Post Surgery Incision Issues

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sspayd05

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Just had an ALIF at L5/S1 with cage, 3 screws and synthetic bone graft on August 9th. My incision is about 4 inches long and runs up and down beside my belly button. For the most part, it has healed quite nicely. However, the very top of the incision is still quite swollen and is hard underneath and to the right of it directly under my belly button and both areas are painful to touch. There are also other hard spots to the right of my incision a little lower that hurt to touch. I am still bloated around the incision as well. The very top part also didn't close all the way. I am concerned there might be infection, but nothing has come out. I had an Endoscopy done last week and they took biopsies of my stomach. I don't get my results back until next week. Does anyone have any advice, or has anyone else also experienced these issues? I might also mention that I was having upper GI problems 2 weeks ago, that almost sent me to the ER because the pain in my sternum was so severe when I swallowed, even my own spit. That has subsided though because the DR put me on Protonix... Please any advice!!!
 
You are still "very early" in your recovery. You will most likely have swelling in those areas for awhile. I had the incision from the back, with a cage and screws. I had a fusion at L3/4 & L 4/5, with bone graft and bone stimulator implanted. I'm 8 weeks post-op and still have swelling. Try ice on the areas of swelling, if you're not already doing so. I also had an endoscope done a few weeks before surgery for bile ducts. I understand your discomfort. It's bad enough to be dealing with the back surgery. Endoscope should give your doctor an idea of what's going on. Do you have any drainage from the incision, and does the doctor want you to keep that area covered?
 
Thank you for the quick reply. I'm hoping that the endoscope results give me some insight on what is going on. Other than the hard swelling, I feel really good, and you can't even tell I just had back surgery. The top part of the incision did "ooze" a very little amount of pinkish color stuff when I wore pants that pressed on my incision. The dr said that would happen. I just wonder if there is more of that under there that hasn't come out and that is why I am still swollen and why it hurts. I did have a lidocaine needle and tube inserted in my stomach and they took that out the day I left the hospital. I will try ice, I have also heard heat helps too. I am just torn b/c I have seen my Dad have so many surgeries and then get a staph infection on top of the recovery.
 
It sounRAB like you're doing everything you need to do at this point. I would keep a close eye on the incision. Any fever, drainage that smells or looks different in color go right to your doctor. Keep us posted.. Be very sure to follow your doctors advice on the no lifting, bending, or twisting, and get lots of rest.:wave:
 
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