Prain/№1450

Three years of 6–8/10 pain, then ALIF fusion gave my life back

Anonymous from Reddit, 42, ran monthly 5Ks before the pain source

THEN6–8/10 pain day in, day out for three years. A microdiscectomy fixed the leg; the back got worse.
NOW15 weeks post-ALIF: pain 3/10 on bad days, last Tylenol at two weeks, exercising again, 15 lbs down.
Confidence 2 → 8Pain 7 → 3
RECOVERY TIMELINE, 40 MONTHS
M0: LOW BACK PAIN BEGINS
M20: ACUTE HERNIATION, LEG GIVES OUT
M21: MICRODISCECTOMY, LEG FIXED, BACK WORSE
M36: ALIF FUSION AT L5-S1
M40: 15 WEEKS POST-OP
Conservative circuit
Basivertebral nerve ablation
Daily rehab routine
Standing desk 6/8 hours + calf raises
Walking 12–15k steps/day
Weight loss, eating my greens
M1M3M5M7M9M11M13M15M17M19M21M23M25M27M29M31M33M35M37M39
MO 1
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One person’s structured self-report, not medical advice, not a prediction of your outcome. n=1. If you have progressive numbness or weakness, changes in bladder or bowel control, or saddle numbness, see a clinician before loading anything.

PRAINwithprain.com/journeys/1450