Finally going to have surgery

[Precious55]

I am a 59 year young female and I have Osteopenia. I have a blown L4, and herniated discs at L3, & L5. The Dr. is doing a Posterior fusion on June 29th. Has anyone had this kind of surgery done, that maybe had Osteoporosis, and how did it turn out? I haven't worked in 6 months because of severe pain in these areas. I have lots more questions. It's going to be a 3 level fusion.

 

[ibake&pray]

i started my surgeries with a 3-level fusion. But mine was a 360...the doc went in from the front and the back. My first surgery was suppose to be 3-5 hours,..it ended up being 8 because there was so much more wrong once he opened me up.

Go ahead and ask away. Checkout the sticky notes at the top of the board for some really good suggtions about after the surgery..

 

[kyma3]

:wave: Precious I had L5/S1 360 fusion done in January & March 2008 (my doctor will only do one side at a time). I am 61 years old. The March surgery should have been done a couple weeeks after the first part but I got an infection and had to keep putting the final phase of the surgery off. I have severe osteoporosis and I can tell you that my doctor did put an extra screw in the middle of my lower spine to hopefully help in the fusing. I am waiting to hear back from my Neurosurgeons's office in regarRAB to the fusing. I think I was told by him back in Noveraber 2009 that I had not fused but I am trying to find out from the nurse or PA is I heard right.

They are wanting me to get the Spinal Cord Simulator because I am having terrible groin pain on the left side which was always my problem side. They are waiting to get an approval from my insurance but I am also taking physical therapy at this time. Unfortunately the therapist put me on a new piece of equipment Friday and I have been paying with sciatic inflammed. I finish on Friday and I have to admit the therapy has NOT helped at all. I am still not sure about the SCS but they know that I am very discouraged at this time so they said they would be willing for me to give it a try.

Just because I didn't fuse doesn't mean you will have the same outcome. I did get some relief from the surgery but not as much as I had hoped for. I have had 3 cervical surgeries (last one January 2010) and the one lurabar surgery. I quit smoking 6 months before my lurabar fusion because I knew I had to do anything that would help my recovery.

I wish you good luck with your surgery and it will help you feel better.

Linda:angel: