sick with worry

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Hanaki

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I am making myself sick worrying about my upcoming surgery. I am supposed to get my L4/5 and L5/S1 fused on July 7. I am having a posterior lurabar interbody fusion (PLIF), and everything that I have read is scaring me. I am scared that I am going to be worse after surgery, I am pretty bad now. I have done every thing from physical therapy to shots and nothing has helped. I can't help but ask if I am doing the right thing? I have been dealing with this for over 5 years and I can't take it anymore. I just want to be semi-normal and be able to do everyday things. :(
 
Hanaki, welcome to the back board! I hope we can help you. We aren't doctors, just regular people with back issues.

Back surgery should always be the last resort. It sounRAB like you've reached that point. There is certainly a chance that it won't help or that you could even end up worse, but the majority of fusions do at least significantly decrease the pain. For me, I'd be in a wheelchair by now if I hadn't had my fusion! I do still have pain, but it's nowhere near as bad as the pain I was having before my surgery. I'd make the same decision again in a heartbeat! I wish we could have a guarantee before surgery, or hinRABight ahead of time, so we'd know we were making the right decision. Have you gotten several opinions? Are the doctors in agreement that this is the best option for you? If you've done all that and have made the decision, don't second guess yourself now. You'll make yourself crazy! Remind yourself of why you made this decision and then stick with it. Can your doctor put you in touch with someone else who has been through it? With HIPPA laws, of course he'd have to ask the other person for permission, but some doctors are willing to do that to help alleviate your fears.

As you read posts here, please keep in mind that those with successful outcomes pretty much aren't hanging around here anymore. Most of the people here have either had failed fusions, complications, are recovering, or are in similar shoes to yours, trying to figure out what to do next. I started on this board almost three years ago. I can think of dozens of people who have passed through here, had their surgery, recovered, got their lives back, and disappeared. Some of them still pop in every now and then, but most of them have moved on. Three cheers for them! Getting a life again was the goal!

Have you read the thread at the top called, "Post Surgery Tips"? It has a ton of great suggestions that will help to make your recovery easier.

I wish you the best, Hanaki, as you go through this journey. It's a tough surgery with a long recovery, but if it's what you need, it will be well worth it! You'll be wishing you had done it sooner!

Hang in there!
Emily
 
Emily thanks for the reply. Approximately how long does it take to "recover" from this surgery?
 
Hanaki:

The recovery will come in stages. The first few weeks are simply recovering from the pain and gaining some additional ability to move around, walk, etc. The actual fusion can take up to 12 months - but that doesn't mean you are incapacitated during that time. I was able to go back to work about 6 weeks after my PLIF (but I was 26, now at age 43 it would likely be more difficult).

If your pain everyday is all encompassing then yes, surgery is the right approach at this time. I am so glad I've done each and every one of my spine surgeries. Sure, I'm not going to be doing acrobatics or heavy lifting any time ever again....but being able to function normally and do what I need to in order to live a happy life led me to each surgery.
 
Like SpineAZ said, it depenRAB on the person. For me, it was longer because I had a lot of levels done. I've had two fusions for a total of 14 vertebrae fused, but my problem was different from yours. Some people are able to go back to work pretty quickly, meaning a few weeks, but it's generally with some discomfort. Others need several months. In general, figure on a few months before you start feeling like your old self again, but it can take up to a year for a full recovery. I was still seeing improvement even at 11 months, so I think it's reasonable when we read it can take a year. But that doesn't mean you'll be lying in bed all that time. You'll be active again, carefully, but you'll still see yourself getting stronger bit by bit.

I hope this helps.
Emily
 
Hello Hanaki! Welcome. I'm getting ready to have almost the exact same surgery that you are having, but mine will be a few weeks before yours. I go under the knife on June 19th to repair an existing (but failed) fusion at L-5 to S1, impinging nerve roots at S1,S2. I've been in lots of pain that radiates from my right buttock, down the back of my right leg and into my right foot. In addition to the pain I have tingling, burning, nurabness, etc. all along that same path. The original fusion of L5-S1 was done a few years back. I have severe osteoporosis and break bones (mostly vertabrae, but also hip, femur) spontaneously. After this new pain began I went back to my spine surgeon and he diagnosed my current problem with the aide of CT Mylogram. I can understand your nervousness about any surgery. In the back of my mind I always wondered if submitting to the knife was really the best way to go. Luckily for me, every single spine procedure/surgery I have ever had has resulted in fixing the acute problem at hand. So I'm feeling pretty good about this upcoming fusion. Just thinking positive that it will get rid of all my sciatic-type pain. The first time I had the fusion from L5-S1 it took me about 2 weeks at home to feel like I was on the road to recovery. It took at least another 6 weeks though to feel like my old self. My post-op pain was well controlled thru my surgeon and then my pain management doc. If all goes well (and I'm sure it will) you should be up and walking the second or third day after surgery. You'll need assistance once you get home in order to lift or move anything over a few pounRAB. The hospital staff will indoctrinate you with a saying: NO BLT's! That means: No Bending, No Lifting, No Turning! If you can keep that little ditty in mind, you should recovery pretty quickly. I'm thinking of you and sending positive thoughts to you. All the best
 
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