Spine Lumbar fusion surgery

I just read your post, and could not believe how much it matched my situation. I am a 59-yead-old female, and I spent years in pain following a back injury I received working on the job as a police officer. I have undergone several surgeries, to include joint replacement surgery in both thumbs. I have a very high pain tolerance, and nothing ever puts me down long. My lower back pain was more of an ongoing annoyance that kept me from being about to run and work out like I wanted to, so I underwent spinal fusion surgery last Monday (03/31/2025). Since coming home from the hospital, I have pretty much been bed-ridden. Though though the surgery pain is pretty much gone, the sciatic pain I have now in my legs, back buttocks and lower extremities is unbearable. I, too, am on all the same medicines, though I have weaned off the Oxycodone due to the severe side effects. The pain comes in these waves or episodes, mostly late at night and very early in the morning. All I can do is lie there and cry because it’s so unbearable. I finally couldn’t take it anymore so I took the Oxycodone again, and then I wound up in the emergency room dealing with the side effects. I am depressed and terrified now that I’ve made a huge mistake having this surgery and this might be my new norm. I am worn out and am thinking I wish I hadn’t done this.

My heart goes out to you. I have had two lumbar fusions since 2021, the last one a revision of L4-5, with an extension down to S-1, which helped me a lot. I know I need further surgery, for my neck and pain on my left side of buttocks.
My advice to you, and others who stop the oxycodone so quickly after surgery due to side effects or feeling drugged, is don’t! It is so important for your recovery that you Not be in such terrible pain, and to get some sleep! Sleep is so restorative. Please, take your pain meds, and take Mira lax, or whatever the doctor ordered to keep your bowels healthy.
I agree with coach Dave, this pain you describe sounds like you need a consult with your surgeon.

I just had lumbar spinal fusion L4-L5–S1 using ALIF at age 56. The first procedure was through my abdomen and second part 2 days later involved putting in metal rods and screws from 2 incisions on the back. This is after 20 years of constant lower back pain that was mostly intense aching pain in lower back, though I had occasional sciatica too. I managed via pain meds and exercises (bike riding and racing, lots of stretching every day) that were very helpful, and various surgeries/epidural shots etc. that were not. Looking back, I don’t think I was fully “managing” the past 2-3 years, as my work capacity in a desk job declined. Finally, my pain hit a higher level with some sciatica mixed in and suddenly I could not work or enjoy the sports that helped me before. That’s when I finally arranged to get fusion surgery. I’m now 11 days post op, and I’m having periods of intense pain in the lower back and buttocks that keep me from sleeping. Last night I slept one hour. Tonight it’s 4:20 am (lol) and I had maybe 3 hours of sleep so far and my buttocks hurt so much.

How long should it take before there episodes come to an end? What can I do now?

At present, I spend most of my days in a recliner chair mixed in with short walks. I also sleep in the chair. I’m taking oxycodone, Tylenol, Lyrica, Celebrex, Cyclobenzaprine, and some meds for constipation. I’ve tried ice on the back which helps a little.

Any insights would be much appreciated!

So many helpful responses! Thanks, and I wish you all the best. Here’s my update at day 14 post op. I went to the hospital ER yesterday morning, because I deteriorated to the point of having 72 hours straight of mostly agonizing pain and almost no sleep at all! After 9 hours in the ER, new CT and MRI scans, the surgeon changed my meds. Yesterday I was totally shell shocked, but now the past 14 hours have been a miracle! I had 4 blissful sleeps of 1-3 hours each. I still had some major pain while I was awake, but not as bad.

Wow, you had almost the same exact procedure I had last week. It’s been one week postop today and I am having great difficulty sleeping. The only place I have found any relief, like you, is in a recliner.. I think I am taking just about the same medication that you were for pain. Can you tell me what they put you on after your trip to the emergency room? Curious if it helped. Also curious as to how you were doing almost 2 years postpartum if you are still looking at these posts.

Yes, hang in there, as this too shall pass and hopefully quickly! I am praying for you mlbobcat. On May 31 & June 2, 2023 I had pretty much had the same surgeries as you. An ALIF first, double fusion (L3-4, L5-S1) and a PLIF revision at L4-5. I had my first fusion 13 years ago and totally agree the healing process is slow. The TENS idea could be very helpful. RE: Meds I was taking post-surgery all of the same drugs as you currently are, minus the Celebrex as I was told the NSAIDS could slow up the fusion process. After discussing via the patient portal with my surgical team I started at 3-weeks post op weaning off all of the pain meds (except Tylenol). I found they were delaying my progress since I was so foggy, unable to focus and were limiting my activity (walking) throughout the day. The walking (my surgeon says no PT until the fusion has occurred) is so important to get the healing process going. Therefore, at bedtime, since my activity level was so limited, I did not sleep as well as I should have. Without the meds, I started walking a lot more outside and the really good news is my leg nerve pain has slowly improved and I am now sleeping very well. I also have many pillows in my bed, under my knees when on my back or behind my back when on my side. Prior to bedtime I ice up front & back. Since my brain can focus again I enjoy reading at bedtime and this helps distract my mind from the leg nerve pain. Prayers you can get some good sleep real soon. We're all in this together! I am ever grateful for a significant reduction in my pain and pray that you will find the same soon. We all want to get our lives BACK in control and not vice versa have our backs in control of our lives. Bless you!
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phil. 4:13

I just had lumbar spinal fusion L4-L5–S1 using ALIF at age 56. The first procedure was through my abdomen and second part 2 days later involved putting in metal rods and screws from 2 incisions on the back. This is after 20 years of constant lower back pain that was mostly intense aching pain in lower back, though I had occasional sciatica too. I managed via pain meds and exercises (bike riding and racing, lots of stretching every day) that were very helpful, and various surgeries/epidural shots etc. that were not. Looking back, I don’t think I was fully “managing” the past 2-3 years, as my work capacity in a desk job declined. Finally, my pain hit a higher level with some sciatica mixed in and suddenly I could not work or enjoy the sports that helped me before. That’s when I finally arranged to get fusion surgery. I’m now 11 days post op, and I’m having periods of intense pain in the lower back and buttocks that keep me from sleeping. Last night I slept one hour. Tonight it’s 4:20 am (lol) and I had maybe 3 hours of sleep so far and my buttocks hurt so much.

How long should it take before there episodes come to an end? What can I do now?

At present, I spend most of my days in a recliner chair mixed in with short walks. I also sleep in the chair. I’m taking oxycodone, Tylenol, Lyrica, Celebrex, Cyclobenzaprine, and some meds for constipation. I’ve tried ice on the back which helps a little.

Any insights would be much appreciated!