Follow up from last week (discogram)

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queenie5

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I went for my follow up after my MRI. I'm post op 18 months with severe continuing pain. etc etc. He said I failed to fuse with BMP. This was my second opinion. The original Dr. didn't mention much about not fusing, but was going to go back in and fuse 4-5, and 5-S1, without hardware.
This Dr wants to go in through the front, and the back. He said he will use BMP and my bone. I'm a non smoker. He said its unusal with BMP, not to fuse. I'm wondering if I should even do this if theres a chance of not fusing again. But QOL, and Pain is horrible. Do some people never fuse? What do they do then. Do the discs just collapse? I can' go on like this, but I also don't know if I can bring myself to go back to surgery again. Help!!
 
I know with the surgery he is talking about(360 front/back) has a better than 90% success rate....I went in today to see if I possibly had any fusion and didnt but Im only 8 weeks post op.....he is very confident I will fuse....Im posting to give good feedback on my two level lurabar 360.....I never had much for restrictions...it is a tough recovery but I love my results at this point....it went very fast...just today the doc said for me to do as I wish and its only been 8 weeks!....research the term alif/plif or 360 lurabar fusion....lots of positive.

I used the bone bank w BMP....I dont see any positive using your own hip bone.

Good luck,
Devon
 
Can you tell me a little bit more about your hospital experience, and pain management, etc. etc............ I went through a 2 level fusion, but since they're going in front and back I'm sure its going to be tough.
 
Well... I've talked to a few who have had a 360 done and they are happy with it...Aside of my complications (not common) I am extremely happy with the 360 because of the strength it has to hold you together...not likely you will even need a brace...I have an incision of 7" on the front and 8" on the back....I never even had pain from the back...but the front is another story....Its very hard to get around for the first two weeks....the first steps out of the hospital bed are very hard as well, where as I dont think its as bad with just the front or just the back...not to make light of them...your just dealing with two surgery sites and feel reall unstable....

I had no PT!....I had no brace!....and at 8 weeks all my restrictions are lifted....Im off all meRAB with the exception of an occassional pain pill...so I'm living life like nothing happend 8 weeks post-op ....I do have some soreness if I try to find it or even really do something out of the norm....The hospital took very good care of me and managed my pain really good....I had some trouble getting in and out of bed....the staff was awesome!

They get you walking really quick....My surgery was supposed to be done all at one time (5 hrs)but because of some problems they did it in 3 hrs and waited a day then did another 2 or 3 hrs....that was kind of hard but I dont know that one 5 hr surgery would have had me doing any better.

I would guess since you've already had the surgey once you have a good grip on what to expect....I tolerate pain very well and although this was painful it's not to bad.

They told me I could be in the hospital for 5 to 9 days with this surgery....I would have been out in 4 had I had no complications. They sent me home with Percocets and Somas.....I only used 60/100 tablets on the Percocets and maybe 7/30 Somas...I still have a hard time putting my shoes/socks on but I manage....any more questions just ask and I will try to help you figure it out.

Devon
 
Hi Queenie - I too had surgery 18 months ago, an ALIF with removing L4 L5 replacing with titanium discs with BMP and fusion. I was in surgery for 6 hours, hospital 10 days, and rehab center for 4 weeks. Since I had the surgery I am in worse pain, the pain is in the buttock and goes down my leg. I am on lots of meRAB but still suffer in pain, I cannot sit for more than 10 -15 minutes, standing and walking is no better. I'v had PT, epidural inj, trigger point inj, accupunture and more that I can't even remeraber. My surgeron does not know why I still have pain, I don't think he believes me! He wants me to have a myelogram now...it just goes on and on...I don't know what to do..at this point I do not want any more surgeries, I have had 3 so far. I know what you are going through...your experience sounRAB alot like what I have been through.

Marie
 
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