Overcoming Back Surgery and Finding My Way Back

The good news is that for most roughly three out of four people, symptoms improve over a few weeks. For those not improving after six weeks, surgery is an option. We know surgery can speed up recovery, but by six to 12 months people who have surgery are usually doing about as well as those who decide to just give the body more time to heal on its own. Surgery involves removing the disc material that is affecting the nerve. It is generally a very safe procedure, and while complications are rare, they can happen. Patients often ask about spinal injections — where steroid medicine is injected into the affected area.

It is worth considering for those with uncontrolled pain or for those with persistent, bothersome symptoms who want to avoid surgery. Injections can provide short-term relief. Patients who come in are often scared. Typically, it is pain the likes of which they may have never had. They want relief and, rightly, they want it now. That is the appeal of surgery and injections, but I also know that most will get better with time and can avoid even the uncommon risks of these procedures. When I see a patient in my office I can assess and identify the few who need immediate referral to a specialist.

For those not improving, I will get an MRI prior to referring for surgery or an injection, if the patient decides that speeding up recovery is right for them. For those who feel that they can manage the pain, I can reassure them that they can delay surgery for up to six months without risking long-term problems down the road.

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Atlas, I had a few questions regarding this article and sciatica. Why is the pain associated with sciatica worsened when coughing?

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Is it because coughing increases pressure on the discs in the lower back like sitting? Also, I know that this article includes ways of reducing pain and managing symptoms but is it possible for the symptoms of sciatica to completely disappear without external help such as surgery or injections? It is normal to have pain after any operation. The incision area may be very tender. This is normal and expected and does not mean that your surgery was unsuccessful or that you will have a slow recovery. Pain in the spine or in the arms or legs is not unusual. This is often caused by an inflammatory response after surgery.

Medications are used to control pain. In the hospital, you will likely have a PCA patient controlled analgesia button that you can press every few minutes for pain relief immediately after surgery. This is monitored and controlled so you cannot overdose. The anesthesia team manages this service and will see you for any changes. Muscle relaxers can also be helpful for pain associated with spasms.

You may be given antibiotics in addition to medications for pain or spasms. You will be sent home with a plan for post-operative medications. At home, take all of your medications as prescribed. Do not exceed any maximum restrictions. Ice will help after surgery and we recommend using ice packs over the incision or around areas of pain.

Make sure you have a barrier between your skin and the ice pack to avoid frost burn and do not leave ice in place for longer than 20 minutes. You should gradually use less pain medications while recovering. Log when you use your medications daily to help you understand how much you are taking and when you are taking them. Discomfort and pain are expected after surgery until inflammation and nerve sensitivities have subsided. Try not to sit or lie at home all day, this is not helpful for your recovery.

If you need specific instructions on tapering your medications, please contact your provider. These medications delay healing and can interfere with the fusion process. Nicotine interferes with the healing process, increasing the perception of pain, and threatens successful wound and fusion healing. The onset of nerve recovery will start immediately after the nerve is decompressed. However, nerves heal at a slow rate, approximately 1 mm a day or an inch per month.

Although many patients notice an immediate difference in symptoms after surgery, results can vary. This does not mean that surgery was unsuccessful. Immediately after surgery, pain may improve followed by improvements in numbness and tingling. This can take weeks or months to improve or resolve.

Daily walking is your physical therapy initially when you go home. We recommend ten small walks a day. This means whatever distance you can comfortably do ten times a day.

Try to increase your distance a little each day, setting a pace that avoids fatigue or severe pain. You may climb stairs more frequently as your feel comfortable holding the rail. If you have a living situation in which you have to go upstairs, you will only want to do this a little to start but then increase as tolerated. The need for physical therapy will be discussed at your post-operative visit.

Remember your BLT restrictions bending, lifting, twisting following surgery.

We recommend lifting no more than 5 pounds for the first 2 weeks following surgery. This is less than a gallon of milk. The length of time your restrictions are in place is dependent on your type of surgery. Restrictions are in place for 3 months for all fusion patients as we need this time for bone to properly heal.

If you have been told to wear a brace, follow the instructions given to you by your surgery team. Sexual relations may be resumed during the recovery periods. Careful analysis of each step taken will teach you how to overcome your serious habit:. First your mind decides to stop. Nothing else can happen until that decision is made.

Then you take your foot off the accelerator. Can you imagine stopping a car with one foot on the accelerator and the other on the brake? The same pattern is followed to overcome your entrenched habit. Decide to stop what you are doing that is wrong.

Then search out everything in your life that feeds the habit, such as negative thoughts, unwholesome environment, and your companions in mischief. Systematically eliminate or overcome everything that contributes to that negative part of your life. Then stop the negative things permanently. The first is the most difficult. You are caging the tiger that has controlled your life. It will shake the bars, growl, threaten, and cause you some disturbance.

But I promise you that this period will pass. How long it takes will depend upon the severity of your transgression, the strength of your determination, and the help you seek from the Lord. But remember, as you stand firm, it will pass. The second period is not as intense. That, too, will pass, and you will feel more peace and will have increased control of your life. You will become free. I decided to fix it. I began to remove the side cover plate to find what was wrong. In a few moments, I knew I was in trouble. Suddenly, the whole mechanism exploded in my hands.

There were tape and spring flying in all directions. My efforts to put it all back together were frustrating and often painful.

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Irritated, I just about threw the whole thing away. If I can discover the principles that make it function, I can fix it. Soon the spring was coiled, carefully placed in its housing, the tape joined, the cover replaced, and it worked perfectly. So it is with you. As you follow it, you will become more pliable. The overcoming of serious transgression follows a pattern.

First, and most difficult, is the internal battle, the crosscurrent of feeling, the anguish about being found out, the worry about the impact on other lives, and the fear of the unknown. This struggle is prolonged through indecision, and that means more pain and further damage. It can be cut short through decisive personal commitment to clean up your life, now.

Once that decision is made, there follow many individual decisions and acts, none of which is overpowering. The most difficult part about changing is to make an unwavering decision to do it, and, when required, to enlist the help of your bishop. Once that beginning is made, you will find the rest of the path becomes easier than you imagined.

Establish specific objectives, and move steadily toward them.

Eric Arjes - Find My Way Back (Lyrics)

Similarly, you need to be moving forward to gain control of your life. Satan would have you rationalize—that is, twist something you know to be true into a pattern that appears to support your deviation from truth. Rationalization leads you down blind alleys in life. It drains spiritual power.