L5-S1 Fusion coming on Dec 6

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wubulu

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my wife had a fusion L=5 s-1 it took good. The thing is she can't do half of what she used to do . She had her surgery Oct, of 2003. It is now Nov 20 2006. She has been in some pain and can't do much for very long. Her doctor told her to change jobs. She is a caregiver for senior and disabled. This job has the oppurtunities to sit and rest will working. what else can she do. She can't sit, stand, or anything else for any lenght of time. So if you are thinking of fusion surgery think again. Its very painful surgery and recovery is very iffy.
Good luck to all that have to go thru this
 
I am scheduled for an L5-S1 fusion and was looking for some realistic time frames for recovery, and a few answers to some questions. I will take off about 3 to 4 months from work to recover and was wondering if that is realistic. I have a two year old running around and at about 2 1/2 months into recovery my wife will give birth to our second child (c-section). Will I be able to help with the new one or will we both be invaliRAB? I am an avid Triathlete/Cyclist and was wondering at what level of fitness can I expect to return to eventually. I have many more questions but for now those are most pressing on my mind. Any insight will help, Thanks. :confused:
 
Hey,

I had the same thing March 18th 2007, bone taken from my hip and fused etc, u know the drill.

Unfortunately, I found out last week that one of the screws have broken, I have no idea what they are going to do about this and they are making me wait another two weeks to see my consultant.

I have noticed on other threaRAB this has happened to many people, what I wanna ask is this: Do they warn you about this before hand? I cannot remeraber anyone saying anything about the possibility of that happening, all I can remeraber is them warning me that the fuse might not happen.

If anyone knows anything about this, do get back to me!
 
Had Anterior Lurabar Interbody Fusion surgery(L5-S1)on june 1st, I'm a saw operator at a steel company and do alot of bending and lifting. My doctor says with my job that I could be out of work for almost a year to let the fusion completely heal,went to doctors for 3 month check up and x-ray shows that i'm starting to fuse,still get alot of pain, not in back but in the butt area when I walk, doctor said it is normal. Everybody is different and office personal can go back sooner than someone with a more physical job good luck
 
First of all I wish you the best of luck with your fusion. I had the same levels fused using BMP a little less than 3 years ago. 3-4 months i believe is a realistic recovery time, however i believe that a fusion actually takes around 6 months to actually fully take place. It personally took me the full 6 months and then some just because My body was so used to the onslaught of VERY strong pain medications. I think it will also vary greatly depending on the "way" and method that its being done. ALL and all from the research i have done on others experiences i still believe that 4-6 months is realistic in all formats of a fusion. Hope this helps and best of luck to you. send me any questions you wish and will help out if i can.

God bless,

Jason 29 from FL:wave:
 
I had 2 major fusion surgeries done. Before my first surgery my surgeon never discussed with me a possibility of braken screws, etc. He told me I will be out to work in 6-8 weeks.
Well, 4 month later he told me I better fill out papers for disability since he does not believe i will be able to work (I used to work on Wall Street, mostly sitting). I never was able to go back to work and 3 month later i had another surgery.
One thing my surgeon (HSS this time) asked me not to rush, not to push myself doing things sooner than body will be ready. Only now, 3 month later i was allowed to start PT, not earlier than 3 month after surgery.
He told me that first year after surgery is most important : everybody heals on their own pace, some fuse 2 month after, for some it can take a year or even more to be fully fused.
I was fused relatively fast after my first surgery and no screws were broken, but my surgery still failed and i leave in severe pain since under PM care and taking a lot of PK.
Good luck to you!:angel:
 
Depending on your job.. you should be able to go back at 3 months. Im 2 1/2 months out and I feel pretty good... getting ready to start work in 2-3 weeks.
 
Hello Benny 6057 :wave:
I had my fusion in 2003. It was L5-S1 with hardware. I used my own bone. I just had a ACDF on C5-6, C6-7 and I used my own bone too. The reason I used my own bone was I do not trust these bone banks. They just had a big arrest up in New York city with funeral directors selling corpses bones and other body parts for profit!! They were not even testing these body parts for diseases. It took me a good 6 months to recover from my fusion. If I was you I would not be lifting anything (including newborns). Your range of motion will surprise you. You will have more than you think. Are they going in thru the front or the back? Now the hard part. They operated on me to stabilize my spine I had a Ortho spine surgeon and a Neuro spine surgeon (All they do is spines day in and day out). They told me going in that if they were lucky they could reduce my pain level 50%. Well everything was ok for 2 years then the pain came back with a vengence. I now see a pain mangement doctor. I think you are going to have a hard time running or jogging after this. The reason is not the fusion it the pressure it puts on the upward disks. If I was you I would just take it day by day and see what happens.
TINCAN
LAMINECTOMY L5-S1
DISCTECTOMY L5-S1
FUSION L5-S1 WITH HARDWARE
FBSS
BONE SPURS
MEGA SCAR TISSUE
DDD UP TO THORASIC AREA AND CERVICAL AREA
DISK BULGES @ C3-4, C4-5,T3-4,T4-5
ACDF C5-6, C6-7
STENOSIS
SPONDYLIOSIS
DISK BULGE L4
 
Hey Benny. I am 7 months fused at l4/l5. I was back at work part-time at week 7, and then worked up to full-time over 2-3 week span. I am a paralegal. It's hard going back to work, as this surgery really takes a toll on your body. I dont care what kind of shape you are in.. it's really a difficult surgery to recover from, energy wise. You might be one of the lucky ones and bounce back pretty quick, but dont be shocked if you don't. Average return to work for desk type jobs is 6-12 weeks.

Taking care of the little ones, will be very tough on you both and if you have an grandma willing to help out.. I would take advantage of any help. You will be limited in lifting, and no bending or twisting for around 3 months time, minimum.

Welcome to the boarRAB and we are here when you are ready to ask more questions. Take care and congrats on the babies!!! They are a wonderful gift! Tammy:wave:
 
To lildk77,

I also went back too early. 3.5 weeks after a 3 level fusion with screws and plates. I have 2 broken screws and much movement in the spine. Are your dr's going to perform a posterior and anterior approach or just one of those?

Thanks!!
 
Hi I was suppose to go in for L5 S1 fusion and still haven't gone in.doc told me hardware always a problem,and I may not fuse because I'm over weight.very scary situation.i'm under workers comp and don't know what to do/
 
Benny,

I am at day 17 recovering from L/4 - S/1 fusion. My first day back to work was yesterday and I feel great. Managing the pain with Extra Strength Tylenol. I have a desk job, but it also requires me to walk throughout the facility and also do stairs. I go back to the doc for my first post - op appointment 4/2, which I will have an xray for him to look at to see how well the fusion and hardware look. I only can tell you my experience thus far. The first week was a little rough, but each day I am feeling better and better. I am very careful in what I do and do wear a brace and a bone stimulator. My doctor tells me I will be able to play baseball in 3 months. Baseball is my passion and my that is my goal, to be playing by June or July. I hope you find my information helpful and wish you the best of luck.

Tgald
 
I'm having a PLIF (posterior) with screws and roRAB to correct level III spondilolysthesis. Also he will do a foramenotomy while he's in there. I'm nervous but have spoken with a few people that he has worked on and they are ecstatic with his work. He is also the San Antonio Spurs Dr so I guess I'm in some of the best hanRAB. Thanks for your advice. Benny
 
I had 2 spinal fusions L4 and L5 I went back to work as a wound nurse in a nursing home at 6 weeks post op..needless to say at 10 months post op I have a broken screw and one of the fusions didnt take. The dr.'s cant explain to me why or how the screw broke. I would highly recommend to stay off work as long as ya can. I have surgery again nov 30 to repair all of this.
 
Hi. I can relate to all of the above. My doctor is under investigation for fraud and taking kickbacks. He cared more about lining his pockets than he did about his patients. I agree with you and taking it day by day is right. I can't do much of anything anymore. I have serious nerve damage from all the manipulation and I have trouble severely just trying to pick up my new grandbaby. Once you have one surgery on your spine anywhere then you better get ready for more.
 
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