Lumbar spine fusion

  • Thread starter Thread starter alim15
  • Start date Start date
Okay:

I had L5-S1 fusion. Now after TWO YEARS of pain I have been informed that the screws attaching the roRAB to the veterbrae are stripping out and I need a correction. I have read several articles about newer correcting techniques mostly performed at research hospitals the best being Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. Getting on the "list" is another story. Back surgery in the US is barbaric medicine at best! I take 40 mg of vicodin and 150 mg of ultram just so I can walk without crying.:jester:

Keep you heaRAB up poeple.
 
Depending on your condition physically prior to surgery, your muscle tone, the amount of manipulation during surgery, and extent of nerve compession is all factors on your recovery so everyone is TOTALLY different. I was bedridden 90% of the time (got up for bathroom and egored there very hard to just get off toilet) for 9 months, fusion was my second surgery, so for ME my one level lurabar fusion, I was in tremendous pain for about 6 weeks, and then tapered down, could get around but still limped horrid, had a cane, toilet riser and shower chair.
At about 2 and 1/2 months I could finally drive, but the first month to six weeks I couldn't even put my foot down to use it to walk due to extensive nerve pain.

Rest when your tired, relax, get a book and dvRAB, and walk when you can, but remeraber how far you GO is how far you gotta get back LOL I would try and hobble with the kiRAB up the street and haveto decipher the pain to see how far I could get before I had to turn back, was afraid of getting stuck outside on the sidewalk ;)

AND omg stress!! YES its horrid and goes right to your back! Muscles tighten that we don't even notice, and just the aggervation causes extreme pain, for a few months, just realize that even thou its hard NOW, you will get better, and you cant rush it, believe me I KNOW lol I am the most impatient person you'd ever meet. I have alot of posts on here w/ my recovery as I had a laptop and was always online in bed on my back. I am 6 months post op now. Nerve pain IS decreased, (as I CAN walk now! and drive) I have good days and bad days, but I was injured, and immediately 90% bedridden, and TWO surgeries. BUT if you're poking around on this board in the search I am sure you will find my posts during my first 3 months or so. take care and relaxxxxx and let yourself heal
 
Wow that doesnt sound too great something else is possibly going on get a second opinion asap.
I've had a steffee fusion from L4-S1 16yrs ago the discs were just not there when they finally went in, so having to have them or part of the discs removed is a bit different.
I did gain immediate pressure relief for about 12 months until futher aggravation of the L3 began due to having to have the fusion in the first place.
good luck.
 
I dont sleep either and when i do i cant move in the morning ! im miserable too and just feel so depressed all the time and have given up telling people as i feel they have lost interest, i wish i had some support at home too.
 
How many of you have gone back to work after a 2 level fusion? And if so, how long did it take for you to go back. I have a desk job, but it involves sitting at a computer for most of my day (which is still very painful for me for more than 15 mins) I also have filing which involves bending and stretching, not to mention my 45 min commute via public transit which also includes a lot of walking and stair clirabing. Right now, I'm due to go back to work on 10/26 and I know that isn't happening and will be extended when I see the surgeon on 10/28.
 
I am 4 years out of a two level 360 degree fusion. If you don't know what it is, they went thru the front, did part of the surgery, then flipped me over on the same table and went in thru the back. I had horrible pain-level 9-10 and was taking 8-10 hydrocodone a day just to get around.
I have DDD-if anyone asked me if it was worth it? YES. I would do it again in a heartbeat. You guys don't hear all the success stories because people come to the boarRAB when there is a problem-I wouldn't have made it thru without the support I got here-but when they heal they are off living their lives :) I am guilty of that too.
I am still in pain management. The scar tissue wrapped around the nerve root. I am about 80% of where I was before all this started. I garden, I work full time, I grocery shop, etc...Some days hurt more than others. If you can't sleep you may need a new mattress. We had just gotten a really good pillow top that was SO SOFT after the hospital bed. With incisions front and back it was almost impossible to lie in any postion without a bunch of pillows stuffed undder and around me.
 
I was thinking the same thing People think your wonderful but the pain is still there its only 4 weeks post op for me but i feel they just threw my insides together...I think i built up an tolerance to pain pills nothing helps but as far as the sleeping my dr put me on trazadone they found it sleep studies it helps and it helps me although when i wake up i'm sore as anything. but oh sleep at last
 
Hi i am trying to be patient but im affraid that isnt 1 of my strong points ! I cant help feeling that i have been let down by my surgeon who promised me that 8 months after my surgery i would be 80% painfree than before surgery when infact it actually feels worse and now its 10months !!!! Im so depressed with the pain all the time and so fed up with taking pain meRAB, im only 43years old and up until now have lead a very active life and now getting out of bed in the morning is hard work let alone going to work which i have to do as im in so much debt i just dont know which way to turn. Thank you for your kind worRAB and good luck to you too.
 
hi its judi here i have just read this post and i certainly understand that you are at this moment in time very distressed with the hospital admission you have just been thru to start with.
I live in regional victoria and the attitude to patients with chronic pain which is what you are struggling to accept especially after all you are dealing with let alone the actual surgical process is no different even without the workers comp process.

I have been thru 2 litigations as well as workcare or comcare if it is the Australian Public services that you worked for, and as a result i am no better physically now than i was for all my efforts in going thru the processors.

I need peace of mind and a longevity of the physical kind none of the above parties
will ever be able to give me this,then, now or in the near or distant future.
So is all the effort going to achieve satisfaction for your pain or will the cost of trying to achieve this be too much for you to physically mentally and emotionally have to pay the price for we are talking long term pain control.

I really hope that things get back to as normal for you as they can be really soon but I will tell you that you will never get what you once had before the realisation that you have chronic pain and it is relentless in its persuit of our spirit.

Let go of what does not heal and then the hurt will ease its grip so that you can catch your breath.

all the best be healthy happy and hopeful xo judi
 
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