Guest guest Posted August 16, 2010 Report Share Posted August 16, 2010 Mist wrote: > I had a fusion on July 12th and I am still in a fog! > I had thought that the pain would get better but it hasn't. > I still have a horrible amount of swelling around the site where they fused my back, and I have absolutely positively NO energy. > I am presently on a DO NOT DO THIS List which I hate. > I really and truly feel like an invalid presently is there no light at the end of the tunnel? > wrote: >> Hi, all. I have been pretty out of it for the first three weeks after my fusion and the earlier attempts I made to send info met with failure - probably due to my benumbed brain. I have finally been able to write down as much as I can remember, in as much detail as I can remember. I wrote it in third person because I'm uncomfortable with relating it in first person. It's in the file called Reminiscences. All, Take your Do Not list seriously because you can damage what has been done and cause further complications. My doctor said to me when I had my fusion, " You must change your life to protect your back. " Fusions aren't done to make you back to normal nor get rid of your pain, if you doctor told you that, they are lying. They are done to make you functional and every doctor and research substantiates this. You are an invalid right now. You will be on limited lifting for the most of your life and I was told to find a job that I do not lift over five pounds. It causes scarring if I do this. The main failure for fusions not being effective is when patients do not do what is instructed and think they can do what they did before they had back problems. It takes over six months to heal and nerve endings to start to mend and you should be have a home physical therapy program, stretches, and instructions on how to care for this. One month is not a very long time after a major surgery to expect to be able to get up and run around. Did your doctors tell you that your fusions would make your pain better? Doctors usually do not say this as fusions are to restore some functionality, lessen numbness, and hopefully relieve pain, but it is not promised. Bennie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 16, 2010 Report Share Posted August 16, 2010 > Mist wrote: >> I really and truely feel like an invalid presently is there no light at the end of the tunnel? Mist, Just realize pushing anything at this early in the stage could harm your recovery, so take the restrictions seriously. It is normal to be frustrated and upset but realize this is a very extensive surgery, I don't know if you have instrumentation or not. You are also waiting for the fusion to take and this sometimes does not happen for a year. So, you are not alone and try to find other things to divert your attention, stretches to prevent muscle spasms because they are quite normal after this surgery. I wish you all the luck and keep on, keeping on. Bennie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2010 Report Share Posted August 17, 2010 Mist wrote: I really and truely feel like an invalid presently is there no light at the end of the tunnel? ------ You are strong and making good progress. Keep up the good work! And, the brochure states that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. So, of course I have to believe it. Jade Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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