Why I’m Sharing My L5-S1 Fusion Recovery Journey
When I decided to go through with my L5-S1 anterior lumbar interbody fusion, I told myself that if I made it through, I’d share the real journey with others — not the sugarcoated version you find in brochures or doctor pamphlets, but the real day-by-day experience.
I created this ongoing recovery journal because so many of us walk into spine surgery blind, not knowing what it really feels like afterward. My goal here isn’t to give medical advice — I’m not a doctor — but to show what this process truly looks like from a patient’s perspective.
If you haven’t already read my full surgery story, I shared everything — from diagnosis to waking up after surgery — in Living Through L5-S1 Fusion: What Spine Surgery Really Feels Like. That article explains the lead-up, the operation itself, and why I finally decided it was time.
This post picks up from there — the real recovery, the day-to-day pain, the small wins, and the long road toward healing.
The Backstory — A Decade of Pain Before Surgery
My lower back pain started way back in 2010, and for years it was dismissed by doctors who blamed it on muscle strain or posture. But I knew something deeper was wrong. It wasn’t just soreness; it was constant, radiating pain that ran down my leg, sometimes leaving my foot numb or weak.
Over the years, I tried everything — injections, therapy, medications — nothing gave lasting relief. By 2024, my quality of life had completely fallen apart. That’s when I found Dr. Miles at Columbia Orthopedic Group and Dr. Salinas, vascular surgeon, who both finally discovered the real issue: my L5-S1 disc had failed completely.
Surgery wasn’t the easy option. It was the only one left. I’d already had a neck fusion at C5-C6 in July 2024, and this lumbar surgery was the next (and hopefully final) chapter in fixing what years of pain had done.
If you want to understand what the surgery actually involved and what I woke up feeling like, go check out this full story here before continuing.
The First 48 Hours After Surgery
Those first two days were some of the hardest of my life. Nothing prepares you for what it’s like to wake up from spine surgery — especially one that involves both a front and back incision.
The first thing I noticed wasn’t the back pain, but the burning, deep ache in my belly. That’s where the vascular surgeon went in to reach my spine, just above my pubic area. Every movement — even breathing deep — felt like it pulled at the incision.
My back hurt too, but in a different way. It was sharper and deeper than before, but I could tell it was surgical pain — the kind that means something was actually fixed. I took that as a small sign of hope.
Pain meds helped, but they brought their own problems. Constipation hit almost immediately. I was bloated, uncomfortable, and couldn’t pass gas for two days — a painful but normal part of anesthesia recovery. Nurses encouraged walking, but even standing up felt impossible at first. My stomach muscles were useless, and getting out of bed required help every single time.
The catheter removal burned badly, and the first few times I peed afterward burned even worse. But that slowly improved over the next day or two. Small progress like that became my mental lifeline — if something was improving, no matter how small, I knew I was moving forward.
Sleep was nearly impossible. I drifted in and out, half awake, half in pain. Time blurred, and I mostly focused on breathing, staying calm, and letting the hours pass. The belly pain made everything worse, but knowing that the worst part — the surgery itself — was over kept me grounded.
By the end of the second day, I managed to walk a few short steps with help. It was shaky, slow, and exhausting, but it was the start of recovery. Every single person who’s had a lumbar fusion knows that first walk feels like running a marathon — painful but freeing at the same time.
Day 3–6: Rough Days, Small Wins
Days three through six were some of the hardest yet. The initial fog from anesthesia was gone, and I could feel everything — soreness, tightness, pressure, and deep fatigue. My belly incision was still the worst part. It felt like every muscle in my stomach was pulling against itself every time I tried to sit, stand, or even laugh.
I was still taking hydrocodone as prescribed, but I tried to keep it to one pill every six hours instead of the full double dose. It helped enough to take the edge off without making me too groggy. Nights were the toughest because the pain would spike whenever I tried to move, and even rolling slightly felt like a workout.
The thing that saved me these days was ice — and lots of it. I started using a large medical ice wrap that covers both my lower back and belly. It holds two gel packs, and I keep a second set in the freezer to rotate out when the others warm up. It’s been my constant companion, even in bed. Honestly, I wish I had two of them because they make such a difference in controlling swelling and calming that deep ache.
The one I use is similar to this:
👉 REVIX XXL Full Back Ice Pack Wrap, Reusable Gel Cold Compress for Upper and Lower Back
If you’re preparing for surgery, do yourself a favor and get at least two. You’ll thank yourself later.
Standing up and sitting down were both painful and frustrating during these days. I ended up borrowing my grandma’s old walker — not to walk around with, but just to help me get up and down from the chair and the toilet. Having something sturdy to hold onto made a world of difference. This one is almost identical to what I used:
👉 Drive Medical 10210-1 2-Button Folding Walker with Wheels
Another thing that’s been a big help is a bed rail handle. I attached it to the side of my bed, and it gives me something solid to grab when I need to get up in the night to pee or when I’m trying to ease back into bed. It’s simple, but honestly one of the best purchases for spine surgery recovery. Here’s a similar one I recommend:
👉 Adjustable Bed Assist Rail with Storage Pocket
These little tools have made a huge difference during the hardest week so far. Nothing about this recovery has been easy — I still need help getting dressed, moving slowly, and managing pain — but I can feel small improvements. Each day, I can stand a little longer, walk a few more steps, and sit without quite as much pain.
It’s not fast, and it’s not pretty, but it’s progress. And right now, that’s enough for me.
Day 7–8: Slowly Getting Stronger
By day seven, things were starting to shift — not pain-free by any means, but different. The first few days felt like I’d been hit by a bus. Now it’s more like I got hit by a bus last week — still sore, still stiff, but a little less destroyed. That small difference means a lot.
I’m still using the hydrocodone that my doctor prescribed, but I only take one about every six hours instead of the full two-pill dose. It helps take the edge off, but I’ve noticed one strange side effect: bad dreams. Almost every night since surgery, the dreams have been vivid and weird. Nothing dangerous, just unsettling — I wake up several times, so I don’t get much solid sleep.
That said, the ice pack continues to be my best friend. The one I use is similar to this:
👉 REVIX XXL Full Back Ice Pack Wrap
It’s big enough to cover my entire lower back or belly and stays cold for a long time. I rotate two sets of gel packs all day long — one on me, one in the freezer. I’ve used it lying down, sitting up, even while sleeping. Honestly, I’d say it’s one of the most helpful things for recovery, both for belly pain and back swelling.
By this point, I also couldn’t imagine managing without my walker. I borrowed an old one from my grandma, and it’s been a huge help — not for walking around, but for getting up and down from a chair or toilet safely. It gives me just enough support to brace myself without straining my core or lower back.
Here’s the one I recommend if you’re preparing for surgery:
👉 Drive Medical 10210-1 2-Button Folding Walker with Wheels
Another must-have for me has been the bed rail handle. It’s a small, easy-to-attach grab bar that sits next to the bed, and it’s perfect for middle-of-the-night bathroom trips or getting up in the morning when your abs refuse to cooperate. Here’s the one I use:
👉 Adjustable Bed Assist Rail with Storage Pocket
The urge to pee often has been constant since surgery, especially at night. I’ve read that this can happen after anesthesia and from the swelling pressing on nerves and muscles around the bladder. It’s annoying, but it’s slowly improving.
By day eight, my belly pain was finally easing up a bit. Certain movements still pull or sting, but the sharp pain from earlier in the week has faded into a dull, sore tightness. My back has now become the main area of pain — deeper, aching, but in a way that feels like healing.
Walking has actually been easier than I expected. It doesn’t hurt much, and I can tell my doctor was right — movement is medicine. I’m doing my best to get up several times a day and take short walks around the house. The goal is 1–2 miles total per day, broken up into small sessions, and I’m working toward that slowly.
I’m not where I want to be yet, but I’m definitely better than I was. Each day feels just a tiny bit easier, and that’s what recovery is all about — small wins that add up over time.
Itchy Itchy!
At about day 7 and now to day 9 sometimes else aside from pain is the itching which is normal from healing wounds and is usually a good sign however I need to do something about it so I itch less. Click here to see what I was able to do about the itching!
Day 9–11: Small Wins, Slow Progress
I’m around day 11 now, and even though I still wake up hurting, the pain eases up as the day goes on. The mornings are the hardest — that first stretch when everything feels tight and sore — but by evening, I can tell my body’s slowly turning a corner.
I’m proud to say I’m down to about one Hydrocodone and two Tylenol a day, which feels like a big step forward. Just a few days ago, I needed a lot more to make it through the day. Now I’m managing okay with less, even though I’m still careful about overdoing it.
The belly pain that was brutal in the first week is mostly gone when I’m still. It only hurts now when I move or twist the wrong way, but even that’s improving. Sitting upright for long periods is definitely the worst position right now — my body still prefers being reclined or lying down flat.
Going to church today for the first time since surgery felt really good. Last week, I could barely get out of bed, so just being able to walk in, sit for a bit, and feel somewhat normal again was a big emotional lift. It reminded me that this recovery isn’t just about healing physically — it’s about feeling like yourself again, little by little.
I’m still using my ice pack here and there, but not nearly as much as before. The sharp pain in my belly has eased up, so now I mainly use the cold packs for my lower back when it starts aching or tightening up.
Still dealing with the healing itches but use my hydrocortisone cream helps some!
The only thing that hasn’t really changed yet is the pain that shoots down my butt and left leg — the same nerve pain I had before surgery. I’m trying to stay patient since I know that nerve healing can take months, not days. I’m just trusting that each small improvement means things are heading in the right direction.
Day 12 to 20
Still plenty of soreness from day 12 to day 20. My back ice pack is still my best friend and I use it nearly non stop when I can. The overall pain is better of course than it was but the pain is still there without a doubt and I expect it to be for even a few months as they say my spine can take up to a full year to fully heal. Of course there are large bolts put into my spine so it’s not surprising. A few days ago I had my two week follow up and they took an X-ray of my spine to check on it as well as for me to have a copy to see. This photo above is my actual X-ray of my spine and you can see the hardware in my spine! Ouch, no wonder I’m still sore huh?
Day 20–33: Getting Stronger, Less Medication, and More Surgeries Checked Off
I’m a little over three weeks out from my L5-S1 fusion now, and every day feels just a little more normal. I’m not healed by any means, and I still get stiff and sore, but the improvements are real. What seemed impossible the first few days after surgery now feels manageable.
I’m still using my ice pack like always — honestly, that thing has been the MVP of my recovery. When my back feels tight or tired, or when I’ve been up too long, I strap the ice pack on and it brings everything back down to a calm, comfortable level. It’s been the biggest tool in helping me cut way down on medication.
That’s probably the biggest milestone lately:
I’m barely taking any pain meds at all now. No Hydrocodone. Just the ice pack and maybe a Tylenol if I’ve really overdone it. Considering how bad everything felt the first week, I’m grateful to say that pain is no longer controlling my day. I’ve still got soreness and stiffness, but it’s a totally different kind of pain — more of a healing ache than the sharp nerve pain I lived with for so long.
Walking feels easier every week. I’m still careful, and sitting is still the most uncomfortable thing for me, but I can move around my house without feeling like I’m breaking in half. Reclining or lying back is still the best feeling by far, but the fact that I can get up and move without thinking twice tells me I’m on the right track.
During this same stretch of my recovery, I also had carpal tunnel surgery on my left hand. Not ideal timing, but honestly, it needed to be done — and since I already hit my $9,600 out-of-pocket max for the year, now is the time to knock out all the issues I’ve been putting off. I’ll be getting my right hand done next month too. And earlier this year in July, I had my C5-C6 disc replaced in my neck.
It’s wild to think how much has happened in just one year. But I’m finally fixing things that I’ve ignored or lived with for over a decade, and I’m thankful every single day that I’m moving in the right direction.
My back is still sore and stiff sometimes, and I still have that lingering nerve pain down my butt and left leg — the same pain I had before surgery. But I know that part takes months to heal, not weeks. Nerves are slow, and I’m trying to be patient.
All I can say is this: I’m still getting better. Slowly, steadily, and honestly, a lot stronger than I was even a few weeks ago. Every day I see progress — and that’s all I can ask for.
