Lower back pain four months from laminectomy and L4/5 fusion.

What does your surgeon have to say?

I have severe L4/5 spinal stenosis but have avoided surgery by learning the Gokhale Primal Posture method. Perhaps learning new posture techniques would still help reduce pain?

After 5 months since having L4 - S1 fusion/laminectomy I am still having lwr back pain as well as extreme nerve pain in both legs. I have been going to PT since end of Dec. I am slowly getting better, but it is very slow. Some days I will feel like I am much better only to relapse after being active (walking, squatting, cooking, etc) for a few hours. I am hoping it will just take more time. All of my doctors say so.
I think you will feel better after PT and time.

RE: L4 - L5 Fusion
I had a L4 - L5 Fusion over 30 years ago. I was a "very active" carpenter and I really
never slowed down ( I loved my work). After a year of rehab and walking every day,
I went back to work with little or no PAIN. I am now 80 years old and I am still doing
carpentry (but a little less aggressively). Approximately a year ago I had two discs above
the L4 FUSED, because of some returned "discomfort"- another great success. This surgery
was with plates and screws instead of two rods and bolts.
Good luck to all - remember to walk daily.
PeterPaul

You don’t say why you had the fusion and laminectomy and whether it was traumatic or chronic. If you’ve had a long term problem that you’ve finally taken care of I wouldn’t expect to feel perfect until a year post surgery maybe. Lots of things get cut and fusion surgery is essentially traumatic to your spine to give yourself some grace to heal and don’t rush it. I had my same surgery in 1988 with stainless steel hardware. Be thankful you’ve got titanium.

@jenatsky Excellent advice. Almost 7 months ago, I had L4-L5 fusion, after months of excruciating pain. What a relief! I am 72, F. The surgeon said no "BLT's" (Bending, Lifting, Twisting) for several months, to allow for things to heal up. I could lift a gallon milk jug, and now can lift heavier weights, but I am NOT going to push my luck. And as I have stated before in another post, spine surgery is a delicate, serious procedure. I am being very careful not to 'overdo' it. I declined physical therapy, because I figure between climbing stairs, walking, doing normal household activities like laundry, cooking, basic cleaning, etc, I would keep my body moving and active at a reasonable pace. My advice to others who are concerned about 'getting back to normal' is: Take it Easy! Be kind to your body, listen to what it is telling you and let it heal on its own time. Remember, you don't want to go back to the type of pain you experienced before surgery!

@1christopher
Did you have or do you have osteoporosis and if so how did you avoid having screws loosening?

@northstar25
I am 73 and I had a laminotomy without any fusion which then caused a pars fracture which made my pain come back. I have osteoporosis and have been warned that fusion could be dangerous even with cement augmented screws. I'm curious if you have osteoporosis. And if you do and had a successful fusion may I ask what city you are in.

I'm sorry to hear about the pain. I am looking at having to have fusion would have been warned by a couple of surgeons that it could be risky since I have osteoporosis. Others are saying it's no problem as long as I'm on a bone building medication but I have doubts. Do you have osteoporosis?

@annie I do not have osteoporosis.