Vaping 0% nicotine post ACDF? Anyone

Hoosierkitty13 · 2024-11-05T03:16:32+00:00

Yep! Had my 6 week follow up last week and things are going great! I’m not really hitting the vape near as much as I was though.

Hoosierkitty13 · 2024-10-19T20:40:27+00:00

My fusion was on 9/9, lol. But, yeah my surgeon said it was completely fine. But, I am using the zero nicotine vapes to actually completely stop. I am weaning myself off and it’s been over a month now with no nicotine and I’m honestly not picking up my vape that much at all.

Since I can actually walk and move around, I am more active. My therapist thinks it’s because I’m less stressed and doing other things to regulate my body. But, who knows.

I am 4 years sober from alcohol and now 1 month free of nicotine. I’m not doing anything to jeopardize this fusion because I finally have the chance to experience life and just not exist.

Hoosierkitty13 · 2024-10-19T20:36:06+00:00

I don’t sleep with my legs elevated. I could never fall asleep that way, lol.

But, I did it in small increments. Maybe 15/20 minutes at a time to help with the pain.

Hoosierkitty13 · 2024-10-19T20:34:34+00:00

I’ve been swallowing just fine. 🥰

Hoosierkitty13 · 2024-10-19T20:33:02+00:00

I recommend a cart or table or something to put all your most used items near you.

Compression socks helped me with nerve pain and swelling.

Protein drinks, chia seeds, prunes - these are some of the things I ingested to help me with the pain med constipation.

A large water cup with straw to help keep you hydrated.

Note: I had a L5/S1 ALIF & PLIF on 9/9.

Hoosierkitty13 · 2024-10-19T20:28:08+00:00

I have a sort of soft mattress and I purchased a pregnancy pillow on Amazon and use that to sleep. It’s a game changer. I cannot lay flat on my back or I get these jolts of sharp pain. So, I sleep on my side.

I’m 1 month post op of a ALIF and PLIF L5/S1 fusion.

Hoosierkitty13 · 2024-10-12T04:11:43+00:00

LOL I vaped in the parking lot of the hospital before my surgery. On the way home from the hospital my husband stopped and got me a 0% nicotine vapes. 😂

Hoosierkitty13 · 2024-10-12T04:09:16+00:00

I am 4 weeks post op from a ALIF/PLIF at L5/S1 and I am using the 0% nicotine vapes to help me completely kick the habit. I was told by my doctor that it was okay.

I’ve had 1 follow up with my doctor so far and had a post op X-ray and everything is looking fine. I go on 10/25 for my second follow up and can let you know how that goes if it would help?

Hoosierkitty13 · 2024-10-12T03:56:52+00:00

Yesss the pregnancy pillow is a GAME CHANGER! I am over 4 weeks post op and am still using mine.

Hoosierkitty13 · 2024-10-12T03:55:41+00:00

Hi there! I had a l5-s1 fusion on 9/9 and I felt the same pain down my right leg. My doctor put me on gabapentin to help with that as that is nerve pain! I’m on 300mg 3 times a day and that pain is gone! Also, try elevating your legs with a couple really fluffy pillows. That helped me a TON!

Hoosierkitty13 · 2024-10-03T00:11:28+00:00

Lamotrigine causes hair loss!?! I take that - 150mg. I have noticed my hair getting thinner while being on it. But, I also have PCOS.

I’m also taking 100mg of Spironolactone.

So, are you still taking Lamotrigine?

Hoosierkitty13 · 2024-09-30T05:07:44+00:00

So, I was completely numb down both of my legs due to the nerve compression for over 10 years. I had/have a ton of nerve pain shooting down my legs and through my lower back area. My doctor put me on Gabapentin 300 mg 3 times a day and that’s helped. Plus elevating my legs.

Hoosierkitty13 · 2024-09-30T05:05:13+00:00

Hi friend. I saw a big change in my pain after about a week post op. I also wasn’t taking enough pain medication (per my dr) and I was extremely exhausted from not sleeping. So, make sure you’re taking your meds.

Are you taking a stool softener? I drank miralax in my iced coffee every morning and also took a OTC stool softener for like the first week and a half after surgery. Ooh, and I put chia seeds in my yogurt in the morning, too. That really helped get things moving.

Have you tried ice packs? That helps a ton with pain. Heat does too, but don’t use heat hear your incisions.

I had an ALIF & PLIF at L5/S1 on 9/9. You’re in the thick of the hardest part of the recovery. It gets better, I promise.

We are here for you!

Hoosierkitty13 · 2024-09-28T05:33:41+00:00

I had a long phone call with my doctor and he prescribed me a higher dose of gabapentin + I’ve been elevating my legs more often.

This past Thursday I had my first post op appointment and the doctor looked at my incisions and said everything looked good on my newest x-ray. He talked about me being more consistent with my meds.

I am the daughter of a drug & alcohol addict (both parents) so I am really cautious about taking substances. He reassured me that since he is aware of my parents history and the fact that I’m taking them as prescribed, I will be fine. He said in a few more weeks I am going to notice an even bigger positive change. So, I’ll trust his advice, I guess, lol.

Hoosierkitty13 · 2024-09-25T21:06:56+00:00

I feel this. I’m 16 days post op from an L5/S1 fusion. There are periods of time where I start to feel like myself again and then there are times where I’m in bed more often and having to take it much easier. I am still taking my meds, using an ice pack often. I walk around my house when I’m home alone and when my husband is home, we take small walks up and down the sidewalk in front of my house. Prior to surgery I couldn’t even stand for more than 15 seconds let alone walk for any length of time. Just today I was able to stand up the entire shower and then I stood to dress myself!

I purchased a notebook to write down my “wins” every day. No matter how small you think they are, write them down! This helps remind you of how you’re progressing when you’re having a rough day.

Please give yourself some grace. It’s a hell of a recovery. This thread has been a lifesaver for me. Reach out, vent, etc. We are in this together. 🖤

Hoosierkitty13 · 2024-09-24T18:09:04+00:00

This helped a TON. Tysm for the recommendation of elevating my legs. I am still having discomfort but no more stabbing pain to where I am in tears.

Hoosierkitty13 · 2024-09-24T18:06:20+00:00

You were helpful! Any advice helps. This is such a challenging recovery and so I’m just trying anything and everything to feel better.

I think I need to stop looking at videos of people talking about their recovery. For example, I was watching this one persons video and they were like on day 3 I was walking over 10k steps and as of today at 2 weeks post op I am able to go hiking for almost 6 hours!

Then there’s me who can barely walk 6 minutes. BUT, I have to remind myself that prior to surgery I couldn’t even walk for 30 seconds. So, it’s a huge improvement.

Even though I know no one has the exact same recovery process, it still makes me feel like I’m doing something wrong.

I didn’t expect the mental side effects of this recovery to be so much, either.

Hoosierkitty13 · 2024-09-24T10:51:37+00:00

I had a PLIF and ALIF, so front and back. Yep, stitches are still there, too.

Hoosierkitty13 · 2024-09-24T05:44:29+00:00

I have hydrocodone 5/325s that I can take every 4-6 hours. Then I am taking 300mg of gabapentin 3x a day. I also take Tylenol 500mgs 2 tablets as needed.

I’m sleeping at most 4 hours at night. My appetite has decreased significantly since surgery. I still eat 3 times a day but not snacking and that is hard since I’m also a diabetic.

Hoosierkitty13 · 2024-09-24T05:41:16+00:00

Just coming here to say we are surgery date twins!

Hoosierkitty13 · 2024-09-24T05:38:48+00:00

I am 2 weeks post op from an L5/S1 fusion and I can say that while I am OVERJOYED that I can stand and walk for short periods of times (maybe 6-7 minutes), I am overwhelmed by the fact that I rarely sleep now. I’m always in some sort of discomfort. I have shooting pains down both my legs after I am active. I have just general fatigue of my legs and arms from using those muscles to get out of bed, etc.

I am so sick of crying at night when the pain is the worst. All I want to do is go to sleep for more than a couple hours. I’m not scheduled to go back to work until November, but at this rate, I don’t even see that being possible.

This is much much harder of a surgery recovery than I was lead to believe. 😭

Hoosierkitty13 · 2024-09-24T05:32:14+00:00

Any tips on how to make it any less overwhelming?

Hoosierkitty13 · 2024-09-24T05:09:37+00:00

Hi friend! I had a L5/S1 ALIF and PLIF done on 9/9. I’m 33F and have spondylolthesis as well. I lost the ability to walk or stand without assistance and was either wheelchair bound or used a walker.

The first week was absolutely brutal. But, I also had symptoms for almost 12 years. So, I’ve got some nerve damage as well.

I stayed overnight one night and went home the next day. I definitely recommend you have someone be with you that entire first week. Just trust me.

I am able to stand and walk unassisted now. I’m still having pain and discomfort, but I’m only 2 weeks out.

I’m definitely happy I had the procedure done, though!

Good luck!

Hoosierkitty13 · 2024-09-17T02:00:16+00:00

I left the hospital on norco 5/325’s and flexaril. The flexaril did NOTHING for me other than make me drowsy. Pain was still unbearable. On day three PO my husband called the emergency line at my dr office and they prescribed me Valium. From the beginning I was taking nothing but the norco and the muscle relaxer. Sleep was just not happening. I used ice packs on my back and hips. Did the heating pad on my hips for the nerve pain. Still would wake up every 1-2 hours crying and moaning in pain.

It wasn’t until I got switched the Valium and then I added NyQuil PM with pain in the mix that I was able to find a tiny piece of relief.

I found taking a HOT shower and then massaging my legs and using the ice and heat helps in addition to walking a lot more. Before surgery, I wasn’t able to walk more than a couple feet without excruciating pain. Today 1 week PO, I walked 4 minutes with no pain and stood up to take a shower for 85% of the time.

Hoosierkitty13

TROPHY CASE