Back Pain Support Group
Back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical care. In fact, about 3 in 4 adults will experience back pain during their lifetime! The term back pain includes pain affecting the neck, midback and low back. Acute back pain may begin suddenly with intense pain but typically lasts fewer than three months. Usually, chronic back pain is persistent, steady, and...
Hi all
I am new to the group. I had a 2 level ALIF fusion and bone transplant nearly a year ago and am doing well, though recovery is certainly a long hall. Happy to share my journey and answer questions if i can!
Jessie
I am new to the group. I had a 2 level ALIF fusion and bone transplant nearly a year ago and am doing well, though recovery is certainly a long hall. Happy to share my journey and answer questions if i can!
Jessie
I am in Austalia but waiting for surgery. could be 1-2 year wait. In the meantimeI am in extreme pain a lot of the time. I have herniated./protruding discs L4-5-S1.
Have tried a cortisone Epidural & that was agony. The locals didn't work so I could still feel the injections. They did baout 6 locals but my back kept having spasms. I was in agony when I left the hospital & spent the next 10 days in severe pain.It gradually eased to almost the level it was prior to cortisone but a bit worse.
I am havin a massage every few days & that is helping to control the pain & for me to stand upright. I am lucky that my hubby has learnt massage so I can get one easily.
In between massages I am walking bent over & having spasms a lot.
What did you go through with tests etc before you were operated on? Is there anything you found that helped you at all with the pain, other than pain relief.
Then could you please share how long you were in hospital, when were you able to move/out of bed etc?
Did you have rehab after at all & was it a lot of pain for long time? Been told it will be for 3 months at least.
Anything you can think of that you wished you had known before or smoething you were told. I would like to know the good, bad & ugly.
Thanks for offereing to share, I am looking at fusion L4-5\
Sue
I had the usual tests: MRI and XRays. The test that you absolutely should have is a discogram. It's not great, but it will show the surgeon EXACTLY what is wrong and where. I did everything you mentioned for pain relief and didn't get much. I was in the hospital just overnight, but they sent me home too early and I ended up back in the hospital for 5 more days with an ilieus. Surgery was a breeze because compared to the pain you're in now, recovery is nothing. I did have restrictions forever. That's the important part. I felt so good I was ready to do things long before surgeon wanted me to do so. I still have an SI joint that has no cartilage left, but a cortisone shot DONE BY AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST is amazing. Done by any other kind of doc and they're pure garbage. I thought they sucked until someone told me this secret.
I hope this has helped. Let me know what else I can share with you.