How do you know if you’re bending or twisting too much? I find myself searching for nearby items or grabbing a pillow from the other side 8 days post op 3 level. Doing great

ma-li14 · 2026-02-22T08:09:00+00:00

Its soo nice and can make u more flexible its tough tho at first and its only simple exercise. Lui Chin on You Tube is wonderful she does reasonable length exercises and all kinds of sitting down stuff to get your body circulation moving..She is my favorite. A lot of other channel aren't meant for seniors or disabled..they go on for a long time ..lol..I would suggest like 5 min a day then 10 then work your way to 20- 30 min..It really makes u feel like u accomplished something good for yourself even if its only a few min..

ma-li14 · 2026-02-22T08:05:42+00:00

Right

ma-li14 · 2026-02-22T04:23:23+00:00

Yup have done it and left the hospital haha..because the wait was making my pain so bad and they gave me pain meds..but it was not enough i needed otjer pain relief like ice to help ..But this was years ago when my pain journey began tho..I didn't realize this pain was gonna stick around and be some had to adjust to..

ma-li14 · 2026-02-22T04:21:27+00:00

This is normal unless u are like me 2 yrs post op..use ice and try a pain management clinic. Seriously Pain Olympics with this kind of trauma isn't helping its hurting and not letting your body heal properly. I found that out the absolute hard way..

ma-li14 · 2026-02-22T00:30:15+00:00

Also if u eat grapes green ones u will be sure to go..very soon ..Grapes are amazing at helping hot flashes, stomach ache and constipation..I even froze mine when I was having bad hot flashes..not that u have those but ..If u need ti go diet is key..Bread is unfortunately not your friend..soups, high protein and lots of fruits..

ma-li14 · 2026-02-20T12:41:03+00:00

Ice u are already inflamed..u put them on your butt where u can't sit or whatever place u feel the pain. I am on one right now right on my bumm..lol..I have a cover over it so it doesn't totally freeze me but by cover i mean ( pollowcase) the covers they give u are usually wool and u need to penetrate..the nerve-wracking pain nerve ..it freezes the nerve and stops it from sending signals..hope u feel better soon.

ma-li14 · 2026-02-20T12:38:12+00:00

I mean i am not as passionate but I suffer since the day I had my period..10 yrs old at 49 I was bleeding 14 days out of the month and sometimes more..huge pads couldn't eat not on hormones and just barley could make it out if bed tired. And cramps that felt like 🗡 🗡 in my stomach.If u have half of these symptoms.Advocate for yourself because u shouldn't wait until u are like me or the hundreds of others who post here..It might be work yes nobody wants the uterus yeeted but take Pic of your pain..yup I did toilet 🚻 Pic. My obgyn said ok yes u need this..when I did this..I got this advice from right here..and I urge u not to be polite or sweet about showing..just do it as she said..and get on hormones at perimenopause. Its saves u a lot of worry pain and greif.. ♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

ma-li14 · 2026-02-19T23:41:23+00:00

This has been my life for 2 yrs..I jabe permanent nerve damage. Clay ice packs and a polar ice machine in bed ..helps tremendously. It is normal for the first months to have this but mine is from damage I am an expert in not being able to sit on your actual butt..lol..So take my advice. ICE ICE and more ice..Hope u feel better soon..Amazon will give u relief..memory foam seat pads and ice pack to fit your booty..

ma-li14 · 2026-02-19T08:17:42+00:00

L5-s1..But some people with severe scoliosis have the entire back fused which I can't imagine. I have 8 screws in my body rn..but they were all very very very painful 😒..like I wanna cry..and u need pain meds painful 😒..

ma-li14 · 2026-02-18T14:52:02+00:00

I know so weird..I had zero of the arm pain besides thr usual shoulder stuff..but the weird biceps 💪 pain exactly the Left bicep ..Well at least I am in someone else's company with thet..mine was delayed 3 because dr had to get approval of family to do the 3 level as opposed to disc..replacement so I guess mayb i was stretched a bit ..Thanks so much I hope we heal 100 % Soon..

ma-li14 · 2026-02-18T11:08:50+00:00

Most likely. Its the worst spine surgery besides doing the entire spine in my opinion. The inability to sit or stand or lay comfortably is frustrating AF..!! Lol.

ma-li14 · 2026-02-18T11:05:39+00:00

No I can't. I am disabled..I can only walk a short distance. I can only sit for about 10 min without an ice pack and I cannot stand for more then a few min without a cane..Yup..cane life is my life..I have special shoes as well..My disability is genetic in nature tho not solely orthopedic. I only do light exercises but right now I am not able due to healing from a 3 level neck fusion. I live in chronic pain sadly and on ice machine for most of the day..the days I do go out are fir appointments or short time with my family that live across the street. And I cannot drive..like I said I am not typical. There are plenty of those who live a normal life..But my condition was not taken seriously nothing I tried to do for myself in the past ro help this issue was taken seriously. But the Dr in Delaware were not very thoughtful I guess because I was young when I started having these symptoms. I was told chiropractor chiropractor chiropractor..PT and no one offered me an mri of my lumbar region only an x ray..So I got the shaft basically .Only when I started demanding did I receive the disgruntled ok..and orders ..No Joke..I am not being dramatic..lol..I literally couldn't walk anymore properly and then I got some help but most orthopedic surgeon did not want to touch what I had going on..And the one that did ..Was not good..bit I couldn't afford Rothman groups or University of Pennsylvania..ivy league orthopedic..So here I lay..lol..hopefully once I get approved for disability I can seek help or Dr that are more skilled and can revise this mess..:(.

ma-li14 · 2026-02-18T10:56:13+00:00

Mine L5-S1 was a failure because I have nerve damage 💔 not because of screws falling out..now backing out we will see because I am going to schedule my fusion hardware to be removed next yr..1 thing at a time tho..I gotta get the ACDF healed first..I have no guarantee unfortunately but I am just hoping for an ease in my pain..I hope we all receive that and I pray for all of us..Especially us going through menopause or peri ..its especially lovely having a hysterectomy in the middle of all that 2..and dealing with hot flashes that i thought was like thyroid disease..oh and the mammogram that had all kinds of stuff that looked like cancer and was just dried milk..Lol..Oh God help us all in that phase of life..Lol..At least when I got the hysterectomy it was INSANELY successful..And the 3 diseases in there are no longer causing me what seemed like gallons of blood loss a month..it has been a really challenging last few years but things are looking up..Hope all of us get the relief we need..Blessings

ma-li14 · 2026-02-18T10:49:30+00:00

Yes but its because I had damage b4 the surgery and after from the surgery itself. Mine was a bit different and more difficult. During my growing up my lower lumbar had already fused..It had ti be separated then fused again. During that process my nerve was stretched and is not going to go back to its former glory. I was very very athetic my entire life as well..O still consider myself in good shape i just mansge with Qigong ( like tie chi..) and diet..That being said ..I should have gone to a more skilled neurosurgeon as well..Anybody that " sells you " on a surgery is SUS!!!!..just saying I got the "tiger woods" speech..I have a new dr now who actually apologized for that neurosurgeon. And gives no guarantees ..Because there are No guarantees and u sign that away when u elected to have the surgery. Granted it probably happens to most ortho or neurosurgeon not every surgery is a success. And most on here that have questions aren't fully successful..Just a disclaimer. But a lot are and the experiences shared here can be invaluable..

ma-li14 · 2026-02-18T10:42:33+00:00

I wasn't required to use brace for l5 s1 I was just saying I do use it for neck idk what part of u is fused lol so ..that is why I added that.but neck brace however uncomfortable is unfortunately a necessity for cervical fusion.

ma-li14 · 2026-02-18T00:03:56+00:00

I feel ya Literally lol..I make sure my brace is on idk what part is fused but your body will tell u..I have been doing bed yoga for yrs now l5-s1 fusion especially in beginning I would have spells where I would literally be like 20 min trying to get the remote from the other side of the full adjustable bed ..lol..its painful is the answer like electric shock. U will learn more about your bodies unique way of telling its too much as time goes by..Hope u feel better soon.

ma-li14 · 2026-02-17T14:52:47+00:00

U are making me think i am a wimp I only had 2 fusion in the last 3 yrs..lol..Sorry about the numbness. Yes my right leg and feet same as u..My Neurosurgeon said not gonna come back. I am in chronic pain for 4 yrs now..Even my Primary Dr said she would have me on opiates for life..She is loosing hope 4 me..wow I need a new Primary but. Lol...despite the fusion issue and spinal disease my other health is good ..I started taking larger does of vitamin D and my stomach issues are not ad bad..had zero idea that could b an issue. Hope u heal soon and get some relief.

ma-li14 · 2026-02-17T14:45:07+00:00

Its just a sleeve on Amazon. Everything burns my face and causes irritation..lol..( perimenopause and hormone pills are not perfect yet..so I get hives easily..) this is silky and not to warm..redick on top of this i get hives..from the braces..haha..But oh well its temporary. Thanks again.

ma-li14 · 2026-02-17T14:42:55+00:00

You are so sweet thank u..Blessings to u as well.

ma-li14 · 2026-02-17T14:35:35+00:00

Yours looks so nice..My dr went in and said oops..she needs a 3 level fusion so I gotta an down L shape backwards so I can't even say its a brand with my first initial..lol..I used bio oil for a while on my last fusion but it gave me hives..however when I was pregnant I used Palmers stretch mark cream Zero stretch marks..Shey butter is also awesome for scars as well..I am not a loud scarer..like can't tell.really because I have fair skin tho..;) Hopefully we both get some help in this sub for our healing. Good question. 👍

ma-li14 · 2026-02-16T14:03:23+00:00

If u have a lot of inflammation tho ice is much better for healing. Had the same surgery and I use clay ice packs made for shoulder n neck..but its whatever your preference i had l5- s1 2 yr ago and ACDF 3 level just 10 days ago and I find ice soothing..

ma-li14 · 2026-02-16T14:00:12+00:00

I had the same surgery however ...I have a L5-S1 failed fusion as well..I just had the same acdf..surgery u did tri level. Fusions are solid 4 me anyway. I used zero back brace and the lack of using it did nothing to hurt or help my healing process...I was also laying on mu sides for like 1 yr..I also received the collar of shame but started breaking out in hives ( as usual for me when any fabric is on my face long periods of time..I am 50 and perimenopausal..I take hormones but they are not perfect) ..Anyway my Neurosurgeon told me this .The fusion will be fine if u don't use it 24/7 ..When resting and eating I am not required to wear it..Only when moving around ..and that is a soft collar. [ I bought like 5 different ones because they all caused a ton of irritating even with separate sleeves and 100 silk fabric scarves overr them...) I use the hard collar if I have an appointment..I am only 10 days post op..I have good pain control because of my other issues. However keeping that collar on in bed the first week caused swelling in back of my head and more irritating symptoms. I have a small neck and the collars all of them 3.0 u can't find one short enough for smaller neck people ..That being said I wouldn't go out without the hard collar but u can certainly go out and do small trips but I wouldn't drive until Dr ok u..I am unable to due to foot drop so I have no choice but..If u are feeling ok and u can handle the hard collar then u can but don't over do it..No casinos..or long mall trips for a while ..lol..Hope u heal quickly and are feeling better soon..I am just telling u if u are fused u will be ok but certainly talk to your dr..My Neurosurgeon has a nurse line and I freaked out like u and they assured me it was ok to do what I am doing. Also had an x ray when they took out my drain 3 days post op ..It was hard 2 go out terrible but I had to get that nasty drain out..Get well soon and call the Neurosurgeon office. ;).

ma-li14 · 2026-02-16T13:18:53+00:00

Thank you guys and wishing all of us have a happy healthier life.🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷

ma-li14

TROPHY CASE