4-hours. I'm not moving to well and I'm moving slowly, with the help of a walker, and sleeping in a recliner. This is going to be a very long recovery, my surgeon told me it will take me all Summer and beyond to recover from this surgery. Wish me luck! Thanks for asking. I appreciate your kindness.

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2 replies
jenatsky | @jenatsky | May 26 12:47pm
In reply to @denman55 "I just got home from the hospital yesterday after having a L3-L5 spinal fusion. Because I..." + (show)
@denman55

I just got home from the hospital yesterday after having a L3-L5 spinal fusion. Because I chose to take Hydrocodone in the hospital for the pain, I ended up one heck of a case of severe constipation, and nothing would work to help it, until one of the nurses decided to mix prune juice with Mir-A-Lax, and that was the key, but now I'm home and faced with the same dilemma because I am taking the Hydrocodone. I'm going to eat Sunsweet One's every day to help the process along in addition to the stool softeners. But this recovery so far is difficult, the pain is challenging to keep on top of and I just can't move my body normally.....This is definitely going to be a long recovery.

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Glad you made it thru in one piece. The anesthesia, nerve damage (bumping, moving) of nerves, narcotics, lack of body movement, etc all play a part in your misery. You really need to get off the narcotics to help your peristalsis in your GI system. Fluids, fiber, fruit is what works for me the best. Once you’re are up and walking more things should move hopefully.

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denman55 | @denman55 | May 26 1:56pm

Oh right now my pain levels are such that the narcotics have to stick around awhile yet. Fluids, movement, Colace, Sunsweet Prunes, Mir-A-Lax are all being used. I don't think I want to do this again, it is definitely no fun and I have visions of going roller skating this year! 🙂

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cheryljar | @cheryljar | May 26 9:15pm

Has anyone had surgery on T12-Ll ? I have a tumor located in that area of the spine and from what the doctor said it is a very serious surgery.

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anoyymous123 | @anoyymous123 | May 27 7:13am

Same story. Wife Still having unbearable pain over a year from above laminectomy operation. Saw another spine surgeon for 2nd opinion and he said he knows doctor whom did operation that caused spine to shift and he said go back to him and he is a great guy and i know him. Second surgeon also said his office made a mistake in calling wife in because if they had known about previous op would never have made 2nd opinion appt for wife. Why would wife go back to original surgeon who turned her into a near cripple and his only suggestion is "I can fix problem with an oblique operation Bottom line-Here in NY no spinal/neruo surgeon will comment on previous
operation done by another.

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