31 Weeks post L4-S1 Fusion. The single most asked question of me and one in which I researched and asked my doctor numerous times is can I and when can I play golf again. Well the Doctor gave me the OK to begin play on June 1. I waited until June 9, out of a little fear, and played 18 holes. I went to the range during the month of May and hit only PW to 7 Iron. Stiff at first but became easier after a few tries. June 9 was first 18 and day with a driver in about a year. My report back is quite good. I shot an 87, hit the ball straight and honestly speaking couldn't tell that I had a back fusion. No pain during the round. Next day a little tender but nothing to be concerned about. As I'm writing this I have notice the tenderness is gone. For those concerned that golf is finished with a fusion I can say that if you have a successful fusion it is not. I hit the ball better than I had in the last 5 years. Couple drives over 280.....crazy.

Hang in there guys over time it gets better.

Today is exactly 5 months aftr my surgery L4-L5 fusion. I feel great !!!! I Have NO PAIN !!!! none. I can do most evrything I want to do. Of course one have to be carefull, and follow the doctors instructions. And listen to your body. If it does not feel right, don't do it !! At age 53 I am not planning to join the olympics, but I can live my everyday life pain free. So I am very happy with the results, and just wanted to share with everyone, that you do not have to be affraid, to go ahead with the surgery. Just make sure you select a very good doctor. Do your homework, and follow instructions. Remember, it will not be as good as when you were 16, but pain free at any level is good for me. Good luck to all!

Hi all, Ive been reading all your stories for awhile, Thanks for All the success stories and inspiration! and I felt like getting on to share, Im a 48yr old male scheduled for a S1-L5-L4 fusion on 6/29/09, second scheduling since I came down sick 5 days before the original date two weeks ago. I have some pain but nothing I cant handle if I watch what I'm doing, I have the usual issues with sleep loss, weight gain and no bending or lifting, with the added twist of leg pain and numbness if I sit or stand for more than 10 or 15 minutes, this rules out any kind of work, Ive been on my back for over 6 months now, having gone through all the different pain killers and epidurals but ultimately nothing helped, so we're looking at the surgery, I'm both aprehensive and anxious at the same time, My Dr. is about as good as anyone could ask for and I even went the extra step to ask his nurse if she could put me in touch with someone local that they had reciently done the same surgery on, He was 6 weeks post surgery and walking a mile each day, and he said he wished he'd had it done 10 years ago. very encouraging
so, as scarry as this is I'm looking forward to the results, as a father of three boys it's tough when your littlest has a night mare and daddy cant pick him up, it hurts in more ways than just the pain. after a lifetime of trying to be independant and strong, this is tough, real tough.
thank you all for sharing and providing so many success stories.
I'll write again post op.

I have a couple of questions. I had my fusion performed back in Dec of 2008.
I injured my back when I was an active duty marine and am now trying to get back in. Anyways I have been training since my 4 month post op when my doctor cleared me for full duty. I also went through a month of pt before they released me. I followed the doctors orders to a T. Currently I have been training to go back to active duty, and am wondering if the symptoms are normal that I am experiencing. I am running 3 miles every other day pain free and am able to complete normal weight lifting exercises on the off running days. My question is my lower back seems to be constantly sore. It is not a pain it is more of a tightness and soreness as if it was from working out. I do take 2-3 days off a week and stretch every day. I am still stiff in the morning or when I have been sitting but it quickly loosens up once I move around. I know for sure its the muscle and not anything to do with the nerves or spine. Has anyone else experienced this?


thanks,
Chase

yup. i wouldn't say 'often' as this point (5 months post op), but it does happen often enough so that i'm not surprised. my doc and PT said that'll go away with time, but it could be a long time.

i've found that deep tissue massage works pretty well for me. i even got my PT to write up a bogus Rx for daily massage that i presented to my girlfriend. she didn't think it was uproariously funny as i did. but i still get an occasional backrub out of it.

i' ve also found that slouching in chairs is pretty bad for me; it makes my bad hurt. i gotta make sure i'm sitting up straight, like i have a stick up my butt or something. i look like a prissy fool, but my back doesn't hurt, so....

i am surprised he cleared you to go back on active duty, mine wouldn't clear me for full return to work. of course, while active duty will undoubtedly require a lot of activity, my job involved a LOT of bending, stooping and squatting. notsogood on the back. i just wish he'd have told me that a while ago. oh well, i was planning on changing careers anyway.

surgery postponed again ,,,scheduled for a S1-L5-L4 fusion on 6/29/09 and it got postponed again to 7/6/09 now, after soo long waiting now i have an extra week of anxiety to go through. I'm somewhat afriad going into this, but cant wait to have it done. I know the healing is still a long road to go down, I just want to get started.

Bloomer,

I had the same issue with my three little girls. It was almost like they lost there Dad. I had the same s1-l4 surgery you are about to have. Any surgery is scary and cause for great anxiety. However, know that over time you'll be back to being that dad you couldn't be with a bad back and on pain killers. Just yesterday I was throwing my kids in the swimming pool. FYI rehabbing takes a long time...pain stops sooner than you think...and you kids will be playing with you in no time. 33 weeks out Dr. stills says no picking up the kids. Funny he lets me play golf. Go luck..

Bloomer, it is tough to have the surgery postponed, I can relate that you just want to get it over and done with, I was so scared before hand.

I am now 7 weeks post fusion and have been constantly surprised by how well it has gone compared with the pre-op expectations! I am able to walk for miles, something I haven't been able to do for such a long time, every time I am out, I walk with great pride. I remember that just a few weeks ago I struggled to the first lamppost, then the next and the next until I realised that I could walk around the block!

I can't sit for too long without getting uncomfortable and as yet can't get back to work as a nurse, but I am beginning to feel that that is only around the corner. I am very careful to follow the instructions given to me by my Dr and Physiotherapist.

Good luck and have faith that you will feel so much better in only a month or so.

the system wont let me log back in so now im bloomer2,
exactly 7 days since l4-s1 decompression and fusion, and in the words of zacary smith" ohh the pain the pain!!!" (thats an obscure lost in space referance) heck yeah it hurts! and all the time, but even here at 7 days post I can already see each day is a little less. Its tough to be soo absolutely helpless, someone mentioned lifting no more than a coffee cup, they were serious, this morning I had a big cup, probibly 12-16 ozs, and it hurt to hold the cup. good thing I have a loving wife who puts up with me and two teenage boys that can do the lifting.
as long as it hurts a little less each day we'll get through. that percaset sure messes with your stomach, I now have crackers and water on bedside and eat a few with each pain killer dose, and that seems to help.
one thing that surprised me was after a shower, a bath towel dry is fine but just the weight of the bath towel after drying off was suddenly too much? whats that mabe a 3-4 oz difference? If you dont already have a hand held shower nozzel, get one, it hurts just to bend over to wet your hair.
I made a huge mistake and tried to sit on the couch this morning, even with my wifes help, trying to get back up was honestly one of the hardest physical things I have ever done, and it left me sweating and shaking for 15 minutes after...I wont be trying that again soon....spooky.
at this point things what Ive done right is walking alot, im up to 2 20 minute sessions a day, walking is fine and with a walker for balence I can do alot more than I expected at this stage, its just the getting up and down that kills. If I had it to do over I would try harder to loose more of the weight I gained in the last 7 months sitting around waiting for the proceedure to be aproved( workers comp) the less you weigh the less you have to move around, I have to believe that would lessen the pain some.
and having a huge bed helps!!! the matress top is probibly 33-36 inches off the ground and I'm 6'2'' the lower your matress the harder it is to get in and out of bed, I would suggest before surgery putt on a second matress or whatever it takes to raise the height of your bed to just below your butt level when your standing. as you bring your legs down by the time your toes touch ground you'll be almost standing position already.. that's an honest suggestion hope it helps someone else.
thanks for the help, and if anyone has any pointers for the first few months pleas feel free to let me know what worked and didnt work for you
bloomer

Hi Bloomer

Congratulations my friend, I am so glad you have had the op.

Every day you will find that you can do more and more, then it gets to a stage where you think you have hit a plateau... until you compare this week with last week. Little things like ending up sitting more than lying, travel in the car get easier and easier. I went out and bought myself a sheepskin and lay on that. I still have it in my bed two months down the track. You'll find that you can make yourself a cuppa tea, then you'll find you can make a sandwich.

I still get my dearly beloved to carry the washing outside, then I hang it up on the line with ease. I get very excited when I find I can do things today that I couldn't do yesterday. I do find myself very upset if it is the other way round, but I have found that if I push myself too hard I have to rest up the next day. I still find low seats a challenge to get up and out of and I'm only 5' 3"!

I am negotiating with my work to return, but as I don't think they understand the idea of a gradual return with me in the driving seat, as recommended by my surgeon, it is taking a while. No doubt I'll be back for a few days next week on light duties. My op was 9 weeks ago, a L4-5 fusion.

Have faith, the intense pain will be a mere memory (until you bend or twist) within a few weeks and after that it just keeps on getting better. As I have read on this site many times, take it easy and listen to your professionals, they do seem to know what they are talking about.

Keep smiling,

Caroline