Lumbar Fusion Surgery
Streater
Posts: 293 ✭
Has anyone had it? I have severe degenerative disk disease and a herniation in L5/S1. I've had pain and numbness for about 3 years. I've been seeing a specialist for a little over a year and had multiple steroid injections, nerve treatments and physical therapy. Unfortunately, they are no longer working and pain meds are the only thing that keep the pain at a tolerable level. I refuse to accept this as a permanent resolution, so I'm in the process of scheduling the Lumbar Fusion Surgery.
The Doc is predicting a 10 week recovery period before I can go back to work. I'm hoping to make it back in 6 as I'll go nutty being out so long. I'm not looking for sympathy or throwing out the "poor me" post. I'm blessed, happy and love my life. I'm just curious as to what to expect as far as the recovery process.
Anyone been through this? Can you give me some insight as to what challenges I need to prepare for? Any suggestions on things to do? I accept the fact that it is going to suck for a little while, but there is no doubt in my mind that this will be life-changing. I'm prepared to work my ass off and my spirits are high. I just need to get a plan of action together and start getting things in order. I'm hoping to have the surgery by July 1. Any advice is appreciated.
The Doc is predicting a 10 week recovery period before I can go back to work. I'm hoping to make it back in 6 as I'll go nutty being out so long. I'm not looking for sympathy or throwing out the "poor me" post. I'm blessed, happy and love my life. I'm just curious as to what to expect as far as the recovery process.
Anyone been through this? Can you give me some insight as to what challenges I need to prepare for? Any suggestions on things to do? I accept the fact that it is going to suck for a little while, but there is no doubt in my mind that this will be life-changing. I'm prepared to work my ass off and my spirits are high. I just need to get a plan of action together and start getting things in order. I'm hoping to have the surgery by July 1. Any advice is appreciated.
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Comments
Didnt tell you that to scare you... but if you're looking at going the surgery route, might wanna bring this up with your doc and see what the pro's & cons are between fusion vs the cage. Cant hurt to ask... just dont look at the damned thing! :-)
And my .02 - if they say 10 weeks, TAKE 12! Boredom does suck massively, but you dont wanna rush back at 6 weeks and undo all the good the surgery may bring you after suffering with this crap so long.
I think you should not rush getting back to work. Take the time off, even at the risk of going nuts. It's not worth hurting yourself over and over again because you were restless.
Surgery is not an option for me, but I wish you the best and I look forward to reading your future posts, when you are pain free!
If surgery isn't an option for you, have you looked into something like the intrathecal morphine pump? If they can't cure your problem maybe they can at least alleviate your pain. Just a thought. I hate to see anyone in chronic pain.
As for the Chiro, I am a big fan. I've been seeing a Chiro for over 20 years, and have seen multiple to try and get relief. It was actually 2 different Chiros' recommendations that finally convinced me to see a specialist. It's got to be pretty wrecked for a chiropractor to tell you need surgery.
I have had two back surgeries to remove a bony growth from my L4 & L5 (twice*). (No fusion) I am pain free and have been for about 20 years (since I had the surgery).
*The reason I had it done twice is it started growing back after the first surgery.
My poor Mother In-Law is dealing with your situation. She first had the fusion. It "Didn't Take". She then had "The Cage" installed (someone mentioned earlier). She then had to have a hip replacement (due to her compensating for the back pain). All of this in less than three years. She is SLOWLY getting better. But you have to remember she is 76 years old. But one thing you should take away from this is that if she can do it, you can as well. You'll be fine.
Six weeks isn't going to do it my friend (I hope it will though for your sake). I was down and out for six weeks (each) with my surgeries & I didn't have anything fused. As mentioned before. DO NOT rush your recovery. Just plan accordingly. Wishing you the best.
I had dealt with the pain and frustration of back problems since I was a little kid and until I was 35 couldn't find a DR. to work on me. The Dr. who did work on me was FANTASTIC!!! and I am at least 90% pain free at least 80% of the time and can deal with the level of pain when it is there now.
I would not nor do not advocate that anyone else goes for back surgery. That is a decision a person has to make for themselves. In my case I was so tired and frustrated with dealing with pain 24 / 7 that I was willing to risk further damage and more pain in order to alleviate the situation, and it worked. I got lucky... many others do not. Sorry I couldn't be more help, but every back injury or condition is unique unto itself. Good luck bro.
The first 5-6 days were terrible, as i was in quite a but of pain. On day 7, I started to notice that most of the pain I had before the surgery was GONE! I did not realize the extent of my injuries until things stopped hurting. It's incredible the amount of relief I felt after just the first week. On day 8 I went back in for a post op checkup. Up until then, my lovely bride had to change the surgical dressings every day, which was quite irritating. I have a 9" horizontal incision across my stomach, right below the beltline, and 9, 3" horizontal incisions from the middle of my back to right above my tailbome on each side of my spine. The Surgeon was amazed at how fast they had healed, and told me that the dressings were no longer necessary. I also found out that I had grown 3/4 of an inch! They had to put spacers that were the correct height of a normal disk between the vertebra and then injected some goop made from my stem cells into the place where my disk was removed. This will harden over time and complete the fusion of the two vertebra together. How cool is that!
I had been up and walking short distances since the anesthesia had worn off, and slowly increasing the distances each day. The surgeon explained that this is the reason I was mending so quickly. The walking stimulated the circulation down there which leads to better, faster healing. I was given the Bone Growth Stimulator device to use every day for 30 minutes. He also cleared me to drive! I still have to wear a back brace, but I am getting used to it. It keeps me from bending or twisting. I'm not allowed to lift anything over 15 lbs either.
All in all, I'm feeling absolutely FANTASTIC! I'm amazed at how much better I feel. My wife told me that she has seen a huge change in my attitude and disposition. Im so much happier, and have a tremendous love for life right now! Pain really does change a person. The surgery not only reduced the pain in my back, but it completely stopped the pain I had in my legs, knees and feet! I had been thinking that my knees and feet hurt because I was getting old. The pain in my feet and knees was a 5 on a scale of 1-10, and after walking or running, it sometimes got as high as 7 or 8! Now it's 0-1! I'm extatic! So-far, I have gotten more relief out of this surgery than I expected. I still have a long way to go, though. I still have some stabbing pain in my lower back, but it's manageable without drugs and it might even get lower as the wound heals and the fusion takes. I have another appointment in 3 weeks. At that time, they will check to see if the bones have fused. If they have, my physical therapy starts.
I'm a big guy at 6'1" and 285 lbs. My doc told me that when my PT is complete, I will be down in the 225 range. The PT is going to be grueling. I'll be going 3-4 days a week, and they should last between 3 1/2-5 hours. It will be a combination of stretching, core-strengthening, and cardio. I am pumping myself up, and I can't wait to tackle this challenge! Life is so good right now. I so blessed.
I wish you all the best in your continuing recovery and PT, and that I hope that everything from here on out continues to go smoothly.
* I have a new address as of 3/24/18 *
I had my 1 month follow-up today. They took a couple x-rays which is good because I haven't seen the hardware in my back yet. It looks like 4 wood screws holding down 2 thick titanium rods. The ends of the spacers they put between the 2 vertebra also showed up clearly as well. Modern medicine is incredible.
The doctor said that I am healing very well and that I should start physical therapy the week after next. The fusion process has started and the gel that was injected into the space where the destroyed disk was removed, is starting to harden. They made that stuff from my stem cells. How cool is that!
I don't know if I mentioned this in my earlier posts, but I've grown almost an inch! My disk had degenerated so much, that when they removed it and put in the spacers that keep the vertebra properly spaced, it gave me 3/4-1 inch of additional height. I'll take it. Lowers my BMI. LOL!
I couldn't be happier about the success of the surgery. I still can't believe how good I feel!. I didn't realize how jacked up my back was, until everything stopped hurting. Not only has the back pain significantly decreased, but my legs, knees and feet stopped hurting completely! I got so much relief from this surgey that I swear even my teeth stopped hurting!
The best thing, though, is the fact that I've been able to taper the Hydrocodone down to 1-3 from 8-10 pills per day. My doctor wants me to stay on them cause the physical therapy will be really intense. He said that I will need them. That's fine by me.
So, I will be starting the next phase of the healing process in a week or so. I am PUMPED! I'm ready to give it 110%! I know it will suck, but I refuse to puss out and half-ass the PT. I will live to be 104 years of age, so I will have to live with this back for a long, long time. I'll keep yall posted. Cheers...
"I've got a great cigar collection - it's actually not a collection, because that would imply I wasn't going to smoke ever last one of 'em." - Ron White