Why is my dad having such a slow recovery from a spinal fusion.?

Question

My dad is 62 years old and is having a hard time recovering from a spinal fusion. He quit smoking cold turkey the day he went in for surgery, which could have something to do with it. Today is day 13 and he is just now able to walk a few steps and will most likely be in the hospital a few more weeks. He is complaining of an unbearable pain in the lower right lumbar area of his back. Has anyone else experienced anything like this? An MRI shows that all the hardware and fusion looks perfect. What could be the problem?

Answer 1

From what you have said it does sound like a slow recovery. I have treated many patients after undergoing spinal fusion. Unless for some reason there were complications they are out of bed the very next day. By the time they leave the hospital I want my patients walking at least 100-300 feet which the majority achieve. I have also seen many spinal fusion patients in the outpatient setting which is where I practice full-time.

Answer 2

Compared to a coworker this does not seem like it is taking a long time. When the wound is healed here is some potentially useful information.
Much pain is from muscles below is an example of what may help (based on headaches).
Begin with a couple swigs of molasses or a couple of bananas daily - magnesium (which regulates many things in the body) and potassium (a needed building block for muscles).
Drink at least 1/2 gallons of water per day. Running a body low on water is like running a car low on oil is the analogy the head of neurology at UCDavis told my husband about 10 years ago.

Now to the cause - muscles - your back, neck shoulders and head have tender spots. They are knots in the fibers of the muscles called trigger points. It makes the muscles tight which makes them press on nerves and other things causing the pain.

The cure - start with a professional massage, you will also want to go back over any place you can get to 6-12 times per session up to 6 times per day rubbing (or lightly scratching on your head) every where that is tender until the knots go away. The place where the skull connects to the spine press up under the edge of the skull (to get to those muscles).

For more information read The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Davies. It teaches what to do and where the pain comes from.

Answer 3

13 days is not long at all. my spinal fusion took much longer than that to heal. It can take awhile for the hardware to fuse. it is good that he quit smoking though. For more about this specific type of surgery, read the article I provided. It will tell you all about what to expect in the coming recovery period.

Answer 4

OMG! My mom just had back surgery and after the first time she went in. She went back to work and felled. So the doctors checked her back out and said nothing was wrong.... YEAH RIGHT! The rodes in her back had broke and she had to get a second surgery. That was in the summer time and she is still in pain. On all types of medications and everything. It is scary. But I don't think Your dad had nothing to do with it. Not even because he stop smoking, that is good. Just tell him to be careful and help as much as you can, I don't know what to do because it is nerve wrecking.

Answer 5

Quitting smoking doesn't have anything to do with it. It has probably helped him heal faster. If he is only on day 13, give him a break. He's going to have pain for a couple of months anyway. Keep encouraging him to keep up his exercises. Have him take his pain medications before he tries his exercises. Make sure he follows up with his dr.'s.

Answer 6

I really think you're asking the wrong people. After al, we don't even know your dad. Ask his Dr.

Answer 7

u seem like a smart person wut do i do if i poop my pants