Laminectomy Surgery and Recovery Week 1 Post Op 

How did your surgery go? How are you feeling a year later?

Did the feelings come back in your legs? @camiliaferguson

awesome 🙂

I have the exact same problem!! Good luck on not cleaning. It's been almost 2 weeks and not cleaning is the hardest thing to do😆

Same to you! And yes same as me that my only regret was waiting to have it!

Me too!!! So glad I went for it!

Hope she is doing well!patience is the 🔑

Hey! Hope it’s getting better for you. Hang in there!

how are you doing now??

How are you doing now? Hope you are finding some relief!

Thanks...are you feeling better???

Hopefully it went well!

It’s going to take time. Be patient. It will be worth it when it’s over!

Thank you!!!

151cali omg!!! You are such a sweetheart! It will all be over before you know it. New you...or I mean old you...if right around the corner waiting. You won’t feel a thing. Keep me posted. Would love to hear your progress. Surgery Sisters!

I wish you the absolute best. Mine is next month and prayers for a complete recovery!

i just had minimal invasive surgery less than 8 hours . writing this from hospital bed. feeling great until now. no sciatica. i will see how do i feel tomorrow morning.

Imran Ali how are you now? I am due to have surgery on 10th June 😬

@@ShafHussain sorry for late reply. i am feeling very good. I can walk up to 45 minutes without and break. but i think the wound still need some time to recover internally.

Imran Ali good to hear...how lomg do you think full recovery will take?

@@ShafHussain well its person to person.Some people start working within three to four weeks. I am feeling 80% ok. My back is little stiff and i get tired quickly during my walk but i hope within next 2 weeks i will build more stamina.

Hang in there

Thanks. I’m hanging in! Since my post two months ago, I’ve had a total thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid cancer and will be having radioactive iodine treatment during the week of April 13th to eradicate any remaining cancer cells. I’m healing well and look forward to getting this journey completed so I can finally get my back fixed (hopefully). The bizarre thing about my type of thyroid cancer is that there is absolutely no pain at all. Although I’m taking care of the thyroid stuff, I’m also gingerly walking around with my old back. It all a journey and I look forward to it being completed and getting out of the stay at home order in Ohio! Thanks again got the supportive words!

Oh no! I’m so sorry to hear that!

Lizzette Cruz I’m a MA at a pain management office, I’m not the doc or a nurse, but u can maybe ask a doctor possibly consider a spinal cord stimulator. There is a weak trial, if it works u can go in for the permanent. I have seen it completely change people’s lives. Just a suggestion

@@tonyasager2921, thanks for your suggestion. I'll talk to my (new) pain management doctor about it.

Lizzette Cruz sounds good. I hate that u feel desperate. 11 years in pain management, there are things that work. ❤️

What is the update?

Lissette, Cruz, sorry for the terrible mistreatment of your care and your suffering of terrible pain. Only those of us can say the pain we feel thru back crushing sciatica nerve pain, what it feels like. I have L5 and L4 that are pressing against the sciatica nerve causing untold pain. It's a living hell. For a while I was taking Embeda with the >> [ Naltrexone hydrochloride in it but, it comes in 50 mg. ] It stopped the sciatica nerve pain from occurring that often and I could actually walk without pain for awhile but, they took it off the market because it was a 12 hr pain control and it worked really well. Those devils are stopping at nothing to keep us in pain. The ingredients in the embeda did help alot. Plus the good 2 muscle relaxers and the yellow tiny pill is to reduce inflammation and it helps me sleep, let me know if want the names of them. I mentioned the other ingredient that helped alot with the sciatica nerve pain in the above opening commet too, You should try to get your primary doctor to prescribe it for you. I am almost sure it will take 65% percent of your pain away. You and anybody in pain should ask their primary doctor to precribe it.. See if maybe it will help you>> plus lavander oils with other oils aide in the taking of the pain away too. The Natra>> is not a narcotic either but, helps greatly. I need pain pills meds and the above ingredient to help me walk with no pain. But, many pain clinics are taking patients off their pain meds and are black listing unruling patients. So to not to treat them. They just want to give us steriod injections that don't work!!! I believe the Evil Elite are behind these new pain clinics. The elite know one day soon we will get hit with an astroid or 2 and tons of meteriotes weighing 70 lbs. We are living in the end of days as we know it. Read your bible, it says it very clear. "When the fruit tree buds than the end of days have come" It's talking about when Isreal became a nation in 1948 and that generation born will not pass away before we also see the reversal of the earth's poleswift too, caused by the incoming binary solar system of Nibrui. Which is occurring right now. Than when all that happens plus other disasters we will see an increase of people being removed about 95% percent of the Earth's population will be gone thru rapture and being killed from the oncoming slaughter of the dieasters headed our way. Why do you think the movie theaters are showing the end of days movies because the Elites are too to cowards to let the human population know we are headed to a great disasters. Plus The goven officials, think we are contributing to the illegal med abuse and are coming down hard on us patients>>> who only want the pain to stop in our bodies. But, they don't care one day I hope they will learn how much pain we are in. So they can learn it's not easy suffering for this long. I was born with a leg deformity and not even because of that>> do they don't consider how awful it feels to get around in with crutches and walk with unforgiving pain. . One day I hope I will be comfort and the gnoonies in governments will feel our pain(>> because it's them that are calling for the medical doctors to takes us off our pain meds and on top of that >>> I have cervical neck pain. It not easy at all to have numberous of different surgeries thru out my child years to adult yrs. From having several legs surgeries to gall bladder removal to having the removal of a large size brain tumor removed, that took two surgeries and 4 yrs apart to finally getting the latter brain tumor out of the brain. I was borm with it. So say the doctors that think it caused my under develop left leg not to grow normal. I struggle alot to get around. I will be very very happy when I die and nolonger have to indure so much phys. pain esp the killer sciatica nerve pain. It like living in hell>> it's so painful. Well I hope you convince your primary doctor to give u the above suggestion. It's not a narcotic but, it does bring down the swelling. I don't trust those devil pain clinic medical staff to ask them for the scribe. They're hearts are as cold as ice. One day they will realize they caused alot of people that might take their life because unbearable pain from nerve compression. I would consider back surgery but, after numberous times of having different surgeries. I AM hesitate too, esp because I have dead atropy muscles on the lower leftside. That worrys me if I will be able to move around again. Plus it takes twice as long for me to recover than most people. I need help and prayer but, please ask your primary for the added med to Embeda, it also takes away desires of wanting any other habit forming addiction. Not that We have those habits but, once in a long awhile I do have a drink or two. It's not easy living in this cursed body full of problems. I raised 2 children and did manage to be employed 10 yrs before the brain tumor was discovered and causes me violent body seizures. I was coming out of the second job and I slipped and hit my head. That was how the doctor found out I had a tumor in the brain. Well I will pray for you to get better and please to so for me. I plan to go to my primary doctor and ask her to prescribe the non narcotic med and anyone in pain should too. Take care

wow...how are you doing now?

Raylin Martin how did you do. I’m having bilateral L23 and L34 in a week and a half. I can barley walk now due to pain end within 20-30 yards I lose all feeling in my right leg and gotta take a seat regardless of where I am without using crutches. Even with crutches can’t walk that far or well but do avoid the intense pain and total Loss of feeling and use of My right leg. I’m scared of the post operative pain and of Course will have pain meds but I’ve been on pain meds so long that barley do anything anymore I’m scared. My surgeon swears the pain will be less then I’m feeling daily now but it’s hard to believe. Regardless of how bad it is I’m doing it because my life is essentially over in my current situation. I can barley dress Myself and I am a single parents of a 4 and 8 yr old. I just want the truth of what to expect.

Glad it helped!

Hope you are doing better now!

I didn't have staples...that would have sucked!!! BIG TIME! how are you doing now?

i had surgery today...i didnt have any real pain when they brought me in recovery room, was rather comfortable..i mean the incision pain is minimal just a little sore, nothing at all compared to what ive been dealing with..if anything, i feel weak in the leg that had the issue, thats what im assuming pt will clear up...its amazing how inflamed my right side was and now the leg to the touch feels so much less inflamed..amazing what a nerve could do..he said my nerve was all crunched up, i never, until this problem, understood nerve pain

@@Cardiojunkie1 how are you now?

Oh my gosh, your pain resonates with my experience of a pinched nerve. Excruciating pain. That’s why my orthopedic doctor said I need surgery. How are you now? Can you share your journey? I’m so sorry for your pain and recovery experience. I do hope you’re feeling better. Of course, to the RU-vidr…thank you for posting your story. It really helps the rest of us insights. I hope everyone is doing better now. ❤

How are you doing now??? How long has it been?

OMG I told my husband the same thing, honey they must have dropped me a few times. I am now 3 months post op, I have very minor pain. I had a laminectomy and spinal fusion L4-L5. And I am 71 years young. Good luck to you.

haweygs omg Im still in pain after 2 months . Im scared I mightbe doing something wrong

omg I joked with my family about the same thing, I ended up having a spinal leak during surgery and had low cerebrospinal fluid which cause incapacitating headaches 48 hours post op. they where orthostatic better with lying flat, other than that mine went great. they did have to go back in s second time to check for leak, they couldn't find, figured it was during surgery. spent a week in the hospital headaches lasted 2 wk, nothing would shake it.

Hope things are improving! What’s the update?

@@RebeccaMeyerToo Hey there. Thanks for asking. I had my surgery on the 23th April and now I'm feeling great. After the op the pain was gone like it never existed. I just had incision pain for 12 days. After physical therapy I had like a strange feeling, like very light pain in my left leg nerve, but the doctor told me it is just the reaction of the nerve and it will disappear in few months because my left leg nerve was irritated and almost completely pinched by the herniated disc for too long. Now I do long walks every day, exercise little every day, slowly try to go back to normal life but I still also have a helping hand with groceries and cleaning the house. On 18th June I have another appointment with my surgeon and will check when will I be able to go back to work. Thanks again for asking.

Hope it worked...have you found improvement?

I understand the pain...for me it came and went...my Doctor said...because I waited so long for surgery...my nerve was really pissed off! It takes time for the nerve to go back to normal...my nerve was fire engine red...a normal nerve should be white. Also...my nerve started growing little "tentacles" that were wrapping around one another. He had to release them one by one. It's going to take time to heal. Make sure you are doing nerve glides to help with scar tissue.

Great advice!

jayss10 how are you today? I’m praying for your healing. My 24 yr old son had this situation and finally after surgery his pain level is reduced to bearable. It is the most helpless feeling to not be able to help with that kind of pain. Nothing works. Best of luck to you!

Wow that's crazy but I understand completely...how are you doing now?

Oh my I’m so sorry to hear that. Have you spoken to your dr? I have a feeling this will be a life long commitment for good back care. How are you doing now?

I’m so sorry to hear you are having to go through this again. I understand the loss of 2 years...went through the pain of trying to fix it without surgery...finally almost a year to fully recover from the laminectomy. Prior to all this back nonsense I was very active. Over the course of this past year I’ve gained about 20 lbs for fear of hurting myself again. (I know, abs are built in the kitchen). But I sorta gave up on who I once was. Recently....I decided to give myself a reboot. I went to canyon ranch and had a lot of testing and assessments to find out what I am able to do. The only thing my doctor said is that I should stay away from rotation. After my visit to canyon ranch and wealth of info I got...I started at orange theory. I freaking love it...I’m very careful with what I do, but the modifications the coaches give me are brilliant...only down about 5lbs but my body is definitely morphing. Many of the things we do in class I did while in PT. Don’t look back and say “I should have” look to the future and do whatever it takes to get you back to yourself.

Thanks!

Wow! What a story! I’m just glad to hear you are doing better...i think your case is a prime example of why getting 2nd opinions and hearing from different dr’s is important!

How r u now

Mine was horrific...10 at all times....even contemplated doing the unthinkable....then I snapped out of it and started to fight....ended up with surgery...best decision I ever made.

The surgery I had was different than yours. But they made room for the nerve to heal

How are you today? Like you, I'm terrified.

how are you doing now

Well I am feeling a lot better then I did then, but I still have tons of numbness in my women AreAs and now have bladder issues! I feel a lot stronger now that I’m in physical therapy!

I also wanna mention that I was diagnosed with cauda equina syndrome

@@sambrown7262 i pray one day you get back to full strength

@@sambrown7262 ty for sharing

I think it was around 2-3 months...but I had to stop working prior to surgery because of the pain.

Well the sciatic pain was gone but I had surgery pain and was pretty weak...some people it take more time for the sciatic pain to be gone. Depends how pissed off your nerve is for being pinched!

how are you doing now?

How are you now? And where you from? My dr also suggest me to get surgery for laminated disc L4-5 in hurry.. because my rigth leg.. are already weak... before this I had pain for 3 month.. go for fisioterapi only.. eat supplement and do some strech from ypu tube also.. the pain are gone and I can walk woth no pain but I still can stand for a long time cause my back feel.hurt and weak..

Good luck. Hopefully it’s the only surgery you will need. Some people get one year of relief or 5-10. Them re-herniation. I re- herniated after 2 years and just had ADR. Artificial disc replacement. So.. when I see people complaining one year after surgery, it’s cuz the problem wasn’t fixed, Or only temporarily relief. I ended up having a free MRI review from Enande Group in Germany.... things to look for are decreased disc space, dehydrated, black diseases disc... you should see mine now... it looks like The Terminator! Cobalt alloy prosthetic disc! And most importantly NO PAIN. I suffered for five years!

Keep in mind your nerves are really pissed off right now...give it time. It will get better. Hang in there!

@@RebeccaMeyerToo Even Better on my 6 week followup X-ray we find that the hardware has failed and the intermodal spacer between L5 and S1 has shifted back against the spinal cord and the surgery has to be redone. December 21 they went back in and reaccomplished this procedure. The OR nurse later told me that on screw was "poorly placed, and had actually broken through the bone" another screw backed out and both rods came loose they replaced the hardware and the spacer and closed it up. So now we are back to square ONE. returned home from the Hospital late in the day Christmas Day 2018. Nothing but pain and meds since returning home. Don't let anyone kid you a second surgery on the SAME thing is much more painful than the original and will probably take longer to recover. Will have to wait and see. I guess SOME poor schlubb somewhere has to make up the statistics..............Woo Hoo! Lucky me! the best part is they will bill me to repair their mistake as well.

How are you feeling now?

fdxdsm this is why I have put off surgery for so many years and just suffered. Have heard nothing but nightmares about fusions. I’m dead set against them. I have heard this same failed hardware story from 3 of 5 close friends acquaintances who have had fusions. The other 2 still wish they never did it and now the vertebrae above the fusion are destroyed and need surgery. However I’m at the point now I can’t walk. I’m 46 single parent of a 4 and 8 yr old so I have no choice. I finally went to a neurosurgeon who said he never does fusions as they are worthless. That’s all I needed to hear. Having L23 L34 bilateral laminectomy in a week and a half. Go see a neurosurgeon. Orthopedic surgeons are butchers.

Darren Rago just chiming in here sorry. I was in so much pain for 9 months. Could not do anything!! I stopped PT,the chiro, my osteopath with injections, stopped muscle relaxers and all meds. Did what the book said in fix your back by robin McKenzie and started on 2 Tumeric pills every 2 hrs and 1/2 dropper full of cbd oil 2x a day. Took 3 weeks but I can say I’m 90% recovered!!! NO SURGERY! I’m amazed right now and very grateful for this simple book I didn’t even want to invest in so I got the old version from the library.

My surgery was much bigger than just a micro discectomy. I think for hours it’s just a few weeks. But talk to your doctor and ask a million questions!

That is beautiful. How are you doing now?

marijorobles 19 , its 9 months now that you had your surgery .. Are u doing well now ? Do u have numbness/burning of skin anywhere in your leg now ?

how is he doing now?

I recently (just about a week and a half ago) had my surgery for spinal stenosis, and disc issues. I was actually quite surprised how little pain I was in, as compared to prior to the surgery so I was fortunate to not need much for pain medication. Mostly using ibuprofen to reduce swelling, etc. I completely agree with someone learning the log technique prior, and the use of a cane for initial stability once you stand. To assist myself in rolling over onto my side on the bed, I tied 2 fabric belts together and looping one around the frame of the bed. I then had the second belt hanging near enough to reach and long enough to grasp with my far arm to pull on. The final thing that I think some tend to overlook is where you will sit after the surgery. I couldn't sit on our couch due to how deep it is, and how hard it would be to stand from it, so I stuck with a harder kitchen chair and had to purchase cushions to give it some comfort (definitely not the best, but will do for a couple weeks).

Oh my God. I can't believe they didn't give you pain meds. I woke up, laying on my back, screaming and thrashing in pain after my surgery at L5 S1. They gave me liquid Oxycodone and when that did nothing, they gave me IV Fentanyl and even that took a while to help. Days 3 to 7 were amazing. I felt sore but great. Weeks two and three have been hard and awful, but I am working my way back.

I think you were on the money about practicing the log roll.

Rots of rest and relaxation and super light exercises. :)

@@Pens724 Do you think an ecliptical chair would have been easier to use since you're sitting, and you can use your arms to recline?

Glad to hear u are doing well

How are u doing?

Glad to hear you are doing well. This horror just stops life completely. How are you doing now?

Rebecca Meyer Too I am a little over two months now and sometimes I still over do it. I am still on restrictions 20 lbs and just walking and can get in a pool for exercise. My legs are better but back pain can get me still with a vengeance. Dr said I got a ways to go. But I am active have gone back to work supervising. I was very Ste pic in my spinal canal and my exiting foramina canals were moderate to severe both sides. So he did the roto rooter. Hoping for good results. How are you?

I’m doing great! Did you get the surgery?

How are you feeling?!?

@@RebeccaMeyerToo I am doing really well. I am out of my brace and so glad to be out of it 😁 I know I still have a ways to go but each day I feel better. Thanks again for your help. It helped more than you know

How did it go? Was it successful ?

I was home the same day...did you have complications?

@@RebeccaMeyerToo I am having the procedure in mid February and am just curious. How long was it before you were fully functional?

It takes time...your never is really pissed off from being squished....patience! How are you doing now?

I had my laminectomy 10 days ago and I feel the same pain in my butt and leg as before (but worse). Did yours get better? I’m terrified my surgery failed.

I just had my surgery on the 13th. The nerve pain is gone, and recovery feels good. I didn't realize how much it had affected my life pre-op.

I waited about a month to stop (tapered) it was too painful to stop.

The same amount of pain? I started see huge good changes after the 3 month mark.

Yes asked the dr...totally normal...it comes back...but I do recommend doing the nerve flosses 3 times a day!

@@RebeccaMeyerToo Ok .. Thanx ..

I stubbed my toe the other day...I was like...did I hurt myself? My pain tolerance is super high now!

how did you do. I’m having bilateral L23 and L34 in a week and a half. I can barley walk now due to pain end within 20-30 yards I lose all feeling in my right leg and gotta take a seat regardless of where I am without using crutches. Even with crutches can’t walk that far or well but do avoid the intense pain and total Loss of feeling and use of My right leg. I’m scared of the post operative pain and of Course will have pain meds but I’ve been on pain meds so long that barley do anything anymore I’m scared. My surgeon swears the pain will be less then I’m feeling daily now but it’s hard to believe. Regardless of how bad it is I’m doing it because my life is essentially over in my current situation. I can barley dress Myself and I am a single parents of a 4 and 8 yr old. I just want the truth of what to expect.

And seriously when people complain about how much their back hurts (that aren’t in our situation) I nod and smile but inside I’m like, you have no god dam idea what pain is. I thought I knew 2-3 years ago what true pain was. I’d pay anything to feel that good again. Hopefully in a less then 2 weeks I will.

@@bigrago yes the nerve pain is unbelievable i had a laminectomy 4 months ago so happy I did

Treasure4 U oh honey....I understand the fear. I was totally freaked out before the surgery also. When you are preparing for you surgery you will meet your anesthesiologist. Tell the how anxious/scared you are and they will make you calm down. Try to practice breathing techniques when you get anxious. Breathe in for 4 counts....hold your breath for 4 counts...breathe out for 8 counts...do this 6-8 times. I know what is coming is scary...but it will be so worth it in the end. Call your dr. Or nurses assistant....let them know how scared you are. Don’t cancel the surgery. You can push through the fear.

Aww man I’m sorry to hear that! How long ago did you have surgery??!

I hear you!