Lumbar Sacral Fusion Post-op Course

You remind me of me. I had fusion at L5-S1 back in 2017. Revovery went okay. About 2 months. But 7 years later, I am stiff in the morning and find it had to sleep on my side (which I have done my entiire life (76 years old now). I have trained myself to sleep on my back. I can pretty much sleep through the night with just one pit stop between 4 and 5 in the morning. Looking back, I don;t think I would do the fusion again. Did not help one bit. Now I have all this "stuff" in my back.

I’ll chime in too. Had the same surgery in 1990 and was on SSD for 5 years following it. The one thing I regret not doing is to have continued doing PT exercises for my back and weight management. I encourage you to never stop moving, stretching, exercising before you develop OA. To a Tee I fit what you said. Can’t sleep on sides, stiff in morning that improves with movement, have PN in my lower extremities from OA and stenosis. Good luck.

I had the same surgery a year and a half ago. I certainly don't regret it--but there have been some sequelae. I do have some stiffness and discomfort-which seems inevitable given all the new hardware and scar tissue. However, this discomfort (I must squat to pick things up and can find it challenging to get comfortable in bed) doesn't seem as pronounced as yours. Do your PTs and surgeon have any ideas about your problems with sleep positions or rolling over? I also have more numbness in my feet, but since I have been a type one diabetic for 50 years the etiology of that is pretty muddy. My surgeon thinks its all from diabetes and my endo and podiatrist think that its largely secondary to spinal issues--but since its stable and more bothersome than problematic--I'm just living with it. Another puzzling problem though is mild pitting edema in my lower legs and ankles. I had significant edema--also in my feet-- in the first few months after my surgery--but that should have resolved by now. My surgeon (a great guy--but he does seem to dismiss possible surgical sequelae) told me that it couldn't be the surgery-and to check out possible cardiac or kidney problems--. My cardiologist and endo are on the alert for signs of these--but also think it possible that the surgery-and the following edema-could have triggered some kind of minor circulatory leakage. I don't understand this well and also wonder about the lymphatic system. Its not a big deal. I wear compression socks and was prescribed a mild diuretic as needed---but wonder if anyone else has experienced this.

Thanks for your kind reply. I was released by my surgeon before these issues & have to wait until mid-May to see him or his nurse practitioner. My PT wants me to see them.

I have diabetes as well, but had no pre op neuropathy. ☮️

I am 2 1/2 years out from surgery.Sept 2021
L4-5with fusion, spondylosis.
I remember The BLT -no bending ,leaning twisting .
dr.made it sound like just recovery but I think it’s lifetime
I try to keep back straight and keep weight close to body .
I feel stiffness in the back all the time. I to find it hard to get to sleep.
I remember how doctors said to use a pillow under your legs on back as well as between knees on your side. I do take flexil and pain med. most times
I have like deeming Lf ankle .ive had neuropathy in both feet 2016.
Lf foot is more pain. Podiatrist says RA Lf ankle. I only have troubles when I relax and going to bed. It feels like restless leg. If I let my ankle be restless then it aches. I had injection in ankle 6 mos. Latter I mention to podiatrist if we could do injection of Cortisone in the area of toes to calm the feet. So he did half in ankle and half in the area of toes. The big toe has a stiffness and pain.
But gout test are within normal range. I do feel like the foot pain is still related to like gout but from fructose. Since I was told to watch fructose (intolerance).

Thank you.

Best of relief for you. ☮️

I know that we all deal with pretty serious stuff on this blog. I feel fortunate not to have the conditions that many of you have. I thought I would add a little bit of humor to help cheer many of you up...

Along with all my pain, an odd thing developed about 6 months ago. I would wake up at least once or twice a week with this stabbing pain in my right big toe. Felt like like someone was sticking a red-hot poker in it. Would wake me out of a sound sleep around 5 am. I would go into the bathroom and take a couple of Tylenol, then massage it before I could go back to sleep. It seems like the weight of the sheet and blankets were causing it.

So, I started sleeping with my right foot sticking out from under the covers at bed time. Amazingly, I have not had an episode since, Only problem: we turn the heat back at night, so, in the morning my foot would feel freezing cold. So, I started wearing a sock on that right foot. Problem solved... no more fiery toe at 5 am and no freezing cold right foot when I wake up.

Anyone else have a similar story to add a little levity to a pretty serious blog? Praying that you all have a blessed and less painful day.

Your story sounds like mine
I know that feeling
Pinching,sharp pins,stiff stick like pin in toe
My foot is left though
Some times I put a pillow at the foot of bed to hold sheets off the toes. I to slept with blankets off the foot
Has anyone tested for gout ?

Yes. No sign of gout. Likely related to my back injury.
Thanks for your input.

Thanks for that feed back
I’ll keep this in mine; its mind boggling to understanding the pain or discomfort