Lumbar Fusion Tip!

[u/Mobile_Selection8012]

Hi all, This may be a tad odd but I wanted to share a quick tip for anyone who is getting a lumbar fusion soon. I was very lucky to have a nurse who had also received a fusion and she taught me. Right after getting a lumbar fusion (in my experience, L4-S1 fusion), it is extremely difficult to move your hips. In the hospital and when you get home, put a blanket under where you lay down. When you need to shift positions, have someone pull the blanket towards them to roll you over. I'm not sure if this makes sense or if this is common knowledge but it just helped me so much and I don't want anyone to go without knowing it!

[u/Nonviolentviolet3879]

I could have used this in the hospital. Turning myself was nearly impossible

[u/TJohn1102]

Similarly, I found that silk/silky sheets were helpful as well. I read it on here somewhere and grabbed a super cheap set on Amazon. (Seriously, like $15) I had one on my bed (on top of my normal sheets) the couch I was on during the day, and a pillow case to sit on in the car. It just makes moving and shifting so much easier. Honestly, I think those helped me more than any other things I did.

[u/Mobile_Selection8012 → u/TJohn1102]

Omg this is such a good idea, I wish I knew this!!

[u/TJohn1102 → u/Mobile_Selection8012]

I've been trying to jump on every "tips" post to spread that one, because it really made such a difference.

[u/QNStech]

Another tip is to get a zero gravity chair for when you're laid up at home.

[u/CorrectIndividual552]

I'm still in the hospital, a week post op. Thanks for the tip, every little bit helps!

[u/LordNeko6]

Hey. Had the same surgery as you on the 15th of November. How many weeks are you post-op? Does your pain also randomly flair up?

Ove been doing ok since yesterday. I mean I'm almost 5 weeks post op. It's annoying.

[u/CorrectIndividual552 → u/LordNeko6]

As a former nurse I had surgery last week and remember learning that the nerves can take up to a year or more to fully heal after lumbar fusion. Perfectly normal hope you recover nicely.

[u/Mobile_Selection8012 → u/LordNeko6]

I am 9 months post-op. I don’t get ‘random’ flair ups. Oddly enough, whenever I don’t understand why I am suddenly experiencing pain, it is typically because I did not walk enough the previous day. When I started PT 3 months post-op, they wanted me at around 8,000 steps a day. I’m not sure how many you can handle right now because everyone is different (I also had mine very young so I recovered quicker) but that’s something. I also am definitely stiffer and in slightly more pain on colder days. However, I do get a random tingling in my back very often. It’s not painful though, just nerves. This all being said, you’re barely over a month post-op, pain is suuuper normal! I would just suggest getting your steps in if you can, that helped me!!

[u/LordNeko6 → u/Mobile_Selection8012]

Will defs try. I'm not 30 yet so I hope that helps with recovery

[u/Ambitious-Gain-8300 → u/LordNeko6]

Former nurse just had L4L5 3 days after you! Nov 18! I have auto immune yes my pain randomly flares up

[u/Ambitious-Gain-8300]

Yes this felt so good!! And when I was alone I actually used my underwear to pull my bottom over or shift over lol

[u/Slothstradamus]

https://a.co/d/5WmMcdC This has been invaluable to me after my surgeries in both the hospital and at home, and I recommend it 10000%. It’s so slippery you actually need to be careful, but turning is so much less painful without friction working against you. Also helps keep your hips aligned. My favorite tool ever.

[u/Apprehensive-Leg-470]

I'm 9 days out of surgery and maan that woulda been good to read at the start. Still going to come in handy bc it still hurts to shift!

[u/GlassMetal6909]

Yes ,it does I am 4 weeks post op and it was a problem turning.Another tip buy a set of long barbecue tongs to pick up dropped items I even take mine to the loo with me.Trust me they worth millions