Hi, I am a 24 year-old woman in Seattle who is 3 days shy of the 3-week mark of getting anterior/posterior lumbar fusion surgery. My story is that in June 2008, I began was experiencing excruciating and constant pain in my left hamstring. From June to July I tried yoga and stretching, at the end of July I began physical therapy. My physical therapist said my pain was probably due to a herniated disc so in August I got an x-ray and an MRI, which showed a disc herniation due to a lumbar spine condition called spondylolisthesis.

I then began chiropractic sessions, and when those didn't help I had an epidural steroid injection. I was also being prescribed stronger and stronger narcotic drugs, and by November I was completely suicidal. I had gone from being an active, healthy, hard-working, energetic girl to someone who was always late or missed work, couldn't walk without using a cane; I couldn't do my own chores or grocery shopping and I was completely desperate. The pain was poisoning every aspect of my life. After considering surgery long and hard, I decided to go through with it. I had the surgery on February 12th and am ecstatic to say that the pain in my leg is now a distant memory and I think I'm actually going to be back to normal soon! It was anterior/posterior lumbar fusion so I have two incisions: one in my lower back and one below my belly button. I was in the hospital for 5 days after the surgery and then went home with my parents to their place for the required 4-6 weeks of recovery time.

I went back into the hospital after 8 days of being at home because I had made the decision to get off the narcotic painkillers cold turkey once I was released from the hospital. Thus, I went through some crazy withdrawal and was admitted overnight. I’m back home again now and although I feel well enough to start regaining my strength and mobility and flexibility, and I really want to go back to my own apartment and start working again, I know I just have to be patient and wait the full 4-6 weeks. The main tips I’d offer anyone considering this surgery would be:

1) Know your surgeon(s). I am lucky enough to have great health insurance and live in a city where I was able to get really qualified, successful surgeons (3 of them) to do my operation. To go through with a major surgery like this you do have to have a certain amount of blind faith in the surgeons because you never know, so do your research and if your gut feeling is that it’s going to be okay, it probably will be.

2) Have somewhere to go or someone to take care of you CONSTANTLY for the first 2 weeks out of the hospital. I never could have recovered if it hadn’t been for my mom taking the time off work to care for me once I was discharged. Post-surgery, you’re not allowed to bend, twist, or lift and it’s amazing how many day-to-day things involve those three motions. I was constantly needing her help to get my socks on, pull my covers up in bed, get things off the floor, and even open up the toilet lid when I had to go to the bathroom (no bending!). Also, I was pretty wrecked emotionally and it was nice to have someone to talk to and help me keep my eye on the prize: recovery. If you don’t have someone to take care of you or somewhere to go to receive care, I’d make sure to figure out how to acquire said care because trust me – you’ll need it.

3) Patience is key. Even though right now I feel like I could get up and do some chores or take a walk or do yoga, I can’t – it’s not about what I FEEL I can do, it’s about what my body can actually HANDLE. At this point, the fusion isn’t complete, and there’s no way to rush it. Without rest and patience, it’s never going to happen. As hard as it is (especially when you’re feeling able to be active) you just have to take it easy.

4) Make a plan with your doctor to get off any pain medications. Pre-surgery and during my post-surgery hospital stay I was on oxycodone, morphine, and hydromorphine. When I was discharged, I just stopped taking all of it. Not a good idea. I should have tapered off instead of going cold turkey and paid the price of three days off extreme sickness and then two nights in the hospital. I lost a lot of weight and strength during this time and it was a major setback in my recovery.

5) If you have any mental health concerns or issues, deal with them (or begin to deal with them) BEFORE your surgery. Make arrangements for a mental health professional to come see you in the hospital a few days after your surgery, and see someone on a weekly basis during the 4-6 weeks of recovery (and beyond, if needed). Recovery can be very depressing and isolating and I truly believe in the power of positive thinking. If you’re recovering and all you’re thinking is “I’m missing out on everything and I’m not being a productive human being and am just lying here and doing nothing and what if the pain comes back and….” You’re not going to recover and feel better as fast as if you’re thinking positively. If therapy or counseling will help you get to that point, make sure you make arrangements with someone.