Recovery from Spinal Fusion Surgery

A bit of background.

I finally had my spinal surgery on 20th March. I’ve had back problems and sciatica on and off for 10 years. But last year it got to the point of not being able to live with it any more. I had a massive spasm last March, followed by a caudal epidural in April. That lasted about 6 weeks. Then I had facet joint injections and root nerve block in July. Really positive results until the physio, apparently the top bloke in his field, ruptured the already herniated disc in L4/5 in August.

That led me on to a spinal surgeon who did more facet joint injections and further root nerve block in November. Different physio with really positive improvements. Again until another massive spasm in February. Yet another MRI, 4 in the last 11 months, now reveals 3 herniated and ruptured discs, L3/4, L4/5, & L5/S1.

The operation was Primary Posterior Lumbar Fusion, Decompression, Discectomy, with Instrumentation. The surgeon removed some bone from the vertabre, partial decompression, removed some calcified disc, packed with rubber pads, and then flexible fusion with rubber graft pads. 3.5 hours in theatre. I was supposed to only be in hospital overnight but I had a reaction to the morphine, so rock and roll I can’t do the hard stuff, so was in for four days in all.

Two weeks now since the op, and up until Saturday I was doing really well. Getting mobile and off all pain killers. Then Easter dinner at the MILs on Sunday, sitting for too long, I’m now in a right state. Lots of pain in my back where the work was done and the nerve pain down my leg has increased.

Has anyone had similar and how long did it take to get back to some sort of normality? I’m bored senseless. I can’t get out, short walks only, no driving for another 4 weeks. Last time I rode my MTB was 31st January 2014. BPW and a big off, which kept me off the bike for a month, and then the first back spasm in March 2014, means I haven’t touched it in 15 months!

Tell me it gets better, please?

Big black shed
Yes it does get better !!

I had spinal stabilisation ( dynesis) at 2 levels (l4/5) diskectomy and a partial decompression of l4-s1 as my foots been numb for about 18months

My surgery was at the end of Jan and Despite a few bad weeks things are starting to pick up
Been out for a few fatbike rides on the beach but I don’t think I’d manage a big / bumpy epic XC

Walking was a big help for me , some days just a few Km , others up to 9-10
The beach is a good place too makes you put in a bit more

At physio now and it’s hard , but working

Keep moving, even if it’s just a short walk , unloading the dishwasher , anything
And don’t come off the painkillers too quick, anytime I tried it things went backwards

Listen to your body & rest
Hth
Dave

Thanks Dab.

I took some pain killers last night and again this morning and I feel a bit better. I’m seeing my GP tomorrow, I’ll ask if there is something better suited than what I’m on at present. They are making me drowsy so not too good for keeping mobile.

A big fat squashy fat bike sounds ideal. I don’t think my single speed is suitable TBH. 😕

No personal experience but my mum injured her back 4 months ago and is still not right so I am hoping she doesn’t need surgery. I have relatively (to you) minor back issues so have some sense of how you must be.

Statement of the obvious but pushing a singlespeed gear isn’t going to do your back any good. When I did my knee the doctor said I should only ride on the road to reduce vibration. As @dab says try and keep moving and do not overdo it, frustration and bravado are not your friend here.

Big black Shed
How’d you get on then ??

Yeah the fatty has been good, kind of reinvented cycling for me
Learning to appreciate quality rather than quantity

Haven’t touched my full Sus bike in a loooong time
Might even sell it to fund another fatty

I’m lots better for going back on the meds. The GP gave me a telling off for stopping them. His point about me having a major op and expecting to be OK again within a few weeks has put some perspective on it really. He showed me the highlights video of the op on his computer, I now understand why it will take time.

The Wife and Boys are on easter holidays at home ATM, she won’t let me do anything, even going for a walk. I’ve tried to have a bit of a fettle in the shed, but she just ordered me out. She’s back at work on Monday so it will give me some space to get out and find my limits.

Surgeon next Thursday, so hopefully physio to follow, and then on the mend.

Hi, it does get better but you have to be patient and follow all the instructions

Arghhh! I’ve typed 2 long replies with one finger on my iPhone, to you about my fusion and how it gets better but when I try to post them, almost all of the words have disappeared! I’ll try again later!

He showed me the highlights video of the op on his computer

😯

Glad to hear you’re a bit better

@vickyp – IME its best to type into Notes first, then cut/paste

My mother had almost the exact same surgery, cant remember the details regarding it but she took around 6-8 weeks to heal, perhaps longer due to her age. Lots of swimming and yoga helped her eventually but she still has the odd pain and twinge. However, she’s now been signed off for another 2 months with more back pain after she was assigned to a new ambulance without proper training, something happened with a faulty tail lift and she ended up being the one taken to hospital. Take it easy BBS and listen to your Physio/Docs 🙂

I had L5/S1 fused a few years ago and tbh I tried to get back on the bike to soon and I ended up with more sciatica problems. I wish I had listened to the advice – Stay on the pain killers (change them if you have side affects, but stay on them) and really listen to the physio.
Oh and don’t go to the first physio you find, research one that specialises on your issue.

It takes time but you will get there if you want too.

I’m on my second physio now. The first one, “Top Man in His Field” apparently, ruptured my L4/5 disc. He was working on my right leg to gap the vertebrae to release the sciatic nerve and I felt the tear happen.

My new physio, pilates instructor also, has concentrated on core strength, flexiblity, and allowing the sciatica nerve to free itself from the trapping from the disc hernia and the inflamed muscle due to the trapped nerve. Now with the disc out of the way and the inflamation reducing the leg pain is almost non-existant. Just some tingling and numbness in my right foot. That gets better each time I do the prescribed exercises.

I think I’m being impatient, what with the sun out, dry trails, and so long off the bike.

And The Wife ordering me about at every turn. 😉

I had discs fused in 1991 and another op. In 1995, everything was fine i was riding the Peak without any bother until last September. Over Christmas i was in agony, never had pain like it, turns out i had some fragments from my previous op’s pushing on a nerve.

Had an injection to block the nerve late January and i’m just getting back to normal now, riding again etc. With just a slight numbness in my right foot.

It does get better just takes time and patience. Good luck with it, the boredom is worse than the pain sometimes!

Ferking hell, that sounds desperate. I feel a bit guilty whinging about my back in the other thread you posted on.

My experiences sound much less serious than yours but if it’s any help, coming off the pain killers early because it feels a bit better hasn’t been a good move for me either. Straight back to full dose and SNAFU… I also can’t sit still and this is a mistake. After a very pedestrian Easter weekend, half an hour of fiddling yesterday set me back to point zero. You’re probably the same.

Microdiscectomy scheduled for 20/04 for me :-/