post fusion last September

  • Thread starter Thread starter queenie5
  • Start date Start date
Q

queenie5

Guest
I'm still having alot of difficulties since surgery. My surgeon sent me to a pain clinic. They said my left leg was hyper reflexive. He asked if I had neck problems. Have any of you had this after your fusions? It seems funny that I wasn't hyper before the surgery. Hes going to try a block next week. They said I have to wait a year before considering hardware removal. I am really bummed. Its been 8 months, and I've tried to be patient. But , when you give up your job... you can't walk for more than 10 minutes, and can't sleep at night it starts to get to you. I know so many of you are in the same boat. Now I'm thinking I have a brain lesion or Multiple Sclerosis because of the hyper reflex................. Thats a nurse for you. He asked if I had any other symptoms. I said I think I'd feel great if I could be out of pain! Sorry so long.
 
Pam, I am sorry you are going thru this. I think going to a pain mgmt group can be a good thing. Sometimes they can try different things to help bring your pain back under control. Right now we have to pray that you find a good pm doctor who is compassionate and knows how to properly guide the diagnosis for you.

Please keep us posted.
 
Hi Pam. I am post-op 3 1/2 weeks for a back fusion. Its funny becasue when I was in the hospital and came home, I swore they broke my right hip..it hurt so bad. Anyways a few days later I had SO much nurabness so I called the office. He asked if he had to check my neck. I was like WHAT. It did go away for me. So I don't realy have any advice, I just wanted to share with you.
I hope you get the answers you need. I know this back stuff SUCKS!
Hope you are pain free today if not only for alittle bit :-) Its hard to stay strong when all you want to do is crawl in a ball and die sometimes. But I am a wife and a mom, so I just have to deal, right?

Take care.
 
Thanks for the kind worRAB. Just a bad day today. Have any of you heard of the hyper reflex thing? Also, any good news reports out there with hardware removal. I'm afraid that may be the next thing, but I'm scared to have another surgery for fear I'll be worse than I am now.
 
Pam,

I am sorry that you had a hard day too. I can't caution everyone enough and apologize if you have read this feedback before but here goes. If you are going for hardware removal, it can relieve your pain and I don't blame anyone for trying it.

With that said, I strongly recommend anyone considering removal of hardware that they have a CT mylegram to verify that they are in fact fused. Just keep in mind that xrays, mylegrams and MRI's do not show everything but as far as fusion the CT myleo is the best route to go. Not the most pleasant test but should give your doctor the information he neeRAB to make the decision whether or not removal of the hardware is a good idea or not.

If you are not 100% fully fused, the unthinkable can happen and it looks like this may be the case for me -- your fusion can weaken and fall apart. I encourage everyone to seek a second opinion and have a CT myleogram to ensure that you are in fact 100% fused before proceeding with hardware removal.

It is not my intent to scare anyone, I just have to say don't make the mistake that I made. I saw the opportunity for pain relief and in desperation made a hasty decision.

Good luck and I pray that you will find some relief soon.
 
Thank you for that information. I've lost track on whats happening with you. Where are you at in all this now?
 
Thank you for asking. I had a mylegram on Monday and it went rather smoothly and now I am waiting until the 23rd to find out what step they are going to take and if it will involve going back to the operating room.
 
Back
Top