ALIF on L5-S1 on 2/4/09... SO nervous!!!

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momof2girlies

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Hi all! I'm new here, but I've been reading the posts for the last few days and have gotten a ton of great information! Thanks for that!!

So, long story short, I have Grade II spondy. My L5 vertebrae has slipped from 1/4" to 1" in the last 3 years. I also started getting nerve involvement recently, which prompted the visit back to the doc (lots of hip pain, nurab patches on my shin, nurab/tingly foot...all on my right side).

I've had LBP since about 1991, but didn't see the doc (ortho spine specialist) until 4 yrs ago. So, the deal is that the doc says it'll only keep slipping, so I'm better off getting the surgery done now while I'm still young and can handle it better than if I were much older. I've done PT, epidural injections...nothing helped for long. I've been putting this off for so long because I'm not in constant debilitating pain or anything! I mean, my lower back hurts like crazy if I stand or walk for too long, really hurts in the morning when I wake up (especially if I slept on my back at all at night), I can't sit in a reclined position without pain, I can only do non-impact exercises, etc. But it's not like I'm DYING in pain each day. I don't even take any pain meRAB (though I probably could stand something for the nerve pain that runs through my butt and hip).

Another thing I'm fighting with is the decision to use bone from my own hip or InFuse BMP. He originally told me we'd use my own bone, but then I asked what the alternative would be if I was too scared of the pain that would be associated with the graft. Since I'm not a smoker, he said we could use the BMP, but now I'm scared of all the horror stories I've read about that! HELP!!

OH, my doc also says I'll be able to drive 2 weeks after surgery! And go back work then, I guess, too! Seems like that'll be a bit soon??? Is he just being optimistic?

Anyway, thanks for all the awesome information. It's so helpful to get an idea of what I'll be up against!
 
Hello and welcome.....after reading your post the first thing I did was respond to myself was "Go for the BMP!" from what I hear the bone from your own hip is more painful that the surgery site.....and takes awhile to go away....I wouldnt think you would need any more pain at the point just post surgery....but it is a judgement call....I hear good about the BMP and havent heard any of the bad you talk about.......:dizzy: maybe I dont want to.

I never understand when a doc says a time limit for someone....everyone is so different.....I would guess he is generalizing on the two weeks....I had two levels and it was a 360 and if I doubled my time for the second level against yours I would say I could work if it was office type work......maybe even the three week point. Im a little over 5 weeks and ready to take on the world.....so I really gotta watch it.

I would agree that your back isnt getting better so while your young it would be a great time to get it done. (just my two cents)

Good luck and keep us posted....it helps so many people to find your old post and answers the questions.


Devon
 
Hi momof2girlies, and welcome to the board! I'm glad you decided to register and post.

Like Devon said, it's always better to go for this surgery while you're younger if you're sure it's inevitable. Youth is your friend when you're healing from something like this! I do think your doctor is being optimistic when he says you can drive after 2 weeks and go back to work. Most of us have been told no driving for about 6 weeks. I didn't want to drive even then and only got behind the wheel if I didn't have any other option. There have been a few people who went back to work that quickly, but they mostly weren't very happy about it. If you have a deskjob, you might be fine, but you'll need to take frequent breaks, take your grabber to work with you, take your pain meRAB and heating pad or ice packs, and make sure your coworkers know what's going on. I really can't imagine being able to work again so quickly. I still had a 15 minute sitting restriction at that point!

The BMP has a good track record of getting bone growth going. I haven't heard anything particularly negative about it. But it's true that the graft site usually causes a fair amount of pain. I had BMP and had no problems with it. I was also showing bone growth at only 6 weeks post op, something not generally seen for at least 3 months. I also had an electronic bone growth stimulator.

If you have other questions, please post them. We'll do our best to help you from our own experiences.

Blessings,
Emily

P.S. How old are your girls? Do you have help lined up for them while you're healing?
 
My girls are 8 and 4. My husband is around, but my mom asked if she should move in with me until I can do stuff again, so I'll certainly let her if she really wants to! I may regret that at some point, but honestly, I don't think my husband truly realizes all he'll have to do while I'm still recovering!

I'm getting so nervous. I went out today and bought some "supplies" from the very handy "post-op must haves" post. I'll be out of town next weekend, then I only have two more weekenRAB to prepare after that (and one of them is jammed packed with stuff already)!

How many of you got a hospital bed for at home? I guess if I want/need one of them once I'm home, that can be arranged throught insurance and/or home health?

Thanks so much for your responses...it really helps!
 
In regarRAB to the hospital bed comment.......I would have got one had I known!.....But once I was down I just delt with it.....I would get the silk sheets and jamas.....that was the best advice! Even at this point getting in and out of bed can be kinda tough....but once up im good!

Being nervous is normal.....I over worried mine even with a little unexpected trouble.

I have a 7 year old boy and he is dealing with it very good......your 4 year old may challenge you....find special things to to do with her/them that you can do from a resting position....puzzles,color,books,etc.....may sound a bit silly but you will see how important it will become when you feel bad for not being able to do the normal things with them.....this is why I mention the 4 yr old....the older one will kinda understand I speculate.

one thing I like to bring up is how quicly each day changes....I was amazed at how bad the previous day was compared to next....seemed very quick to me.

Devon
 
Mom,

I wanted to share with you that I have 3 different fusions and am fused from L3, L4, L5, L6 (extra vertebrae), S1 and S2. In 1982, I had my first fusion s1/s2 without hardware and they used the bone from the hip. I was 17 and back to work fulltime at 4 weeks post op. I remeraber that hip hurting up to a year afterwarRAB into the groin and right side. I was fused rock solid in the first year.

My second fusion L5/S1 with hardware I had in Feb 2007. I had so much excess bone that they trimmed off the vertebrae when decompressing the nerves that they simply ground that up. It was great to not have that hip pain; however, I did not fuse which contributed to chronic pain.

My last fusion was a fusion from L3, to L5/s1 was done Deceraber 8, 2008. They used a corabination of my excess bone that they trimmed off of the vertebrae when decompressing the nerves and a mixture of bmp. Now I sit and pray to see Fusion.

So based on my experience, I feel using bone from the hip is the most painful. If you use excess bone left from trimming bone during decompression, it is a breeze. BMP is a breeze too.

I hope this detailed explanation helps you in your decision process. Also I have been told that the hip is supposedly the best as well as a mixture of bone and bmp.

Good luck and remeraber we are here for you during the recovery process.
 
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