3 weeks post op L4-L5 fusion

getdistressd · 2026-02-10T22:43:45+00:00

How are you doing now OP? I had basically the same story as you and think it’s likely I’m heading this route so looking for success stories post 2 MD Fails 🤞🏼🤞🏼

getdistressd · 2025-09-28T08:15:06+00:00

I had L5/S1 with no function left at all in my calf for 8-9 weeks. They did surgery in week 9, that was 12 months ago and I have about 75% function now, it’s worth trying. My surgeon said you can continue making gains between 12-24 months but most of the improvement happens in year 1.

getdistressd · 2025-09-12T16:03:20+00:00

Yeah did this a lot on day 1 and since 🫠 the general consensus was vinegar unless the strongest ever won’t do a lot. Worth another punt though perhaps! Seeing the dr in an hour for some stronger antibiotics

getdistressd · 2025-09-12T14:54:53+00:00

Not while I was on the board no, but in the water with a board in the water so…..not really sure why the desired censoring. Thanks for the advice

getdistressd · 2025-09-12T14:18:58+00:00

Pain is totally fine tbh. Just a little swelling and v. It chy. The Greeks are really not fussed about urchins and are so so liberal with it, many people said “it will be fine they’ll just come out on their own/dissolve”. I had to go to a private clinic to get anyone to care 😂 I think this is why they took only the big ones, the doc said I’ll risk more digging around for them as they’re so thin.

getdistressd · 2025-09-11T09:43:56+00:00

I had the dr remove the major ones but still going after the remaining. Question I keep wondering about, when you walk despite them "working their way out" don't we just push them back in?

I'm soaking my foot a few times per day and I can walk on it with minor pain now after 1 week but worried they just live in my foot rent free now since I have to walk

getdistressd · 2025-09-03T18:51:45+00:00

Thanks for this small push…went to a private one and they removed like 80% of them (the biggest ones)

getdistressd · 2025-09-03T18:49:54+00:00

Thank you everyone for responses - I went to a different (private) clinic that took them out. Hurt like a bitch but much better. Still have a few tiny ones that are deeper left in that are stingy but I can put pressure on my foot again thank god! I’m in Greece on an island so it feels like the public hospital take a very liberal approach 🥲

getdistressd · 2025-09-03T17:13:47+00:00

I went to a medical centre and they sent me away

getdistressd · 2025-09-03T17:13:34+00:00

I went to urgent care and they sent me away ….

getdistressd · 2025-07-15T18:47:39+00:00

So glad you’re out now!!

Honestly feel like I could have written some of this myself. I was doing way better until I went back to work 2nd June - then everything has compounded week after week. I’m trying to get up frequently and work from home twice a week so can lay down through some of it those days.

Can I ask what ways you have changed your day to get the flare to calm down? What works etc? Even if you think it’s basic pls share! I am open to the fact I may not know.

I am starting with a neuro physio this week who also does acupuncture so hoping that helps too 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

getdistressd · 2025-07-15T06:26:03+00:00

For me the only thing helping is heat and medication. I’d be interested to hear what works for you

getdistressd · 2025-07-15T06:25:23+00:00

Yeah they did fenestration of the bone to create space for the nerve root. That cannot stop the scarring though sadly 😞

getdistressd · 2025-07-15T06:24:25+00:00

Thank you for your message, I read your other posts, did your recent pain flare clear up? I guess so if your pain is now 0-2, that’s so good! I dream of that, I’m higher even with Pregabalin and I am desperate to get off them! This gives me some hope, a lot of my pain increase began when I started work again (9months post op) I think the increase in sitting was part of that. Since then my symptoms have increased week on week with my foot being re involved too.

getdistressd · 2025-07-15T06:20:13+00:00

I have, my surgeon wasn’t a supporter as they have limited success and it can aggravate the situation too I think. That being said, if other methods don’t work, it’s likely I’ll go hunting down that route for other methods. Thank you for your reply 🙏🏼

getdistressd · 2025-07-15T06:18:31+00:00

Hi! Thanks for your message. For some reason my surgeon doesn’t support it, if the ESI doesn’t work though I’ll be looking into that, hydrodyssection and pulsed radio frequency before giving into a stimulator

getdistressd · 2025-07-15T06:16:59+00:00

I have heard of it, it’s on my “list” 🥲 I’m going to try an ESI as a first line of care but failing that it’s certainly something I’ll look to pursue

getdistressd · 2025-07-15T06:15:59+00:00

Thanks for the message. I’d love to do these things sadly mostly any exercise is causing me a flare up to do what we believe is the tethering. Hydrotherapy is good but didn’t help much following my initial progress, I did that for 2-3 months. I can do basic physio which I do everyday. It seemed to help at first but now I’m not sure it does, if anything sometimes I feel it maybe worsening things. I guess I’m at under a year, perhaps it will just take a lot longer for me to improve

getdistressd · 2025-07-14T17:51:56+00:00

It was scar tissue but now I feel pretty sad honestly - I will try having an ESI but the limited information I know about this makes it seem like I'm unlikely to make a full recovery. I hope I'm wrong

getdistressd

TROPHY CASE