i went back for a visit and while there , asked if i could see an xray of the parts now in me . he even gave me a cd to take home ! i fabricate metal for custom jobs so i was very intrigued . he actually took the time to THOROUGHLY explain it to me in technical terms . i was shocked , most docs just rush through a visit as if they dont have time to be bothered .

Hello and I am glad you are recovering. All the next six months you will find out just what you can do. Believe me, if you over do it, you will know about it. I am 8 months almost to the day of surgery and I spent one hour pulling weeds outside today. Nice to be able just to do that. I had doner bone on a C3-7, none out of my hip. I heard that can be an ouch for a long time. I thought I was too sore for PT at 4 weeks, but I did start and finish the program. It did help me, and it was not pushed on me to do more than I could. PT was a good experience, and helped me to get on my feet sooner. I was afraid of it too at the beginning. Don't put it off too long if you can. Good luck in your recovery. ginnie

I am you I had my fusion on Jan 25th my hip pain is gone thank god but I have what doc says is phanthon pain. My body was so use to having pain the nerves still have memory... makes no sense to me. I am on oxycodone and it does take my pain away. Is anyone else having phantom pain?

well i'm sorry u hav a collar , i would b nuts by now if i had to deal with that along w/everything else . good luck .

what i dont get is , why is my phantom pain on the other side that had never hurt before . my left hip is still killing me . i also still have a large numb area on my hip area in the skin .

MY LEFT HIP HURTS LIKE HELL !!!!! which as u guys following my story already know , never hurt to begin with .
a sneeze , laugh , or cough will still kill me if i dont bend at the waist .
last week i had just layed down , BARELY MOVED to reposition , and i thought my hip broke ......new worst pain i've ever felt . i scared my wife because i screamed as loud as possible (while trying not to ). i'm surprised the neighbors didnt call the police ! my hip is now getting worse . i quit taking pain meds cause they dont work on my body (docs never believe me ).
after working on my wifes car (at the speed of a sloth ) , i epsom salt soaked 3hrs . i knew i was gonna b paying for those repairs somehow . i did . i saved $300.00 which is great since our money has run out due to my lack of working . EVERY muscle in my body hurt like a torn muscle . it took 8 days to recover . that next morning i had to b helped outa bed . and when i tried to rush to the bathroom , i literrally had to drag my left leg . all these months prior to surgery i had been less & less active . compounded by recovery vegetation , i guess my body was almost atrophied .
so , i suggest that you do isometric workouts . i also suggest not replacing a wheel bearing hub which was a real bi#@! to do in the 1st place .
i need to go see my doc due to the hip and something new i've noticed . theres a large area of my skin around the left hip that looks mottled red , almost likened to stria . i can still walk pretty well . 1/8 mile or more a day without much pain . the doc wants me to get rid of the walker and just carry my cane loosely for emergency only . screw that ! when i do laps in the driveway...i have the walker . in the house i use the cane . i can always catch myself w/a wall or furniture---lol .
sad to say that all of this is taking a mental toll on me . i'm useless in my eyes . still need help putting my socks on half the time . and the pain is winning . i took (in a 1 hr period ) 3valium ,4 oxycod. ,800mg ibuprofen , 2 vicodin .....didnt help . my wife couldnt believe i was even awake . not only awake but soaking with my music , wine , and epsom salt . i have quit meds all together now since they dont work . not to mention i'm guessing i can still o.d. even if i'm not feeling effects . how can my body possibly b that resistant . hell , i always have to let any anesthesiologist know of my history of waking up during procedures . anyway one good thing is that all the tub soaking i do ...my 4 yr old comes n and we throw a beach ball around the bathroom .
i really miss mowing the lawn ....soon i'm hoping to get out there . i own a high end finish construction co. it's so specialized , i usually work alone . i may have to find something else to do . btw , if u wanna see what i do , go to youtube.com search "sheridan finish work " or user name "SHERM8TOR"
HOPE THE REST OF U ARE HEALING WELL , damn-do we have to do group hugs ? LOL

Hi cath, glad you are post surgery, this side of healing. I am 8 months post today and had almost the same surgery as you. C3-7, with all the fancy trimmings. I get along pretty good. Some pain at C1-2 which is a bit worrysome. Some kinks and ouches, but for the most part a good deal better.
(bak to bak,} your hip sounds terrible painfull. That can't be right. I know there is alot of pain with it but yours sounds over the top. Maybe a good idea for dr, to check it especially as you said there were molted looking area. ginnie I wish you all speedy healing and no more pain.

I am officially NEVER having anything more invasive than an RFD done! I'll survive on Duragesic! You all are the brave ones. This sounds worse than what we're originally going through. I admire you so much Bak2bak for plowing through this difficult recovery. Good thing you're a stubborn man-- LOL. A less determined guy would be laying on his back in bed all day!!!

Hi My name is Rick i am having surgery july 5th and its a L4 L5 S1 fusion done my doctor is going to put a upaduro i hope i spelled that right in me to limit the pain and a cathader do you or anyone agree with that i am really scared

Rick, It's probably an epidural.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epidural