fusion (L4-S1) and doctor did not say back brace

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Tim45

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I had the anterior/posterior L-5 / S-1 back surgery fusion with decompression on 6/2/10. I received my back brace in the hospital, the hospital/surgeon made arrangements for the medical supply company to fit and deliver the back brace to me at the hospital, I also didn't get my bone stimulator until 3 weeks after the surgery. I was in the hospital four days, the physical therapist at the hospital had me to walk one small lap around the nurses station the same day of the surgery, I had a self medicated pain management pump(morphine) for the 1st three days along with doses of my regular pain medication (hydrocodone). Also the hospital will have you wear air pumps around your calves while in the hospital to reduce the risks of blood clots in your legs. I experienced a lot of severe pain for two weeks after the surgery. My surgeon advised me to wait until my two week post-op follow visit with him before riding in a car. I was advised not to drive for the
1st four weeks after the surgery and to only drive or ride in a car for no more than two hours per day. The most difficult task for you will be going to the bathroom, make sure you purchase a three in one potty chair for around $60.00 from a local medical supply store before your surgery to use at home. This potty chair is about 3" higher than a standard residential toilet and the chair will sit directly above your existing toilet. I joined this message board today and as you can see from my own posting earlier today, I am still having problems with lower back pain and I now have pain in both legs that is now
3x worse than before. After my back fusion surgery I also discovered that additional strain is placed on the vertabrae/disks below and above the fused area and that this will require those vertabrae/disks to be operated on in about 10 years, my surgeon confirmed this for me when I asked him about this during my 2nd post-op visit on 8/11/10. I also discovered that scar tissue can form around the nerves due to the surgery and compress the nerves and cause more nerve damage than prior to the surgery. Also if the surgeon has to re-operate in the same area due to failed back surgery syndrome symptoms, there is only a 10% chance of a successful re-sugery to correct any problems that might arise due to the original surgery.
I urge you to spend a lot of time researching this surgery like I did online before your operation. Just remeraber that each person handles pain and recovers at different paces and levels, your pain will never go away completely, it may become more manageable, or it could be worse like my pain level. My surgeon billed my insurance company $59,995.00 for my surgery. In my oppinion, a surgeon will try to give you limited information on what to really expect after the surgery or they would lose out on the mega bucks they charge for the surgery.
Good luck, I hope everything goes well for you.
Tim W
 
Thank you Kelliew, I had C3,C4,C5 fusion March 09 no bone grafting just ended up roRAB and screws and was released after 28 hours and had no brace during recovery. I took some meRAB. while recovering but was able to do anything the next day and felt pretty good just had to try to not use neck for 6 weeks. This sounRAB allot more major this time, roRAB and screws again in backside but going through front and removing 2 disc and replacing with cadaver bone. He said no cage that my weight will hold the new bone in place while fusing. I will try to get up and walk as muck as I can stand as soon as possible and hope for best. I hope you recovered well. Thank you Chris
 
Gud luck with the surgery Indychris. I had discectomy and fusion L4-L5, on 28 June 2010. I have two screws in my spine. I went to ICU for 2 nights on the third day I was transferred back to the ward. Know that immediately after the op its over. I said goodbye to backpain the time I was put in to theatre. That was the last time I felt pain. The recovery process is painful because of the stitches. I stayed in hospital for 10 days. I did not sit down for six weeks. I wore brace two days after the op until this morning when my doctor told me to take it off permanently. My life is back to normal. Go for it you will not regret
 
I am having (L4- S1) fusion on the 23rd of this month and not looking forward to it, I here it is painful. Surgeon said I will be in hospital 4 days but he didn't say I would need to use back brace after released. Is that possible? I also want to know if I will be able to ride in car 30 min. and how long I can take walks. I need to make it to an interview on Oct. 4th, 7 days after I am released from hospital.
 
HI i had L5S1 fusion on feb 16th and did not have a back brace I also was in hospital 4 days. If the hospital is 30 min away from your home you will have to deal with the ride but doing that long of a ride right after surgery will be rough walking is very good but you will be the one to see how long you will be able to go i just walked around the house in a circle and went back to bed, im not sure about making it to an interview 7 days after you are relesed i guess it just depenRAB on how you dela with the pain and i dont mean to make it sound really bad but it if very rough recovery, i hope you do can make it to your interview, good luck. Kellie
 
Let's not forget that many of these surgeons also invest heavily in the same hardware that they put into us as well. I'm not begrudging anyone's income; just something to think about. My hospital bill was well over $200,000 by the way:eek:....janiee
 
My surgeon preferred a back brace and personally I do as well. I wanted to be sure to keep the correct posture. I will tell you that his office called me only about 10 days prior to surgery to refer me for fitting of the brace. Call their office and ask if you can speak to his nurse or medical assistant.

I couldn't even imagine doing anything but laying around for the first 8 weeks or so with two or 3 time a day of sitting upright for a meal. I was on strong pain meRAB especially the first month and my 4 day hospital stay became 7. What type of interview?
 
A toilet seat riser is key. Most major pharmacies sell these at $25-$50 and they raise seat height 3-5 inches.

Although surgeons bill the insurance company a lot, in the end they get far less than you'd expect and there's continual negotiation between the surgeon's office and the insurance company. I think all bills from my surgeon to the insurance company have just been finalized from by February surgery. In talking to his medical biller she said this is common. The surgery is approved but then every individual line item is debated.

When it's all done, if you have on-line access to your health insurance run a report of all your claims. You'll see "amount billed" and columns such as amount covered, patient responsibility amount, etc. I can see that my surgeon with the insurance company got less than half of what was billed. This is also common as when he agreed to be a surgeon under this ins. co. he agreed to accept contracted amounts.
 
Wow Did your insurance cover the $200,000 or are you able to pay that much money out? I suppose my surgery will be fairly expensive also but the government here pays the doctor a curtain pre-determined amount and it is up to the surgeon and anaesthetist if they except that fee or if they want so much more called the gap. My private insurance picks up a percentage and they cover the hospital fee. So my concern is the gap but as I chose the doctor I expect a payment above the cover. I am lucky to have a great brother who only wants me well as he has not seen me well in over 10 years.

I wonder about the things everyone talks about and wonder how it will be for me and I believe that all the requirements I need will be supplied or at least I imagine that if I need a soft brace or a bone growth stimulator that it will be given to me by the doctor. I am happy though that I am at least partly prepared. The biggest concern is the success of the surgery and how well I will be able to walk and how much pain I will be in. As I live with my disabled niece I don't have much help. I do try to remain positive but My life has been very down for a long time. I really hope I am one of the success stories to come here and help others. Thanks for all the info.
Allan
 
Picnica, Wow that is amazing. I hope I get that lucky. I can't wait but I am still not looking forward to pain after surgery. Wish the best for you and thanks for the reply and for for being a teacher I hope it is rewarding for you. Chris
 
SpineAZ, Scarry! I hope you are doing fine now. My surgeon did not talk about the stimulator. Was that something you wore? I hope you are doing fine now and don't ever need any more surgery. Good luck Chris
 
The doctor put a Velcro brace on me before leaving the surgery center. I must wear it for 120 days after surgery. I did make the first post op appointment at seven days. I also went back to work after 2 weeks. I am tired when I get home, but I last the day at work. Better than before surgery. I am a teacher so it's not too labor involved. I am glad I finally gave in to fuse the back. I started walking about day 4 1/3 of a mile. I can do about 3 miles now. (1 month today)
 
I am going to be at 6 weeks I know he will be doing an x-ray. I guess that determines if I need a bone stimulator or not.
I'd like to ask Spine if you can feel the bone fusion taking place? It seems kinda weird but, I can feel the bones going together and was just wondering if you felt it too?
 
I know I wouldn't feel the fusion at the cellular level. lol I didn't have screws put in but a clamp on the spinous process. Between L-4 L-5 and S1. Each spot bone was put in so it was bone to bone. I no longer feel the clamp holding things together because early on,I felt the clamp holding the spinous processes together. (nothing is weirder than standing for the first time) It now feel much different. I guess with the screws it feels much different. I have very little swelling but there is swelling. I am missing Celebrex big time. As the hurricane passed by the barometric pressure was 29.57" of hg I was completely immobile.
 
You wouldn't feel the fusion process. It's done at the cellular level and we can't sense or feel when two or more cells join or fuse. Although you may feel pain at the fusion area as part of the healing, often that are is inflamed as it heals (this is why NSAIRAB like advil, aleve, and aspirin are discouraged since inflammation is needed for fusion). With my lurabar fusion sometimes I feel acute pain at the site of the hardware. My orthopedic spine surgeon said this is normal and is some inflammation at that site as the bone continues to heal around the screws. So I'm feeling some pain related to the surgery but not feeling the fusion process.


For my lurabar fusion this year I received my bone growth stimulator at 3 weeks post-op. The rep from the company to supply it called me, scheduled a time to come to my home, brought the unit and explained to my hubby and I how to use it. Then I contacted her with any questions or if I needed more supplies.

When I had my ACDF in 2006 I had the bone growth stimulator before my surgery. The rep called, came to my office to give me the BGS unit and instructions, etc. I liked getting it before as I wasn't yet heavily medicated and in pain so I was clear on instructions, etc.
 
Allan, At the time, I had great (but expensive insurance), and they paid for more than 85% of it. I was in the hospital for ten days due to pulmonary eraboli. So, I was there longer than usual. After my surgery, my premiums got increasingly higher each couple months or so ; over $2300 dollars a month just for me-this does not include dental, eye care and psych. It was as if they were "paying me back" for having to pay for the surgery. As you probably know, here in the states, we have problems with the health care and insurance issues. A new insurance agent told us of a cheaper insurance company which I did change to,however, you do get what you pay for. This insurance agent (who seemed very bright), did say that using your insurance too much and your age can contribute to increasing your monthly rates.....janiee
 
I should add that my surgoen prescribes a bone growth stimulator to beworn the first 6 month to enhance fusion.
 
Thanks Tim, sounRAB like you have had a bad time. My surgeon also told me that in the last year he has had three of his patients end up with foot drop and 1 in 25 had ended up with reverse ejaculation. How much pain were you in that made you decide on your having surgery and for how long? right now I need to take 4-6 5/500 vicodin a day just so I can walk and move around 4 to 6 hrs a day.
 
I'm sorry the government don't have better control over the insurance companies as they have here. They are strictly watched and have to go to the government for any increase in prices which has to go through Canberra our Capital city and centre of federal politics. So though I am penalised because I didn't join a health insurance company by age 32 by 2% every year until I joined. That makes it 38% extra it is still only $190 a month for just me because we are subsidised 30%. As I have said though the end cost is governed by the doctors fees and how much over the government recommended fee he charges. It can be several thousand as his fee is not governed. The better doctor will naturally charge more. Thankfully my surgeon(who is at a very popular surgery of three neurosurgeons) has told me he will help me by keeping his fee lower than he would normally charge say a compensation claim. That would be covered by Work Cover a mandatory insurance paid by employer's also governed. So we have a lot of medical support here.
Sorry to go on but I like for you to understand the Australian system.
Allan
 
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