Spinal fusion

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jweidele1967

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Hi,
thank you you made me feel a little better I have since slowed down but still having a hard time. tried not taking pain meRAB but thats not going to happen for a while.
Janice
 
Hope everyone is doing well. Why is a spinal fusion done? What does it fix or try to fix?

a
 
Just a little background on myself. I am 44 yrs old a female and have had some back trouble for yrs but nothing real major. I would visit the chiropractor...get adjusted and be ok for few months. That was til about October of '07. The pain got so bad I couldnt stand it any longer. My family dr had me try PT, it only made matters worse. Needless to say, after trying everything we knew to try, he referred me to an orthepedic dr and we found out that I had a serious problem. I, according to him had bone rubbing bone at the L5-S1, so surgery was a must really. No pain med was helping at this time so I felt I had to try surgery. In March "08 I had a fusion, and thought I was on the road to recovery until August of the same yr when I awoke one morning to find that I could not put any weight on my leg without excruciating pain. I find out that the fusion did not take. So, we go back and do another in Septeraber. He puts a plate and screws in thinking that it would help things this time. Well, again I think I am doing fine until Deceraber, I go backwarRAB again. Except this time it is both legs that are causing me pain. Lots of pain. We do MRI'S and xrays and nerve tests and know that there is a problem but he doesnt seem to know what to do about it. So, here I am still dealing with this horrible pain that no pain med seems to be able to take care of and two huge scars for what seems like nothing. I am seeing a neurosurgeon now who has sceduled a myleogram for the 26th of this month that should determine the problem. My point is this, if I had it to do over I would go to a neurosurgeon in the beginning and not a orthopedic doctor but at the time I dint know any better and went where my family dr suggested. When there are nerves involved you need a neurosurgeon. I dont know if when he went in there he messed those nerves up or what but I am in a mess now. To be honest, there are times I hurt worse than I did before my first surgery.
 
Hi there -
I posted a message earlier and then saw yours - you sound just like me! I was doing great after my Feb. 12 fusion (L5 S1) - still on pain meRAB, but my doctor said that's normal. Was walking, going to work, etc., with some recidual pain, but it was truly getting better - not running my life like before. On Friday night, I sat through a three-hour graduation on a metal folding chair. Today I can barely take the pain I'm in! Down my left leg all the way to the sole of my foot, and both buttocks are BURNING. I'm so scared I set myself back permanently!!! I'm also so sick of people saying, "What's wrong? Wasn't your surgery supposed to fix you?" It's so frustrating...without a gaping wound to show for it, people think you're fine. And actually, I put on a pretty good act for most everyone - what else are we supposed to do? Moan and cry all day? Well, that's what I feel like doing right now! I'm praying this is a temporary setback...
 
SAP2008, I think it the amount of activity must be very dependent on the individual. I'm still on the percocet (18 days after surgery), but I am able to walk for 30+ minutes, and sit just as long (in a very comfortable desk chair). If I let the pain meRAB wear off, I do get very uncomfortable though. As much as I hate them, I want to make sure I continue to move to promote healing.

I'm wearing a corset (sp?) type brace. The dr. said it is only for my "comfort", but I continue to wear it as a constant reminder not to bend. I want to do everything correct so that the fusion takes and I can get back to an active lifestyle (4 years ago I was a marathoner...2 years ago, I could barely go shopping with my wife).

The "cabin fever" is hardest part now. I try not to let it depress me, but that is a challenge! I just keep telling myself, a few more months, and I will be me again.

Best.

klw
 
I had spinal fusion L5 S1 March 17 felt great for first 4 weeks only surgery pain. now feeling alot of soreness standing or sitting to long is big problem. Dr says I am probably doing to much. anyone else have this problem. pain before surgery is gone. Does any one have same problem. very frustrated had no pain for few weeks after 8 years of being in pain.
 
Hi yes i had nurabness but not alot down my leg The injections made me worse too that is why I wouldn't have them done again.
 
Yup, I hear the same thing...and I had SI joint fusion last June...(but didn't fuse right away..)...Dr. said to sit back down if I felt back starting to ache....doing too much... I am trying to listen. 8 weeks...is still early days, wonderful that your pre surgery pain is gone.....rest and let the back fuse.

Sage..
 
Hi Janice,
I thought for sure I'd be off all pain meRAB 12 weeks after my fusion surgery, but I'm not there yet. I felt like a failure or something - but my doctor hasn't questioned my need for the medication yet, so maybe it's normal. I'm seeing my surgeon on Friday and hope to discuss the residual pain I'm still having (down my leg, burning in my buttocks and left hip). Take care!

Robyn
 
Yes, the level of activity varies by individual and by day...Yesterday, my husband took me to the park and I was able to walk -slowly- for a whole hour without pain. Today, I'm not in pain but I just don't have the energy to go out for a short walk ;-( ...
I had to stop taking oxycodone and the like because it was making me hallucinate, I had the wildest nightmares and couldn't breath well... Thank God, my pain is not bad... I did developed a horrible allergic reaction to the glue in the sterile strip, it was so itchy!!! After 2 weeks, the rash has not completely healed yet... But I do have to count my blessings, I have read so many more complicated situations in this board, what I'm going through is not that bad after all ;-)
 
Hi I am so glad you replied you sound just like me I agree with everything you said. exspecially about people saying you should be feeling better. I have 3 grown children and there girlfrienRAB and boyfriend living with us and it seems I still have to do everything. they woun't do the housework unless I ask them to. I am going for an exray this morning just for myself to see what my back looks like but hoping if anything doesn't look right the dr will get the report. I am only 8 weeks since surgey. so i guess its kinda early yet. but I am still very frustrated sleeping is getting to be a problem again,
thanks for your reply
janice
 
I'm a 34 year old male. When I was 29, I played volleyball all day at a family reunion and could barely walk the next day. That is the first time I remeraber my back hurting...but not the last. Over the next 2 years, it progressively got worse. It got to the point that it hurt all day, every day. I started with an Orthepedist, and tried everything: Physical Therapy (made it worse), Epideral injection (no help), Facet Joint injections (no help), Radio Frequency Lessioning - they burn off the nerves (increased pain 10-fold), chiropractor (made it worse), accupuncture w/ stem (no help), Personal Training (made it worse - but I looked good ;)...Finally I gave up on the dr I saw for 3 years b/c he seemed to just keep sending me for more and more injections.

I ended up going to a Nuerosurgeon/Ortho (Dr. Haid in Atlanta, GA). He tried one more injection, which did nothing, and he decided the Orthopedic route of a Lurabar Fusion was the way to go. I'm optomistic that I am going to feel relief. I'm trying VERY hard to do everything right...no lifting, no bending, etc, etc. Stories like yours scare me, but I try to maintain a positive outlook, which we all know is difficult.

Good luck with your next myleogram - Hopefully you will be on mend soon!
 
Hi, I am 10 weeks since my L4-5 fusion, and doing okay. I last about 2 hrs upright before I really hurt and haveto lay down for a bit, sitting I only last about a half hr before it startes really hurting my back. I am on 10mg Vicoden 3x a day, and also neurontin 900mg at night, the neurontin worked great to block the nerve pains even thou I get some breakthru when I am pushing myself too much. I started to drive again after 6 weeks or so, I was mainly bedridden for 7 months prior to this fusion, and now that my mega gimp is gone mostly from the neurontin I have tendonitis in my foot from using muscles and tendons I havent normally used due to the severe limp. Ugk!

I had 2 surgeries in 5 months time, the first reherniated was a 2 level microdiscectomy, one of the 2 levels reherniated very largely and i had to get a fusion the 2nd time around.
I'm still worrying about scar tisssue.

Cabin fever was the worst, I hate my bedroom terribly, sick of looking at the same things when I'm recovered I'm redoing my room! I dont really go for walks, just do the norm (as much as I can) thru the day, goto the store, shop, I can clean up my house some now but can't vaccuum, I tried it hurts too badly. I go for an xray in a few days @ the dr I'll see if hopefully I'm starting to fuse even thou I think from reading that it's rather early for that. BUT HAY I can hope right?

Take care, know its normal, and not hard to do too much when we're itching to get back to as normal as we can be.
 
I had the surgery on April 29, so I'm nearly a month post-op. I've worked up to walking over a mile on a high-school track (flat, soft surface). I do still have soreness and a lot of muscle aches, but I'm still optimistic that the surgery will prove successful! With any luck, a few more weeks (months) and I will be pain (and pain killer) free!
Before the surgery, I was given pain killers, but didn't bother taking them, b/c like you, they didn't help my pain. They just made me feel like crap all when I was on them and even worse when I came off of them (hangover and depression). Now, the pain killers are helping the pain, but I hope to ween off of them as quickly as possible (though not too quick!).
 
Hi You sound just like I did 8 years ago I had all the injections, braces etc. and nothing worked. so finally 8 years later i went in for a fusion I am still not feeling good if i take my pain meRAB I am ok but without them I really hurt which before surgery vicodin didn't work at all if i don't take it I can barely walk aroud it really sucks to be in pain all the time. did you already have surgery?
 
Hi - I'm so glad I sturabled upon this web site! I had a new type of fusion called TruFuse for L5-S1 w/facet joint stabilizers. I had a very difficult recovery but was feeling better finally (it's been exactly three months). Was walking, going to work, etc., with some recidual pain, but was able to keep the pain meRAB down to about 1-2 vicodin a day. On Friday night, I sat through a three-hour graduation on a metal folding chair. Today I can barely take the pain I'm in! Down my left leg all the way to the sole of my foot, and both buttocks are BURNING. Please - someone tell me I just made a stupid decision and I'll get back to where I was! I've been walking at least a mile a day 3/4 days per week and have been doing PT excercises/stretches three to four times a week. I'm so scared I set myself back permanently!!! Please help if you've gone through this and have gotten back on track...
 
Hi Jweidele, and welcome to the board!

Yep, I agree with your doctor! SounRAB very reasonable. At one month post-op, you're still very early on in your recovery. If you were increasing your activity at that point, your pain would certainly increase, too. At one month post-op, I was still mostly in bed. Let pain be your guide. Listen to your body. If you're hurting, you need to stop and rest. You need to walk as much as you can tolerate to get bone growth going, but your body has also been through a lot and neeRAB to rest in order to heal. The mantra is rest and walk, rest and walk, rest and walk...

How are you doing otherwise? This is a great place to come with your questions. There are lots of us hanging around who have been through it already and are happy to help you from our own experiences.

I wish you the best! And hi, Sage!!! Long time no hear! Hope you're doing better.

Take care,
Emily
 
Hi,

I was wondering how you guys were doing? I hope all of you are feeling better!!!

SAP
 
Hi Janice and Robin,

If you don't mind, would you tell us what your doctors say about the pain -why it comes back? what can you do to make it better?... I like my doctor but he's has the attitude that everything is normal, part of the process and he won't say much...:mad: yet when I went for opinions to 6 different surgeons they made it sound like I was going to be perfectly well within 5 to 7 weeks after surgery... I should've known this was unrealistic but...whatever... now I can only keep on going with getting better and hopefully learn from some of you that have similar experiences.

Thank you and hope you feel better!

SAP
 
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