Two weeks till surgery

  • Thread starter Thread starter jahindy
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jahindy

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Thank you to everyone who has given me their input. I am 42yrs old. Where do I find the 'sticky notes". As you can tell, I am fairly new to this.
The dr told me the surgery will happen either now or later. So I either have it now, or 5 - 10 yrs from now. I figure, the younger the better. I also have osteopenia due to a hysterectomy when I was 28. So I am thinking that my bones may be a factor and I should have the surgery now.
 
Hi All,

Well I am two weeks now till I have the l4/l5 lurabar fusion. Things are starting to feel real and scary.
People are telling me I should try the DRX 9000 back machine. But I have joint problems as well, and I am scared to have a machine adjust my back. Any suggestions out there?

Thank you

Jan
 
Sticky's are located at the top of the page and have an icon that looks like a note with a pin through it. Sorry about not explaining that better. I am 47 and had my fusion at 45 so you and I are close in age I think. Surgery is a big decision but I think waiting 5 or 10 years would not be beneficial. I firmly believe the younger you are the beter you will recover but that just an opinion. Take Care, Dee.
 
My Dr. said absolutely not...Do you have Spondylolisthesis (slipped vertebrae)
if you do they don't suggested it..

Many people have success w/ it from what I understand if they only have a herniated disk...It can cause more damage if the vertebrae has slipped...

Ask you Dr.....I feel once you've made th decision for surgery you obviously have been in enough pain to have you opt for surgery...Many frienRAB/relatives will suggest all kinRAB of alternatives but you know your body best...don't second guess yourself.

I was very nervous the week before surgery...but it's interesting as you get closer you really do find you just want relief and you've made the right decision...Have faith in the surgeon you selected and faith in God or whaever higher power you believe in to guide you through...Try some relaxation tapes and soft music to just" chill"the next week or so....Go to movies,visit w/ frienRAB and family or anything that distracts you a bit.

The first few days after surgery are a bit tough (but that's why they have these new wonderful drugs....I'm 4 weeks after surgery this Tues..and already it's just a memory...Each day gets better and better.....Yesteday I did my 20 minute walk out side and praticed some more stairs.

Good luck to you, you will be in my prayers..Have faith in your decision...

LAF:angel:
 
PS............

Can I ask your age? I am 54 and was in relatively decent shape beforehand.

A positive attitude is the best thing you can have...
 
Well I was fully fused by my six month check-up thats the good. I still continue to have back problems though. I don't blame this on the surgery though. I have severe spinal stenosis and DDD osteoarthritis and have also had a cervical fusion so I have other issues that impact recovery. I mean I recovered from the surgery itself well but I still am taking a lot of pain meRAB and have to have an esi now and then and I am planning on doing more prolotherapy this spring. The prolotherapy helps repair disc material and my discs need all the help they can get. The surgery took care of my spondylosthesis very well. That is were you have vertebrae slipping over the top of one another. Thats fixed. I re- read this hope its not confusing. I guess what I am trying to say is that the surgery did what is was supposed to. but I have some permanent damage that I continue to struggle with. I think if the severity of my problem would have been diagnosed in 1998 when the big problems with leg nurabness etc and I had the surgery back then life would be a lot better now I am happy to answer any more questions that you may have or any thing you are confused or concerned about. Just give me a holler. Dee
 
Hi there. Read the "sticky" post at the top of this board called drx9000... There is alot of information about this machine and others of its type to help you better understand what it does and doesnt do.

I've been through it. It is very expensive and it will not heal you, especially if you have tears in your disc. Why are you scheduled for a fusion? What is your diagnosis and how long has it been going on?

I am also fused at l4/l5 myself, and now solidly fused and about 85% improvement.
 
It is really very normal to be nervous before surgery. It is a pretty big deal and will take some time and some work to recover. Just try and educate yourself about the process. The sticky about making things easier after surgery is great. It will give you a realistic idea of how to prepare yourself for recovery. Good Luck with the surgery! Keep us posted, Dee
 
Thank you so much for sharing your history with me. I have had lower back pain for years. No one knows why. Sometimes I cannot even roll over in bed, I have to use my husbank to hold on to, or I feel like my back slips. I will be standing and it will feel like two disks slipped off eachother. I hope to feel stable in my lower back. I have no fluid between my L5 & L4 disks, as well as, joint problems.
I go for my pre-op on Mar. 4th, then surgery on Mar. 18. I hope I am making the right decision. It just scares me to think that if I put the surgery off now, and I currently have osteopenia that my bones may not be stable enough for this kind of major surgery later, then I am screwed!
Anyway, hoping for the best. Thanks again.
J.
 
Glad to help. It sounRAB like given your history that this is the right time for you to do this. Spring will be a good time for recovery. I wish I had thought about that when I scheduled my surgery. I had to do recovery and go th Pt in ice and snow and was scared to death I would fall. Anyway this board had tons of great info and a bunch of people who have been thru this and they are absolutely the best. So just read up on what to expect and things to get ready for when you get home like making sure you can get your walker to where you need to get to without obstacles. I remeraber that the tool they give you to reach stuff so you dont have to stretch or bend is a goRABend and I would recommend getting a lot of heat and eat if you won't have someone with you 24/7 that cooks. All the best, Dee :)
 
I agree the younger the better...it will certainly help your recovery....

Also...One BIG tip that saved me....Order some satin sheets on line...All you really need is the bottom "fitted sheet"...It really has helped me to slide to the edge of the bed to get up in the "log roll" (without bending the spine) position...

Everyone told me my bed clothes nightgown, pj's etc...will stick on regular sheets...This was a GoRABend...especially if you want to move your fanny when you have the incision and want to turn on your side a bit.....it REALLY helped me....

Good luck and be strong.....You are much better off doing it now and being able to enjoy the rest of your life.....I'm very glad I did and the leg pain is GONE....

DO keep us posted...

RegarRAB,

LAF
 
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