Went in today for my L5-S1 TLIF. Surgery took 2.5 hours, and all went well. Currently on the way home.

I want to say thank you for this group and the support that everyone offers. It is a great community and a great resource.

Edit: arrived at hospital 5:30, surgery 8:15 -10:45. Discharged at 1:30. Requirements for discharge were standing, walking, peeing.....not at the same time...haha

Edit 2: 12 hours post surgery. Lying in bed is a no-go, thank goodness for my recliner. I managed to get up and down the 20 stairs to my bedroom. Pain is fairly intense, and the nerve pain down my leg is extreme.

Edit 3: 28 hours post surgery. Recliner is still most comfortable. Having a lot of incision site pain. Using a heating pad helps a lot. Getting up and down is painful, but once I am up, walking isn't bad at all. I have been around our courtyard several times.

36 hours post surgery. Pain is bad, hard to get comfortable due to pressure on incision sites. Managed to getnonto my side for a while, pretty darn miserable.

40 hours... pressure is subsiding, having extreme nerve pain on my right side. Standing/sitting is the hardest it has been yet, primarily due to the nerve pain. Feeling less stable when walking. Never knew passing gas could be painful, what an unwelcome experience.

48 hours: Much improved from last night. Pain has lessened. Shifting weight in my chair is easier. I can feel a reduction in inflammation. Still taking percocets every 5 -6 hours. Moving from standing to sitting is getting easier.

72 hours: The pain is slightly better. I get off the couch and sit down without assistance, although it does cause some nerve pain. Bruising is a LOT worse today. Walking is good. Climbed the stairs several times.

Day 4: No muscle relaxers or oxy since last night. Got outside and collected pecans today and walked a bit. I may have overdone it, reckon we will find out tomorrow. Pain is very tolerable except when sitting or standing.

Days 5 and 6 were spent entirely in bed, no energy, could barely keep my eyes open.

Day 7: much better, able to move around, went on a few walks, hopeful the worst is behind me

Day 8: dermabond is pealing, incision sites still uncomfortable when lying down.

Day 9: probably my last update. Feeling pretty good, no pain pills at all the past 2 days. I am noticing improvement everyday. My wife and daughters say i am walking better than pre surgery and, i have far less nerve pain now. It seems easier to hold my posture. My gait, while slow, does feel more stable.

Week 3: recovery has been mostly linear. Occasionally I will over do it and then be ridiculously tired the next couple of days. I still have mild nerve pain on the right side, but it is better than pre-op. I am still experiencing muscle soreness and pain at incision sites, which makes it dreadfully uncomfortable to sleep in my bed. I have to reposition every couple of hours.

Other info: I didn't get a toilet seat riser, but I would recommend it. It was 48 hours from surgery to the first BM.