Having L4-S1 anterior/posterior revision

  • Thread starter Thread starter kdk819
  • Start date Start date
K

kdk819

Guest
Hi everyone. Thanks again for your responses. Really bad bad day today. Its been raining here in NY all day. I felt like jumping off the roof! Only one problem, I probably couldn't clirab up there.lol. I'm also paying the price for being out most of the day, for my daughters b-day. Needless to say I've been in lala land most of the day. My doctor is hoping to get me on the schedule for Septeraber, but of course I do have to wait for workers comp to give authorization. Linda I give you credit for all you are going through. Brave lady. I do hope I'll be okay this time round, at least to be able to function somewhat. Everythings a chore. tmvincent. I think you are getting nausea from your headaches. SounRAB like migranes. I get them as well. They started happening from my spinal leak, so I have furinol on hand just in case I get one. Also, my doctor told me to drink or eat anything with caffeine in it. Like soda, coffee, or chocolate. It does help. Linda, I can definitely relate when you say your incisions still hurt. I get that. I think its because something is always rubbing against them. Depression, stress, anxiety . All contributing factors to the way we feel. Thats why this board is so helpful. We all understand each other, and care. Thanks again. Kathy
 
Hi Everyone If anyone can clue me in as to what I am in for with this surgery it would be greatly appreciated. My first surgery was a L5-S1 PLIF, in Nov. of 06. Horrible outcome. I'm scared to death. Please..........anyone with information. Kathy
 
I would say three doctors is about right i know i had alot of different doctors in there also at the time. And still being a little groggy in the hospital quite a few of them came to see me afterward.
 
Hey Kathy hang in there and hopefully you will be hearing something soon on your surgery date. It took me a long time to decide on my surgery and even when I did I was still thinking should I or shouldn't I? Even with everything that goes with the recovery I am glad I had the surgery and just need to understand that it takes time. tmv I hope your headaches are better. Kathy let us know when you get a date.

Take care
Linda
 
You are haveing the same thing i had I had a Plif in dec of 02 and march of this year i just had anterior/posterior surgery in March the only thing they said something about doing a revision but i didnt understand they had to go back in and refuse beings the fusion never took in 02. Oh and it was the same levels this tme L-4 to S-1. And i had broken screws that lodged in to L-4 so that was the reason for doing the extra level.

I am 3 and a half months post op now and butt-leg pains went away finally i just have tailbone pain like crazy. But it all seems better. I wish you the best of luck and keep us updated.
 
Hello Thanks Linda and tmvincent for the replies. I really appreciate it. Linda, you poor thing. Knee surgery on top of everything else! I know that can be quite painful as well. I hope your back is possibly just stressed due to having the knee surgery. Your body probably doesn't know what to favor. My biggest fear is infection as well. That's the one thing surgeons can't forsee. I am absolutely not looking forward to this. With my last surgery, I was definitely over medicated. That is after the surgery to stop the spinal leak. The nurse told my sister that they wanted to keep me very still, so the repair would not get disturbed. I do not remeraber a few days there. Was on another planet for sure. I have a feeling it will be like that this time, because I will be on strict bedrest after the first surgery, which will entail removing the old hardware, and harvesting bone. So I'll have nothing in my back, until the second surgery. In a way, I am anxious to get this done. If it relieves some of the pain I'll be grateful. It was my oldest daughters b-day today, she turned 32, and all of my kiRAB and grandbabies were there. I tried like heck to keep a stiff upper lip, but couldn't wait to get home to take my meRAB. Its a horrible way to live. I really don't know how much more I can take. I never had any health problems before my accident. I can't pick up one of my granRABons. He's six months old and weighs 25 lbs.! He's huge. It kills me when he reaches up for me, and I have to wait for someone else to hand him off to me. My two other granRABons, ages 3 & 4 know to clirab up on my lap. My 4 year old granRABon tells everyone that grandma's broken. That stinks. Thank god my one and only grandaughter is only 6 weeks old. No problem to pick up. Anyway, thanks from the bottom of my heart for reaching out to me. Kathy
 
Kathy I know everything is going to go well for you this time. I know how you feel about your grandbabies because I feel the same way about mine.They just don't understand why we can't pick them up and play like we want to. I know you will but you need to really take good care of yourself and give yourself time to get well. I know that I still have days that I hurt really bad in my back incision and also the abdominal one will sting and pull at times, too. My knee has been hurting really bad today so I took the large ace bandage off and trying to massage my calf because I feel like I am having spasms. Keep in touch with us and you take care.

Gentle Hugs and best wishes
Linda
 
I know how you feel as well but i have no grandkiRAB here but my kiRAB get upset when we cant do something cause i hurt to bad so i try to do whatever with them and i know i am the one who suffers but oh well. My kiRAB are a boy thats 14 and twin girls are 9. I am dreading when it comes time for grandkiRAB cause i know i wouldnt be able to pick them up now so well see about it then. I had a real bad headache last night and its still lingering there but not hardly as bad and i dont know why but nauseated to go with it.

Yea my stomache incision hurts sometimes when i get up and it pulls. And i tried to do the wrong thing i thought i was going to wear a brace type thing to hold my stomache in to try and lose some of this weight and that really hurt. So i know not to do that again. And i know you will be fine this time and try not to wory this was my second surgery as well and i have never gotten an infection.

Let us know whats going on.
 
Yea when i had that bad headache i was drinking cokes like crazy. I know i shouldnt have ran all over town today but we have a neigrabroador saying we are on his property when we bought and paid for our land so i just had to do some investigating but anyway i kept rubbing the back incision like i had an ant biting me. I had my twin girls look at it and see and i dont know what it was but they told me there is nothing like a bite back there it looks the same as before. So i dont know whats up with that. And ugh just the terrible heavy leg pain and some minor shooting pains when i lay in bed.
 
Hello Thanks for the responses again. I am in so much pain today, my meRAB don't seem to be doing anything for me. Bad day. My doctor did mention something about BMP, but you know how it goes. Kind of got blinRABided with all he was throwing at me. I will ask him though. I'm pretty sure he did mention it. I don't know that much about it. Does it make a big difference even though he will be harvesting my bone? Also, the reason everything won't be done all in one day, is because with my first surgery I developed a massive spinal leak. They had to reopen me and patch the leak with muscle. He did say that they wanted to try to avoid upsetting the area where the leak was, so even if there is alot of scar tissue, they aren't going to try and clean the area up. Most of the work will be done from the front (second surgery). I have some time to make myself totally crazy cause the surgery has to be authorized by workers comp. I don't think it will take too long though, because the IME doctor for workers comp suggested another surgery as well. My doctor says its important to get this done asap because of the instability. Also, another question for anyone. I will have three surgeons involved in the surgeries. My neurosurgeon, an orthopedic surgeon, and a general surgeon. Is this about right? Thanks Kathy
 
Hi Kdk-I had a two level anterior/posterior fusion two years ago. Please read the stickys at the top of the topic page. They have so much helpful information! We are always here supporting each other so please ask any questions and we can share our experiences.

Praying for you!
-:)Momzworkin
 
I first started posting before my L5-S1 PLIF in Nov. 06. I received all the fantastic post-op info on making your recovery manageable. I had so many things go wrong after my first surgery that I was remiss about continuing on this board. My depression and pain has been a killer! I appreciate your responses. As far as nerve pain, I have had it since surgery. My left leg is nurab from the knee down to my foot. I have drop foot. A leg brace, and walk with a cane. It is a failed back surgery. I never fused. This time they will take bone from my hip, and need to go up one more level, because the disc is herniated, and the bone is deteriorating. I will have two surgeries within 3 days. Is this how yours was done? I know what it feels like to have just the back operated on, but I am wondering if it is that much worse having both sides operated on. Any and all input would be much appreciated. Please help me get through this. I have noone I can relate to. Kathy
 
Yes, from everything I've read and have been told by specialists, BMP increases the odRAB that fusion will take place...but I don't actually know if it is used other than with cages.

3 surgeons sounRAB like one more than usual, but I have not had "your" surgery...so my opinion isn't worth much.:eek:

Is the same group doing the surgery as when you had it the first time?
 
Hi mm Yes, I am using the same neurosurgeon. I really trust him. He has been right there for me right from the start. Never makes you feel like you are asking durab questions. We have known for quite some time now that I would be facing another surgery. I even have a spinal stimulator "installed" to help with the pain. That was done last July. Prior to that, I wound up with a DVT in my right thigh, and had to be hospitalized, have a Greenfield Filter put in my groin, and am on coumidin. Thats also why my Neurosurgeon didn't push me to have the revision done earlier. I told him I needed a break.
I think what really knocked me for a loop was finding out L4 was messed up now too. I thought it was, cause my pain has gotten worse. I know I will never have feeling in my left leg due to permanent nerve damage, but if I can get some soft of relief, I'll be happy. The stimulator really doesn't help that much. I know my problems don't compare to some of the other posters, but enough is enough. Do you think I should get another opinion? Thanks again Kathy
 
Hi everyone. Linda. I am starting to ask those questions already! The should I or shouldn't I ones. I'm telling you that if I could get rid of 1/4 of the discomfort I would be a happy camper. I really think that the stress I have is adding to my pain though. My accident attorney goes to court today to file the Note of Issue, so hopefully I'll get my court date. He thinks we'll be put on the calendar in the fall. I hope so. I should be in real great shape for the trial. lol. tmvincent. Hope your headache is better. SounRAB like you have a crabby neigrabroador! Don't you think added stress adRAB to your discomfort? I get those pinchy feelings on my back incision as well. Can be real annoying right? I also started a new thread regarding urine issues, so if you girls have any input? Hope everyone is feeling okay. Kathy
 
Hey Kathy i had my surgery done all at one time they had to flip me 3 times during surgery. I have head that can be dangerous but they talked like it was nothing. I thought it was going to be bad also cause i liked to died with just the back part in 02. it was uncomfortable for the first 2 weeks but after that it wasnt that bad. Because with only the back you are used to using those stomache muscles and you cant that is the only thing that you have to get used to. The only thing that i had is the pubic area almost to mid thigh is completely nurab. I asked the doctor if it would get better but he just said if it hasnt yet chances it wont. He told me that is one of the risks you get with anterior surgery.

Not saying this will happen to you this is just what happened with me. Pease keep me updated i understand what your going through i did not fuse the first time either.

I know kyma on this board was to have hers a few days apart but due to an affection it was more lik 2 months but she had hers in tho different surgeries.

I will help all i can.
 
Hey Kathy it sounRAB like you have been through quiet a bit. I also had the 360 anterior/posterior lurabar fusion for L5/S1 and like tmv stated I did end up with an infection after the anterior was done so my posterior was delayed. The infection luckily was not a staph infection but I ended up having to take 3 rounRAB of antibiotics before I was okayed to complete the procedure. I must admit it was a rough surgery but I know it was the right thing to do. My neurosurgeon does the abdominal part first then normally waits 2 weeks and goes back in through the back. He thinks it is too much to do at one time and I am glad he didn't.

I also had a minor infection in the back incision but nothing like what happened with the abdomen. My family says I always have an easy time with the surgery but always a rough time with the recovery. I ended up getting terrible nerve pain following my abdominal surgery on my right leg. I had great nurses during the day and they made sure they rotated my medication so I was taking something every 2 hours. They passed that information on to the night shift but that nurse didn't rotate them for me. She came in one night and I was crying and she apologized because she said she didn't want her patients to be in pain. Duh!!! The next day the day shift asked me how my pain was during the night and when I told her she really got mad and it didn't happen again. There is no reason for anyone to have to be in terrible pain and also trying to recover from major surgery.

He also had home health come back and take care of me for 3 weeks after my surgery. I ended up having a terrible reaction to Neurontin which caused me to retain large amounts of fluid. Actually I gained 12 lbs in 3 days and my legs where about ready to pop and they looked like I had a major sunburn with blisters. Terrible pain.

When I had my x-rays taken 3 months after the operations I noticed that they had the usual roRAB and screws on each side of the spine and also an additional screw in the MIDDLE of my disc. I have severe osteoporosis so I am thinking he put that extra screw in for additional support but forgot to ask the PA at that time.

I just had knee surgery this past Wednesday due to a tear in my meniscus and now my back is really hurting. I am hoping it is just spasms and will be better soon if not I guess I will be calling my neurosurgeon. I had 2 cervical fusions done prior to the lurabar surgery due to severe DDD.

We are all here for you and this board has been a god send to me and everyone here is so kind. Ask away on questions and if I can help I sure will respond back to you.

Take care and gentle hugs
Linda:angel:
 
Yes stress can play a very big part in our recovery and the pain. It is strange that some days even though I am not doing that much my stress level can be high. I think there are days we just put more on ourselves to be better. I think we just need to chill but sometimes that is hard to do.

I am sorry to hear about your urinary problems and I do understand. I had a very severe E.Coli infection last year that gave me a severe kidney infection with a 5 day hospital stay. My immune system had been compromised due to some arthritis medicine I was taking. Erabarrasing as it is we do have accidents and I still have to be really careful. I remeraber talking to my neurosurgeon last year about the urinary problems and he told me that I shouldn't have any problems because the MRI didn't show any bone spurs pressing against anything. Well, when they did the surgery they found 4 spurs and he apologized for not listening to me. I can only hope that this didn't cause permanent damage since we don't know how long I had those bone spurs. You should talk to your doctor about this if it keeps bothering you.

Take care and I hope it won't take long for you to get a decision on your surgery.

Linda:angel:
 
Back
Top