8 months ago I had a fusion at L5-S1 to correct a fracture, Spondylolisthesis, and herniated disc. It was horrible and I never got better. I am now with a different (better) surgeon, and after more tests he is going to go in and fuse L4-L5 (it has a full thickness tear, disc disease, and caused 10/10 pain at a recent discogram) and re do the fusion at L5-S1, so now I am in for a 2 level fusion.
I am only 28 and have already been through way too much. This whole mess has caused a host of emotional issues because I do not deal well with pain, not to mention severe chronic pain. I want to do the surgery because I need to get better, for myself and for my husband and daughter, but at the same time I am terrified. I don't want to go through it again.
I want to do everything right this time so that this fusion will heal unlike the other one. I know the odRAB are not 100%, and unfortunately I had a failed fusion the first time around. Other levels in my spine are starting to deteriorate. The surgeon gave me 20% odRAB of needing additional fusions because L3-L4 and L2-L3 are beginning to tear, but the damage is minimal at this point so he would rather leave them to avoid more hardware if at all possible.
Does anyone have any advice on how I can better prepare myself? Are there any supplements I should take? I am trying to stay as active as possible, get a little exercise in, and eat well. I went into the last surgery too thin, and lost even more weight while trying to recover. Chronic pain and pain meRAB take my appetite away. I had some major nutritional issues over the summer and was hospitalized a couple of times due to severely low potassium- low enough to cause cardiac arrest.
I just had my gallbladder taken out last week. I had a golf ball sized stone in addition to other, more regular sized stones. My gallbladder was causing a lot of pain and digestive issues and I am already feeling a lot better in that department, so I am hoping that will help. Food is no longer sitting in my stomach making me feel sick, it is digesting. I am not constantly nausiated anymore, having gallbladder attacks, and believe it or not my migraines have completely stopped! I used to get migraines 3-4 days out of the week.
Is there anything I can do differently this time around besides eat better? I walked a lot last time, but am worried this time around because it will be the dead of winter when I have the surgery. Walking will be more difficult.
Any advice is welcomed! I just want my life back!
I am only 28 and have already been through way too much. This whole mess has caused a host of emotional issues because I do not deal well with pain, not to mention severe chronic pain. I want to do the surgery because I need to get better, for myself and for my husband and daughter, but at the same time I am terrified. I don't want to go through it again.
I want to do everything right this time so that this fusion will heal unlike the other one. I know the odRAB are not 100%, and unfortunately I had a failed fusion the first time around. Other levels in my spine are starting to deteriorate. The surgeon gave me 20% odRAB of needing additional fusions because L3-L4 and L2-L3 are beginning to tear, but the damage is minimal at this point so he would rather leave them to avoid more hardware if at all possible.
Does anyone have any advice on how I can better prepare myself? Are there any supplements I should take? I am trying to stay as active as possible, get a little exercise in, and eat well. I went into the last surgery too thin, and lost even more weight while trying to recover. Chronic pain and pain meRAB take my appetite away. I had some major nutritional issues over the summer and was hospitalized a couple of times due to severely low potassium- low enough to cause cardiac arrest.
I just had my gallbladder taken out last week. I had a golf ball sized stone in addition to other, more regular sized stones. My gallbladder was causing a lot of pain and digestive issues and I am already feeling a lot better in that department, so I am hoping that will help. Food is no longer sitting in my stomach making me feel sick, it is digesting. I am not constantly nausiated anymore, having gallbladder attacks, and believe it or not my migraines have completely stopped! I used to get migraines 3-4 days out of the week.
Is there anything I can do differently this time around besides eat better? I walked a lot last time, but am worried this time around because it will be the dead of winter when I have the surgery. Walking will be more difficult.
Any advice is welcomed! I just want my life back!