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| 2 Level Lumbar Disc Replacement; 4 Weeks On | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: 7 Jan 2011, 11:28 AM (464 Views) | |
| Tosh08 | 7 Jan 2011, 11:28 AM Post #1 |
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Quick progreess update, I'm now into week 4 and so far so good. Had Physio earlier this week and am now into bending forwards and to the side and can slide my hands down my legs as far as my knees without discomfort, walking at least half a mile twice a day in a continuous session albeit not as quickly as I would have done previously. Still on the Fentanyl but the bag of suplementary medication is gathering dust on the side in the kitchen. Dont want to tempt fate but so far no leg pain ....... Physio is suggesting swimming or cycling every other day now. Belly still tender but thats probably me just being a bloke about it. Cant fasten top button of jeans yet but again that may be because they should have been a waist size bigger to begin with ! Day consists of varying standing / sitting / walking / laying to give me variety and its working ok for me. Really suffering with dry and cracked skin on feet since hospital stay and I have no idea why ?? Creams etc not really making much difference. Started driving again for short journeys without discomfort and contemplating returning to work in Feb on reduced hours / light duties etc - provided things continue as they are. Best Wishes Andy |
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Nov 09 2 level cervical disc replacement C5/6 & C6/7. Mr Ian Shackleford - Spire Cheshire Hospital. Active C Disc Used Dec 10 2 level lumbar disc replacement L4/5 & L5/S1. Mr Ian Shackleford - Spire Cheshire Hospital. Active L Disc Used | |
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| Nailah | 7 Jan 2011, 12:55 PM Post #2 |
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Hi Andy You are doing really, really well. Sorry I cannot help you on the dry and cracked feet - at night you will have to smother with lots of cream and then put your socks back on - this will help to moisturise them. You could treat yourself to a pedicure and get further advice from the beauty therapist. I am now 21 wks post op and I still have a tender stomach in places and I was wearing my husband's track suit bottoms for ages. I think it took about 8 weeks for my stomach to go down and I began wearing my jeans again comfortably - early days yet for you don't be too hard on yourself. I am still having problems with the sciatica - I've been told that this may never go as I've had it for over 11 years. I am on amitriptyline to help me at night. However, I am now off the morphine but wonder if there is a better drug for me for relief of the nerve pain during the day? I don't particularly want to go back on the morphine, I hope to see my doctor next week to discuss. Cheers Nailah :rolleyes: |
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| Hooch | 7 Jan 2011, 01:21 PM Post #3 |
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Sounds like your making good progress, good stuff. |
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| Gilly | 7 Jan 2011, 07:05 PM Post #4 |
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Advanced Member
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Hi Andy, Sounds as though you are doing extremely well at 4 weeks.... I was told not to do breaststroke for a few months as the back arching it entails is not good. Your walking sounds brilliant but not sure about the cycling yet - it sounds a bit soon to me. Is your physio used to someone who has had disc replacement as the ones in my local hospital weren't and didn't really know how to advise me or are you going to Warrington? Nailah, Pregablin is very good for nerve pain but not sure it would be strong enough for sciatica, worth asking though. I found it really good after my op and I am still on it a year on. Gilly xxx |
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1990 MRI - disc protrusions levels 4/5 - fusion offered but declined due to poor prognosis. 2007 MRI - disc protrusions Level 4/5 level5/S1 2010 2 level lumbar ADR Mr Ian Shackleford Warrington General 2010 MRI - disc protrusions at levels C4/5 C5/6 2011 27 June 2 level Cervical ADR Mr S at Spire (on NHS) | |
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| Anne | 7 Jan 2011, 08:53 PM Post #5 |
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Hi Nailah At my lowest I was taking 3 amytriptoline tablets at night only - its a long time now but it took me over to the next evening. I can't remember the dose lol. I understand from Mr Shackleford that it takes a while for sciatic/nerve pain to subside (he quoted me 2 years for the nerves to heal) and 12 months on, I sometimes still suffer - sometimes for no reason at all, although I have been walking around the countryside for 5 hours at a time - I didn't have ADR but decompression (bones too knackered for ADR) Gabapentin etc didn't work for me and although there were side affects with amytriptoline (bad breath/dry mouth etc) i found them a life safer. Now, if I get nerve pain, and I think in the last 6 months its only happened 3 times, I break 1 in 3!!! Not exactly perfect but 1/3 rd gives me a good nights sleep and next day I'm ok. Good luck. |
| After being messed about by my doctors in Kendal for many years I went privately in 2009 with Mr Shackleford. Because of my age I couldn't have ADR instead he decompressed L4/5 and L3/4 Still got issues: sciatica, groin pain. Seeing consultant in February in Spain where I now live. We will see .................... | |
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| Nailah | 9 Jan 2011, 09:48 AM Post #6 |
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Hi Andy Hope that you are still improving from the surgery. Have you been able to speak to a specialist about your dry and cracked feet? Now the weather has changed for the better so I can now get out for walks and build up my stamina. I haven't tried swimming or cycling as these haven't been suggested to me yet. One step at a time and listen to your body. Thanks for the suggestion of Pregablin for nerve pain. I will put it to my doctor when I see her this week. With the help from my doctor and pain consultant I am being wean off the amitriptyline and morphine but as I am still getting nerve pain I obviously still need medication. I have started back on the 25mg amitriptyline. Thanks for the reassurance that nerve pain can take up to 2 yrs to recover - I will try and be patient. Thankfully, the back pain has gone and only get an achy back when I have done too much. Nailah
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| Tosh08 | 9 Jan 2011, 10:16 AM Post #7 |
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Hi All, I know the local physio has been in touch with Spire and has taken advice, the suggestion regarding cycling was qualified with swimming would be better - with the thought that the problem with cycling being that if I get somewhere and it all starts to hurt, I still have to get home ...... so swimming it is. Got various exercises to do each day also which I seem to be able to cope with. The common theme from both physio's is that with 2 levels of lumbar disc replacement every case seems to be treated very individually with the defined exercises being used as a guide only. I think I need to sort the foot thing out, coincidently my brother had the same complaint after he had his appendix whipped out so maybe its a me / family thing ? I will be taking advice though as feet are itchy as well and before long they will be sore where I have been scratching them. Best Regards Andy |
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Nov 09 2 level cervical disc replacement C5/6 & C6/7. Mr Ian Shackleford - Spire Cheshire Hospital. Active C Disc Used Dec 10 2 level lumbar disc replacement L4/5 & L5/S1. Mr Ian Shackleford - Spire Cheshire Hospital. Active L Disc Used | |
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| Nailah | 10 Jan 2011, 04:24 PM Post #8 |
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Hi Andy That is really weird both you and your brother have suffered with your feet after surgery. I hope your feet are improving? I went to see my doctor today. She has prescribed Gabapentin for my nerve pain. Hope it works. I am on Amitryptyline and I will be weaned off this medication within the new few weeks once the Gabapentin kicks in. Cheers Nailah
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