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back pain after tt
By spinmama on 15 Feb 2011
I know we all have back pain being slumped over so much but my hip flexors are killing me too,. I had to crawl to my room this morning cause I just couldnt walk. How long til I should be able to stand up straight? Also, it feels like I have major cramps...is that all part of the swelling/healing?
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Sleeping-Since day 2, I have been sleeping in a reclined postion on my bed, with a pillow under my knees. But this week, I have started to alternate and sleep on my sides (2 pillows, 1 under head and 1 inbetween leges). Last night I couldn't sleep on my sides bc they hurted/sore/swollen (I think because I over did it the last couple of days, painting, laundry, etc...). so I went back to my million of pillows. I have tried lying flat also, but not to fall asleep.
I lie on my back in bed, with pillows under my knees and one under my heels. It keeps me bent at pretty good angles so the back isn't flat.
When I would get tired of sleeping that way, I would get up around 4 or 5 a.m. and sleep in the recliner for a while.
My doctor asked me to start trying to lay flat at 7 days post op. He wanted me to stretch out a bit and start getting use to it. Now it was a slow process at doing it 15 minutes at a time.
It took me about three weeks to totally lay flat. Baby steps...
The first three days post op they want your head elevated a bit to help prevent from getting fluid in the lungs. That is with any surgery though.
Part of the reason they want your knees up to begin with, is to help with circulation, I believe.
I am 3 days po. I have what I think is a great suggestion as far as the back pain is concerned. GET A WALKER. I thought I read that suggestion here somewhere so I borrowed one from my mom who no longer uses it and I think it has made a huge difference. My back really doesn't hurt all that much. I do have question tho for you guys....at what angle did you Dr say you could lay in? I was laying down in a kinda of a 45 degree angle with my knees propped up with three pillows but my niece says I should be more upright than that. Since I don't remember much of the conversation when I was sent home I have to ask.
Every doctor is different so I think you need to do what is comfortable for you. What felt good for me was my head elevated slightly, pillows under the knees and one under each arm. But of course I wiggled around and moved all night. Even with all of the padding on my bed my butt and hips were sore.
My doctor also told me that at one week post op to start laying flat and stretching out a bit. I started slow which helped. 4-5 times a day I would lay down on the bed (hospital bed) flat and then slowly lower my knees down so that I was completely flat. I would lay like this for about 4-5 minutes to start. This helped my back to start relaxing. It hurt like hell at first but the stretch did me good.
I see my PS on Tuesday, at nearly 4 weeks, so I'll see what he says.
I noticed from weeks 3-5 that by mid day I would hunch over. I would get tight and sore by mid day and my back would hurt. You then try to compensate and start to hunch over a bit which doesn't help.
Try laying on the bed and stretching that back out by lowering your legs flat. It helps.
I'm at day 17, and still not walking straight, but better each day.
I think Kim is right; whenever I have a bad cramp, it's usually gas.
Hi Spin,
Some of the cramps could be from gas in your abdomen. The body will feel like a war zone for about 3-4 weeks. As sad as it sounds....all normal and a part of the recovery.