Recovery Time for PLIF Fusion surgery Please Read & Help

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go*big*red

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Hi, Aroberts

I have a desk job - lots of computer work and the like. I had to get up periodically to be sure I didn't stiffen up too bad. My dr. basically told me no restrictions when he released me from the hospital as "those roRAB and screws are going no where". I was mucking stalls 3 weeks out of surgery which I got sorely chewed out by my physical therapist.


Hi, Mickey

Welcome to the boarRAB! Your first post was chewing me out :eek: - ouch!

Sorry to have upset you but I didn't realize telling my story was being unrealistic. I'm 48 years old and have been in chronic pain 24/7 for about 5 years now, and prior to that horrible bouts on and off for the better part of 15 years.

I am a success story and believe that everyone here neeRAB to (and deserves to) hear success stories as well as the "not so much" success stories.

My chronic pain brought me to this board and I have many good and dear frienRAB here :wave: and am not trying to sway anyone's decision in anyway. Contemplating surgery is a scarey thing - we all know that!

BTW, I don't remeraber Tophatter mentioning how old he/she was. Also, everyone's recovery is very different and I only had one level where as Tophatter will be having two.

Anyway, again, I'm sorry if I offended or upset you - it was not my intention.

I pray you continue to do great.



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gbr

JDD
2 Discograms
4 Level failed IDET
4 Confirmed torn lurabar discs, 2 full thickness
Issues now with c-spine & thoracic
Fusion of L5/S1 scheduled 3/5/03
Fusion successful - feeling better all the time
 
************Bump***************

------------------
gbr

JDD
2 Discograms
4 Level failed IDET
4 Confirmed torn lurabar discs, 2 full thickness
Issues now with c-spine & thoracic
Fusion of L5/S1 scheduled 3/5/03
Fusion successful - feeling better all the time
 
Hi, I'm contemplating Posterior Lurabar interbody Fusion on L4-5/5 S`1 vs. Anterior technique using screws ,roRAB etc.The neuro told me he does both but the anterior procedure neeRAB 2 operations,one from the back to insert the pedicle screws and 1 from the front to insert the bone graft.The PLIF procedure that he does will not have instumentation installed and I will have to wear a brace for A year but the scar is only 3".He told me the other procedure gives a quick recovery but again 2 operations.
Can anybody give me an idea about the recovery ,how long will I be bedridden?How long before I can take walks?Are you able to bend? Any info would be helpful because I want to make a decision and schedule for the end of the summer. Please Help.. Thanks,Tophatter
 
Hi, I'm planning on my surgery if all goes well at the end of the summer.To I'm only 18,I know what your going through and I can imagine it must be even harder when you're 18.The only good thing is that you are young and probably will bounce back quick.I have to ask the doc if I have to sleep with a brace,I don't think I can handle that.The 2 people I know who had this surgery from the doc I saw are doing fine but it was a rough road for the first few months.I'm just worried about the bedridden thing,I'm active and will go crazy not being able to walk or much of anything else for that matter.The doc said it would be an overnight stay if I had the op without hardware and 3-4 days if I did.Feel beeter all and we'll all get through these rough times.
Tophatter
 
Hey tophatter,
I had an ALIF on June 5th. I only had one incision about two inches long (below bikini line) used a bone from a donor bank and no instrumentation. The doctors used an enzyme to promote bone growth instead of instrumentation. After being told by a co-worker that had a bone harvested from her hip that the harvest site hurt worse and longer than any other part of the surgery, I opted to use a bone from the bone bank.

I was in the hospital two and half days. I was up and walked about 180 ft the day after surgery and have steadily increased since then. I have a corset brace (elastic with back support) that the doctor said to wear to remind me not to bend. I'm two weeks out of surgery and walking a mile a day with only a few bad days worth of sciatic nerve pain in my legs. My pain is more of a result of the accident prior to the surgery than from the surgery, but the doc said that I would have a little of that regardless. Anyway, I hope this information helps! Good luck and this is a great website for support and information!

I'll keep you in my prayers!



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Thanks,
Maria

------------------------
Feb. 2000 MRI showing central herniation with pressure rt. & lt. nerves
Tried - PT, epidural steroid placement shots, acupuncture, TENS unit

March 2000 microsurgical diskectomy L5-S1
Pain continued, doctor stated that pain for six to twelve months after surgery was usual due to the nerve damage.

January 2001 had MRI showing slight re-herniation at L5-S1 and scar tissue applying pressure on the nerves.

June 5th 2003 Anterior Lurabar Fusion L5-S1 with donor bone and no instrumentation.
 
If I were you, I would seriously look into artificial disc replacement instead of fusion. ADR is a much better option with a much shorter recovery and you do not lose motion.

------------------
L5/S1 Discectomy/laminectomy 7/5/01 TBI
L5/S1 Prodisc ADR 5/29/03 TBI
 
Go big Red, good for you!! We need to hear success stories, especially since I am 4 1/2 weeks post op and still need to be in bed, I'm having a much slower recovery than you, I had 1 cage,1 rod and 3 screws, did your doctor go in the front and the back??

I'm glad your having a easy time of it, I have something to look forward too!! Jane
 
I had the L4-5 fusion with roRAB and screws 3 weeks ago. I am still in a lot of pain, but able to sit up and move about the house, go to the bathroom, get a drink, etc,. I would love to hear from others who have had this surgery, so I could know what to expect, what is normal, do you try to walk a lot or not? Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks,
brenwill
 
Hey, I don't know if this will help you, but I just had a L4/5 non-invasive fusion, they went in through the front and did whatever they did and then flipped me over and inserted a cage, roRAB and screws all in one surgery.

I didn't have to wear a big brace, I am 3 weeks Post OP and I have a soft support brace to wear, but it still hurts the incisions, so I don't wear it yet, they didn't tell me how long I will have to wear it

I am pretty much bedridden, just know I can sit for a little while and I try to walk around the house. I have a cane and a walker.

I start PT in another 5 weeks and if I am able to return to some type of employment the doctor said at least 7-8 months. I was in management, but they dismissed me, due to the fact I was out with back trouble.

Good Luck with your decision, I hope this helps alittle bit. Jane
 
Some of you guys are lucky,no hardware just a brace,rather have that than risk of rejection with hardware and go back in to remove them.my doctor wants to do bone grafts and anterior approach,I hear your insides gets pushed about,what about feeling sick after warRAB?when can you eat,and crap again?I got anxiety,being on the 6th floor is no picnic for me.
 
I had a Posterior lurabar interbody Fusion, L4-5/ April 11. So I have a 8 inch incision on my back, but it is healing very nicely. We got off to a bad start with it, some infection but now it just looks like a seam, tiny bit red. I'm wearing the soft brace and may get it off at end of may. I had my surgery April 11, but I did not do so well. I was in the hospital for 11 days, and really needed to go to rehab, but the insurance would not pay for it. Sad to say, as long as there is a warm body in you home, they would not pay for me to get any help. i did end up with some home help with the incision and PT, but they waited so long before they did it. and too they seem like they consider me a slug-for whatever reason they seem to feel I'm just not getting better b/c I don't want to. . I feel sad that people are so judgmental, and mean but I'm doing the best I can..
My experiece in the hospijtal was really bad, I had problems with pain control, and did not wake up and do well. I was in ICU for 3 days and then the doc finally told me that apparently the retractors had caused the nerves to swell which was causing my legs, behind, and all to spasm and have shooting pains. Seems he did not get his message to the pian doc b/c he did not prescribe any of the aniseizure drugs used for neuropathic pain. a week after I went home I saw my neurologist and he put me on lYrica, and I'm on a low dose but it helps the spasms. They are not gone, but it reduces them. the doc said it coud take up to 6 months of the swelling to go down.
I'm barely walking b/c the spasms cause so much pain. after I have PT I hurt for 24 hours.
I was not in good health before the surgery, I mean, so many of us have had our lives effected by back pain and it has caused limitations in our ability to exercise. I have been home disalbled since 2002. But back pain is not the only reason I'm disabled. I tried to explain to the doc that I might have problems healing and all that, but seemsed like he choose to ignore me.
I am hoping now to be able to get out and take a walk. I do not know how long it will be before I can walk very far without spasms, but i look forward to that day.
I really noticed my experience is so different from others, who seem to have really reocovered quickly. I also am having right groin pain and tail bone pain. I had this beforer this surgery and it is still with me. I do not think it is caused by the herniated lurabar disc at 4-5/ I believe it must have another cause. if anyone has experienced this and knows what it is, please let me know.
I can say my experience with this doc's office has not been good, they have not naswered my questions and generally treated me rudely. I will not allow him to ever do surgery on me again.
also b/c i had some pretty serious anathesia and pain control issues that the nurses and docs did not take care of very well, I will not be having any more surgery unless it is so serious I can't walk.it was a bad experience to lay in the bed in agony (mostly due to those spasms) and have no one take me serioulsy. I feel very wounded by this. I don't know how I can trust the docs an nurses again.
rocki
 
Hi All,
I had L4-S1 fusion last Nov. did the back on 11th then the front 4 days later, 5 screws, 2 roRAB, cages with BMP, I wore a hard brace for 5 mo. only because I have had 2 other fusions that failed, they were done just from the back. The last two surgeries resluted in a permanent gr2-3 splondy, they could not move the vertibra back into place, to much scar tissue. Good thing is it is starting to fuse, I do have nerve damage pain now, but all that the surgery was to help is better. I am on alot of meRAB for the nerve pain plus a tens unit. As far as wearing the brace, I had the soft one and the hard one, spending 5 mo. in the hard one was rough but very needed considering my track record of non fusions. It wasn't that bad after I got used to it, I had to accept this was the way it was, period. I just kept telling myself it's not forever.

I would caution you not to take the easiest approach but the one that best suits your problem, I bigger scar may mean better access to the spine= a better out come. I have had 4 surgeries, all of them were VERY different recoveries, I had some unpredicted complications with the first and the last two. But I woudl have done it all again, I am better than I was before any surgery.

I strongly encourage that your dr. be a spine specialist(only does spine) with a fellowship in the spine. This will insure he is trained thoroughly in all and the latest techniques.

Remeraber that the recovery is not forever, it may a few months, it may be longer, but it will lead to a better way of life, so isn't it worth whatever the time is you have to put into it.

Good luck to all of you who have had and are going to have surgery.

God Bless!

Carol
 
Dear Tophatter,

In Deceraber 2000, I had LAIF (lurabar Anterior Interbody Fusion)on L5-S1 (one small screw in between vertabrae). I had one incision in my stomach about 3 inches long (vertical, below bikini line), and another incision in my left hip to harvest bone from my iliac crest. I was in the hospital for 4 days, and home from work recovering for 6 weeks. I am an office manager. I was able to start walking (more than just to the bathroom) about 2 days after I came home from the hospital. I wore an Ortholign brace anytime I was not laying down flat. After learning how to push myself into a sitting position (at the hospital with the therapist) from laying down, it wasn't difficult to do. In total, I wore the ortholign brace for about 5 months, then I graduated into a smaller brace called a corset, which I could wear under my clothes unoticibly. My surgeon and I decided to go through the stomach, because of the reduced recovery time. My fusion failed. The bone grew around the front area, but not at all to the back for stability. I tried living with it.... and two and a half years later, and after many discussions with a new doctor.... we decided to attempt a posterior lurabar fusion with fixation instrumentation. So this time.... one June 4th, 2003, I had surgery through the back (2 four inch incisions one either side of my spine), to place 4 pedicle screws, and a mixture of bone (from my iliac crest), and red blood cells (harvested from my own blood). Note, that the harvest of the bone from my hip was taken from one of my incisions, and not an additional surgery site. HUGE DIFFERENCE !!!

So now, I am 10 days post surgery. I am wearing a new brace identical to the ortholine I wore immediately following the first surgery. I was in the hospital for 4 days, have been taking small walks since the day after I got home. Each day, my walking distance increases. I take 4-5 walks outside every day. My estimated recovery time before I can return to work is 6-8 weeks, depending on how I feel.

I remeraber getting to a sitting position, wearing the brace, and walking were all easier with the first surgery I had through the stomach, but the success rate of the fusion is decreased when performed anteriorly. I would recommend at your age (I am 28 years old) to go ahead and do the posterior approach first. I believe that if I had selected that method first, that I would have fully fused already. I was just attracted by the quicker recover time that came with the anterior approach... and the recovery time immediately following the surgery was definately easier the first time, but I'm hoping this will work better.

Anyway, sorry to rarable, but when I read your post... I said wow..... I've done it both ways... maybe I can shed some light for you.

If I can answer any other questions for you, please don't hesitate to ask. My email is [email protected]

Good luck!

Mickey

[This message has been edited by Mickey in Orlando (edited 06-14-2003).]
 
Steve K, Were you part of a study?I called because they're doing a study in NYC and they told me that I would not know if I was getting the artificial or fusion.It was a blind study.Do you know when it will be available if all goes well with the study?How are your results?

Thanks,Tophatter
 
Hi, Jane

Sorry - I just saw your question. My dr. went in from the back only (posterior, I think)

Sadly, I am still having major back pain and just recently found out about two shot discs in my neck and two major bulging discs in my upper thoracic not to mention 3 bulging discs in my lower thoracid. I don't want to know what the middle thoracic look like - ignorance is bliss, you know?

The low back pain is due to the upper three lurabar discs being shot. It's hard to tell where my pain is actually coming from but I KNOW THAT THE FUSION WAS SUCCESSFUL! No more violent spasms and left leg pain from L5/S1.

How are you doing? I pray that each day you find more and more relief. Are you able to get up and walk? They say that walking is the best and I have to agree. The more mobile I remain, the better I feel. It's just hard when I'm so stiff and sore!

What level did you have fused? Was yours also a PLIF?

go*big*red

[This message has been edited by go*big*red (edited 06-20-2003).]
 
Hey, Tophatter!

My, you have alot of info to mull around, huh?

I had my single level (L5/S1) PLIF on March 5. I have 2 roRAB, 4 screws and 2 cages stuffed with bone "mush" in the disc space to help with the fusion. He did a laminectomy at the same time and used that bone so there wasn't a second incision for harvesting. My one incision is about 3" long.

I wonder why no hardware? I haven't had to wear a brace and have had a relatively easy time of it. Off pain meRAB day after surgery and back to work the day after I got out of the hospital (stay was 5 days)

I'd like to know why no hardware.

You'll make the right decision



------------------
gbr

JDD
2 Discograms
4 Level failed IDET
4 Confirmed torn lurabar discs, 2 full thickness
Issues now with c-spine & thoracic
Fusion of L5/S1 scheduled 3/5/03
Fusion successful - feeling better all the time
 
Hi, Thanks for your reply.I hope that your recovery is a quick one.I am very nervous about not being able to work after this surgery.Are you able to sleep at night?
How is it getting out of bed?
What drove you to get Fusion surgery.I don't want to sound like a pest but the psycological impact on this decision is overwelming and I want to make sure I'm making the right decision.
Thanks Again, Tophatter
 
tophatter
I will let you know. I am having the PLIF next Tuesday and the doctor is going to use the new surgery method. No long incisions. Just 4 small holes to put instruments thru. I will have thr roRAB and screws and will have a brace for about 4 months, but no muscle cuts and the ehaling time is supposed to reduced greatly this way.
Good luck on yours. I will post when I get home next week,
Alex
 
go*big*red
I was wondering what kind of job you have. Sure seems strange a doctor would allow you to go back to work after only 6 days post surgery. Anyway,, congraRAB
Hope we all are that fortunate
 
Hey, I was to be part of the study/ where you wake up not knowing whether or not you had the fusion or the disk replacement, but after a bone scan , my facet joints were weak and that eliminated me, so thats how I went for the fusion, I think it was a good choice, I can't wait to be able to walk 3/4 mile.

Sleeping at night is horrible, though and they gave me arabien, but today my stomache is on fire, of course right below in the incision, so I can't win there, but good luck.. if you go to spine universe.com, look up your options, they may help Jane
 
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