L5 / S1 Fusion

  • Thread starter Thread starter Fungo33
  • Start date Start date
F

Fungo33

Guest
I have been dealing with a fractured L5 for the past several years. Pain has gotten to the point where it is tough to be on my feet for more than an hour at a time and forget walking LONG perioRAB of time.. Alot of shooting stab pains and nurabness in my right leg. I have tried injections, PT, meRAB, everything with little to 0 results. My doctor, my wife and I visited and decided that I would try fusion in October.

Can anyone give me some insight on recovery? What to expect? HOw long before you can get up and really walk around? Can you do any type of light exercice following?? Did this work for you and would you reccomend this surgery??

Thanks for any info!
 
Fungo33:
I will also be having the exact same surgery as you. I dont have a date yet but I should be visiting my Neurosurgeon this week and hopefully set a date ASAP!!!
Just so you know...I had a 2 level cervical fusion C5/6/7 with a Titanium Plate, 4 screws, and a cadaver bone implant back in late 2005 and I am still doing great. I go to the gym and lift weights a LOT!!! So hopefully this surgery will be a little easier than my neck surgery.
Good Luck to you and lets keep in touch, Joe.
 
I'm 20 and I had a fusion for spondylolisthesis 4 months ago. Since it's still a fusion i'm assuming post surgery will be simular. They want you to walk as much as you can after surgery, which isnt very much for the first couple weeks. More then likely you'll need to use a walker for the first couple weeks. Its very painfull after surgery, i couldnt even push the recliner down with my feet for a couple weeks. Its hard to step up high for awhile and you cant drive for like a month. Theres no bending for the first couple months. After about 3 months I stopped taking pain meRAB. I still have some nurabness in the back of my leg which the doctors said is normal and more then likely will go away. Looking back now i say it wasnt that bad but when your actually going through with it, it sucked. My aunt had the same surgery 2 months before me and she has to wear a back brace and still uses a cane. I think she has more pain then me but she's older too. My frienRAB dad also had a spinal fusion and he's having problems. It's different for everyone but the younger you are the quicker you'll heal.
 
The rule of thurab is no BLT. I thought they meant I couldn't have the sandwich! Why? I asked. What's wrong with the sandwich. Too much grease? No, no Bending, Lifting, Twisting. And count on that as being your mantra for -oh- 6 months at least. That's what it takes for a good fusion for bone.

You will be up and walking the day after surgery when it feels like they have sreatched your back to lengths you didn't know you had. A walker is a fine friend to have. Walking is good for you because it gets the blood moving to the surgery site to help with bone growth. But it does have it painful moments. I had to wear a brace-whether you will is up to your doctor. I had a 3 level fusion done. Work on learning the log roll which is the preferred way of moving in the bed. You will also be limited in the amount of weight that you will be allowed to carry. Lower back fusions differ from neck fusions. The weight limit is usually that of a gallon of milk which is 8 lbs.

Get yourself a grabber. They are great for picking things up off of the floor that fall. I personally thing it's a deliberate ploy from inanimate things to irritate you. They just jump onto the floor knowing that you can't bend over! But the grabber will help you get those little things that are just a little too far out of your reach.

You won't be able to drive the first few weeks. Not that you have a great desire to.Take along a plastic garbage bag to sit on in the car. It makes it easy to slide in and out of the car if you slide on the bag. They want you to sit and twist into the car. The bag makes it easy to do.

Don't expect to be dancing in the streets right away. This is major surgery and you need to remeraber that your nerves and muscles DON'T like being moved around and may cause you some pain that you didn't exoect. They resent being moved and it takes time for them to settle down.

I am now fused from T9-sacrum. So I've been there already, got the Tshirt.
Just remeraber as my PM doctor says "surgery isn't always the answer, but it's the last answer." You can't undo surgery, so be sure this is your choice before you have it done.
 
Hello all-
I just had L5 S1 spinal fusion last month on the 21st. I am almost a month post surgery and getting ready to return to work on the 19th. My surgery was performed anterior with posterior pedicle screws and roRAB. If anyone has any questions or comments I would be happy to answer them.

While the surgery was quite intense, I have had lots of support from my frienRAB and family. prior to surgery my left leg would go nurab after standing or walking for more than 15 minutes, additionally I had constant pain in my pelvis area. After my surgery I am feeling almost 100%.

My issue was isthmic spondylosthesis (Grade 2), 8 screws, 1 plate, 2 roRAB, 1 cage with cadaver bone morsal later and I am feeling pretty good. I am not out of the wooRAB yet, but I am doing well and wanted to share with everyone. I am able to walk for extended perioRAB of time, and go shopping with my wife and not have any ill effects like I use too.

Aaron
 
Aaron,

That is good you are feeling better. How did the relief come so quick? Did the cage restore the disc space height to stop the pain in your legs? What did they say was the time line for the fusion?

Thanks,

Ali
 
Back
Top