360 Degree Lumbar Fusion at L3-L4, L4-L5, and L5-S1

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Devon07

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Hi Joe....

I also had this same surgery.....You wont be left without sufficient pain meRAB....this surgery is a big one and will call for helpful meRAB...my surgery was set for a one time deal but with some complications they did it in two surgeries with a day in between.....I used the bone bank and was happy for that because I hear so many say the bone graft site is just as painful as the surgery itself......all and all its worth it when you get a few weeks away from surgery....Ive learned everyone heals sooooo much different from others....so be patient and do what the doc says.....my biggest problem was while I was still in the hospital....once you get out it will get better....but slowly....also you will have good days and think its getting better pretty fast.


We are here for you! Good luck and you will be fine.

Devon
 
joe,
How are you? I'm going in on Wed for the same procedure, and pretty scared. I had a failed fusion 18 months ago.
 
Hello everyone! I just found this board, and I am scheduled to have the 360 Degree Lurabar Fusion at L3-L4, L4-L5, and L5-S1 surgery on 2/17/09. I am a little nervous, and I am starting to prepare my house and everything else for the surgery. I found the "sticky" on the main page, and I think that will be a very usefull list of items.

I am currently on Dilaudid 2mg every 6-8 hours, and that is barely working now, so I am a bit nervous that after the surgery the pain medications will not be as effective. While I completely trust my orthopedic surgeon, I am just nervous, and I thought reading the stories on this site, and getting additional feedback, that it might put some of my nervous energy at ease. LOL

My surgery will be performed in two passes. The first (2/17) will be to clean out the disk tissue and put in the cages. They will also be doing a bone graft from the hip. The very next day, the surgeon will put the roRAB and screws in my spine.

I have been told that this surgery will be nothing compared to the pain I felt after my laminectomy, and I am hoping that is just an overexaggeration!

Does anyone here have similar experiences and/or surgeries? Any additional information or feedback you can provide would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!!

Joe
 
I thought the pain level was significantly improved after the surgery than before it. The pain meRAB you take in the hospital are pretty strong. Have you communicated your concern to your doctor? :angel:
 
I talked with you guys a couple of weeks ago. I had my 360 done. They did the front on feb 25, and had to stop bacause I was bleeding too bad. So the waited two days and did the back on the 27th. So I'm 2 weeks post op today. The last 2 days have been miserable. Its nots my first surgery, but maybe I forgot how bad post op pain can be. Just a really bad 2 days, and I shouldn't even post when I get like that, because I'm really depressed today. I don't think they have me on enough meRAB post op. I was on so much for so long before surgery, and they knew it was a concern. Now they have me on 2 norco every 4 to 6 hours, but its just not cutting it. Sorry for whining. Plus there is always that fear did it work or not. I can't tell anything at this point. I had no leg pain initially so its all that low mid back pain. Ok...I'm done
 
Hi DelawareGirl!

I have communicated this to my doctor. He assured me that he will not leave me in pain. I am just nervous that I am going to move the wrong way, or lay in such a way that causes copious amounts of pain, and I am trying to avoid such things. :)
 
Hello everyone!

Sorry I haven't been able to login for a while. My surgery was posted from 2/17 to 3/10, as one of my surgeon's had another patient emergency.

So, I was released from the hospital yesterday. The first few days post-op were HELL. First off, they only ended up fusing L4-S1, and they put a "hinge" joint at the L3-L4. They said that would give me the best chance of success in current/future spine health, being only 29 years old. My surgery was only supposed to last four six hours, but ended up lasting almost 11 hours due to me being a "bigger guy" (I am 5'8" and 250lbs). Because of the extended surgical period, my body was repositioned several times, causing my right arm to be completely useless. Whenever I would try to get a drink, blow my nose, or anything else with that arm, I would end up smacking myself in the face pretty hard. Also, all I really wanted to do was sleep, but it seemed like every two hours, someone would come into my hospital room for vitals, PT, or something.

I will tell you this, my physical therapist was a beast, but I love her! She pushed me harder than anyone has ever done in my life, but if it weren't for her, I wouldn't have been released so soon. Her exact worRAB to me were, "The more you walk, the sooner you will heal." I believe she may have been speaking directly from God!

So, here I am. Almost at my one week post-op anniversary, and I have to say, it is not as bad as I had prepared myself for. I am very blessed to have the team of doctor's that I had, my nurses, and mostly for my family. I believe they have also been detrimental to the leaps and bounRAB that I have come to so far. Aside from the surgical pain (i.e., 50+ staples in the abdoment, two incisions in the back), I cannot feel any of the original pain I had just last week. My legs are taking on quit a bit of extra fluid, so the doctor had me get a pair of TED Hoses. Has anyone seen that happen after their surgeries? Any thoughts?

Well, I wish everyone well, and hope that those of you who are preparing for this surgery understand that it is not an easy surgery, but with faith and love, you will overcome it!

With love to you all,

Joe
 
Glad to see you are doing well. Would you mind sharing who your surgeon was? I've used Dr. C. Yeung in Phoenix for my neck but am looking for another option for my lurabar spine.
 
Joe, welcome back. Glad you're on the mend now!

Yes, the leg swelling is common. Keep wearing those TED stockings until you're moving around more or less normally. They help with the swelling and also help to prevent clots from inactivity.

Walk as much as you can tolerate, but be careful not to overdo it. And remeraber, no BLT's unless it's a sandwich! :D

Take care,
Emily
 
Hi Joey, and welcome to the board! I love this board! It was my lifeline during my recovery. There were a few people here who gave me a lot of encouragement and support and lots of good answers to my many, many questions.

I'm glad you found the sticky about post surgery tips. It has many excellent suggestions! Out of all the suggestions people gave me, the best one was to get a grabber tool. My grabber was worth what I paid for it the first day home from the hospital. Do spend the money to get a good one. Mine was $30 at my local pharmacy. I tried one called
 
Hi Joey i had this surgery they did all my surgery all at the same time it lasted 12 and a half hours but they are not the ones that did my first surgery so they had a mess to clean up in there. Emily told you about what i could think of i got the satin sheet idea from her it was the best thing and the grabber of course. Good luck!
 
Well, I'm 51/2 weeks post op. I still have most of the original back pain. Discouraged beyond belief, but hopefully I'm just expecting too much too soon. I don't see him again for 2 weeks. I keep hearing of people that had relief right away. I don't want to wish pain on anyone................but are there any of you that it took quite awhile before you noticed improvement. This was my revision 360 after a fusion 18 months ago.
 
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