You have just has a serious piece of surgery and you are trying to run before you can walk. Sounds to me like you are doing too much and thereby expecting far too much. You are very swollen in the area of the surgery and everything there is raw. The muscles that have been disturbed are also very angry and it will take time for them to settle down. You are aggravating the situation by doing too much and that way you will hamper your recovery. You are probably creating the pain that you are getting. Back off from trying to get back to perfect fitness and give your body a chance to heal.

Your pain killers are likely masking quite a lot of your pain and you are using that margin and more to create the situation that you have.

My surgeon told me that it can take weeks to be rid of all the pain, but you have to be patient and careful.

Give it a chance, you may just be pleasantly surprised in a few weeks.
Good Lick

John B

The nerves have been iratated because of surgery they are angry give them time to calm down. From past experence dont push it, it will come. there is alot of healing going on in the inside of your spine.. so far all seems normal to me. i had new pains that slowly went away with time ..good luck happy recovery to you

I had the same surgery except L3and 4 and l5and 6
I am so with you.......I am using a walker and did go last week to see friends. It was way too much but of course I did not know that till the next day. I have been totally down for four days and just today have gotten out only a little. I blame my Dr. in a way as before I elected to get this surgery, he said it would be about a three week recovery time. Oh lets get real!!!!!!! If I had known that I would have taken it easy more...I guess I though after surgery I could just get up and do things as usual....!My leg really hurts as well.
Oh, I am 65 and still think I am 39!!! Go figure!!!!
You and I both overdid it. We must think we are superwomen!!!
Get better and slow down and I will try to do the same. I so know where you are coming from!!!!!

Dee

I am so thriiled that you have seen the light, so to speak. WELL DONE YOU!. You are clearly a mature and responsible person and I hope that you will practice what you now understand to be too much. Furthermore I am pleased to see that Dee and others here agree with my opinion too.

You see those that you will meet here, are in general fellow sufferers or as I have always thought them to be "Spinal Warriors" and they are mostly people who not only care, but people who have been there in a real practical manner, rather than professionals going by the book. They have been in the fire in a practical way and they identify with you, as you no doubt will with them. To answer your question, you are not alone.

I unfortunately do not personally know what your swelling is due to, but I do suspect that it may just be something to do with the fact that you have been overdoing it. Clearly you will be mentioning it to your doc this morning and perhaps you will kindly let us know exactly what it is actually due to.

As far as recovery is concerned, every person here will have a slightly differing story as nobody will react in precisely the same way to surgery. Also we are mostly differing ages too so you will get lots of good advice to consider.
I just turned 66 years of age on Sunday last and on top of that I had another surgery with general anesthetic this morning since I posted to you earlier today and that was for a torn Meniscus, following a bad car accident just after my spine surgery.

I just got up the stairs on my butt and I am sitting at my computer posting back to you for a few minutes before I go to bed.
It is well after midnight right now.

Finally my recovery has been careful and rather long, but at least I am really out of pain now and I am happy to stay on Spine health to help people in the same way that I was helped when I first arrived on the Spine Health scene. You see many of those who have a great outcome from surgeries like me, do not stay with spine health as they no longer have a spine problem. I, on the other hand, feel a debt of gratitude to those who helped me and they know who they are only too well. I also enjoy spreading a success story it can be quite uplifting and in any event I may just need more help myself at some stage as I am 66 going on 33!

The best possible advice that I can give you is to repeat myself once again when I say, listen to your own body if you sincerely care about it. You have a great responsibility to your family who no doubt love you very much and I am sure that they want you in one piece and in good shape. So, take it slowly and steadily, step by step and I am sure you will see the best results that way.

We look forward to hearing from you after you have seen your doc.

Take Care

John B

Hello....wow, I cannot believe you wrote to me and inspired and made me feel good when you have just gone through another round of surgery!!! I do hope you recover from this one too and the road ahead is smooth for you.

Just to give you a little more info about me, I am 39 and I have 3 children, daughter 14, and 2 boys aged 13 and 11. They have been helping me alot. My 11 year old just brought me a cup of coffee!

I am a Teacher Assistant at a school for children with EBD (Emotionaly and Behaviorly disabled). I go back to work on the 17th August and I have to avoid any "hands on" with the kids for a while. They can get quite aggresive and violent at times.

I saw the surgeon this morning and he has put me on Prdnisone for the next few weeks to address the swelling at the incison sight. He said my wound is healing well but that the swelling is normal, however the numbness on my left leg and foot is not, although he is not too alarmed, he thinks that I have very sensitive nerves and he just "looked" at the nerves on the left side, he didn't do any work on that side as he said it wasn't bad enough to touch it, best left alone, he worked only on my right side where the herniation and swollen nerves were, and that side is great, all sciatic pain is gone!! He said the prednisone will help and he fully expects the swelling to go down and the numbness to go away. He will see me again in 4 weeks.

In the meantime, he wants me in the pool but no swimming, keep walking and I start Physical Therapy tomorrow, this makes me a little nervous as I am still a bit sore and stiff. They offered me more pain meds but I declined as I don't want to become to dependent on them, especially going back to work and the hope of this surgery was to live without being on pain meds, so i am going to try to manage as best I can but I will be taking it more slowly. One day at a time. Yesterday I rested most of the day and today has wore me out already just going to the doctors and picking up my prescription!!

The surgeon also wants me to follow up with my OBGYN as I had a retention problem in the hospital, he says they think I have a tilted bladder and that General Anasthesia enhanced the problem, I had to stay longer in hopsital and come home with a cathetar for about 5 days! Urgh!!! So I have an appointment on the 27th for that issue!!

John you are so very kind and I truly wish the best for you and I have noticed that this support group is wonderful, I do feel like here people understand what I am going through, definately in a way that doctors don't understand or people who don't suffer from back problems. The surgeon told me he thinks that I have such sensitive nerves that even doing anything mild or benign can aggrivate them in my case causing me problems, so does this all sound right to you?

Get plenty of rest, take care of yourself and have a speedy recovery.
Best Wishes,
Sandra

During surgery the surgeon typically bathes the area with a steroid/pain killer mix. The pain usually returns 14 days or so post surgery. This is normal. I don't think you're doing too much as long as you remember the restrictions of BLT. Its good for you to keep walking. If the pain persists or is greater than a 4 - 5, you may want to call the surgeon and request a dose pack of steroids to help further reduce any swelling. Please try not to worry, the same thing happened to me and I'm fine...I seldom have pain worse than a 1 or 2, although it is that damn sciatic pain that I hate! 13 days post surgery it was at a 4-5, so I think you'll be just fine. Remember to ice and to lie down 6 times per day, and limit the amount of time you spend sitting.

I just updated my profile, took me a while to figure it all out but hopefully I have done it right and it gives my fellow "spineys" an idea what I have been through, which seems so mild compared to others that I have read.

I was just wondering after laminectomy's have failed, does it seem like a fusion will follow at some point? Have others had laminectomy and discetomy's and still had to go through fusions? Do you ever get full strength back in your back?

Thank you,
Sandra

You sound as though you have had very similar issues with your back as I have. I guess thats why he put me on prednisone to help with the swelling. Surgeon told me to get in the pool but no swimming....I start P.T. tomorrow afternoon. Sitting is definately an issue, it gets sore, and I feel stiffness in my lower back, that makes me want to move and walk, I know I should just take little walks instead of one big long one a day. I walk around my house alot, I am in Florida, its HOT outside!!!

I did not know about the pain killer mix in your back at time of surgery, so thats why I am probably feeling more pain now, although I would say its more a feeling of discomfort, and mild pain. The thing is the pain is there all the time, so its like a nagging dull pain always letting you know, hey, I have a sore back!! LOL

I hope you too continue on your road to recovery, do you still see the doctor regarding your back or are you in the clear for now?

Take Care,
Sandra

HI,

I had a laminectomy, and foraminotomy at L5 S1 in Jan of 2009, and I am still recovering. It takes a long time. It has been 7 months, and I am just starting to feel the strenght coming back in my legs and back, and if I overdo, it can still flare, and feel weak. It seems to be a up and down thing! Sitting has been slow to come back, but finally it is, and my lastest MRI looked really good. I am still dealing with some swelling, but I am doing a Medrol Dosepak (6,5,4,etc.) and I hope this will finish the job! Goodluck! sweetpotatoe57

May I ask what a Foraminotomy is? So many people seem to have problems at L5-S1....I don't even know what I did to make my back so bad? Did you? I see that it takes people all different time frames to feel better, I just wonder if doctors really listen when patients say they are not 100%???

I told the surgeon I go back to work at school on the 17th, he said, ahh you'll be fine by then!

I just wonder what options I have if I don't get the feeling back in my left leg/foot? He said he just looked but didn't touch the left side!

I hope you continue to heal also, and thanks so much to all out there for listening and relating to me as I go through this, just feeling like you have friends who understand makes healing alot better.

Sandra

One thing that I learned, was that a spine patient can actually wind up with a far stronger spine after going through a laminectomy/foraminotomy/disectomy. The reason being, that once the source of pain is relieved, the spine patient has a strong desire to avoid further injury or surgery, so they will do everything they can to strengthen their core and all associated muscles. A person like that winds up with a stronger spine and is less likely to be injured.

I went back to diving with double tanks and deco bottles and all my camera gear after having 7 lumbar surgeries. My back became that strong. I made it that strong through lots of diligence and hard work.

Were it not for my neck/shoulder issues now, I would still be diving with all that equipment. My lower back can easily handle it, I just can't carry it on my shoulders anymore.

My point is, that don't fall victim to those around you who will try to convince you that you have to "baby" your back for the rest of your life. If you do that, the chances of re-injury or continued pain go up. Become determined to avoid that by smartly working towards a stronger core and support structure, and you will be able to do most anything you want. That's my philosophy as well as my neurosurgeon's philosophy.

Yes there are certain physical conditions that won't fall into the parameters for that, but there are far more that do.

"C"

A foraminotomy is opening up the foramen, the side opening the nerve comes out of. A laminectomy is like removing the roof of a house, and the foramen is the side exit. I had stenosis, and a piece of bone laying on the S1 nerve root. L5 S1 seems to be the most common place for surgery! This is my second Medrol Dosepak in the last few weeks, and I have had a awful time getting the swelling down, but they thought my PT was way to agressive, and really set me back. I had 12 weeks, and my muscles are still tight, and I still stretch at least 3 times a day. I do have a compression at L5 on the right side, but no symptoms. So they just left it alone. My Dr. did say a fusion was in my future. My Dr. told me I would be fine in 2 weeks, and here it is 7 months, and I am still on the mend. Nerves take a long time to heal, 1mm per month. Way to slow for me! I hope all goes well with you in PT and with the Prednisone. I wish my surgeon had given me some months ago, it might have help speed up my recovery. sweetpotatoe57

I believe in what u wrote. I do want to be stronger and that for me was one of the reasons I had the surgery to begin with. Before then I was told oh u can't do this u can't do that, I was even told I couldn't enjoy going out on our boat! That's not the way I want to live my life. I have a family and I want to be out there running around enjoying activities right there along with them!

My husband has just purchased a big work out station and we have an elipitcal and when I am ready I want to get in shape, be stronger but I know it's the core strengthning that is really important. I will ask at P.T tomorrow what would be good for me. I did buy my own exercise ball....just haven't used it!!! LOL

Sorry about typos as I am lying in bed using my I pod! Sitting at my desk was getti g to painful. Oh, I keep reading about BLT, being new here, what does that mean? I have tried to figure it out!

Thanks to all who have offered me so much great advice.....I am listening.

Hi,

I also have a "BALL", and its great for core exercise, and I can actually sit on it! I was laid up for a year before they did anything for me, so my recovery has been slow. How long did you have your problems? Just be sure to take things slow, as PT really flared me, and I have seen other posts where people say the same thing. Not sure what the BLT stands for! I'm starving, so thinking, of the sandwich, bacon, lettuce, and tomatoe!! LOL sweetpotatoe57

Dear John
How nice it is to read such inspiration from you and the kind words that you also sent my way. They are very much appreciated.

I am definately all about my family, and they have been taking very good care of me. My youngest son did all the laundry tonight, they do what ever they can to make sure I don't bend as Dad is out of town for a week so the kids are looking after mom, I am so proud of them.

I talked to my husband tonight and he said the same as you, take the pain meds and get through this one day at a time, so I will call tomorrow for another prescription as it is better to have them on hand if I need them. I do want to be as fully recovered as i can before returning to work.

You mentioned your good friend who sadly passed at a very YOUNG age, thats so terrible, my sympathies, you mentioned that he ended up working in the UK, where? I am originally from Scotland. I came to the States when I was 21, I became a citizen about 9 years ago. I just took a trip to England with the whole family to visit my family. They all live in Chelmsford in England now, but they are doing good and my grandparents just turned 89, and 85 in July, it was wonderful for my children to meet their great grandparents. I do miss my family alot, its the hardest part about living so far away, but this is home now. I do love it here, but its nice to go home and visit too.

My job is rewarding and challenging at the same time. My middle son is a special needs child, so I understand from a parents point of view and i know how I feel about the educators in Tyler's life and how important it is for them to believe in my child and care for him. My son has different special needs that the children I work with but they are still children who are in need of help, and understanding and deserve to have an education, so we do the best we can. Our kids range from emotional issues such as Bi-polar disorder, ADHD, anxiety, suicidal, distructive and they can be very verbally abusive. I work with 3rd/4th graders. I started out in High School but found it difficult as at that point they are in and out of JDC and are pretty much set in their ways but the little ones still have a chance, you can still make a difference and if I can help just a few then it is worth it to me.

Anyway, I can be so long winded, lol

I do hope your wife also has a speedy recovery. you both have been through so much. I hope you have a good support system to help you out. You have such a kind soul and i feel blessed just to have been able to talk to you and it truly makes me feel better like yes i can do this!!!

Well I have promised the kids we will eat goodies and watch America's got Talent together, family time is very important. I wish you lots and lots of well wishes to both you and your wife and I hope the good lord takes care of you both.

Talk to you soon (I hope)
Sandra

I am glad you are finally starting to feel a little better after all you have been through. We sound alot alike!!
Yes, I can sit on the ball, before surgery I fell off a few times, so I haven't been back on it, lol
I start the PT tomorrow but after reading yours and some other posts I hope this isn't too soon as some have mentioned it can really flare things up, just like it did to you. John B has told me to speek up if I feel it hurting and I know that that is good advice because I am a little concerned about the PT.

I started having problems 10 years ago with my back after my youngest son was born, its really been a pregression ever since. Last November I struggled with a student at work and really hurt my back, I felt it go and since them I have been miserable up until the surgery 2 weeks ago, so in the big picture I think i am doing quite well and I hope to continue to stay positive that this will work for me.

I do wish everyone here that recovery works well and I appreciate all the advice and I enjoy hearing about others experiences, I think there is alot to learn from each other. Please take care of yourself, and keep up the good work....your getting there!

Sandra

BLT = Bending Lifting Twisting.
Also try to avoid dragging, shoving, nudging, reaching, hard laughing, hard coughing, hard sneezing, straining, retching(gagging).....

Give the disc at least 3 months of this if you can. The first 3 weeks are when it is most vulnerable to re-herniate.

After my L5-S1 md, I was pretty much completely disabled. The swelling, inflamation and edema had really compressed my nerves. I was in bed for a solid month.
I also should mention that my procedure was nowhere near as invasive as yours.

*and of course, the usual disclaimer: everyone's experience is unqiue.

Hope PT goes well for you today! Let us know how you do, and it took me a long time to get on the ball again, as I also took a fall off of it! LOL My husband tried it, fell, and pulled his back out for 3 weeks, and he has no back problems! He thinks we are crazy for getting on it, but it is great for working the core muscles. Good luck today, and listen to your body. If it hurts, back off, and try again in a week or so. I found that worked for me. sweetpotatoe57

Your Husband and your kids all sound great and I am glad that they are all looking out for your well being so diligently. I am blessed in the same way with a wonderful wife who has had more than her share of surgery this past year. We help each other most times when one is in better shape to do so than the other. Nevertheless sounds like we are both really blessed.

You do not want to be crashing down on the waves with your boat at any time. It makes my back hurt to even think about it. In my case, we are in a harbor off the Pacific Ocean and we have a whole world in here. We can go to restaurants on the water by boat as well as to the grocery and other stores too. The only thing we have to watch is the tides because at low tide our boat ramp to our dock is too steep to get shopping off the boat. We do have in total about three hours of off ocean channel cruising in here so we do not have to worry about waves and stuff. We normally take the boat out almost every day in the late afternoon and provided I am not on any pain killers we enjoy a wee dram at the same time as some snacks, while we are out. It is really very pleasant and it beats the Clyde for weather and pleasure!

Getting back to the subject of water retention, the thought of which makes my eyes water, I was going to ask you whether you are actually emptying your bladder fully? If not then your doc will be worried about infection from any residue. When I was in the hospital they had a machine which they put on my tummy where the bladder is situated and that told them whether there was any residual left in the bladder. Have you had that test done after emptying? Anyway your OBGYN will no doubt give you the right way to go here I am sure. I was infected in the hospital from residue and then again three weeks later purely from cathing. I was so careful every time I cathed by using a new sterile catheter every time and I even scrubbed and wore surgical gloves too, but I still got a bladder infection. I was so glad to be able to stop having to do that as it was beginning to really depress me. I know that lots of people have to do it every day of their lives for various other reasons, but following back surgery in the Lower Lumbar the ability to go on your own most often returns my doc said, once the nerves and muscles around the surgery site settle down again.

Good luck with the PT and I hope that you let us know how you got on there.

Take care
John B

i have has the same operation as you and i too was made worse after the operation so much so that i have been on high doses of oxycontin ever since .it has taken 20 months for my back to settle down to how it is now {and that's not very good and i have been told that is a good as its going to get ] as for you returning to work ..i very much doubt that you will be able to do that ..give your self at least 12 MONTHS and then see how you are .you have had a very big operation don't expect miracles .the fact that you still have neurological problems doesn't look good to me { and i have had 2 operations} i am sorry to so negative but i have been there and got the tee shirt! i wish you all the best but don't rush your self ...job or not its your back regarding pain go and see your doctor for some more pain killers you may also want to try a good TENS but please believe me 2 weeks in nothing as for recovering from major surgery
STRAKER

I'm 2 weeks Post Op.too, from a 3 level Laminectomy at L2-3, L3-4, and L4-5 with fusions at L2-3 and L 3-4, 6 screws and 2 rods and at L4-5 relieving the nerve root canals because of puniched nerves on both sides. I've had Sciatic nerve issues too, but it sounds like you're doing way to much. I developed Nuropathy in my feet, the nerves being irretated from the surgery, and I've been doing nothing. Sounds like you're going back to work to soon, I don't go back until Sept. 10th, maybe. I do heavy collision repair and don't know if I'll be able to do it anymore. I start PT next week, but I'm not pushing anything. This is my 3rd spine operation within 20 months, had a fusion at C4-5 in Feb of this year (4 screws and a plate because my neck had becaome unstable)and a 4 level Laminectomy in Oct. 2007. You can't push these type of surgeries that involves the spine, adding parts (screws, plates and rods, etc)working around nerves. To risky. My nuropathy is staring to clear up finally, and slowly getting off of pain killers. Hang in there
Dave

DDD, Oct. 2007, 4 level Cervical Laminectony C2-3 through C5-6, Feb. 2009, 1 level fusion C 4-5 4 screws/plate, 3 level Lumbar Laminectomy, July 22, 2009, with fusions at L2-3 and L3-4, 6 screws and 2 rods.
Vicodin 325/10, Neurontin, Soma, Diclofenac. Slowly getting off of the pain meds and hopefully won't need them in the future, but no guarantees either.

Everyone remember that we are all different and all heal at different rates and can and do have different results from the same or similar surgeries. It is not fair to try and scare someone into having the same or similar experience as you are having or have had. Just because it happens to some, does not doom everyone else to the same horrible conclusion.

Yes it's great to hear both sides, but keep focused on the reality of the situation.

"C"

Thank you "C", I do believe we are all individuals and we will all heal at different rates as we will all respond differently to the surgeries that we have had.

I am staying positive that my surgery will be a successful one because i was warned by my surgeon if not, the future would have to be a fusion and I really would hope to avoid all that.

I am keeping my chin up and plugging along, staying focused and positve!!

Sandra

In addition to what "C" said, people are confusing procedures. A fusion with instrumentation is a much more invasive procedure than a discectomy, laminectomy, foraminectomy, etc.

Dhoward79 had several levels fused, with instrumentation. This surgery involves much more trauma than what you had, Hot Coffee...so it is like comparing apples and oranges...impossible.

It sounds like your recovery is going along in a fairly typical fashion. You just need to be patient and learn to listen to your body. Remember it took you some time to get to the point that you needed surgery...and it will take many months to regain strength and flexibility.

I am 7 weeks s/p from L5-S1 discectomy and I just started my new job as a Physical Therapist Assistant. Let me tell you, it was too soon for me to start working, especially in my field. I know I'm pushing it since I feel it in my back and going down my backside ( and leg to the lateral ankle. But a new pain has started in the hip. Severe burning and sharp directly on the hip joint. Anyone else have this flare up? I'm only 38, athletic and 145lbs. The pain is terrible but I'm just wondering if this new pain is in correlation to compensating somehow on that side. Any advice? I live on ice packs every night. I go back to the neurosurgeon next week.

September 10 seems awfully soon to be back after a fusion. Please be careful and make sure you are ready. You have had some major surgeries that take time to heal. Take care of yourself and dont averdo. Good luck and I hope you are finding pain relief.

I had this on monday, today is Wednesday. Spent Tuesday night in hospital unable to move in severe pain having morphine every 2 hours.

I forced myself to walk yesterday. They then released me last night.

I still have nerve pain in my leg (sciatic) I am praying that this is due to the surgery aggravation.... though am concerned that I will never get rid of it as it has left me unable to work for this past year.

Today I have walked approximately a kilometer to a news paper shop. You know it's not the pain that hampers you, it's the sickness and dizziness that the pain brings. Water and breathing a lot help!

I don't want to 'over do it', but am not going to sit around for a month so will be getting up every hour and doing a bit of exercise. Walking is slow but not too bad.

Anybody else have sciatic leg pain still present after operation that went away? Be very interested to hear the experiences of others.

Cheers,

Nick.

I had my first back surgery a disectomy at 16 i am 46 and just had extensive surgery in February for the same operation as you had including the removal of a cyst that was caused from spinal fluid leakage. I know the kind of pain you are talking about and there is no other pain like it. Narcotics rarely give me relief and the problem at least for me is that I am in so much pain and am so desperate for relief its easy to go overboard on the narcotics. I have been on narcotics since my first surgery an of course developed a dependence on opiates I am now on Saboxone a relatively new drug that has an opiate antagonist with it. It also helps with chronic pain but not prescribed for it. Because of my chronic spine conditions there are occasion when i have no choice but to take narcotics but have to be without my saboxone for at least 24 to 48 hours before I take the narcotics. I have to monitor my doses closely and what I have discovered is that if I wait until i cannot stand the pain at all and want to die before I take my pain pill that it is more effective or at least feels like it makes a difference when I finally relent and take it. it seems like the longer I wait to medicate the better the relief is when I do take my dose. I also always take an anti-inflammatory with it. The pain is probably nerve pain which I take neurontin to help control you may ask your doc about the neurontin it takes awhile to build up in your system but works for a lot of people who have nerve pain. its not easy i have lived in pain over half my life my best advice is to learn to ignore it and work around in and keep trying things until you find the one thing that finally works for you. take it slow and avoid twisting and bending and it is going to take awhile for you to feel better after the surgery you had

o

Hello everyone:0)
My name is Katie I'am 30 years old, and from Milwaukee Wisconsin. In March of 2006 I was diagnosed with D.D.D. After a slip and fall on a winter nights ice. Since 2006 I have experienced emence pain and discomfort only to be told that DDD does not Hurt¿ I never understood the level of ignorance shown to people that are in the same boat as me. Since the I have just grown to accept that the pain would never go away, and been told by countless doctors that my pain was all in my head. In November of 2011 my now husband protested to me to FIND a better doctor. I called one of the number one orthopedic spine specialist in our City. By Dec. Of 2011 I had a brand new set of M.R.I's and a new found outlook on living a life worth living. My M.R.I found masive disc herniatons at my L-4/5 5/6 with massive arthritis throughout my lower lumbar. As result I was scheduled for a Microdisceteomy. On Jan 17th I had the surgery. Now a little over two weeks after the procedure I have more extensive pain in my butt, legs( the right worse then the left) with total numbness in both feet. Two days ago I lost total control of my blather in which I have Never experienced anything like that. This morning I awoke with three golf sized lumps on, above, and below my sugery incision. I didn't think twice about it until my husband touch one lump and I felt the worse pain imaginable shooting down my right leg to the extent that I was literally in tears. As a teen and young adult I have always been extremely active, I've ran everyday since the age of 16, I swim, exercise every morning, and before bed. To now getting out of bed is a struggle. It's a very poor value of life that I know find myself living. With being told that a fusion will be in my near future. Basicially are the lumps normal? With having the micro procedure done with little relief, should I personally even consider a fusion?? Thank you and any advice or thoughts are dearly welcome. ~ Katie SleeplessInMilwukee

NO! I personally have never herd of that. I would have that checked out by your surgeon, right away. and if you can't get in asap. I think I would go to the E.R.
With that kind of damage to your lumbar discs, I would think they would want to do surgery right away. And I don't understand, if they knew about it, why they didn't address the situation at the same time as your micro.
But I am just a guy who has had a lot of lumbar surgeries. And I am NOT a DR.
Jim

and should be investigated. Please contact your surgeon and let them know.
Loosing control of your bladder is also an emergency, so let him know about that too.

I hope that you will feel better soon.

Hi Jelly thank you so much for your quick response and concern. About five days ago I also started to experience migraine headaches in which I believed to be from a sinus headache. Shortly after I posted to this forum my O.S.S called me back promptly with some very discouraging news. The headaches I've experienced over the the past five days, and the large Lumps at the surgery site are not what I've tried to convince myself of. The lumps are a masive collection of spinal fluid that has been leaking for over a week now. The migraine are some type of spinal fluid migraines? In which I've never heard of or even knew the existed. Tomorrow morning I have to return to the hospital where I got the surgery done, to have ANOTHER surgery to fix the last surgery. This all is so very depressing!! I'm only 30 years old with all these health problems. I never thought about having these type of problems with my back especially being so physically active thoughout my whole life. I pray I don't have to have another surgery after this procedure to glue the leakage. Thank you again for your concern and I promise to keep you posted ons to the actions they decide to take. I hope this response reaches you in the best health and spirits ~ Katie