8 weeks post op L4-5 fusion, aches all over

  • Thread starter Thread starter mznell
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The fusion IS good news. My doctor told me yesterday he doesn't expect to see signs of it yet, with the way he does his fusions. He only uses a small amount of bone, wrapped around sponges soaked in BMP and stuffed into the space between the vertebrae. He says the fusion is slower but he believes it's ultimately stronger. I'm going to take his word for it since his fellowship included the original research into BMP. So, my regular x-rays at this point is to make sure everything is still where it's supposed to be.

Oh yeah, a bit of good news. I see him again in 2 months and if everything still looks good I get to burn the brace!
 
Hi Richard,

I've had PMR a nuraber of years ago, and I had a PLIF at L4-5 in January. If I can answer any questions, let me know.

xx M:wave:M

P.S. It's pretty easy to diagnose PMR if the doc has a clue what he's looking for. Also, they can give you a dose of prednisone and the pain will clear up almost overnight, if it is PMR.
 
Hi Richard,

When you see your family doctor, ask him to test you for PMR. Most family doctors will not be looking for it...at least without some prompting. Also, it is much more common in women than men and is more common in the 60+ age group, so the doc will not be thinking PMR off the top of his head.

When I developed it I had been under a great deal of stress. I ached all over and became very stiff -- every joint in my body felt like it hurt. I can remeraber driving for an hour and then barely being able to unfold myself to get out of the car. Everything was painful. But, like I said, it can clear up almost overnight with the right steroid.... In my case, I suffered for 8 or 9 months before my internist decided to test me for it...and at that point, I'd NEVER heard of it!

I hope your family doc can help you and I hope it is something as easy to treat as is PMR!!

xx M:cool:M
 
Wow it was nice to be able to sleep for the first time in a week. I feel like a new person. Moral of this story folks, if you are recovering from major back surgery, in my case an L4-5 fusion and laminectomy (decompression) and you are doing well then suddenly things begin to tank, don't chalk it up to, "it's all part of the healing process" because it might not be. The "good days and bad days" cliche may not apply. I called my surgeon's nurse several times when the leg pain (week 8) suddgenly got much worse accompanied by arm, neck and shoulder pain. I was asked, "do you have feeling in your toes?" When I responded, affirmative, I was told to essentialy deal with it, it will get better, "your'se still healing." Well, it didn't get better and I ended up in the ER and being referred to a rheumatologist. My ER doc was smart enough to realize that some kind of autoimmune disease had kicked in when the MRI's of the head and neck, and EKG showed nothing. Within 24 hrs of taking the Pred. (thank you rheumatologist), virtually all my pain went away.

The older you get (I am a 58 year old male), the more risk of complications. My pain was off the charts at week 8. I should not have had to go through that.
 
I had the same surgery at the same level in January. I think what you are feeling is part and parcel of the recovery process. Frankly, at 8 weeks I was still mostly in bed and still on major pain meRAB. 10 weeks was a big turning point for me. But even so, I think you'll find that recovery is 2 steps forward and one step back. I think in part it is because when you feel better, it is a natural tendency to do more, and then your body rebels a little.

Since you are now back to work, be sure to make the most of your non-work time and really take it easy. Don't run erranRAB and take on other activities at this point. You really need to give your body a chance to heal and recover. Otherwise, you will be putting your outcome at risk...and I know you don't want to repeat all you've already been through!!
 
MM, thanks. I am going to start with my family doctor first to see if he can treat/diagnose. I really don't want to have to look for another doctor at this point. Suffice to say, I am all "doctored out." Yes, PLEASE tell me about PMR. The pain is really intense (in my knees, shoulders and upper arms) - especially in bed at night and upon waking. And I just can't rule out the fact that my back surgery somehow had something to do with triggering it. What say you?
 
I am SO glad you are out of pain! Now, results on all the tests will tell the tale...

Survived my first week back at work, but I'll be good and start a new thread about it.
 
With my limited medical knowledge, I think that's great you're responding to prednisone. When I had PMR, that's what happened. You respond immediately and the pain just kind of goes away. I don't remeraber all the details as it was about 7 years ago...but, anyway...so far, so good!!
 
Thank you as always MM. You are a valuable resource. But why would my neck hurt? Do all roaRAB lead to the L4-5?
 
The pain in my legs, shoulders and arms is like nothing I have ever experienced before. I saw a rheumatologist on Monday explaining that the ER doctor advised a follow-up with her immediately. I had a battery of blood work done (testing for all kinRAB of things include Lyme and PMR) and will have the results tomorrow. Just when I thought things were looking up. I can't sleep at night when the pain is at its worst and because I can't sleep it's impossible for me to go back to work (I was back for a while and now I am home again). What really concerns me though, if it the blood work comes out negative, I then have to look at my recent L4-5 fusion/laminectomy surgery as the cause. My surgeon based on the x-ray (lower back) he took in his office and the MRIs of the brain and neck, plus the EKG, chest x-ray etc showed no abnormalities. That would mean I would have to challenge him and that could get messy. I guess I am jumping the gun - I'll wait to get the results of the rheumatologist's blood work tomorrow.

MM, it does sound like I have all the symtoms of PMR. I'll know tomorrow.

For the sake of argument though, let's say the blood work comes up negative, how should I approach this with my back surgeon? Thanks.
 
I feel better today than I did yesterday. I am wondering...yesterday it was damp and rainy - could that have had an effect? Today it's sunny and hot and I feel better, still stiffness in the neck but I used the wife's neck pillow last night (surgical foam stuff) and I feel better. One thing I have learned from all this, is that you never know how you are going to feel tomorrow. Yeserday, I said no way can I go back to work on Monday. Now, I think I can do it.

I liked the construction project analogy. I think in my case it was more like drilling for oil (and they went deep_. Thank you MM.
 
Maybe tonight I'll be able to sleep for the first time in a week. Last night was the worst, the slighest movement of my arm or shoulder in bed was enough to send me through the roof. I have never experienced anything like this before, the kind of pain where you just shout, scream and moan. 'Amazing that after only one dosing of Prednisone, I feel so much better (kudos the ER doc who pointed me to a rheumatolgoist). I guess my age had something to do with it too - let's face it, at 58 you just don't bounce back from the surgery the way you did at 38.

More tests tomorrow, still no final diagnosis but everything points to an autoimmune disease that kicked-in from the stress of the L4-5 fusion, possibly lying dormant for a long time. This is one of the negatives about back fusion that folks need to know. Apparently others have had the same experience, albeit the exception - still you never know what to expect. Thanksl MM.
 
Good luck Paula. I am glad you are doing well. Somehow there should be link to this thread in the arthritis room. Certainly it should serve as a warning to recovering back back surgery patients that if something becomes seriously wrong, challenge your surgeon and his nurse and demand to be seen. Don't wait.
 
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