How do I get thru spine surgery recovery? I need people to talk to

You're welcome, @chefguy23.
I'm glad that the scan showed the screws and bones healing properly. I do hope that your doctors can determine the source of the pain and that you can get relief soon...hopefully, without the need for additional surgery. Wishing you all the best!

@chefguy23 Lumbar spine surgery can be a difficult recovery as I'm told. My spine surgery was cervical. What does help is to stretch out the scar tissue that gets tight with therapy called myofascial release. We all have tight muscles, and surgical scar tissue just adds to that.

Neuropathy - "Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) for treating compression and pain"
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/
There is a provider search at http://mfrtherapists.com/

The other issues that can mimic spine problems are muscle issues with connections between the spine and pelvis. Here is a link to a technical article that explains. This is something a physical therapist can help with.

"How to identify and treat lumbar plexus compression syndrome (LPCS)"
Posted on March 30, 2017 by Kjetil Larsen
https://mskneurology.com/identify-treat-lumbar-plexus-compression-syndrome-lpcs/

Thank you Jennifer very much, so appreciate the help. I’m wondering if the PT & more stretching will give that sciatica nerve a little more breathing room?

Me as well my44 🙂

@chefguy23 There's only one way to find out. What have you got to lose?

😊👍🏼

@chefguy23 welcome to the group you chose a great place to come to learn a lot from others and share your story for others to learn! I’ll try to shorten my story up I had an L4 -S1 fusion April 17 2023 L5 was loose. 3 weeks later I was twisted then the next week the PA said I could lift up to 25lb, bend, and twist. Wish I had it in writing because I came home and bent down to dry my lower legs and there was a burning that never improved! After being told there’s nothing wrong get a stimulator my physiatrist agreed with me and sent me to 3 other Neurosurgeons who done no additional testing said do a stimulator finally he referred me to Mayo in Nov 2024 after going there and getting a CT Scan I was told there’s a loose screw but leave it alone and get a stimulator. I just had the permanent stimulator put in last Tuesday it was great 95% pain free until I accidentally was feeling great and bent to far now the pain is back. All my symptoms: felt like fireworks in my legs I didn’t know which nerve was going to be triggered, it messed up my pelvic( I can rub the pelvic and the pain goes to the testicles but without getting me out of the wheelchair and checking me I was told I don’t have that) my pelvic was so sensitive I couldn’t sleep in bed for 8 months until I got the stimulator. Vibration of the Bass in church on the wood floor would trigger the nerves from the tailbone around my hip to the outside of my thigh or to the groin or the inner thigh ( that I’ve read is danger zone once again not checking me said no you don’t have that either ) . I do water walking I can’t walk backwards or sideways without pain, if I try pelvic squats in the water my back pops every move. I have spinal stenosis, was fused at L3-L4 in 2002. Ice packs help, I can’t advise medicine because I’m on so many I’m not sure what’s really helping what! I had to go thru pelvic therapy which was very helpful! I went from working overtime as a pipefitter to be being a disabled 52 year old holding down a recliner.

I have repeatedly tried to send this in a private message but could not.. Here is the message I have been attempting to send. Hope you see it here

I just posted what i think is important information in chronic pain that i would like to also appear in spine

I have done extensive research....i have had the research reviewed by someone who does research for the NIH. I many links to all of it. i think this important information for the spine community to be aware of...
here is a link to the research fyi https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40122-024-00697-

see my chronic pain post regarding ...Suzetrigine. If you think appropriate please add to spine. Thank you for your attention.

hi. i just started an account with the mayo clinic and you are the first post u clicked on. i had two spinal surgeries as well this past year and it did not turn out ideally. i am 51 years old and i hide my pain because most people don’t understand what you are going through. i had c3-c6 dissection and fusion of discs and the verbal collapsed due to the hardware. and then i had c2-c7 dissection and fusion of vertebrae. it’s been a tough one for me and if i could go back in time i would just let myself be on the couch and let someone take care of me. there is no shame in that. none. also i got a memory foam set of pillows if you can call it that from amazon and that made my life much easier. you can put the pillows together however is best for your comfort and need of support for whichever area you need it. that was a game changer for me. hang in there! be patient as i’m being told constantly. it takes time.

@kimnorseth Welcome to Connect. I'm sorry your outcome from cervical surgery was not what you had hoped for. Did you have bone quality issues that led to the collapse after surgery? I know that spine surgery is tough. If you were dealing with significant spinal cord compression, surgery to decompress the spinal cord may prevent further damage and dysfunction.

How long has it been since your surgeries?