Upcoming TLIF and LOT of ?s

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mickeyluver

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Hello everyone :wave:
I am schuduled for a TLIF surgery on 9/28/10 and I am EXTREMLY nervous :(
I have had many, many operations before, but this one seems to get me a little more worked up and nervous since its my back in all.
I have so many questions! I have read alot of different boarRAB on here which help out alot, but also scare me a lil more too! If anyone can help me answer a few questions and that has had this done recently Id greatly appreciate it!
1:how bad is it when u wake up? 2:are you sitting up when you wake up?
3:How bad is it the first time they try to get you out of bed and how soon after? 4:Are you able to sleep laying down or sitting up and whats more comfortable? 5:Will I ever be able to bend again? (that worrys me) 6: Is it true your legs are really painful from them pulling your nerves to the side?
7: How is it going to the bathroom and showering after returning home?
8: Im a smoker and plan on quiting while Im in the hospital, (figure thats a good way to help me while I know I can smoke) do they or can they offer u the patch or chantix to help you through this?
So those are a few questions I have for now! Thanks in advance to anyone that wants to give me some imput!


Sue:wave:
 
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Hi, Sue. It sure is nerve wracking waiting for the surgery date. Right now I am scheduled for a myelogram-ct scan to see if I am going to have to have another lurabar surgery (nuraber 7), so I understand your nervousness, believe me.

I'll try to answer your questions as best I can, as far as my personal experiences, but keep in mind that everyone is different and reacts in different ways.

1. Well, I expect it's different for everyone and a lot depenRAB on just what has been done. I didn't feel a lot of pain until I tried to move, lol. And it was pretty intense. However, that was a lot of years ago (1983) and they did things different. With my following surgeries, I didn't find it that bad.

2. No, you will probably be lying flat or slightly elevated.

3. Have to be honest and tell you that getting up the first time is not my idea of a good time. BUT, they give you instructions and if you follow them, the pain should subside very quickly. You will instinctively want to lie back down but don't! Once on the way up, the secret is to pull up as quickly as possibly to a sitting position. Then, after you sit for a few minutes, the nurses will have you take several steps and then back to bed. They'll also instruct you on how best to get into the bed and it really does make it easier

4. You will have help turning from side to side, from back to side, etc the first couple of days. When on your side, ask for a pillow between your legs and one behind your back. You'll be a lot more comfy. When on your back, have someone put a pillow under your knees, that helps, too.

5. Your doctor will advise you not to bend from the waist; instead learn to bend at the knee. Much easier on your back whether you have back problems or not. But certainly, after back surgery it is best to avoid bending from the waist.

6. Some people do, some don't. Hard to say. Again, this will depend on what has to be done during the surgery.

7. Going to the bathroom will be easier if you get a "riser" to make the seat higher. If you can't do that, then hold onto your caretakers arm to help you get up. Dr. will advise when you can have a shower.

8. No, they won't offer the patch or chantix to help with the smoking cessation. Ask your dr. if it will be okay to use the patch or ask him to prescribe Chantix, tho it will be awfully expensive and I doubt that your ins. will pay for it. Kinda stupid since quitting is so beneficial to your health!

Well, I hope this helps answer some of those nagging questions. Feel free to ask more if you have them and please keep posting!

Carol
 
Hi Carol!!

I wasnt exspecting anyone to reply so soon! Thank you so much!!
I hope to be laying flat when I wake up. Seems like it would be better, or maybe not since I wount have to feel the pain to get elevated some. Im so not looking forward to the first time trying to get up or even trying to walk for the 1st time. Ive heard that you kinda feel like a robot or "unhuman"?? I actually have a little wedge type pillow I use every night (and hubby hates it lol) that i put between my knees or under my back kinda if Im laying on my back/side. I cant lay flat for very long anyways. I usually do bend with my knees when Im feeling alot of pain, and Im trying to do it more and get used to it so I will for sure do it after surgery. Im affraid I will bend accidently and it will be unbelievably painful and Ill jerk myself up or something. But maybe being in pain, I will automatically know not to and it wont happen by accident. I am also trying to have my mom get my grandmas potty seat thingy, shower seat and walker that is no longer in use since she is now past on...Im sure she'll laugh seeing me use them after her lol I think my insurence would cover the patch but the chantix is VERY expensive. And that stuff is awful too!! I was in the hospital in Jan for 6 days and I was fine without smoking, and came home and 3 days later I got weak and started up again :(
But I think this will be different for me and knowing I REALLY have to QUIT in order for this fusion to work more effectivly an be a success, cuz I know already I DONT wanna go through this again!!
Ive also heard people have gotten that button thing to push when you are in pain. Which would be great since everytime Ive called for my nurse with the call button it takes forever and then having them get your meRAB is like a lifetime, and thats not what I wanna deal with at all!! I am going to be a wreck the day before and morning of. My son actually has to have ear surgery the day before as well. They should just keep me there, and have me prepped and ready by 6am!! What are some of the things they do before they take you back? Like I know they do catheter, is that before or when they put you out? Stupid question, but I dred those lil things lol!! I have had many surgerys, including 7 inguinal hernia repairs, 4 laporoscopys, and 2 c-sections, but I dont think any of them compare to this one coming up, and I am exspecting ALOT more things to be different, and WAY more painful. Even though hernia repairs and no cup of tea and extremely painful and wouldnt wish one of those on anyone. Sorry for my long nagging...Thank you for replying!! Oh...and when was your last back surgery?

Sue:wave:
 
Hi again, Sue. Well, yes, they will start an IV of course, the anesthesiologist will come and talk with you, surgeon may drop in for a minute. The catheter will be placed after you are asleep (YAY) . Oh, you will have one of those button thingies (lol) to press. It will dispense morphine when you need pain relief.

My last surgery was 3-4 years ago for bone spurs impinging on nerves. I am having the same kind of problem this time I think, but not going to be sure until after the myelogram and ct. With a back like mine, it is had to be sure what is going on. Having strong back pain right across the top of the lurabar area, legs are getting weak, burning in the left posterier thigh, sharp pains in the buttocks......in other worRAB, I'm a mess! Lol. I feel for my poor surgeon who has to sort all this out, hahahaha. He's a wonderful doctor tho, and I have all the faith in the world in him. He's done my last 3 surgeries and I can find nothing to complain about.

Stay in touch Sue and keep me updated and I will do the same. I have my tests on Friday of this week, so I will post something that evening or the next day to let you know what I find out.

Carol
 
Hi there :wave:,

Well...I had my surgery on Sept 28th....Man was that a tea party!! I thought I wanted to die when I woke up! OMG!! Can u say TORTURE??? WOW!! Then...I had super pain shootin' down my left leg...MRI showed one of the screws were screwed right into the nerve sack. Man did that hurt! So, only 5 days later I had to go back in there and have it taken out, and replaced :(
Then, waking up for a 2nd time really wasnt too bad since I knew how bad it would be. So I was in the hospital til Oct 14th then. Came home and my mother inlaw drove from NY to help since my hubby had to go back to work. My legs kept sweeling up because I couldnt use my walker the right way and had to crotch myself around on it. They got bigger n bigger and I finally went to the ER cuz they hurt soooo bad...they wanted to reamit me. I said No, ONLY because my nurses I had were soooooo bad when I was there. Went back home on a sunday...throught the week they would get bigger and hurt even more to where a sheet rubbing across them would put me through the roof. It was last friday and my nurse was here at my house and she called the doc to tell them the measurements of my legs and that they were even biggerthen the last time she seen me 2 days prier. So they said I must go back in something has got to be wrong and to readmit myself that day. So, I packed my things once again. They did all the same test and a ECHO test. I woke up Oct 30th and looked at my legs and they went down soooo much! I was sooo happy then! I had them leg things on that they put you in after surgey that blow up and work as if ur moving them to act like circulaion is moving as I laid there. Halloween comes...I wanted nothing more then to see my kiRAB go out with daddy even if I couldnt walk with them out in the cold! So they wanted to weigh me and see if I lost weight and if I did I could go home that day! Before surgery I weighed 116 and in the E.R. I weighed 156!!:eek: That day I weighed 142...they let me leave a 3pm on oct 31st! Today....my legs are back to normal size I started with!!:D All the swelling is gone everywhere and Im feeling different everyday! There are some things Im worried about... My left foot, when I try to walk and bend my toes, 2 of them get a shocking feel to them, and my hanRAB are nurab. First it was my right ring finger only, and now it is both and up to my wrist with the nurabness. Feels like I took my hanRAB to the denist and they shot them with novacane. I dont lika that!! So i see my doc next week for post op. Let me know what ya think!! Thanks!
 
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