@karenoharmon: Hi,Karen, I read your profile after seeing your comment about what I posted. I’m very interested in your post-surgery journey since I had a spinal fusion 3 months later than you. The fatigue you noted is relatable. Fixing a meal, taking a shower, doing laundry—all were exhausting and I had to take a short nap after these tasks. This exhaustion has improved. My energy level is much better. You’re absolutely right about major surgery impacting mind, body, and spirit. The medical profession needs to improve upon advising patients about the possibility of these post-surgery aspects of healing.
Do you still feel the hardware at this point post-surgery? I feel the hardware when walking—it’s like a weight in my lower back that kinda freaks me out. It’s probably where the spine is fused to the pelvic bone. Getting into bed is awkward and still tender during movement to get comfortable. I had numbness in my left leg after sitting for ½ hr or more. The only way to relieve it was to lie flat on my back. This worked for a while until I started experiencing pain in left leg. Pain continued until it became unbearable and I went to ER. I was put on Fentanyl, Toradol, and valium. Numbness and pain now gone, (so are the drugs) but driving for more than ½ hr. is uncomfortable and a strain on my sciatic nerve. I wear a brace when driving to help absorb impact from bumps on the road and to keep me from slumping because slumping bends the rods along my spine. I can no longer prop in bed with pillows and have to sit in chairs with straight backs. No need for walker or cane anymore, but the brace in worn when out for a daily walk. The brace helps relieve the uncomfortable feeling of heaviness in the lower back with every step that's taken on pavement.
Until stumbling upon this Mayo forum, I had a lingering sense of loneliness because there was no one to communicate with who understood the surgery, it’s life-altering impact, physical limitations, and post-surgery experience. I’m so grateful to know I’m not alone in this journey. No wonder the Mayo clinic is world-famous!