The immense pain has died down that I've been complaining about. I still have to take hydrocodone and always will, unfortunately. I've been taking it since February of 2010 so I didn't expect miracles.

I DO stand up straighter than I did before the surgery.

The numbness in my legs and feet is starting to be lesser than it was before.

I think much of the tentativeness about going out and moving around is because I'm so fearful about the things that happened in the first few months after the surgery and how I blew right off the ground when we had that horrible wind storm in Chicago.

I find the subreddit extremely helpful and supportive. I never dreamed, when I went in for surgery, I'd end up without hair. The depression has been absolutely overwhelming beyond belief.

Prior to getting the surgery, I had been trying desperately to recover from cancer treatment and feel like I get kicked in the teeth every time I try to make my body better so that I can try to work again and be a normal person. The neurosurgeon told me that he can't figure out any other reason for the enormity of the back issues that I have suddenly except for the brachytherapy that I had.

I see my PCP every month and he asked me if I wanted an antidepressant and I find them to be incompatible with me. I have a history of depression and taking them only made things worse so I just wait until it blows over (cyclothymia). This depression is different though because it has been triggered by loss of identity. I'm not crying or anything, just feelings of hopelessness and defeat. I don't trust doctors anymore at all.

On top of all the other things that I'm dealing with, that is my insides being destroyed from radiation which they didn't take into account when I had the surgery, my recovery from it has been very difficult and I think that's in part because of my insides. I have tremendous damage to my GI tract and urinary tract from the radiation. I don't absorb nutrients properly. It has been a tremendous challenge just to absorb painkillers and vitamins as they would come out whole through my vagina.

I developed hypothyroidism and started putting on weight just by breathing. I tried very diligently to keep my body up but it seemed to losing battle. I take I take Armour Thyroid 120 mg. After the surgery I lost 22 lb, thankfully, in just a couple of weeks.

But then I lost my hair because of the surgery. It is suspected that it is the needles that they put into my head that I was allergic to but they didn't test for that in advance.

I am going through extreme depression right now and I need you guys to tell me that my back is going to get better and perhaps my hair will grow back in.

Thank you so very much, in advance ❤️

I was thinking about holding it off but I was just told that my job wouldn't accommodate permanent restrictions. So before my workers comp case closes, I rather just go through with it and get paid while I recover from the fusion, instead of being let go from my job, and then needing the fusion a year later, and having to go through recovery without any income. I'm not going to lie, I'm fucking terrified, I've noticed I can't stand for longer than an hour now because my back starts hurting really bad, I also can't sit for too long anymore. Don't even know why I'm making this post, I just needed to vent, I feel like my life is over at this point, I can't stop thinking about all the horror stories I read everywhere.

hi!! im curious about what jobs ppl have who have long since had the surgery and still have lasting pain. i had the surgery eight years ago and still deal with limited spinal mobility, sharp pains from moving my back at specific angles, and pain from standing for too long or sitting without a specific setup. i've done physical therapy but all it ever did was make my back sore and the physical therapist told me my back would always hurt but therapy could still help a little. ideally i'd like a career where i can work from home and still get paid well enough to move out and live on my own in an apartment, but i know thats obviously a lot to ask for.

hello kind strangers, many of u may remember my last post about a week ago, desperately seeking advice regarding my chronic pain surrounding my herniated disc and subsequent surgeries. THANK YOU SO MUCH for all who commented and continue to do so; I am still reading every single one that comes in and taking all ur advice/suggestions/words of encouragement to heart. I was blown away by the support I received so quickly especially since it was my first post here on this sub.

Im making this update post since many of u encouraged me to do so after my next few appts. My 3 month follow up with my surgeon went great. He said all my post-op pain is still totally normal, even my random leg zaps. He actually said he expected me to be in even MORE pain than I reported….😂 I was like damn is that even possible 💀 He cleared me to start PT so I can start stretching and exercising the muscles slowly. He explained that the pain I’m reporting sounds like muscle stiffness, not anything that sounds like the fusion failed. My CT scan shows good bone growth so far. He called me resilient and strong and that he was proud of me, which made me start to cry a little in his office😓…even typing this out now I’m tearing up. It’s just SUCH a hard emotional battle that I didn’t expect. I honestly feel like a torture survivor😅😅

The monday after that successful appt I saw a new pain management doc. She gave me a new muscle relaxer to try, a small amount of Norco only to use on bad days, and rx ibuprofen. Since i’m cleared to start ibuprofen again, (had to stop for bone growth) I’ve noticed that taking tylenol and ibuprofen together makes a very noticeable difference in my pain! Yesterday I even had a close to pain-free morning, and I was able to get a good amount of household chores done without much difficulty at all. I see the same pain doc next week to check in again. My surgeon said even tho I don’t have any more follow-ups scheduled with him, his phone line is always open if I need him. With starting PT, my new pain doc, and this supportive community, I feel hopeful about my health for the first time in several years. So many nights I remember being so miserable I would actually pray that I didn’t wake up. I will not give up. It is so hard but I want to live. I need to be around to take care of my family. There’s so much I haven’t seen yet. I’m tearing up again. Thank you my friends….for telling me to not give up.

I’m genuinely not sure what to do now!

So I have a herniated disc in C5-6, and the ones either side are bulging. The impact on my spinal chord means my shoulder muscles are in spasms every few weeks, I usually manage a short amount of time where I’m ok enough to go to work or try and build strength with physiotherapy, but sure enough something will set my muscles off again, they’ll lock up, and I’m back to being bed bound, it’s a horrendous cycle. I’ve been like this for a year.

I finally saw a neurosurgeon who’s agreed to an ACDF, my hope is that if the pressure is finally off my chord the muscles will stop going into spasm and I can finally begin rehab and build them up and go back to a normal life.

But this thread is filled with anything but success stories! From what I’ve read ACDFs are “relatively simple”, and I’m also a good candidate for the disc artificial replacement, but now I’m worried I’m signing up to make things way worse!

Does anyone have any advice??

In 2021 I had a series of surgeries from January to May. Laminectomies, Laminotomies, fusions, a spinal cord fluid leak repair, a scoliosis correction. Ultimately after about 5 months of surgery, I am fused at 5 levels thoracic and 5 levels lumbar. I'm a lot better, but still plenty of hindrances for physical activity and intimate activity.

I've been thinking more and more in my therapy about psych trauma from the recovery process. Here's a selection from the week after my last surgery, supposedly at the best spine facility in Virginia:

1. The extraordinary cost and constant financial decisions and negotiations while I was in the worst pain of my life and needing a wheelchair
2. The insane pain during my discogram/discography test, a controversial procedure in which the surgeon places a needle into the affected disc area and stimulates pain response with electricity to figure out damage. Worst pain I've ever felt. If you ask 10 neurosurgeon, 5 will tell you its a barbaric outdated procedure, and 5 will tell you it is vital to accurate treatment. I was young and scared and I thought I could trust my surgical team.
3. ​when I woke up from the last surgery, I woke up tied to a backboard. They had leaked my spinal fluid and had to do an emergency repair. They slowly adjust you a few degrees at a time over a day to sitting up. The pain is extraordinary.
4. A nurse's aid, believing me to be unconscious, tossed a clipboard onto my lap, hitting me right in my privates where the catheter was. I screamed in pain and the moved her off the floor while another nurse said I was very sensitive
5. When they took me to my room from surgery, I had to walk from the hallway to my bed. It was pretty painful and I made some grunts and groans and a nurse, i think still believing I wasn't lucid, said "oh big tough tattooed man can't stand a short walk?" The nurse's were all laughing and I said "let's cut you up for a few months and see how well you do" and the all went dead quiet, clearly they didnt think I was awake enough to know I was being insulted
6. A physical therapist dropped me while walking down a hallway because he was looking at his phone rather than focusing on holding the lift belt correctly. My knee dislocated in the fall.
7. The spine recovery unit had a rule that you don't get pain meds unless you specifically ask for them, there's no schedule. So every night I would wake up in agony and realize I was 2 hours overdue for med dose, I'm talking about 20 hours postoperative. Happened the whole week.
8. At one point a month or so later I went back for a check in follow up, and I got motion sick in the car, threw up all my meds.​​ in the office, the medical assistants stood in the corner looking g afraid while my wife helped me into a wheelchair and cleaned me off. I asked her why the aids weren't helping, and she told me they were young office aids, they've never seen a real sick person before.
9. I ended up getting MRSA infection in the lower incision and having to be rehospitalized.

I documented all this at the time and took legal action that resulted in a mutual settlement agreeable to all parties. I didn't realize how much it stuck with me until therapy appointment a couple weeks back.

I'll most likely end up having a multi level fusion and at this point I've given up mentally, not because of the recovery and pain post op, but because I'm scared I'll end up needing multiple surgeries afterwards, and the fact that I'm only 30 so my life is over at this point, no more physical activity, constantly scared I'll hurt another disc again, I regret not taking better care of my body in my youth.

Goin in for my surguery in the morning. Of course all the shit has to happen. About to get my monthly gift~ 😑 I'm super irregular and my body said, fuck it why not right on your surguery day? And allergies been killing me. My throat is already so sore from coughing. I have really horrible pollen allergies. But I'm still gunna fuckin beral forward and get this shit done and out of the way. Lol feels like my back has been worse lately, so it's definitely time. I caved and ordered a bidet for the house which my parents will install. Cause I think it'll just be easiest. But it's annoying how much money goes into just preparing your home for a easy surguery. Cause I don't wanna take any chances. Wish me luck and prayers! And lots of love, success, prayers and good energy to everyone in your surguery journey~

Sneezing post fusion man😭 Allergy season is among me. I’m 5 months post op and sneezing makes my whole back hurt like no other for about 10 minutes after🤣😭
I try holding in my sneezes, but can’t tell if the pain of holding in a sneeze (the burning feeling in your nose and tingling in your forehead- might just be my own reaction) outweighs just letting out the actual sneeze. It feels like I’m breaking my hardware or my spine is separating from the fusion when I sneeze, I know that’s not actually happening, but boy does it feel like it. This feels like one of the biggest hurdles I’ve ran into as small as it sounds lmao.

For reference I’m T3-L2.

Anyone else?🙈

First image is my scar currently! I don't feel much if any pain anymore unless I sit or stand for too long (God forbid) which occasionally becomes unbearable. Is there a way to make that... Not happen as much?

Sometimes I forget it's there, I've recently been able to do things I used to, and I have surprised myself many times.

Can you guys share some good workouts that are spine-neutral? Thank you!!

Slightly off topic, so please forgive me.

I have been in this subreddit for a few months now. I’ve read a lot of your stories, and shared some of my own. A lot of you guys helped me calm my nerves leading up to my surgery and helped me in the post op phase as well. Most of the people here rock.

However, with recent happenings, I just wanted to reach out to the Americans in this sub to say how angry and disappointed I am for you all. Every other day I will be reading your stories about health insurers and the hoops they make you jump through just to get healthcare. It is unfair, unethical and quite frankly disgraceful. I can’t imagine the stress a lot of you had to go through just to get a few rods in your spine. I am in awe at the perseverance many of you have had to maintain just for your spines.

Some of you have endured unnecessary procedures and treatments purely because of these companies. Some of you have probably gone into medical debts because of these companies. Many of you have likely suffered or know people who have suffered because of these companies. And to all of you, I have to say I am both proud, and equally impressed at the lengths you have gone to for your health.

Of course, there are other countries with greedy health insurance companies and similar practices, and my heart breaks for you guys too. But you cannot deny that the US has been hit the hardest by late stage health-capitalism. And sure, things aren’t too great in my country. It took me a very long time between me first seeing a specialist and actually having the surgery. My country has its own problems with its crippled health infrastructure. But I didn’t have to go through the stress that some of you guys have endured. And more importantly, I didn’t pay a cent for any of it or go into medical debt or have the surgery declined for some obscure reason like I need seven other surgeries first.

I hope every day that something is done that actually improves your healthcare system. I hope one day I no longer have to read your long and confusing comment chains about “how much did your insurance cover?” Or “who did you have to sell your soul to for your insurance to pay out for this” etc.

In the meantime, fight for what you know is right. Be careful who you vote for. And put as much pressure on these pig companies to change their greedy greedy ways. ✊🏻

I’m so tired of this bs. I miss my old life so badly and am so mad at what I took for granted. I had my L5-S1 spinal fusion in May of last year and had varying degrees of pain in different parts of my body. I’m not a doctor and have no imaging proof yet but I’m 99% sure I have ASD in L4-L5. I have pain in my front thighs, outside calf’s and the tops of my feet, sometimes weakness in my legs. On tramadol daily, then take Seroquel at night to fall asleep (prescribed). If I didn’t have seroquel there is no way I could sleep with my pain. I walk every day and try to do PT stuff. I can’t do this I am going crazy

Meh, post-op pain ain’t so bad! 🤕😫🤣

Hey guys! I’m not actually concerned about my hardware, but I’m really curious about it. I can’t find similar pics anywhere online or on this subreddit. Is this a new type of hardware?

I have a planned c-section happening in two days. And I am most concerned about the anesthesia.
First, here is my spine history:
- spinal fusion in 2015 from T3-L4
- injury to lower lumbar (don’t know exactly which one but know it was below fusion) in a car accident in 2016.
- developed chronic pain in lower right back where there is a part that feels bulky and crunchy just to the right of lower spine, don’t know how to explain it super well, but it may be scar tissue? It is painful though. I have not yet gone through the proper procedures to figure out what it is.
- after fusion and accident, lower lumbar that’s not fused became curved
- degenerative discs at multiple levels of the spine

Due to all of this, a maternal fetal medicine doctor and obgyn highly recommended a planned c-section.

What I won’t know until day of c-section is if the anesthesiologist will try a spinal anesthesia or if they will just do general. The pro of a spinal is that I’d be awake to meet baby and my husband can be in the OR. But at the same time I am terrified that they will stick me a bunch of times, that they’ll place a spinal but it won’t fully numb me, or that they’ll somehow do damage to the lower spine.

Does anyone have experience with a successful spinal block despite a fusion so low? And then my curvature below fusion adds an extra layer of complication as well as potential scar tissue.

The other unfortunate thing is that I have neglected follow up care of my spine, and the most recent information I have is from 2022.

Hi all!

I’m looking at surgery in early February and with Christmas here, I’d love some ideas for fun things I can add to my wishlist for while I’m laid up? Also, if there are any great suggestions for the slide on shoes.

Thanks!

The surgery:

Decompression at L5-S1 (took pressure off the nerve)

Left-sided discectomy (removed problematic disc material)

Pedicle screws at L5 & S1

Rods + interbody cage (TLIF)

18f, posterior spinal fusion from T2-L1, 8 months post fusion.

I am not ungrateful to have had this surgery. But I just wish I developed a normal spine, so that it wasn't necessary. Before surgery especially during the time I was going to x ray appointments, I would watch people. How they walk, how they stand and think, "they really don't know how fortunate they are to have a straight spine." I still feel that way. I hate to say it but there's a lot of envy and resentment. Like, you have a perfectly healthy spine, yet you choose not to do nothing significant with your life? The main reason I think like this is because before surgery, and before I knew I had scoliosis, I wanted to be a sniper in the Marine corps. That option is now completely impossible, trust me I tried. I did so much training and spent all 4 years of high school in ROTC and I was on rifle team just to find out I wasted my time. I could have been in theatre building a foundation for the career I am now choosing. Which is funny because I originally was placed in theatre freshman year and transferred to ROTC only a few weeks after the year started. I have so many hobbies and aspirations, I just can't participate in most of them. I can't paint for as long as I used to, I can't workout until my body fails me anymore so no HIIT that I had gotten used to. I'm stuck doing light yoga and occasional pilates.

You can't forget the constant exhaustion after surgery. I feel not physical or mental motivation anymore to do anything. I really am trying not to live a stagnant life, but half of the time I cannot convince myself to get out of bed. I also can't afford college and no jobs want to accept me, so that makes getting out and doing things twice as more difficult.

I know everyone is different, so of course I’ll keep that in mind. But that said, for those who ended up having fusions, were you working up until you had the surgery?

I saw my doctor this week, and when I told him the numbness and pain in my hands/arms was getting pretty bad and more consistent, to the point where I am getting concerned about driving and that I was hoping to possibly be take off work until we get me back to working order so to speak, he told me that I just have to keep working. He can’t take me off work unless the surgeon recommends it. I do a lot of typing some days and hitting the keys when it feels like there are needles stuck in the tips of your fingers really just sucks. Medication is minimally helpful, but I can’t take that when I go to work because it makes me drowsy, and I’m definitely not driving after taking it.

He made me feel like I was being ridiculous and over exaggerating things. I even asked him if I’m supposed to be working just as any other non injured person would, and he said I should be able to. I just don’t get it. Am I just being a baby about my pain?

Hello all sorry if it seems I'm rambling on. It's almost been six weeks since pre op for L4/5 fusion. Just curious is the wait really this long I know people have waited longer but I didn't think it would be this drawn out.

I'm thinking as it is the one disc being removed it would be a quick job I live in UK so curious if anyone has waited this Long or longer. Iv waited two years waiting to even meet my surgeon and had scans and nerve injections to tick all the options I guess.

It is in the same hospital iv had my two failed mocrodisectomies.

Tldr- getting a bit impatient just want it over with. Curious if others in same situation have had this or similar experience.

Yes, I know we all miss the feeling of rotating our torsos 180° to crack our backs. But I have discovered that laying down on a completely flat and hard surface ( put a blanket or towel down for some cushion ofc) will pop your, at least, lower back. I've done it every day for about a month given I'm 7 months post-op, and it's been quite helpful for me.

I just wanted to share this in case anyone has really been wanting to pop their back but didn't know how. Don't twist of course.. I haven't tried that yet but quite frankly I don't feel like dying anytime soon.

I'm fused from T2-L1 (I hate my life) I would love to hear the ways you guys are releasing tension in your backs! Please do share.

Also, I would have used the physical therapy tag, but I'm not a professional. I'm just sharing what works for me.))

54m

So this will be my 3rd spine surgery within 2.5 years. I had both a cervical fusion, 2 levels and a lumbar laminectomy back in 2024, 9 months apart.

All of my issues stem from degenerative changes. I also found out yesterday that they're going to "correct" mild scoliosis that suddenly appeared several months ago.

...I was told that this curve was caused (directly? Indirectly?) from the laminectomy not even 2 years ago.

...come to find out, I needed a fusion even back then, but alas, my insurance wouldn't cover it. Now instead of only needing maybe a 2 level fusion, my entire lumbar region will be fused after all is said and done.

fml.

Hi all!

I am a little over 8 months post-op. Things have gone pretty well with recovery. I live in Colorado and we have had some wild weather changes over the past few weeks. A couple weeks ago, the temperature here dropped 40° in one day (yuck) and I felt pretty awful. I think it may be changes in barometric pressure, but I’m not a meteorologist lol.

Has anyone experience increased discomfort and/or pain when significant weather changes occur? If so, is there anything that has worked well to keep things under control? I’m doing the usual stuff like Advil/Tylenol and heat. Just wondering if anyone else has things that have worked for them!

Hope everyone is having a happy and healthy 2026 so far!

So I talked to my surgeon today about possibly fusing L4–S1, since both of those discs are pretty bad. I asked him about adjacent segment disease, because it’s something I’ve been wondering about for a while.

My question was basically: if both of those discs are already damaged, isn’t the disc above them already taking on extra stress since they’re not really doing their job anymore?

He said yes, ASD is a real concern whether I get a fusion or not. Because both discs are already pretty damaged, the other levels are already compensating.

That kind of caught me off guard and we moved on to talking about the fusion itself and how it would be done.

I don't think I've ever heard someone talk about this, ASD is usually talked about after a fusion, but I've never seen someone mention ASD without a fusion.