Can someone tell me how much pain your spinal fusion was -- really?

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It has been several years since my last surgeries [had two 7 days apart to repair two failed fusions] - had to remove discs from L3 to S1, add cages during the first surgery and remove existing hardware and replace with new. Essentially, I have had 3 lurabar fusions and even though it has been 3 years since the last one - I still remeraber the pain vividly - espescially as someone posted, when I woke up ... I had a real jerk for a nurse who refused to assist me. Anyway, I would not try to scare anyone - and it may not be a good idea reading about this kind of stuff. Pain is relative. I have had two very bad experiences - first one, nurse incorrectly hooked up the morphine pump and the medication just dumped out on my hospital gown. My point is - you need to make sure you have someone who is with you to look out for you and to make sure you get whatever you need ... WHEN YOU NEED IT. Sorry, I obviously still have some issues from all my surgeries and the intense pain. This is not a surgery that should be approached casually and certainly should not fall in to the elective category.
 
I had my surgery last Monday evening. Obviously it is much too early for me to say anything about an outcome...but I can comment on a couple other things. I think the most important thing is that you do your homework and know exactly what you are getting into -- at least as much as you can, barring any surprises. For the most part these surgeons have a "special" way of using the English language. You really have to do your homework in order to have realistic expectations of what the surgery will and will not accomplish.

So far my surgery has been fine. The pain has been controllable. I have been prepared; there have been no surprises. Who knows? I may hit a huge bump in the road any second now...but so far, so good. :cool:
 
Thank you all for such quick and honest resonses. I need to either cancel this surgery or feel like I'm making a good decision to go ahead. Last month, I was ready to hop on the table -- I was in so much pain. After three cortisone shots though, honestly I am feeling OK. My back is still screwed up -- severe stenosis, yada yada. I almost wish I felt worse as I am scheduled for surgery in two weeks!! Wondering if I should just live on the shots or wait until I feel like crap again.

Terri
 
Thank You. You confirmed the decision I made. I cancelled the surgery today and I feel like I have a new lease on life already. Actually the PA at the orthapedic center agreed with my decision as did my GP.
Terri
 
Keep in mind we all can have very different experiences with this surgery. I had my lurabar fusionL4-5) Nov.27,2006, the only thing that it has helped is the stability of my spine. I still have a lot of leg pain when I am active but now it is in both legs and not just my left leg, and still have to get the occasional epidural for back pain. My pain meRAB are stronger now than they were before surgery. That being said I might have waited to long to have surgery and maybe the nerve damage was already permanent. The biggest thing that I feel I wasn't prepared for was the pain you have when you wake up. On a scale of 1-10 it was a fifteen. It did calm done to a tolerable level after a couple of hours on the morphine pump. I hate to say this but I feel like I made the biggest mistake of my life. Again everyone is different and many people do go one to have a normal active life.
 
What holRAB it together is the *bone* used for the fusion, especially in shorter fusions. Hardware for larger levels is more of an aid to hold it together in the early months. The instrumentation over a year serves as no purpose in holding anything together.
 
I don't think I would have had the surgery if it was not absolutely necessary. The vertabra was slipped so it had to be done. If not for that I would have sucked up the pain and lived on. The surgery was rough and for the first few months I felt pretty good. About 4 or 5 months post op the pain started and has only gotten worse. I had no leg pain before surgery. There was nerve damage but it didn't hurt pre op. Now it is killing me. The surgery really changed my life forever. I had to retire at 43 years old because of the pain. So my financial life changed. I'm on a ton of meRAB. I don't blame the dr. Tests have shown that the hardware is exactly where it should be. It is fusing the right way. They think it is scar tissue. Not the doctor's fault. I'm just being honest. So just my personal opinion. I would just research it. Weigh the pros and cons. Go in to it informed. I was not as informed as I was with other surgeries. I don't know why.
 
I had a 3 level Fusion in April of 06 L3-4 L4-5 L5-S1. I was not able to sit for longer then 5 mins before my surgery. It took til Jan 07 before the pain was really gone. I went through HECK. Again not everyone has problems with their surgery. I know after my CT Scan a year later that i did not fuse correctly. I am not in SERIOUS pain, occasionally i hurt but i'm trying to put it off as long as possible. Don't know what the next steps are. and i don't want to find out yet till i have too.

The best advise i can tell you... make sure you do your exercise after the surgery. I can barely put my shoes on some days, because of the muscles in my legs.

I had to do the surgery and even though i am starting to feel pain again.. it was the best desicion i made.

Good luck and keep us posted :)
 
oh yes another thing,the other doctor who did my first surgery doesn't use hardware,so what the heck holRAB it together?just confused as usual:angel:
 
This board does help to have a few avenues to persue when we feel like crap!
I am passed the stage of last update in Deceraber. here goes.....
I have seen a new Dr. a " Neurosurgeon " She has been thoughtful, thorough and will listen carefully to my questions and answers them. Includes all body parts not just singles out my neck.
She /Dr S. determined from my new Deceraber MRI, that I have 2 bulging discs above and below the 18 yr old (anterior) fusion. I have bone on bone at base of neck.
I also have low back disc disease bulging disc, narrowing disc, that shows narrowing of the spinal canal which makes so much sense why I have pinching and nurabness and pins & needles, I now know I am not crazy.

Thanks, I listened to you guys at HealtrabroadoarRAB.com and found a new Dr. I persevered and it actually all fell into place beautifully. I got a new MRI and here I am. She ordered a epidural steroid injection that WOW'D me for 2 days straight. I am having another one on the 29th.
Pain is back but now I am considering a "intrathecal drug delivery system" by Medtronic. Pain pump. Using less meRAB and regulated properly I'd love to feel more human. I have heard many wonderful things about this. I was afraid of addiction but it is a viable source of help.
The point is, my new Dr has offered this for relief. She knows that surgery is in my future as do I and this would give me 10 years to work with. I would be using less meRAB and get more relief.
Anyone have any news on this?
 
Why don't you tell us a bit more about your situation? What are they planning on doing? What is your diagnosis? What have you tried other than surgery?
 
Hi Terri..I am an almost 2 year survivor of l4-l5 fusion with hardware. I will be totally honest with you. It was a LOT of pain and a long recovery, but sooooo worth it...would I do it again? Yes, in a heartbeat....hope this makes you fell better. SweetThing:D
 
It was much more involved then I thought it would be. Not just the pain but everything. Did not know about never bending again. Stuff like that. I don't ask alot of questions which is my downfall. I wish I found this website before my surgery. You get a lot of information. I have had many surgeries for different things and did not think the rehab was any longer. Just research it. Find out what you will need at home right after surgery. You know, stuff like that.
 
ok, reading this thread now has made me scared to death. Iknow that when I had my first fusion w/ Harrington rod at 13 was enough. Recovery and pain was lengthly but I got over it. But now that I am older I am totally terrified. I know I have to have this done and I will have this done (ALIF & PLIF) but y'all are talking 5-8 months of recovery. I don't have that much time. I need to get out of this house and go to work. I need something else to dwell on than this plus now that I don't have an income it's harder with the finances.

I would like the matter of fact, no holRAB barred truth on how much pain and what I am looking at as far as what to do when I get home from the hospital and do I need 24 hr care. I want to know everything down to the last minute. I have to be mentally prepared for this and right now I am not. I want to make sure I have all of my ducks in row as far as the house goes.

So if somebody wants to be frank about their situation I would love to hear it. Again it will help me get prepared and give me some control back before I pull out my hair.
 
Hi girl....I am a "young" 53 now, and doing a LOT more and feeling a LOT better than I did 2 years ago...actually I think I feel better than I have in a LOT of years....good luck! ST
 
Hello TerriZ ~ And congrats on reaching a decision. After you get this worked out, you might want to look for a specialist in Physical medicine (physiatrist) who specializes in spinal issues. If you aren't familiar, this is a specialist who puts together a treatment program for you, and tries a variety of treatments just short of surgery. They will provide another point of view that is not strictly based on surgery.

You now have time to make an informed decision without feeling pressured. You do not want to feel rushed into this major decision because it's something you'll have to live with for the rest of your life. (In the last 3 years, I've been to 8 specialists -- just had my fusion on the 7th and feel good about my decision as it was really well-considered!!

Continue to keep asking questions as you continue on learning about your back and the problems it's giving you.

Good luck to you on your journey!
 
Terri ~

It doesn't sound to me that you have explored all your options yet. It sounRAB like maybe you entered into surgery thinking it would be a fairly quick way to resolve your pain, and now you know that isn't always the case! Maybe you need to cancel your appointment for now and try some other options. As everyone said to me before I made my surgery, "you'll know when it is time."
 
I had a laminectomy in Feb 05 (L5-S1), and fusion w/hardware (L4-S1) Jun 06. I was in a hard brace for 12 weeks after and remeraber having some severe pain. It was slow healing and I was home from work for 12 weeks, and back to work slowly.

It was the best decision I could have made to go ahead with the spinal fusion. One year after, and strong bone growth around the fusion, I bought my horse. I've been working with him since May of 07 - it's been great! Good luck to you. It's worked out very well for me. I take Topamax still for nerve damage to one foot, but it's not slowing me down.

:cool: I wish everyone could have the results I've had.
 
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