Post lumbar fusion - questions?

I had a fusion done at L5/S1 about 3 1/2 weeks ago.

Leading up to the surgery I had increasing pain until the last few weeks I was almost 100% stuck in bed. The pain I had was sciatica in my left leg, no back pain. The disk then ruptured and the pain went away followed immediately by a lot of numbness and nerve damage. I was losing functionality in my leg and it was also creeping into my bladder and bowels. When the numbness set in I began having slight pain in my right leg.

The surgery came just in time. I still have loss of functionality in my left leg, but no pain. There is some lingering numbness in my left food and leg, but nothing I cannot deal with. My bowels and bladder are fine. Even the post surgery pain is better Than how I was leading into it.

About a week ago I began having slight sciatica pain again in my right leg. I dont see my surgeon for another couple weeks. He told me that I would have a lot of sensations as I recovered from my surgery...

(CONTINUED)

I have been taking it easy, walking quite a bit but not overdoing it. I went into this a fit, 34 year old male. I am still in decent shape.... for what I just went through.

One other thing. The 1st night after my surgery, I woke up in the middle of the night and my little finger and ring finger were numb on both hands. I was lying on my back. Since then, I have had maybe two nights that I have not had this happen. As soon as I move, roll over, it goes away. If I lay on my back they both go numb, on my left side the left hand, right side my right hand. I've tried no pillows, 1, 2, and 3 pillows and various positions. The results are always the same.

So numb fingers and right leg sciatica. The sciatica is a 1.5 on a 1-10 scale. But it is there and I know the potential.

Are post surgery aches, pains, and etc. normal for awhile? Should I be overly concerned? I will see my neurosurgeon soon, just wanted some feedback.

Thanks!

It's very normal to have intermittent sciatic pain after this type of surgery. It doesn't sound very "medical", but the nerve has had pressure on it for a while, and now that the pressure has been removed (by surgery), the nerves go through some changes, almost "waking up", if you will. If the pain is not controlled by your medicine, is worse than before surgery or becomes constant, you should call your surgeon.

The numbess in your fingers when lying on your back is a common report from patients that have had major spine surgery. Is it mostly the little finger and ring finger side of the hand? If so, it is probably the result of using your pain medicine (very much needed so soon after surgery), because as it makes you comfortable enough to rest - falling asleep or resting on your back with your arsm down puts pressure on one nerve to the hand (ulnar nerve) as it runs along the elbow. You can try padding your elbows - resting your arms on a pillow for example.

Hope this helps you - your situation sounds "textbook" and that's what you want to be after surgery!

your nerves got pinched before and during the procedure and they can take up to 8 weeks for the inflammation to go down take Ibuprofen.I avoided lumbar fission by doing 2 artificial discs.maybe you can get some info from the hospital i went to. try ADR.COM