Ok, so this is probably obvious to all you experts out there, but I thought I'd share my experience to help others post-op.
I have had an amazing recovery. Aside from a spinal headache the first week, I have had no problems whatsoever. I'm 8 weeks post-op and only taking hydrocodone and flexeril, and have been sleeping like a baby and able to go back to work for the last 2 weeks (I work from home).
All this to say, PLEASE BE CAREFUL! My easy recovery led to a false sense of security, and I am sad to say I'm paying for it big time. I have been walking every day indoors since my surgery. 2 weeks ago I finally felt up to walking outside in my neighborhood. I knew that walking the small hills in my neighborhood was different/more challenging than walking indoors, but I didn't count on how different it really was. Walking a mile on flat surface is totally different than walking a mile with intervals. I was really excited that I could walk as far as I could pre-op, but on the day I did that I felt really sore(not in my back, but in my leg) that afternoon. I should have listened to my body, but I was just so sick of walking in circles in my house I refused. I have had major problems with my L2-3 nerve root, it is very tender and causes bad pain in my left thigh. It hasn't been too bad since my surgery, but that day I really felt it.
So the next day I walked the same distance as the day before, and I really felt the pain when I was walking back. But I was determined to go out to dinner with my hubby (I had only left the house 3 times in 8 weeks for post-op appointments). I didn't want to stay home and so I ignored the pain. I did the same thing the next day, and my pain went through the roof.
STUPID! I have had terrible nerve pain/sciatica all week. It seems like it's calming down, but I have made myself only walk inside for 10 minutes at a time instead of the 45 minutes I was able to do last week.
I should have listened to my body, but the cabin fever got the best of me. I just want to encourage any early post-opers out there to be careful. I am frustrated beyond belief, and am constantly having to convince myself not to freak out. I did make a call to my dr, and am waiting to hear back. I may go in just to double check nothing is wrong, but I suspect that I did this to myself. I didn't have this bad pain until I walked that far and then got in and out of cars 2 days in a row. It was too much, too soon for me I fear. I really should have chosen one thing to do per day, and not ignore the pain that told me to take it easy.
This recovery is so long, and I am dying to get back to normal things. But having to go backwards a little bit has taught me that I MUST listen to my body and especially with my bad nerve, be slow and steady. Hope my mistake will help somebody from doing it!
I have had an amazing recovery. Aside from a spinal headache the first week, I have had no problems whatsoever. I'm 8 weeks post-op and only taking hydrocodone and flexeril, and have been sleeping like a baby and able to go back to work for the last 2 weeks (I work from home).
All this to say, PLEASE BE CAREFUL! My easy recovery led to a false sense of security, and I am sad to say I'm paying for it big time. I have been walking every day indoors since my surgery. 2 weeks ago I finally felt up to walking outside in my neighborhood. I knew that walking the small hills in my neighborhood was different/more challenging than walking indoors, but I didn't count on how different it really was. Walking a mile on flat surface is totally different than walking a mile with intervals. I was really excited that I could walk as far as I could pre-op, but on the day I did that I felt really sore(not in my back, but in my leg) that afternoon. I should have listened to my body, but I was just so sick of walking in circles in my house I refused. I have had major problems with my L2-3 nerve root, it is very tender and causes bad pain in my left thigh. It hasn't been too bad since my surgery, but that day I really felt it.
So the next day I walked the same distance as the day before, and I really felt the pain when I was walking back. But I was determined to go out to dinner with my hubby (I had only left the house 3 times in 8 weeks for post-op appointments). I didn't want to stay home and so I ignored the pain. I did the same thing the next day, and my pain went through the roof.
STUPID! I have had terrible nerve pain/sciatica all week. It seems like it's calming down, but I have made myself only walk inside for 10 minutes at a time instead of the 45 minutes I was able to do last week.
I should have listened to my body, but the cabin fever got the best of me. I just want to encourage any early post-opers out there to be careful. I am frustrated beyond belief, and am constantly having to convince myself not to freak out. I did make a call to my dr, and am waiting to hear back. I may go in just to double check nothing is wrong, but I suspect that I did this to myself. I didn't have this bad pain until I walked that far and then got in and out of cars 2 days in a row. It was too much, too soon for me I fear. I really should have chosen one thing to do per day, and not ignore the pain that told me to take it easy.
This recovery is so long, and I am dying to get back to normal things. But having to go backwards a little bit has taught me that I MUST listen to my body and especially with my bad nerve, be slow and steady. Hope my mistake will help somebody from doing it!
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