Hi, I had a laminectomy in 1980 & a fusion from L-4 to S1 in 1983. Everything was ok in general until I developed Spondylolisthesis about a year ago. Pain progressed over those months but I only had moderate and intermittent leg pain, I had some weakness but no real numbness. After lots of researching doctors and procedures, I found an excellent doctor to perform a fusion on L3-4 on Dec 11th. Right after surgery both my hips hurt like crazy and also pain around my right ankle, mostly very tight muscles and a bruised feeling in specific areas.
I'm home now but the leg/hip pain is still severe and causing sleep issues, stress etc. I'm taking Norco 7.5 about every 5 hours, Valium 5mg, and stool softeners. I was given Oxycodone to take at home at first, when the
back pain subsided, we switched to the Vicodin.
My question is what should I expect as far as healing time and is it probably nerve swelling or something else. I did not expect this kind of leg pain and I would like to stretch but don't know what is safe for the fusion recovery.