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| 10wks post adr update; 10wks post adr update | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: 30 Jan 2011, 11:58 PM (407 Views) | |
| lois | 30 Jan 2011, 11:58 PM Post #1 |
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Hi, hope everyone is ok and managing as best as possible. i thought i would give you an update of where im up to so far. im able to walk some days for about 45 mins but im finding it really difficult to motivate myself to do this because im feeling so tired and physically exhausted (im not depressed). ive managed to slowly reduce my tabs by 8 co codamol a day, 2 naproxin tabs and 5 mg of amitriptaline. so im now taking 75mg prebagablin (thanks to sound advice on this forum) and 8 tramadol per day. my main problem at the moment seems to be my digestive system has really slowed down im getting terrible heartburn, constipation and feeling sick..i am managing to go to the toilet every three days though and have been taking macragol. The other problem i seem to be having is a really sore neck when i turn it but i think this may be due to the fact my posture has changed. in terms of lumber pain i feel it has decreased but it is very stiff. i also twitch a lot when i sleep or my muscles relax but i cant say i regret having the operation but it certainly is difficult to get over! xx |
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Aged 31 years back pain for ten years, which has intensified over the last twelve months Operation for adr L4 and L5 on 11/11/10 Mr Shackleford-Warrington Hosp | |
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| Hooch | 31 Jan 2011, 01:18 AM Post #2 |
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Hi, The pain meds will knock you around. I'm on tramadol (150mg a day) and paracetomol atm and it often makes me feel sick and tired, it's a well known side effect. The constipation is well known too. Who is managing your medication? 45 min is a long walk. I just wonder if you're not better off reducing your meds and reducing the side-effects a little? Most of your post is about the difficulties od side effects, not back pain, but I don't know how strong your pain is. You are still recovering, recovering well by the sounds of it, and you will make big strides, esp when you start physio and really open and stretch and exercise those muscles. Get your TA and multifidus sorted too. Hope u start to feel better soon. Chris |
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| Alastair | 31 Jan 2011, 09:31 AM Post #3 |
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Hiya, Yes 45 mins is too long at this stage ,back off a bit "Slow and Steady wins this race" Best Alastair
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Founder of this board 24th February 2007 Slow and Steady Wins This Race Over 23 Years experience and research into spine surgery and over 2500 surgeries discussed and recorded ADR L5/S1 Surgery with Dr Zeegers 26th July 2002 in Munich 8 facet joint ablations 28 – 8 – 12 with Dr Baranidharan and Jake Timothy in Leeds Diagnosed Forestiers disease Your Best Asset Is Your Health I live in West Yorkshire aged 81 now Knowledge is power | |
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| Gilly | 31 Jan 2011, 03:22 PM Post #4 |
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Hi Lois, Ten weeks is still early days in the scheme of it all but I know to you it will probably feel like it has been a lifetime!!!! You are doing very, very well to be walking for 45 mins a day but as the others have pointed out there is no rush. Are you doing 2 smaller walks a day rather than a full 45 minute walk all at once? It might help with your motivation and tiredness (which is also natural at this stage) to take it more slowly and stroll rather than walk?? You may be already doing this, so it is just a suggestion. I think the problem at this stage is that expectations are high and the niggling at the back of the mind thinking I have to be going futher and reducing the tablets too??? I worried about this but was told at my 12 weeks checkup not to reduce my painkillers too quickly as it could reduce my mobility, which in the long run is worse. It was very good advice by Mr Shackleford's understudy, Jesus, - don't know if you have seen him?? This may be why you are feeling stiff. As Chris has said once you get more physio, you will find your flexibility will come back slowly. It really is a very slow process and patience is a virtue with this kind of operation, and it is difficult to get those muscles going again when they have not been used during your pre-op life when exercise has been either difficult or non-existent. I also had the muscle twitches too, maybe they are sounding off because they have been asleep for a long time!!!! I am sure you will turn a corner very soon and it will all click into place. Do you have a check up soon at Warrington - you will be able to discuss any problems you are having then. Take Care now, Love 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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| ajj1001 | 31 Jan 2011, 05:49 PM Post #5 |
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I find managing the constipation through diet as well as lots of medication helps to keep things regular and makes my back alot more comfortable. Dried prunes, licorice and all bran have become my best friends! |
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Std Meds Gabapentin, MR Tramadol, Paracetemol, Laxatives 2011 Sept PLIF L4 - S1 2010 May Discogram L2/L3 & L3/L4 both looking ok. 2009 May PLG Fusion L5/S1 Charite in situ April Dismissed 2008 Caudal Epidural failed to work 2007 Deterioration L5/S1 Facet arthritis, Loss of disc height. 2004 Returned to Work 2002 Aug - physio March 2 level ADR Charite L4/5, L5/S1 2000 Broadbased disc prolapses L4/5, L5/S1 | |
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| Nailah | 31 Jan 2011, 05:59 PM Post #6 |
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I am now 5 months post op - I have only just increased my walking to 45 minutes. Take things slowy - listen to your body. Again, as for the pain meds - no rush to come off them - speak to your doctor. It is not a race. As for constipation I found orange juice helped.
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| lois | 2 Feb 2011, 01:17 AM Post #7 |
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Hi everyone, thanks for the sound advice and good wishes, i think i have been pushing myself too much. i have been doing the 45 mins all at once, but ill start to spread it out over two walks. i have also been kinda marching thinking i must reach three miles! god knows what damage ive been doing! my problem is i want to run before i can walk, excuse the pun, lol!! im also gonna buy some bran to sprinkle on my food. im on a soft diet at the moment to see if that helps too. i forgot to ask on my last post but ive been getting a pain right in the centre of my spine it feels like my spine want to snap almost like a pressure, has anyone else experienced this? i seen mr shacks understudy 4 wks post op i think he was french, im not due to go back now until july, it feels like years away as i would like an xray to check everythings ok and to ask about this central spine pain, my gp cant give any answers really, and it is just the gp thats managing meds at the moment and to be honest they dont seem to know whats right. ive been going to physio every week on this back to action scheme, its where the physios try to educate people on the correct posture, then you work ur way around the hospital gym and do one minute on the bike then the tredmil and various other things for ten mins. they had me on a minature trampoline for a minute the first week which left me in agony, so ive refused to go back on that. they said that theres nothing i shouldnt be doing now but there just reading off a piece of paper for 1 level adr. Also at what point do i consider going back to work? my job involves sitting at a desk, participating in long meetings, driving and lots of energy and concentration...all of which i dont feel able to do. last time i seen mr shacks understudy he gave me a sick note that runs out this week (im now 10 wks post op) and said by the time it comes to an end i should be considering returning to work...but i keep asking myself...how ? lol. i think thats why ive been pushing myself soo hard as that has felt like a goal i should reach. my gp will give me a note for however long i think but i want to give work a realistic timescale of when to expect me back, but i just dont know!! i feel whacked with it all, anyway rant over lol x |
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Aged 31 years back pain for ten years, which has intensified over the last twelve months Operation for adr L4 and L5 on 11/11/10 Mr Shackleford-Warrington Hosp | |
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| Hooch | 2 Feb 2011, 06:04 AM Post #8 |
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trampoline?!?! For the love of all that is holy.. look you're finding out that most people don't have a clue, and they don't let that stop them from pretending that they do.. listen to your body, and a decent physio will listen to you. Everyone heals at a different rate, just let it heal and let the bone bind into those discs. All you should be doing is keeping the muscles supple and maintaining movement and flexibility without overloading your tissues and breaking yourself down. You've probably set yourself back a bit with all this hard core stuff. Dial it back, take it easy for a few days with gentle walking and gentle water work, then slowly build up again. You must be exhausted. If you can find a better physio I would. You should be activating your deep core muscles and slowly building endurance, later on you can build strength. If you can handle clinical pilates that will incorporate all of that, but u need to be reasonably healed up. I have severe doubts about the professional competence of someone who puts you on a trampoline.. |
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| ajj1001 | 2 Feb 2011, 08:38 AM Post #9 |
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if anyone is having to read off a piece of paper for a totally different op then I would question whether they know what they are doing. the generic scheme they have put you isn't the best idea for initial 2 level ADR. I would request individual physio with someone who knows what they are doing. an unsupported exercise bike isn't a good idea at this point in your recovery (you need to be supported when using your legs), recumbent ones are ok. I never got back on a trampoline after my op, way too risky! you sound like you are a couple of months off being able to return to work, you need a planned, gradual return to work organised by occupational health when you do. pm me if you want any help requesting this. |
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Std Meds Gabapentin, MR Tramadol, Paracetemol, Laxatives 2011 Sept PLIF L4 - S1 2010 May Discogram L2/L3 & L3/L4 both looking ok. 2009 May PLG Fusion L5/S1 Charite in situ April Dismissed 2008 Caudal Epidural failed to work 2007 Deterioration L5/S1 Facet arthritis, Loss of disc height. 2004 Returned to Work 2002 Aug - physio March 2 level ADR Charite L4/5, L5/S1 2000 Broadbased disc prolapses L4/5, L5/S1 | |
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| Gilly | 4 Feb 2011, 01:46 PM Post #10 |
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HI Lois, You sound as though you are tiring yourself out worrying too much about the future, and I know it is hard but try and take a day at a time and use this time to concentrate on building yourself up slowly but surely. I am a little surprised that your physio doesn't seem all that experienced. Are you going to Warrington General for physio as they are supposed to be very good???? You are having the same problems I had and the exercise regime seems the same. You are right to point out and refuse to do anything that causes you pain at this stage I think. I was very adverse to the Swiss ball for some reason and refused to do it!!! My local hospital didn't have a clue but I asked for the specialist spinal physio and though she didn't have a great deal of knowledge of the op she did get info from Warrington and was very wary of making me do anything that was uncomfortable for me. It will all come together very soon - I know you will be thinking now that it never will but it does and don't worry that you may have done some damage - I fell over the cat about 3 weeks after my op and was worried sick but Mr S told me it was natural to worry but that it would take a hammer and chisel to move the discs. Try and relax when you are walking and don't think on the lines of 3 miles yet - the effort will only make you more tense worrying about the target. The targets they give for walking are completely unrealistic. Love 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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| lois | 22 Feb 2011, 03:34 PM Post #11 |
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Thanks for the support everyone, ive spoken to my manager at work and the doctor and he has signed me off until the 15th march but wants to see me before i consider going back to the grindstone lol. To be honest im not sure how ill manage it, i feel so exhausted all of the time, is this normal? i went out to the theatre at the weekend and slept for a full 13 hours to recover from it and i still feel tired 3 days later, maybe ive developed lazyitis lol. Ive been getting real dizzy spells too, which i think the tramadol is causing so im going to try and reduce them really slowly. Thanks for the offer of help alison i will probably be taking u up on it very soon, and gilly your right i do spend too much time worrying about the future, i need to work harder on being positive. i think im just worried ill never get my old life back, but i should be grateful for what i have. ive got a new physio now and things are good there, but i must say is one thing i have learnt is not to be so stupid and think someone woth a medical title knows more about my spine and adr than me. I never want to see a trampoline again!! X |
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Aged 31 years back pain for ten years, which has intensified over the last twelve months Operation for adr L4 and L5 on 11/11/10 Mr Shackleford-Warrington Hosp | |
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| Alastair | 22 Feb 2011, 04:48 PM Post #12 |
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Obviously the people in the gymnasium had not got the slightest idea what they were doing. A two-level ADR is very major surgery, you should be taking things easy and pottering about, getting in walks within your ability and making a very gradual recovery. The recovery time for ADR is at least six months for a full recovery but that can stretch to 12 months depending what you do at work. Normally employers are helpful with appropriate seating and desks to people in your situation recovering from extremely major spine surgery. Sitting in the theatre simply aggravated the whole situation, bad backs don't like standing or sitting for long periods You obviously ARE doing too much, interesting to read about the tramadol which normally does not help sleep. You take care, Alastair
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Founder of this board 24th February 2007 Slow and Steady Wins This Race Over 23 Years experience and research into spine surgery and over 2500 surgeries discussed and recorded ADR L5/S1 Surgery with Dr Zeegers 26th July 2002 in Munich 8 facet joint ablations 28 – 8 – 12 with Dr Baranidharan and Jake Timothy in Leeds Diagnosed Forestiers disease Your Best Asset Is Your Health I live in West Yorkshire aged 81 now Knowledge is power | |
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| Gilly | 23 Feb 2011, 11:58 PM Post #13 |
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Hi Lois, it is too early yet to get your old self back yet but you will come back eventually!!! Try not to do anything too energetic as the setbacks are worse than if you take things slowly. You are right to err on the side of caution with the professionals - very often you know better than them. Just wondering are you on amitripiline or anything like that as they make you very tired? Hope you find a balance of rest and exercise soon - it isn't easy finding the right amount at this stage but you won't be like this forever Gilly xxx Just read back on your thread that you have come of them!! Pregablin can make you tired but they do a very good job of keeping the nerve pain down. Unfortunately this stage is also hard as you are still recovering from the op and also have to take so many painkillers too. So there is a battle with the tiredness but as I said it won't be like this forever and unfortunately the painkillers are necessary to keep you painfree and mobile. 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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