What is it called

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Linda_in_NJ

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I am looking for the name of the surgery my doctor wants me to have. I have spondyliolisthesis and no disc at level 3-4. He neeRAB to cut me in the front and then my back to make a 360 degree fusion. Does that sound right? Also what happens to the disc that is gone? I would really like it if I knew what I was talking about.;) Also ladies, I had my legs and bikini area waxed yesterday due to the fact I cannot shave my legs without screaming in pain. A few hours later my legs were all tingly like pins and needles. It went away today but do you guys think it's due to my nerves. Thanks for all comments. Linda
 
Linda

that sounRAB like an anterior lurabar interbody fusion (ALIF) but I could be wrong. As for the waxing I am not sure, I was going to do the same thing since my surgery is on July 7 but now I am having second thoughts...

good luck and gentle hugs Hanaki
 
I had a two level ALIF/PLIF fusion. I don't know that there is a set name for it. Anterior/Posterior. Front/Back. There is alot of good info on this forum from people who have had the same thing done. If you don't know EXACTLY what your doctor is going to do-GO BACK IN. Make sure someone sits down and explains it step by step using props if needed until you tell them you really understand. My doctor used a "cage" to replace the disc. He opened me up, used a device like a carjack to jack open the disc area that had deteriorated, put in the "cage" , packed it with BMP and ground up bone from all my bone spurs on my spine and sewed me shut. Then he flipped me over(would have loved to have seen that!) and opened up the back to put in the pedicle screws and rod/plate to hold it all together while waiting for my spine to 'fuse" or become one solid piece from L4-S1.BMP-bone morphegenic protein-is a kind of "clay" that hardens and becomes one with your spine, replacing the disc and re-aligning your spine. I am not a doctor and beg you to see yours till they explain this all to you-I have just had to explain it to SO MANY people since July 06! :) Within 8 months I was 90% back to normal taking minimal pain meRAB (and shaving my own legs!). Three years out I have pain associated with scar tissue that is only the fault of genetics. I happen to scar heavier than others. I am still 80% of where I was before spine trouble tho-I will take that over all that pain! I work full time, keep my house, run my kiRAB everywhere and spend many hours doing my favorite thing-working in my garden.
I hope this helps someone.
Blessings,
Michelle :angel:
 
I too had the 360 sugery. Had 3 discs replaced. They opened the front first, and did stitches there, then flipped me over and did the back side-which took longer due to the arthritis they scraped and the muscled they stretched. My 3-5 hour surgery turned into an 8.5 hour ordeal.

I suffered complications the day after, my back broke above where the fusion had been done. No one listened to me and the staff got me up twice a day to walk with a broken back for a week until my doctor got back from his out of town conference.

To make a long and painful story short I ended up back in surgery for another 6 hours and I am now fused from T9 down to my sacrum. i really don't bend and will live with some degree of pain the rest of my life. As my pain management dr. says, surgery is not always the answer.

I walk with a cane in public-at home I use nothing. I work 40 plus hours a week and live an as active a life as I can. I don't do as much as I did gefore the surgery, and I do regret that, but my back was getting to the point that I couldn't go on without the sugery. Just make sure you are comfortable with the explanation your surgeon gives you. Be aware that you will not recover as fast as you want to. Recovery is not pain free and it will hurt worse than anything you can imagine. Be prepared to work hard in therapy to get yourself back into the swing of things again. As long s you are prepared, you will fare OK.
 
Thanks all for the input. That's what the doctor did call the procedure and it sounRAB like hell. But if it will help my legs and I can walk better and longer then I guess it's worth it. My husband was thinking of taking several weeks off from work right afterwarRAB so I am sure that is going to help. I haven't scheduled it yet, probably sometime in August.
Hanaki, good luck on your surgery for July and ibake&pray & atwork I hope every day gets better for you. I will be checking in on the boarRAB every day for some new reports. Linda
 
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