2nd Major back Surgey Log Blog and Expeirence

[kelly from ontario]

just an old remedy a pediatric doctor used to recommend
try 1/2 glass gingerale with 1/2 glass prune juice.add tablespoon brown sugar.put in lots of ice and stir.should get results in 12 hours.u get to like it after drinking daily for a while.hope it helps kelly

[dshobbies]

Oh Grant,

Pages and pages on forums were dedicated to the use of various laxatives. I remember my suffering lasted for about 3 months. If memory serves, the most recommendations were eating boxes of prunes and warm prune juice. Helped me a little but I found more relief in 2 tablespoons of mineral oil, morning and night. Kind of greases the pipes. However, be prepared that this difficulty will probably last awhile. Try everything you can but be forewarned that you may not find the relief you seek for awhile yet.

As for your nerve pain - everyone is different but for most, it does get better with time. Seven days out your nerves are still screaming and your muscles still spasming. Take whatever meds you can but be warned about the side effects - see above.

I'm laughing at remembering at how all consuming this problem was. It will resolve when it will. Wish I had better news.

Dale

[grantwb1]

Well this stuff actually tastes good to me(prune juice). This is good news cause we are just going to see what the effects of about 1/2 gallon or more a day are. I think that is goin with about 4-5 of those really expensive pooh pills Koolace. Then I am going to do the mineral oil thing as well. I am taking these fiber therapy pills. Anyone got any other guns to fire at my ass literaly. There should be like a stun weapon that you just place on stomach then hit the button then blamo empty!!!

Well I am taking about three walks a day now. They are probably about a half mile each. I have no idea how long or far I should be walking at this point but this feels comfortable and I will increase as I feel I can. Any input on this one would be appreciated. Nerve pain is still changing so I guess that is a good sign.

[dshobbies]

Sounds like your walking is right on track. Several small walks are much better than one long one. Let you body be your guide and you should do fine.

D

[Maria]

A bottle of Magnesium Citrate should clear you out altho it tastes really salty and ugghhh however it has always done the trick for me to clean out the pipes.

Also I've bought a bottle of powdered Magnesium from the health food stores and used that in tea which is helpful tho it's more difficult for me to gage the amount to effect.

I use Senakot S 2-3 each evening and Miralax 17gm with coffee each morning. Sometimes the results are the best and sometimes not as it too depends on what I eat. I find if I eat very lightly at night the results are better in the a.m.

How's the mineral oil working for you??

[grantwb1]

If you would have told me that the most difficult thing about having a spinal fusion would be pooping. I would have said hell ya this is going to be a breeze. I can tell you now that this is the thing I will warn everyone about. I am going to the store today(actually having someone else bring this stuff). I don't care if I don't leave the bathroom for a couple hours. I think this is the only time I have wanted to have the runs. About to call the Dr. to make sure that I don't hurt myself but I really am going to use all the above said methods until I got nothing left inside me. I'll keep you posted.

[Maria]

On laxatives.. the mag citrate is harsh and should do the trick to at least clean you out tho be forewarned it is really difficult to guzzle. Make sure it's cold is all I can say.

Re the other stuff give it a go and see how you do. I'm on pain medication that constipates and can't fathom being post op multi level fusion with plugged up probs tho I try to clear myself out from top to bottom and if that requires use of an enema to do so I will go there.. not sure you could assume that position at this point (no twisting).

Personally I'm not shy at helping out a friend/family member in this area after years of nursing and too many enemas to count along the way as staff nurse in the earlier years.

I think one Halloween I wanted to go out as Enema Queen.. carrying a hose and bag of Fleets.. remember having great laughs over that tho think we were all a bit *happy* if you catch my drift. Back in the day that is...

Ok nuff said and BOMBS AWAY!!! Best of luck in the BR! Don't overdo all at one time

[AngelFly]

My father is about to undergo the same procedure. Thanks for your story, and my best wishes to you.

[grantwb1]

Hello- I am checking in with success far better than I have felt in a long time. I am about a year and five months out from my fusion and slowly steadily improving. I am putting my life back together and getting busy with it. Really starting to put the pain behind me. I feel as though I have waited to long to update but here goes.

My pain levels are low. I have about 2% of the nerve pain that I had before, almost none!! I take very little meds, maybe once a month! I have a lot of tension in and around the surgery site that is slowly loosening up still but the rest of my back for the most part is finally free of spasms and extreme tension. I am stretching twice a day very well. I use an elliptical and some weights/machines in the gym about 4x a week. I shoot hoops at the park on the weekend and I giggle when I do this, I really can't express what this means to me. I am close to the best shape of my life. I plan on getting there with some swimming and biking if the spine allows.

I would have to say that I did not think that I would ever feel this good again. I am not perfect or pain free but almost close enough to be elated about my progress. It might be to early to say but this looks like a successful fusion.

I want to thanks all that have followed and helped me!

Mark, thank you. You enabled me to make the best decisions and feel great about them. I don't have word that are able to express the gratitude I have for you!

[Firerescuefin]

Grant congrats on your success and your willingness to share it.

Mark is the man...and it certainly is a dark world that he leads many through. As new patients, we are at such an incredible disadvantage with regard to knowledge and perspective...something that Mark has in droves. I echo your sentiments.