prodisc-L L4-L5

[chasswen]

i wanted to thank everyone for there replys.
i am now 9 weeks 4 days postop. update goes as follows the major leg pain is getting better. my biggest problem at this point is when waking from bed my legs feel like there asleep apon waking this feeling used to last hrs now its down to under a hr. numb spot on my feet has moved to mainly the big toe. which is a good sign that its not going to be with me forever. but still is a pain in the butt as wearing shoes is the pitts and must wear socks to bed as my feet feels everything and will wake one up from a sound sleep. sat the 9/30 was my last day for avinza {time release morphine} which is a big step in the correct direction. i am still taken percocet and neruotin 1800mgs aday. also magnesium and b-12 flexarill. PT has helped a great deal as i had major problems with my legs after this procedure. as far as my back goes i have a slight back ache but that could be the PT as she is working on the back muscles now. so in general at this point i am pleased in having the procedure. and hope to return to work 2 days short of the 12 week mark. once i am back to normal work hrs then i should be able to state it was the best money i've ever spent.
chuck

[Eddie G]

That sounds like a good recovery to me. But you are are on Morphine AND Percoset simultaneously?
How long do you think until you are off the narcotics?

I have had enough of Oxycontin but I sure hope I don't need Morphine AND Oxycontin together. Would that be normal?

[Michelle]

I was on Morphine plus Oxycodone too, still am, but I'm only 2.5 weeks post surg L4-5 ADR. I'm hoping this will get me off both. The Morphine was the every-day, while the Oxy was for 'breakthrough' pain(tho I needed it every day). I wouldn't expect to be on extra meds than U R on now if on narcotics except while in hosp. Hope it wprks 4 U!

[chasswen]

eddie
morphine is a once a day thing. and percs are for break though.see i went over seas for my surgery so one takes his or her reg meds while over there. then once you return you work on getting off the pills. my reg dose avinza {time release morphine} was 60mgs aday. after my return my dr gave me a script for 14 days at 30mgs to ween off the morphine. which i am now completey off the morphine as of 9/30. and we traded that for 1600mgs aday neurotin for distraction pain. and i still take 4 7.5/325 percocet a day.
my goal is to be off all narc 4 months postop. i return to work on 10/23 which is 2 days light of 12 weeks postop. i expect to need one more script for percs to adjust to the return of standing all day at work.
chuck

[chasswen]

*Work Accident(bad fall): 12/16/03
*Diagnosed with herniation and DDD at L4-L5
*Discectomy for herniation: 4/1/05 (fragments removed, MUCH scar tissue left)
*Many epidurals and facet injections...no relief
*5/15/06 discogram confirmed L4-L5 also an asymptomatic L5-S1 tear
*Liberty Mutual Workers Comp
*200mg. Oxycontin
*20mg. Valium
*2100mg.Neurontin (Gabapentin)
*Testosterone&HCG
eddie see that 200mgs of oxycontin a pain managment dr would have given you a time release med and oxycontin should have been breakthough 200mgs aday is alot.
the idea behind time release morphine like avinza or kadian is to have the person on a continal 24hrs aday med and then a smaller fast acting med like percocet for breakthough.
chuck

[Michelle]

Just wanted to add that my Oxycodone is 5 mg, so it's the same as one Percocet without the acetamenophen. That's the breakthrough med. The Avinza (AKA Morphine) is time released and I've already cut that in half. It works well until I'm upright for more than a few minutes. Then I need the Oxy. Does your Oxycontin control your pain steadily? It didn't for me-it was a roller coaster of pain control every few hours. So, my point is that I didn't go up in pain meds, but down, (same for charles??) so I'm hoping for the same for you. good luck!