18 months post op fusion

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Curious what all you have had done to your back. I have had steroid injuctions - worked for less than a month- then medial branch block---doc wants nme to do a radio frequency ablation? What say you? I also have all my problems at L5/s1.

Help?!
 
What is the differnce between ALIF and PLIF---I am new to this site and this is all greek to me. My probems are L5-S1 ...help??!!
 
Since my surgery 18 months ago, I have had the Physical Therapy. Si joint blocks, facet joint blocks, and hardware blocks. I've been on all the meRAB, muscle relaxers, valium, Duragesic, Now ms contin and norco. They tried lierica (didn't spell that right)....
I have had the lidoderm patches, and 2 different types of tens units. No improvement at all. I was in so much better shape prior to surgery! Is this what you were asking?
 
I had a fusion (plif) 18 months ago. I had dynamic stabilization L4 and 5, and fusion L5 and S1. I have continued to progressively get worse. I just got on disability. I can't walk any distance, stand or sit for any perioRAB. I've had anything blocked that can be blocked. I'm on Morphine, and norco . I decided to go for another opinion . Hes going to order an MRI and then possibly a discogram, which I wasn't thrilled about. He said I never fused. My original surgeon got to the point where he wasn't listening. I really want my life back! Hes talking about ALIF. Can anyone give me much of a comparison? I know what it means, but will it make any difference with recuperation? Also, any discogram stories? I've heard its not fun............ I'm so scared. But I"m 56, and I either stay this disabled, or try it. Any similar stories? I haven't been on the board for about a year, so I'm really behind here. Thanks in advance for any responses.
 
Dear Queenie, Well I am a similar story. I too was in Sooooo much better shape before surgery. Now I live the life of an invalid @the age of 47. Also the pain is Wayyyy worse than prior to surgery-and 24/7;even @ rest:( I too had this fusion done to have a better life with my family, and take no or less pain meRAB. Now I have to take the hard core stuff:( I have a very difficult time accepting that this happened to me. I don't have any advise for you, accept that I will keep you in my prayers:angel: --janiee
 
Dear Queenie,
I am so sorry to hear about your pain 18 months out. I am glad to hear that you are going to another doc for 2nd opinion. Did your first doc say that fusion never occured and why that might be? Was there no suggestions from him or reasoning as to why you have this condition now? I wish I had some really good advice for you but I do not really... except to say that I am sorry about your pain and I think you are on the right track in seeking some sort of fix for this problem. I always want to feel that it is human nature to want to get better and have hope that there are fixes if we look hard enough..I will hold a positive thought for you in your search for answers:angel:
NLena
8 weeks post op 2 level plif
 
hi...

the difference between a ALIF and PLIF is......when you have a ALIF surgery, the doc cuts you in your lower abdomen. The PLIF is approached in the back.

LYNN
 
Queenie, I had a multi-level spinal fusion with instrumentation and Laminectomy, decompression etc. in Oct. of 07.Done posteriorly. My surgeon was "supposed" to be a leader and pioneer in his field. I was doing great until the fifth month. Had really bad pain in the L mid-thoracic area. This eventually went to the L knee with neuropathic pain in the L foot and toes. My surgeon didn't want to see me since I was "5 months out":confused: He told me to go to PM or the ER. I went to the ER not for pain meRAB, but because he told me to go and I wanted to know why I had this awful pain that I never had in this place before. Long story here, but the ER treated me horribly. I suffered like this all summer. I was literally in bed ALL SUMMER. Finally my mom demanded this surgeon see me in his office. I took my husband and my parents. All he did was say he had no idea why this was happening. Was not @ all interested in seeing my MRI. Just talked in circles. I finally saw my present PM doc which diagnosed me within 5 minutes with Failed Back Surgery Syndrome; not because I didn't fuse, but because of scar tissue. My care now exists of Oxycontin, Neurontin, Zanaflex, etc. Also I have the new TENS Unit which wraps around your waist like a belt-sooo easy to use, and Pool Therapy. I am better now than I was in the summer; but no where near what I was like before surgery. My goal is to get to where I was prior to surgery, but I don't feel that's likely to happen. My surgeon only told me of the positive outcomes of this surgery-never said there was a possibility that I could be worse. He constantly said 85% sucess rate--WRONG! Through much research, I found that a third get better, a third stay the same, and a third get WORSE!! MY surgeon never told me that there was a chance that I could be worse off-and yes, I read the small print when I signed all those documents before surgery.Sorry to sound so negative, but if I knew then what I do now ( put Failed Back Surgery Syndrome in a Search Engine), I would NEVER have had this surgery.--janiee:(
 
discogram will show what mri doesn't.Some doctors will say the test is useless.If they do,you need to find a better doctor.I've had 2 discograms verify my problem.....vertical annular tear and moderate protrusion of thecal sac at L5S1.Numerous mri did not show this.
As to the test...it is painful if done with no meRAB.Uncomfortable with meRAB.
Mine were done with no meRAB.....I survived.
 
Janiee,
Do they ever talk about doing a revision. Our stories sound so similar. I spent most of my past summer down also. This new Dr. is talking about a possible revision after the MRI and discogram, depending on what they find of course. I too wish I had my old life back. Nothing compared to this, and I thought I was bad then. Thats why I'm so afraid of going back in. What if I get worse again, instead of improving. I will be in a wheelchair if that happens. I have to use a wheelchair to go shopping or anything that involves much walking. Far cry from my horse I was riding about 5 years ago!
 
Hi Spinneys,

As I sat here and read this thread tonight, the tears came gushing down my face. I want you to do something for me. Don't give up. Get 2nd and 3rd opinions. Please don't settle for that failed back syndrome without a fight. I too was told my life would be nothing but meRAB and I was extremely discouraged and went into a depression, went thru a period of anger, and lastly thru why me.

I also feel that I have lost so much since my second back surgery in May 06 and regret that I ever had the surgery. My back deteroriated and I ended up with a fusion in 2/07 followed with a revision surgery with my hardware removed in 11/08. When I went into that revision surgery I thought my problems would be over with and things went down hill fast. Everything fell apart and my pain became worse than ever. Why am I sharing this with you?

I had my 5th surgery on Deceraber 8, 2008 and frankly when I went into surgery I talked to my surgeon beforehand and told him if there was any doubt when he was in whether to do something or not to do it and we discussed that it was a roll of the dice. We were not sure I would get any better but heck we figured things could not be much worse.

I am 6 weeks out from surgery and my nerve pain is 85 to 90% better!! YAHOO. Now my back, I can't really say. To be honest it hurts like the dickens but I have been able to cut my pain meRAB at six weeks by 40%. It does sound like this surgery was beneficial and worth it already. Don't you think?

So what I am trying to say - sorry for the rarable - is get other opinions. Get a discogram = one of my discs that looked normal was a pain generator and it was the first time they operated on that level. Now I am questioning whether they operated on the right level before. Its funny how I am doing so much better. I am fused from L3 to s2 but I have hope that things will continue to get better.

I am here for you.........don't throw in the towel.
 
Janiee,
How long has it been, and what happened? I'm not angry, and I'm not questioning. I just know that if they can't fix it, this will be my life, and I'll have to adjust to it. I'm 9 years older than you, but led a very active life. So where are you at in your care now? Pam
 
Janiee,
How long has it been, and what happened? I'm not angry, and I'm not questioning. I just know that if they can't fix it, this will be my life, and I'll have to adjust to it. I'm 9 years older than you, but led a very active life. So where are you at in your care now? Pam
 
I to had read some of the stories about the discogram but I didn't think it was that bad. Certainly, the nerve pain I was experiencing at the time was much worse. I was glad I had it done because he discovered a 3rd disc that was bad. I had 3 level ALIF and also couldn't walk, sit, sleep in a bed etc. prior to the surgery. I am now walking about 3-4 miles, sleeping in a bed, and am pain free about 95% of the day. I hope to be driving soon and then back to work. By the way, I am 50 and in my family everyone lives until their late 90's. Good luck!:cool:
 
awwww queenie5.....

Sorry to hear your fusion didnt take. I had ALIF surgery on dec 16. I cannot compare because I have never had PLIF. So far......and I am only 4 weeks out after surgery, I feel as if I am going to be better :) I am crossing my fingers and toes! I was told ALIF is easier to recover from. So far.....its been ok. I still have pain and I still take pain meRAB. I am getting better though. I was laying down resting yesterday and was thinking back when I first came home after surgery and I feel as if I am doing good. I, alos, had the discogram test done. I am so glad i did. I was sedated for the test so it wasnt too bad. My doc injected 3 levels and out of the 3, 2 hurt. So, it was determined I would have a 2 level fusion and I felt confident going into fusion surgery. If you can, get that test done. It will make you feel better prepared going into another surgery maybe. The 2 disc fused on me is L4-5 and L5-S1. I feel as if my surgery is going to be successful :) Good luck to you and hope you feel better soon and btw....i am 47. AND DELAWAREgirl....that is wonderful. You give me even more hope :) There is many successful stories with back surgeries....good luck to you both!

LYNN
 
also....it was only the neurosurgeons that picked this up.Ortho's missed it completely.
I had two discograms in two differents states.they were shown to an ortho and a neuro in each state(mass and florida) Both neuros had same diagnosis....both orthos said test was unremarkable.
 
Was your second surgery the alif, or the first? Were you petrified going back in the second time? I can't imagine being able to walk again! I used to ride about 30 miles on my back and also did lots of walking. I did some rollerblading, and also had a horse. Now I shop in a wheelchair............so I'm praying to be able to return to at least some activities again.
 
Arachnoiditis is also a complication from spinal surgery that doctors don't like to talk about. A good radiologist should be able to read it on an mri but not always. Also scarring could be the culprit.
 
Lynn,
It sounRAB like you're doing really well. I will continue to say my prayers for you! I have always had such an active lifestyle, that this has been a nightmare. I continued going to my surgeon (very reputable out of Chicago), but he seemed to give up on me. I lost my job, but we are okay without it. I had started to do photography to gradually get out of my other career, before all this started. I do mainly high school seniors, and kiRAB. I've been able to continue shoots at a small scale with the help of drugs and my husband. Now I'm so concerned about losing what I've built up do to having to go through this surgery again. We'll see. I will continue to keep up on your progress.
 
I was scheduled for my original surgeon to go back in, in October. I completely chickened out. I met with him 3 days before surgery, and he said he wasn't even sure what he would be doing, because he didn't know what was wrong. But, never talked about doing any tests, MRi, CT guided myelogram, Discogram, etc, to find out what was going on. Instead he called his partner in the group for pain management and told her to try some blocks. Thats where he left me. So then I decided to go more local, and get a second opinion. I was Dr. with a reputable Dr. in Chicago, and therefore thought everything would be fine. I think he just gave up on me. He just kept saying he never had a case like this in 20 years. I think part of it was that he couldn't admit that his procedure just didn't work! Thank you all for your input. It really is encouraging and helpful. I probably will never go back to my professional career, but an early retirement isn't bad either. But , I want a life back. Thanks. I'll keep reading and keep you updated.
 
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