This is why I’m putting off my surgery - suggested by an orthopedist and two neurosurgeons - as long as they keep prescribing percocet for me.
I have pain but no functional loss yet. sensory and motor function are good.
My wife went though multi-level laminectomies w/ partial disc resection 3 years ago.
She took 6 weeks off work. Started physical therapy about 5 days post-op, would walk the length of our street (couple hundred feet cul-de-sac) first with a walker, then a cane, finally unassisted.
She’s regained most of the function of her foot extensors (foot drop was the “tell” I picked up on, initiating the surgical consultation and surgery scheduled about 8 weeks later due to PT, consultations, insurance approvals, etc.), and still has pain controlled with Tylenol only.
Godspeed, keep us posted.
Thanks for the prayers. I agree with your decision. Gabapentine managed the nerve pain and I tolerated it well.... but I have been losing my legs and hips for a couple of years due to atrophy. I finally had to make a decision. My thighs felt 24x7 like I had just climbed 10 flights of stairs, and they were much smaller and always really tight and easily cramped etc. Now they feel like bowls of jello. :). I know I have plenty of PT ahead. It I walked outside for 8 minutes yesterday.