Upcoming Surgery (10-21-10)

[rhare53]

I am having a posterior lumbar fusion w/hardware Thursday and do not know what to expect afterwords. The work I do is strenious work and I have read after this type surgery strenious work can't be done. Am I to assume that I will need to look for different type work after the healing process? I was a plumber (big building) for 20 yrs. then went to a Superintendent (overseeing the construction of buildings) and for family reasons went to work for a large big name hardware store, where I worked harder than the previous. I have retained an attorney to help me with any disability. Can anyone give me any advice on what to expect that has been in this situation?

Thanks to all,
Russ

[jayne]

welcome to the forum...I cant help you but someone will be along that can...good luck on your surgery

[1171]

there is no universal answer for every patient in every job.
it's up to your physician to give appropriate limitations and restrictions depending on your job duties and the level of your recovery.
each state has their own work comp system and most have on line information available about benefits.
http://www.workerscompensation.com/forum...?tid=10146

[nursedina]

rhare53 Wrote:I am having a posterior lumbar fusion w/hardware Thursday and do not know what to expect afterwords. The work I do is strenious work and I have read after this type surgery strenious work can't be done. Am I to assume that I will need to look for different type work after the healing process? I was a plumber (big building) for 20 yrs. then went to a Superintendent (overseeing the construction of buildings) and for family reasons went to work for a large big name hardware store, where I worked harder than the previous. I have retained an attorney to help me with any disability. Can anyone give me any advice on what to expect that has been in this situation?

Thanks to all,
Russ

Russ-

A posterior lumbar fusion is a big surgery but whether or not you return to work, is up to how you heal. Most people do not return back to physical labor after a lumbar fusion. It is a big surgery and you will be quite a bit of pain afterward. Most lumbar fusions take about 1 year + to heal and up to 2 years to heal completely and fully.

You can message me any time and I will answer any questions you have!

--Good luck!

Dina

[rhare53]

Well, it is 5 days post op and I am feeling some better, now that I finally got something to help with the pain. I came out of surgery and my pain management was 1 - 10/325 percecet ( which is the same thing that I was taking before the surgery) every 4 hours or a shot (50 to 75mg. of demerol)im. every 3 hours. Yesterday, after sitting at home crying for 2days from pain I finally got some oxycodone 15mg. every 4-6 hrs. (30) If I had known that I was going into this type of surgery with this pain management, I would have reconsidered or founf another doctor that would have tried to make you a little more comfortable post-op. May want to ask you dr. these questions..............

[AQA]

rhare53,

I did not respond to your initial post because I was afraid you may not want to have the surgery.

I recall when I had mine. The day they took me off the morphine pump was the worse. I was given oral morphine until my dr. showed up. That was about four hours latter. I told him what was going on and asked if what I was feeling was right. He said " You have to keep in mind that I had to pull all your muscels away from your spine". I asked why he did not tell me about that before the surgery?? He said " If I had, would you have had the surgery??".

He then ordered x-rays and when I was taken to the x-ray room. my dr. took the x-rays himself. The next morning when I awoke. I was still in pain, but not as much. Day after day, the pain deminished until the point that it is now.

The healing process will take time.

[nursedina]

rhare53 Wrote:Well, it is 5 days post op and I am feeling some better, now that I finally got something to help with the pain. I came out of surgery and my pain management was 1 - 10/325 percecet ( which is the same thing that I was taking before the surgery) every 4 hours or a shot (50 to 75mg. of demerol)im. every 3 hours. Yesterday, after sitting at home crying for 2days from pain I finally got some oxycodone 15mg. every 4-6 hrs. (30) If I had known that I was going into this type of surgery with this pain management, I would have reconsidered or founf another doctor that would have tried to make you a little more comfortable post-op. May want to ask you dr. these questions..............

My doc loaded me up so much, I could barely remember it all. Pain medication is so important. A friend of mine had a double fusion and his doc siad he doesn;t believe in narcotics so when he left the hospital all he had was tramadol. i thought he was goign to kill himself he was in so much pain.