AlMOST 2 YRS POST OP AND A SUCCESS!!!!!!

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Baybreeze

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Hi Sheri, it's great to hear posts about success stories! Some people get scared b/c they read about all the complications & unsuccessful ones & think they are doomed for the same. SO it helps alot for others to read of someones's success, thank you! I hope you continue to do well.
 
Hello,
I will be 2 yrs post op next month from L4-S1 TLIF fusion for grade 2 spondy. I managed to get by 10 yrs before I went for surgery. I did o.k. at grade one for about 8 yrs. When I slipped to grade 2, my life started closing in on me. I couldnt cook, stand, sit, walk far or much of anything.

I was fully fused at 12 weeks post op and can honestly say that I am better than before surgery. I am not 100% pain free though. I do have some knee, and leg pain that is intensified with the cold/rainy weather. I currently am not taking any pain meRAB and have not since around 3 months post op.
I can stand, cook, vacuum, clean, mop, and other stuff that I was unable to do before surgery.

I do have different pains now than before, and still have to baby my back but my quality of life has greatly improved. I was sooo afraid of the surgery that I waited 10 years. I was diagnosed at 25 and had it done at 35. At this point I consider myself a success story.

I am crossing my fingers that my other levels will stay healthy as long as they possibly can, and that I continue to do well for many many years to come.
 
Hi Roy,
Yes, I did have my fusion by the Nebraska Spine Center Dr.Longley. I get the sciatica too, when it happens it is not fun but luckly, it goes away on its own. I am much better now than I was at one year. You have lots of ways to go still. Just temeraber, you have a great doc/team. Your back wont be perfect but should be better.

Just wanted to remind everyone that I was a grade 2 isthmic spondilolithesis with L-4 bulging also when I finally went in. I made it 8 years at grade one and carried 3 big babies too. Even my third baby didnt make me slip to grade 2
My point is, If you are a grade one, you may not slip for a very long time if ever.

I was given an 80%-90% sucess rate for my conditon. That really helps. Spondy is a mdchanical defect and when you stop the movement, the theory is you stop the pain. I know the sucess is not as good with DDD.

My advice to anyone considering a fusion is to know what your odRAB are on the outcome, research your doc with a microscope, and when you cant take it anymore, GO FOR IT!!!!!!!
 
Hi Sheri! Good to see you post again! SounRAB like you are doing well. Im not 100% either, but I too consider myself a success! I am 21+ months post op, but I was only given 50/50 odRAB of it helping me with my pain. I am 85% improved, with flares of varying degree and I have to be very careful what I do and know what not to do (most of the time).

Like you I am able to clean my house (though it takes forever), but I am able to get the job done. I can also garden again, which is my love. I dont lift or push anything that looks to weigh more than 15 pounRAB and continue to tell the grocers to pack my bags lightly when shopping. I figured why tempt fate of injuring myself further from lifting, since this is how I got into this mess into this mess in the first place (lifting heavy furniture, lol). The BF has to do all lifting stuff.

Wow.. off all meRAB! Awesome! Unlike yourself, I am still on medication that I take daily. I am now down to one 5/500 vicodin tab daily, and one skelaxin tab daily. And that I lowered myself down to just a month or so ago. And I am hoping to continue lowering them to nothing. It may not be possible with the aches I continue to have, but Im working toward that goal. If I have to continue with the meRAB as they are, Im okay with that.

Well it was great to hear a positive post from you and to hear from you in general!!! All the best to you!! Tammy
 
Sheri,
That is great to hear! It's good to post the success stories once in a while. I think sometimes we only see the severe problems people are continuing to have and it scared me prior to my daughter's surgery. My daughter must have had surgery just before you did. She's 2 1/2 years post op and she is also a success story for TLIF of L4 - S1. She has been water skiing, snow skiing and snowmobiling this past year, all with the blessings of her dr. She also had grade II spondy and stenosis but we only waited two years to do surgery, not ten like you. You must feel like a new person. I hope this great feeling continues for you!!!! cas
 
What an inspirational success story!! Thank you for posting a postive story and PRAISE THE LORD all has turned out well for you!! :angel:
 
Hi Sherri,
What a wonderful post. Gives everyone hope that they too will feel better someday! Are you able to work? Congratulations!

Deb
 
sheri42,

I was wondering what had happened to you; you have not posted in quite a while. I am almost a year out and will see Dr. Fuller on the 14th of next month and the Neb. Spine Center.

IF my memory is correct that is the same place that you doctor at for your spine. I was fused at 6 months and I am starting to get some sciatia and some other paines.

But I like you for the most part life is a lot better than it was before the surgery...

That is great that you are living the GOOD LIFE and things are working out for you.
roy47

:wave::wave:
 
Congratulations Sheri!

Always good to hear success stories! I'm hoping I can join you; my doctors seem happy, so Ill take that as a good sign!

Thanks,
-David
 
Hi Sheri,
That's fantastic! What a great post!

It sounRAB like you have a very realistic outlook on your back. I know people who expect those of us who have back surgery to be completely "normal" once we've recovered. But like you said, you need to baby your back and accept that there will always be some aches and pains at the very least. It's a rare back patient who never has any pain again. But our quality of life can be greatly bettered. You're there! Congratulations!

:) Emily
 
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