So glad your new meds are working! I can certainly recall being exited that I first slept two straight hours! Then three. Now - nights aren't something to dread. You're on the mend!!!

I’m 18 days post fusion of L4-L5. You describe quite well where I was about a week ago. I went on a “24” hour clock accepting the value if daytime naps but also quiet awake times at night. I finally switched to all-night-with-potty breaks when I abandoned my quest to be off major pain killers. I just took the oxycodone at bedtime even if I was feeling pretty good. A good icing session before bed was my other change. Finally, I now see big progress in daily energy and reduction in pain to a low back ache if I’m on my feet too long. You seem to be right in the zone of recovery that so many of us face; pain and sleep problems wax and wane and make you crazy with the lack of predictability! In my case, I have jumped from every few days showing progress to every day having big improvement. I attribute this, in part, to accepting that I never know what’s just around the corner and enjoying the heck out of walking again (feels like I have rejoined the human race after having to live with pain that prevented all but the shortest walking or standing effort). I bet you’ll find the same progress on your own timeline. Take care and post how you are doing!

I am also post fusion of L3, L4, L5, and S1, which was done on August 5. I am female and 80 years old. I’ve been battling back and leg pain most of my life but mostly the last couple years. For the last year or so I have been on steroid shots and pain meds, nerve blocks, and an RFA. I also tried to physical therapy, dry needling, and acupuncture. My pain was in my lower back and down my right thigh and lower leg. I finally decided to have the surgery which was now 13 days ago. I was in the hospital for 4 days and then to a rehab facility for a week. I am still on Oxycodone, Lyrica, Celebrex, Tylenol, Metaxalone, and Miralax and have been on these drugs for the last year or so. I am having periods of intense pain in my right buttock, my right thigh, knee and lower leg that can bring me to my knees. I am told by the doctor and physical therapists that the nerves are “waking up.” Nerves grow 1 inch a month so they don’t know how long these periods will last – could be many weeks, months, to a year - “Everyone is different.” I would welcome any a serious help/comments. Thank you.

Every spine is different, as is how the nerves 'wake up'. It took me 12+ months after my L-4-5 & S-1 fusion to be comfortable in bed. Horizontal versus recliner gave my spine relief.

There are no guarantees with spine surgery & it is a complicated organ.

Best of everything with your recovery. ☮️

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.

I had lumbar sacral fusion two years ago. I have had no sciatica symptoms since. I would encourage you to contact your surgeons office & report your symptoms at night. ☮️

I'm so sorry you've had such a bad experience with all of it!! I've had 2 different major back surgeries. Cut and cushions both times were around 12 inches long. I've got metal and many ,many cadavers. It took a lot time both times to heal and feel better. I can walk and if I hadn't had the surgery I wouldn't be. The pain was beyond what I could deal with. My spinal cord and caved in on one area.. I only took strong meds for about 2 weeks. Tampered off because I was very scared of addiction happening. Both times!! I've had many surgeries and the back was the worse. Shoulder was the next worse. You need a really good neosurgeon though..

All good comments to your post. I had ALIF L4-L5 and was in a brace for the first 3 months. No BLT(bending, lifting or twisting). At about 14 days, my nerve and muscle pain was off the charts. I called the surgical team immediately, and they reassured me that because of the large amount of moving my spine to get it back to normal, they expected that this would happen, and changed around some of my meds. PT was allowed after the 3 month mark. It's an uphill climb I will say. Some good days, and some not so good days. I'll be posting a question on here about nerve and back pain persistence 8 months post fusion. Hang in there. There are many others, who have had 100% relief after the healing takes place.