On Dec 16 I had some back surgery.... Dr had to break and grind my lower 2 or 3 vertebrae free as they had fused themselves together slipped out of place. Then he lined them up to where they should be... ground a bunch of bone and arthritis out to give the nerves room so they wouldn't be flattened any more. Put some screws and rods in and a cage or two . I kinda am getting tired of just not doing much. For those who had this kind of surgery how long did it knock you down. I know all are different.... but hopefully soon I'll be more mobile and in less discomfort than I am now. I do walk several times a day... only about 400 yds each walk... and that seems to help the legs from burning from numb nerves.

Take it easy. DO EXACTLY what DR says. WALK AND WALK SOME MORE. Get sleep try to eat good. PLUS FOR THE LOVE OF GOD TAKE YOUR PAIN MEDS !!! Don't be "tough" and go with out. They aren't going to give you enough to get hooked. STOP listening to the news. IT IS proven you heal faster and better on pain meds. Lifting limits are there for a reason. To put it in perspective a gal of milk weighs 8 lbs. Adjust accordingly.

With that said 40 pack of bottle waters should be outlawed.

If possible find a theraphy pool. I used one here for 3 months after I was allowed to drive.

try to walk a mile a day if you have to break it up into 8 walks do so. My neurosurgeon had me increase the distance each week by a mile until I was walking 8 miles a day. get into the early sunlight as much as possible. take the pain meds and stool softeners. stay hydrated with water and electrolytes.

3 to 6 months.At first you won't be able to do anything untill all that bone heals in place.Your back will be very weak.After everthing stabilizes and you can walk just keep on walking as much as possible.Most imporant to not push things to soon in recovery and do exactly what your doctor tells you.

Find a copy of The Back Doctor By Dr Hamilton Hall. Or The new Back Doctor. They are available on Amazon . He was a back surgeon , at a Toronto Hospital. Good Reading and exercises , he promotes exercises , that strengthen your back.muscles. Certainly helped me , when I had Back surgery. Takes a while but your back and leg numbness, will , hopfully be gone. old243

Be patient. It stinks but you will make progress. Takes a few months. Hopefully leg problems are fixed. worked for me.

I had that done 20 years ago and I paid a lot of money for the tens machine. It is great (expensive = many thousands of dollars of my money, insurance does not cover it) but did not have to take and pain meds after the second day. All is ok now some of the problems are coming back but nothing like it was. And yes walk walk, might as well carry traps with you. Oh have fun tying shoe laces or even getting shoes on, boots are worse, and cutting you toe nails is impossible. Lots of fun......jk

You can get a tens unit now for about 150.00. True pulse I think is the brand I have, tiny unit that is or has two lead attachments. You have to order the pads from them. WEll worth every cent. And dont be deceived by its small size. you get it set too high and It will set you free real fast.