Rick - PM me if you would like.
Been there, done it. In 2014, had all 5 Ls (L1 to L5) and S1 done. Took 6.5 hours. I was essentially a cripple for 5 years before. No accident led to my spinal failure, just used up my body over 57 years of being very physical. The surgery was the best thing I have ever done in my whole life. I was immediately pain free (spinal), it was the surgical site that was painful and needed plenty of therapy. I knew at 5 hours after surgery that I was permanently fixed, even in a drugged state I knew in my bones and bare naked consciousness that my spine pain was gone, and then I slept (drugged) most of the next 48 hours.
Recovery was in multiple stages - 5 days in the hospital, first 2 as a complete zombie with the happy drugs, 3 days to adjust and get off the juice, plenty of pain at the incision. They basically sliced my back muscles open about 12 inches by 6 inches. Assisted walking was on day 3, home on day 6, using just ibuprofen then. Lots of attention to wound care. Mobility with a walker for 10 days, then a cane for 14 more. Able to think very clearly by day 7, was working from home at that point. Back to the office by day 14. Taking everything slow and deliberate but pain free and liberated from the years of pain.
Physical therapy was 4 months, about 40 sessions. First 6 were at home, then I could drive to the facility. They taught me how to walk again. I did nothing "normal" physical for about 8 months except long walks and the list of therapeutic exercises (planks, stretching, etc.). By month nine I was running, weight lifting, and lots of hard labor. Always with a serious eye toward proper stance and back muscle health. I would say I had recovered completely by month 12.
Best thing I ever did. It is critical to do all the therapy they give you, and follow all directions, or you could take years to truly recover. Be patient, but do the work of the therapy or it will all be a failure.
Best wishes to you.
). The new MRI shows little room left for the nerves coming out of the spine. This time the doctors said I need a "fusion" --They need to add hardware to jack the vertebrae apart to make more room for the nerves and make bone grafts so they become one. Since I was improving a bit every day I held off doing the fusion.
