18 Weeks Post-Op Spinal Fusion Surgery

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DAJ819

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I am 18 weeks post-op from a 2-level (L4/L5) spinal fusion surgery. At 11 weeks I showed very little bone formation and now at 18 weeks the same thing (according to my recent x-ray report). I'm getting a little anxious about not being fused. I go to the dr. on tomorrow with my x-rays for a check-up. I also found out in early July that my Vitamin D levels were low (either 10 or 14) and have since been put on Vitamin D supplements that I take once a week. I know Vitamin D is essential for bone formation, but I'm still worried that I won't fuse and if I don't, will I have to have a re-do?

Also, I'm taking 600 mg of Neurontin a day, but am still experiencing some leg pain and nurabness -- especially in my right leg (my left leg is much better). My right ankle and foot stay nurab all the time -- the only thing that changes is the degree of nurabness. I'm also still experiencing occasional sciatic pain as well.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thank you.
 
Hi DAJ!
Bone growth doesn't usually even begin to show up until at least 3 months, and for many people it takes much longer than that. I wouldn't be anxious about it at this point. You're still within "normal" limits.

I was also found to have low vitamin D levels, but I fused just fine. I took a bolus of vitamin D once a week for three months and was retested. My levels had become normal, and now I take a multi vitamin with 800 mg of vitamin D everyday to keep it where it should be. I wonder if the low vitamin D level was why I had early onset of osteoporosis. I took calcium for years, knowing that I was high risk, but I guess it wasn't being absorbed.

It can take a long time for nerve damage to heal, but you should certainly mention your leg and foot nurabness to your doctor. I'm sure that's worrisome to you, too. You have this big surgery hoping to come out with less pain and get a good fusion going, but it's not so fast and easy.

Are you able to walk much with the nurabness? That's the best way to stimulate bone growth. Even if you have to use a walker, walk as much as you can tolerate. It can only help you.

I wish you the best. Keep hanging in there, and please let us know how you're doing.

Emily :wave:
 
Thanks for the comments and concern -- it really helps.

Pain-wise, I'm so much better then before surgery -- so even though I have not shown a solid fusion yet, yes, the surgery was well worth it. Although if you had asked me that during the first few weeks I would have said "what in the world have I gotten myself into!" I came home from the hospital in an arabulance and for several weeks could only walk with the aid of a walker. After that I progressed to using a cane for several months and now I don't even have to use the cane. My pain levels prior to surgery were off the chart and I had started losing feeling in my right leg and foot. After surgery I had nurabness in both legs and feet, but the left side has gotten so much better and I'm still working on the right leg. This surgery was actually my third back surgery, but my first fusion surgery -- the other two were laminectomies (L5/S1) and I had those in 2003 and 2006.

As for walking, I'm walking everyday and if not everyday, at least every other day, but I do find that the more I walk, the more nurabness I get, but I still do it anyway, because in the long run I know it will help.

As far as the Vitamin D -- yes I've heard that you can overload on vitamins, but my levels were way to low to ignore -- especially after the surgery -- my levels in June were either 10 or 14. I am on a prescription for Vitamin D and I think it's something like 50,000 per pill which is why I only take it once a week. I would check with your dr. before increasing any vitamins.

I'm going to hang in there and count my many blessing everyday. I'm not where I want to be, but then again I'm not where I was. ;)
 
Thanks DAJ and I hope you make a full recovery.

Going back to the Vitamin D....not sure I understand why one neeRAB a prescription. Can't you just buy the over-the-counter supplements from the drug store. I understand that 800 IU is what you should be taking per day to help with the fusing (how much help it provides, I guess t he jury is out but it can't hurt right?). I already get 400 IU from my daily multi vitamin and am now taking an extra 400 IU from a supplement. Am I doing good? Thanks. :)
 
I went to the dr. on Thursday and as I already knew, no fusion yet; I was kind of upset. My dr. said I should not be -- I'm still very early post-op. He said that some people show fusion at 3 months and some not until 6 months -- apparently I'm falling into the 6 month category. I've been home on leave from my job since the end of February and was hoping he would say I could go back to work at least part-time in Septeraber, but he says no -- not until he sees a solid fusion.

In one of my other post I talked about my Vitamin D deficiency. Yep, that deficiency is playing a part in my not showing a fusion yet. I've been on Vitamin D since the first week in July, so I guess it takes a while to build up. My dr. also added 1200 mg of calcium too.

So now we just wait on my body to do its thing. I'm a bit down, but trying really hard not to be -- I was so looking forward to getting back into my normal routine. My dr. wants me to continue with my walking and continue with the Neurontin and he said the nerve problems and nurabness that I'm experiencing will get better.

Thanks for letting me vent -- I don't know what I would do without these BoarRAB -- it helps to know that others are going thru or have gone thru the things I'm going thru.
 
Hi B2B,
800 IU's a day is great for vitamin D. The bolus is a prescription because it's such a high dose. You should not take that much unless your levels are extremely low. It's a once a week pill, 50,000 IU's, and is taken usually for 12 weeks. If you test again and are in normal range, then you should be able to take 800 a day and be fine.

Hope this helps.
Emily :wave:
 
Dont worry, its still very early. It was one thing on my mind was am I fusing am I fusing then one day I said. Okay Fused and still in pain OR Not fused and no pain? So really I then started concentrating on the less pain which was the main purpose of the fusion. When I went for my 12month x-ray, I actually forgot to ask nearly was I fused as the Neuro just looked at the x-ray and said yep fine, looks okay........... then I said oh... am i fused and he said there bone growth there ....... made no big deal about been fused. Okay we want to see fusion but more important we want to see less pain, as that was the whole reason for the surgery in the first place.

Just wondering how are you doing on the pain front? are you glad you went ahead with the surgery. I know it is early and you are still recovering and that can take 12months and longer.......... just wondering what stage you are at.

Round1
 
Question on the Vitamin D supplements....if there any danger in taking too much? In other worRAB, yes it may help accelerate the fusing process but does it create potential health problems elsewhere in the body? I am almost 5 weeks post L4-5 fusion and maybe I need to up my dosage of Vitamin D as well. Thanks.
 
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