Lumbar Spinal Fusion, Post-Op. Should I have these symptoms?

Just from my experience, it sounds like you are right on schedule. Most of us lumbar fusion folks were told the first two weeks would be the hardest and you are having all the things that make that true. It will get better! Your body has been through two shocks, tissues are healing etc. none of these processes are painless but they do ease up. Try to move around (walking is gentlest), then use ice packs where it hurts and heat packs where it aches. I was surprised at how dynamic those pain/ache events are—waxing, waning and shifting in location. See what works for you. Keep sipping water. Keep pillows of various sizes and stiffness around. You will be surprised one day to find an arrangement of your bedding that keeps you comfortable for a heavenly few minutes! You’ve got this and we are all pulling for you!

@denman55 - @roma76 is right on target. Day six is mighty early in your recovery process. And as roma76 points out - you're actually recovering from two surgeries. Set your expectations accordingly.

My suggestion is to start a personal journal. That's not my thing but I did it anyway. It helped give me a safe place where I could vent and express my frustrations regarding recovery that was slower than I'd hoped. I also found myself losing track of time along the way. Every so often, when I felt I was getting nowhere, I would read some journal entries from a week or two weeks before and appreciate I actually was improving.

Maintain a positive attitude. Follow the doc's orders expressly. Learn to accept that you will be laid-up for awhile. Discover new and interesting ways to occupy yourself. Because your recovery depends in part on new bone growth to fully heal - that's a slow process and there's little you can do to speed things up! Frustrating but manageable.

Thank you. I found your words comforting and reassuring, because right now on Day 7 Post-Op I am feeling a lot of discomfort and wondering if I should feel this lousy right now. Maybe I thought I could walk a little faster, have Zero pain/discomfort, be able to sleep in my own bed instead of this recliner and just go back to "life as normal". It ain't happening yet and probably not for a few months. You're right, I need to set my expectations accordingly. I'm sore, and I'm gonna be for quite awhile. So I thank you again for your words, they definitely made me feel better today on Day 7.

I had fusion of L5-S1 back in 2017. I was told by orthopedic surgeon that my occasional bad days were likely the result of spondylithesis. Fusion would put the vertebrae back in alignment, taking pressure off the affected nerves. I had gotten my pain under decent control with meds after a bad ski fall the year before. I guess I got greedy. But, I was fairly new to the pain game. After all, ortho docs should know best, right? Well, I went ahead with surgery. Took about a month to get out of pain from the surgery. Did a lot of walking. The fusion did nothing to help with those occasional bad days. Before you enter the realm of fusion, Please get a second, even third opinion.

No time for a second or third opinion, the surgery has already been done - first a Laminectomy on 4/19 followed by my spinal fusion L3-L5 on 5/22. I am currently on Day 7 Post-Op.

Hang in there! Keep a positive attitude. There were times when I felt I couldn't go on...but I persevered and I'm so happy with where I am now!

I'm here to talk anytime you want.

This is difficult. Since arriving home from the hospital, nothing feels the same. I'm in discomfort, frustrated that I can't do things, or move the way I want, or leave the house. It's all had an effect on my emotional health. I'm going through many tearful days and nights wondering how long will this last? Doing a lot of reading up on spinal fusion and seeing that thi surgery doesn't work for everyone, and wondering if I will be one of the patients who is left still in pain 3-6 months down the line.

@denma55 - I understand exactly where you are and how you feel. I came to realize that I was actually experiencing post-surgical PTSD. Yes, I recall tearful days (very normal after experiencing a significant physical trauma) and I still have heightened emotions a year later. You're human - of course you will feel out-of-sorts for some time. I suggest you google PTSD. . There are also treatment suggestions.

Mostly, I recommend maintaining a positive outlook. Rather than wondering if you'll be one of those who experiences lingering symptoms...picture that you will experience great post surgical success! Resist obsessing on stories of surgical failures. You are not them...

Hang in. These are the early days...

Ah yes, good point. PTSD. I guess I thought on Day 8 Post-op I would be "pain-free". Silly me.
I guess I don't like being "stuck", not being able to move around freely and do and go where I want. Stuck in a recliner, with pain and discomfort. I'm just not liking this. I guess I'm reading to many articles online about 'spinal fusion' failure surgeries. I'm going to call the surgeons office this morning and talk with the PA about my pain/discomfort and symptoms. Maybe I will infact get thru these 'Early days". I'm just an impatient patient....

@denman55 - Yes...an impatient patient. Not very many folks are actually patient patients.

It is difficult to sit inside and look at the world outside knowing you can't (for now) be out there doing what you want to do. But there's really nothing for it, I'm afraid. Set your recovery expectations correctly. Think about new hobbies you might engage. Maintain a journal so you can better track your actual improvements. You could discover this forced change to your lifestyle can actually be refreshing.

Being self-aware is half the battle. Your words above suggest you're very self-aware and willing to digest new input and adjust your perspectives as needed. You'll get through this...but just not for awhile.