Occasional bouts of lower back pain – and what causes it

A quick update. It has been months since I posted on this blog, probably because I have felt no pain or had any real news or comment to post. Over the last couple of days, I had pretty much pin poinyed lower back pain. Naturally, so many fears came to mind.

What I then realized is that because I was waking up early in the morning and sitting down on the sofa with my laptop on the side handle, with my body at a slightly twisted angle. This was the reason for the sudden bouts of pain. As soon as I stopped this over the last couple of days, the pain simply disappeared.

Just a reminder for everyone : Sitting is the new smoking. Sitting for long periods (more than 1/2 hour at a time at your desk), sitting in awkward positions all cause pain. Watch out for that.

6 months post spinal fusion surgery. Doing just fine

I had spinal fusion surgery on my L4/L5 exactly months ago. Just a quick update. I am doing just fine. I have absolutely no pain, unless I have pushed my limits, and while I still restrict my bending and lifting, I can do most everyday stuff pretty much fine.

I work out every day, including some light weights – mostly for upper body and core strengthening, and also a few sets of movements, again to add core strength and improve my back muscles. I have no back pain, no tingling, no remaining issues that pushed me to have the surgery.

My specialist neurosurgeon Dr Choi at Wooridul Spine Centre here in Dubai has discussed the results of the CT scan and xray reports to see if I was actually on the mend – and that the spinal fusion surgery had worked. This was a couple of months ago – and he said I was improving beyond expectations.

Overall, for anyone considering TLIF surgery, or considering surgery at Wooridul in Dubai – go for it. It worked for me. All the best...

Be careful with Physiotherapy and exercises - even 4 months after surgery

I had spinal fusion surgery on my L4/L5 four months ago. I was totally pain free, until, in one week of pushing my limits exercising at home and in physiotherapy, things went really wrong – and I was in intense pain. Be careful what you do. Even four months down post surgery, I should remember – no intense bending, no heavy lifting, no twisting. The old BLT rules apply.

I was four months and a week into recovery from TLIF spinal fusion surgery on my L4/L5. I did a few exercises recommended by my physiotherapist at home (same clinic as my surgery). I also did a couple of exercises at the physio center, and suddenly, I had the most intense, unbearable pain.

I panicked, and was about to call the doctor (my surgeon) to see if my fusion had collapsed, and if every thing had gone wrong. There are failed back surgeries, after all, and some of them happen due to negligence of instructions or perhaps a bad procedure. This time, I knew the procedure had gone perfect, because I had my CT scans and x-rays, and my healing was well on its way. So, what was this?

Obviously, I had pushed my exercise routine a bit too much. The physioteherpaist ideally gives you a list of routines to follow, but you should know what your body can take, and when it is just too much. My word of advice? Take it easy. The whole bone healing and formation process takes a good year or even more. Do not push yourself.

Walking didn't hurt, but I had an excuciating pain for a couple of days. It is early yet, and I will do a follow up post, but do be careful with any exercises that ask for bending, arching backwards bridging etc. So far, it has caused a huge amount of pain, and a whole lot more anxiety.

Spinal Fusion Recovery after TLIF surgery: CT scans & Xray reports are good: 3 and 1/2 months post op

Today, I met my specialist neurosurgeon Dr Choi at Wooridul Spine Centre here in Dubai to discuss the results of the CT scan and xray reports to see if I was actually on the mend – and that the spinal fusion surgery had worked.



I had the CT scans and x-rays done yesterday, and frankly, I was quite nervous.  What if the L4 & L5 vertebrae had not started to fuse – as was the purpose of the surgery? What if I had problems with the fusion? What if there was a misalignment? What if the rods and screws had somehow slipped? What if I had forgotten, and had bent too much, or lifted? What if?

CT Scans & X-ray to check interbody fusion

Dr Choi took his time to share the CT scans and the x-ray reports on the large tv screen and rather happily replied that the prognosis was indeed very good. The 'inter body fusion' as he called it had progressed properly, and the scans showed that the healing had begun. It was such a relief. So many things could have gone wrong. There are so many statistics out there that there are quite a few cases where the intended fusion does not take place – and that's what they call FBSS – failed back surgery syndrome.

The Wooridul Spine Centre Team for Spine Surgery

So, hats off to the Wooridul team of surgeons, the aftercare with the physiotherapy department – I am so much better. Thanks to the successful surgery by Dr Choi and Dr Shim, I am walking straight, the symptoms that I had originally gone in for have all disappeared, and I am on the mend. It takes around a full year for the fusion to complete, I believe, so I need to be mindful of that, and not push it. I still need to be careful, but, yes, I am a 100% better, and am on the mend. Dr Choi did mention, that I would need an annual x-ray routine as follow up.


I have been prescribed a few more sessions of physiotherapy – just to get core strength, which I know is pretty weak at the moment.

Pain after spinal fusion is common

I have to add here, that over the last couple of weeks, I do get occasional bouts of pain, and that's usually right after I forget not to sit for long periods, or have had a long and uncomfortable driving session. This is not the lower back pain I used to have before the surgery – it's more like incision site pain, it feels like fusion site is protesting. It's a stabbing pain, it is not intense or unbearable, but it does hurt.

Sitting is bad for you after spine surgery (or anytime)

Seriously, sitting is the new smoking, and I really believe that, because, now, I can feel my body, or rather my lower back, protesting when I sit for too long. I try not to sit for long, I walk around or stand up at work, I take breaks more often. I am guessing a long haul flight right now would not be that good for me.

For those who are considering TLIF surgery for their lower back, my word of advise is, if you have a good surgeon you can trust, go ahead. It really works, if and when the surgery is a complete success, and I am living, walking around straight and tall, pain free to prove it!

Please share this with anyone considering spinal fusion or back surgery...

Two months post op after Spinal Fusion (TLIF) surgery in Dubai. Feeling amazing. Fusion Recovery!

Two months ago, on the morning of the surgery, I had a couple of fleeting thoughts on how I could cancel, or postpone my surgery later that morning. Today, if I were in that situation again, and I had the kind of back pain and discomfort that I ad, and with the kind of recovery that I have progressed on – I would do it again. And again.

Background

I had spondylosthesis in L4/L5, slipped disk, slipped vertebra at L4, and a severe pinching of the nerve. I had seen several doctors – orthopedic specialists, neurosurgeons, osteopaths, chiropractors, but it was Dr Patrick Choi at the Wooridul Spine Centre in Dubai, who was very clear – I needed surgical intervention, I needed it quickly, and the procedure was TLIF on my L4 and L5 vertebrae. At that point I had accepted the idea and we went through scheduling my surgery. Dr Shim, also at Wooridul, later confirmed that Dr Choi had the right prognosis, and I was really an imminent candidate for surgery.

Now...

Two months down the line, I do get occasional bits of pain – specifically around the actual incision site. Which may mean its at the fusion site where the doctors put in the titanium rods and screws, and replaced my disc with the hi tech PEEK artificial one. But it has been a life changing decision to have the surgery. I cannot thank the doctors enough for their wondeful work, their expertise, experience and of course their support. Both Dr Choi and Dr Shim from Wooridul conducted the surgery at the Saudi German Hospital in Barsha, Dubai (that's where all Wooridul Dubai surgeries are done, by the way).

Pain?

I just want to repeat what I posted last time. ALL MY PAIN is gone. I had lower back pain every day over the last few months, pain which radiated down my butt and thighs. I had loss of feeling in my left foot, and tingling sensations down my butt and legs once in a while. All of these symptoms have now just gone. I can stand straight, and no longer look like the hunchback of Notre Dame!

Restrictions and Recovery

Yes, I am not 100% back to normal, but honestly, I had forgotten normal with so much pain, pre-op. I still don;t bend, lift or twist. My flexibility is on mend, but I am not there yet, and I just do not expect it to be. Have a tough time wearing socks or tying shoe laces. I use a kitchen clamp mostly to pick things off the floor. Long drives (more than 1/2 hour to 45 minutes) start to hurt my back. Driving is still a problem – lane changes are difficult without turning to check, but one gets used to working the mirrors.

The protection braces hurt – they're quite uncomfortable to wear, and I am waiting for three months to be over, when I am told I will no longer need them. Hurrah!

I am just careful with myself. When one has surgery like I did, your spatial sense changes. You become more aware of the spaces around you, and the people and things that are in those spaces.

Not sure if it is the multiple sessions of physiotherapy that the doctors at Wooridul arranged for me is what has speeded up my recovery process, but I sure am happy with what I have today. My posture has improved, I have no pain, I feel confident, and I feel like a new person. Did I know that two months ago, on November 25th, 2015 before I was wheeled into the operation theater? 

No. 

2nd week back at work after spinal fusion TLIF surgery: 7 weeks post op.

Seven weeks ago, today, I had a five-hour long spinal fusion surgery

Seven weeks ago, today, I had a five-hour long spinal fusion surgery to fix a number of back pain related problems. I had a bunch of issues: spondylosthesis in L4/L5, slipped disk, slipped vertebra at L4, and a severe pinching of the nerve.

I had lower back pain every day over the last few months, pain which radiated down my butt and thighs. I had loss of feeling in my left foot, and tingling sensations down my butt and legs once in a while. All of these symptoms have now just gone. I can stand straight, and no longer look like the hunchback of Notre Dame! I do have incision area pain once in a while, and also pain in my upper back sometimes – but this is because of having to wear a hard back lumbar brace (doctor insisted on this for three months). The brace pushes against the back muscles, and thus the soreness. Otherwise, happy to report, so far, the surgery was a success. The surgery I had was called MIS TLIF (Minimally invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion at L4/L5.

Back at work

Yes, this is my second week back at work. I have to remember to sit for no longer than 1/2 hour periods, so I switch positions between standing, walking around and sitting at my desk. But it is manageable, but must admit, it is quite exhausting at the end of the day. Part of the problem is this lumbar brace I have to wear, which makes my muscles sore. Occasionally one forgets the No BLT rule (no Bending, Lifting, Twisting) and that always reflects i a bit of pain afterwards. So, remembering to take it easy is important.

Driving, chores and shopping

Driving is not easy, because you have to depend on side mirror checks, rather than twist to check for lane changes. Getting in and out of the car was a huge problem initially (I have been driving from week three post op), but it is quite OK now. Grocery shopping is tiring. Getting things out of the shopping cart is a major problem because one really can't and should not be bending.

At home, things are getting better and easier. I still use the BBQ tongs to pick up the daily newspaper outside the door, or pick up the odd thing or two. Have become quite the expert at pushing and picking things with my foot. Overall, it is tiring. You simply cannot overdo anything – your body will protest. Pain will happen.

Physiotherapy

I go for two sessions of 40-minute Physiotherapy twice a week at the Wooridul Spine Centre in Dubai. The care and the equipment there is absolutely world class. MyPhysiotherapist is a Korean guy called Nimo, and he is really good at judging how I am doing, pushing me when needed, and comforting when that helps. The Physiotherapy helps, and I believe, has been hugely responsible for what I consider a rather quick recovery so far. I get 15 total sessions, of which I have six more to go. Will probably miss that...

Sudden pain in foot 5 weeks post op. False alarm?

Now here I was, thinking I've had a clean getaway. I was one of the lucky ones. All my pre op symptoms had gone. My surgery related pain was abating and at five weeks post op I felt like I had beaten the odds. I went back to work today  and this evening after work I had a sudden bout of intense burning, searing pain in my metatarsal area if my left foot.

The pain may have been because I wore my shoes for the first time and perhaps over did it. It may gave been some nerve awakening like some folks have written about. But it is the first real issue I've had post surgery as far as "new pain" goes...

I bandaged my foot for a short while and it didn't help.  Trying icing now as I post this.  I just hope that this us just a blip and it will go away over night. Because the pain is pretty much ouch..

Update next day:

Yes, a false alarm. Reading all those negatives on spine surgery forums are of no help at all. One simply conjures up worries. The foot pain went away, and I know now it was the tight shoes I wore. Silly.

Happy New Year 2016 and five weeks post op report

Happy New Year 2016 to all. It's 5 weeks post surgery for me. The MIS TLIF surgery I had actually, so far, has gone well. I feel much, much better now, and overall, all the negatives, the operation related pain, the discomfort is slowly just getting behind me. A lot of my friends and family are actually surprised at how quickly this recovery mode has gone for me, considering that there are so many negative posts from fellow-patients out there. I am lucky, I am blessed, and just as much, I m rather determined to be positive.

My daily routine includes both long and short walks – I average between 5 to 10 kms a day ( about 3 - 6 miles). My walking pace and strides are improving every day, and that is motivating. My diet is back to normal, and I am able to hold down on the weight that I lost during surgery and recovery (about 8 kg).

As mentioned below, the surgery related pain and discomfort is almost all gone, except of course, when I am laying directly on the area of my back that has the hardware that they put in. That still hurts. Long sits hurt. Lying on the sofa is a discomfort to say the least – specially if it has softer cushions. I find dining table chairs to be the most comfortable.

Should mention here that every single symptom that I had the lumbar fusion surgery for have gone. I had intense pain down my lower back into my buttocks and thighs. I had tingling sensations down my legs, and numbness on my left foot. These are all fine now. Every morning I could not stand straight and was bent like a hunchback. It took me a while to be able to warm up enough to stand up somewhat close to straight.