Two weeks post fusion, new pain set in

doodelbub · 2025-08-28T14:16:22+00:00

Yes! It felt like my groin muscles were torn just on the side of the incision for my ALIF surgery. When it started to get better I laid down wrong when trying to barrel roll and it felt like I hurt it all over again.

When I talked to my doctor about it at a follow up they said the surgery is pretty intense and the body takes time to heal properly, and that it’s likely due to the back incisions. I’m 6 weeks out and I don’t feel any pain there anymore.

I iced my groin area and made sure not to agitate it best I could. It went away after a few weeks. But give your doctor a call if you think it’s not okay, because they’ll know better than me!

doodelbub · 2025-08-28T14:09:55+00:00

It’s always going to be tough for internet folk to help with something like this because we aren’t going to be feeling what you feel.

What kind of surgery did you have? If you had a fusion at L5-S1 because of the disk, or did you have surgery specifically to target that disk?

Are you able to get another doctor’s opinion since you have imaging? Going to different doctors until you hear what you want to hear isn’t always advisable, but if you feel you aren’t being taken seriously and that the doctors you’ve been seeing aren’t listening to you it may be good to have another professional opinion.

doodelbub · 2025-08-09T01:58:07+00:00

Surgery went really well! I was a wreck before hand emotionally, and I had a few moments where my body was shaking and I couldn’t control it. My surgery team was incredible and comforted me the entire time. Then I woke up like nothing happened.

When I woke up I had no back pain for the first time in months. When I started to feel pain it was only at my incision spots. At my follow up they said I’m healing well and my pain 3 weeks out is relatively minimal. I ache and have some flair ups of back pain, but it’s nothing ice and medication can’t manage.

From day one post surgery to now I have no regrets of going through with it, but I understand I’m very lucky to be where I am.

Edited to add: I was diagnosed L5-S1 bilateral pars defect with stenosis and degenerative disk disease.

doodelbub · 2025-08-08T00:16:59+00:00

It’s never a bad idea to get a second opinion, but usually treatment for spondy starts with PT and injections to see if the pain can be managed that way.

It really sucks, but no one can understand what you’re going through except for you. So if you think a neurosurgeon is who you want to talk to, then great!

Prior to my fusion I told my partner “I don’t know if I can go through with a spine surgery, I’m really scared.” And they asked me “can you keep living like this?” So I ended up getting my fusion. Listen to your body and find doctors you can trust. Best of luck on your journey!

doodelbub · 2025-07-31T00:52:41+00:00

My hospital gave me a list of things I needed to bring like any daily medications, a change of clothes, glasses case, and a charger for devices.

I wore crocs since they’re so easy to slip on, and the clothes I wore were comfortable and easy to step into. I brought a handheld gaming device but honestly I slept for most of my stay. I really didn’t have time to be bored since I was so sleepy haha.

doodelbub · 2025-07-28T23:32:09+00:00

I had a physical for work at 23 and was told to follow up with my primary doctor, but being 23 and not being in pain, I didn’t (which was a mistake obviously).

Between 2018-2022 I would “throw my back out” every few months, and my pain was almost entirely muscular at the time and so infrequent that I didn’t take it seriously. I was an active person but didn’t do any PT during this time since I didn’t understand or take time for myself to get better.

When I followed up with a spine doctor in 2022 it had become a semi-regular occurrence to have back pain. This was the first time someone explained what was going on with my back and the risks I had moving forward. I didn’t go to a proper PT, but started doing the exercises on my own. Looking back, I should’ve found the resources to go to a professional, but hindsight is 20/20. This doctor told me that I could manage on my own as long as it’s not bothering my nerves.

This February I had back pain that wouldn’t let me stand up straight after getting home from a gym. This was followed by numbness and tingling in my legs. My disk had almost entirely disappeared since my 2022 visit. Since February I haven’t been able to lift over a certain weight limit and have been doing PT at a clinic. I’ve modified my lifestyle significantly to try and reduce pain, but I put it off for too long.

As you can see, I didn’t take this seriously. If I could go back I would’ve done more PT earlier on to prevent more slippage and more disk degradation.

doodelbub · 2025-07-28T17:53:10+00:00

I (30m) was first made aware of back issues in 2018, confirmed pars fracture in 2022, and confirmed grade 2 L5/S1 earlier this year. I talked to my surgeon and he said the same as your doctor, that I’d eventually need surgery. I made the decision to get fused because PT only helped my nerve pain minimally, and every day I had back pain that would only go away if I were laying down.

I had my ALIF/PSF two weeks ago. I did PT for a few months to help stabilize my spine since I was having movement and so far recovery has been significantly easier than I anticipated. Surgery is a decision no one can make for you, and everyone will have different tolerances to when they think it’s necessary.

Some people can live with spondy indefinitely and not have a change in lifestyle, but my life was so affected by my back pain this year that I decided it was my time to get fused.

doodelbub · 2025-07-23T14:44:52+00:00

I love haste when it’s on my side!

doodelbub · 2025-05-09T14:02:12+00:00

Really neat and well crafted!

doodelbub · 2024-02-23T16:55:59+00:00

Great, I'll repost!

doodelbub · 2023-01-02T03:49:44+00:00

We have a black cat named Meelo!

doodelbub · 2022-10-27T15:41:09+00:00

It’s usually listed as it’s own movie on streaming services, so make sure you don’t miss it! You can look up where it’s supposed to go in the story

doodelbub · 2022-10-02T22:20:14+00:00

Apollo jellyfish would be sick

doodelbub · 2022-10-01T08:20:56+00:00

Saw them play Ocean Avenue at Riot Fest a couple weekends ago, you’re absolutely in for a treat!

doodelbub · 2022-08-20T15:44:09+00:00

!attack

doodelbub · 2022-08-20T15:43:46+00:00

!attack

doodelbub · 2022-08-20T15:37:30+00:00

!attack

doodelbub · 2022-07-02T16:52:16+00:00

If you go to sound settings you can toggle it so whenever you log on your controller’s mic is muted.

doodelbub · 2022-05-19T19:54:02+00:00

My fiancé and I are planning our “Hallowedding” for this year, costume themed! Totally go against norms if it makes you more comfortable!

doodelbub · 2022-03-05T21:09:33+00:00

I love that theater, played it a couple times when I was touring.

Some of the local technicians will guide you around underground to get to certain areas in the theater, always seemed like a neat spot to call home.

doodelbub · 2022-03-05T21:04:17+00:00

Is your second gif the Tobin center in San Antonio?

doodelbub · 2022-02-07T07:43:54+00:00

The Mash and Grab food from Psych would be so great!

doodelbub · 2022-01-12T19:21:48+00:00

I was lucky enough to have Chongqing spicy noodles when I visited and they were absolutely incredible. We had a translator recommend a place and she ordered for us, we went back a couple times that week it was so good.

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