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Hi, I’m not new to Mayo, new to group. Lumbar fusion

Spine Health | Last Active: Aug 20 7:07am | Replies (8)
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@rwdixon4

What was interesting about how I posed the question, I thought it was detailed enough. I am hoping to get completely off pain meds after this surgery? I am also retired and have been debilitated for some time with scoliosis and taking narcotic pain medication, acupuncture & chiropractic. In the last few years I have reduced the amount of pain meds by quite a bit I think this may help me in the recovery of this procedure. I hope I don’t need any pain meds at all after the recovery. That would be fantastic and it is one of the primary reasons for doing the procedure along with stabilizing and straightening the spine. I know I am not going to find anyone on here that has had a spine fusion that cured there chronic pain and had a smooth recovery as this spine fusion is a difficult procedure for the body to handle..... However I have heard from people that say this procedure gave them there life back and "WE ALL NEED HOPE" ! ! !

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Phil, Alumni Mentor | @upstatephil | Aug 20 7:07am

@rwdixon4 - Let me respond with my view on your original question: What pain meds to expect post-lumbar fusion. I was 70 years old and in reasonably good physical condition when I had your procedures covering L2-5. This sort of lumbar work can be a big deal as you consider your spine is the structure that basically supports the majority of your body's weight. Lumbar work can cause pain beyond what is experienced from cervical work (which I've also had).

I have both a high tolerance for pain and a low tolerance for narcotics and oxy-type meds. After a few days, I was only taking Tylenol and my pain was well managed. Was it easy? No. Was it manageable? For me, it was. Of course, everyone's experiences are different. (You will get tired of hearing that - though it is absolutely true.)

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