Spinal Fusion Recovery

16 years ago

Hey All,

Just two weeks shy of three months recovery of l5s1 lamisectomy and fusion. The pain is still at or about 5-6 level. Stopped taking the nasty oxicontin, and have been suffering horrible back spasms in addition to the pain.

My question is directed to anyone who's experienced the same surgery. What recovery techniques, ie therapy, did you find to benefit most?

My surgeon said he's finished with me, and that all looks good. I'm thinking of headin to my GP for a script to therapy.

Happy new year all.

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Comments (7)

littleonefb
16 years ago
Here's a link to the best site on the web for the info that you are looking for.
Wonderful medical info, forums to read and post with questions and a chat to talk talk to people that can provide with first hand information

Good luck in your recovery

Fran

Here is a link that might be useful: spine-health.com
iasheff
16 years ago
My 22 year old daughter just had her 2nd spinal fusion on Dec 19. Her first
one was when she was 17-- it was l5-s1. This time they removed the old screws
and replaced them with larger screws (the original were pediatric screws);
they fused up to l3--and added 4 more screws plus the rods. They also
put 'cross bars'. She is getting along wonderfully. Her pain level is down to
3 or 4. A lot of that may be because of her age! Also, the surgeon didn't
use bone from her hip this time. My daughter says that made a big difference.
Because of her previous surgery, she was a candidate for a 'miracle-gro' type
of artificial bone that insurance companies don't pay for over 99% of the time.

By 3 months out on her first surgery, she was back to practicing varsity
basketball. By six months, she was at 0 pain level and playing varsity ball. I am sure this time will
be very similar. We have heard all the horror stories about how she will
never be pain free. She will have all sorts of limitations, blah, blah, blah
by having surgery but it just hasn't been true. The surgery was the best thing
we could have done for her.

Getting active as soon as you are physically able will help. I think she is
walking well over a mile a day already. She walks and then changes to the ice brace to help keep the swelling down.

She has a condition called spondylolisthesis, which is the cause of her
problems.

Good luck!
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Thanks Michael. I appreciate what you posted about the cherite, especially if the degeneration takes more disks and the maverick never makes it here. Right now the cherite is fresh out of testing and in order to qualify, you can't have any other back problems, which was another reason for me wanting to go to Germany. When doing my research I came across all sorts of cherite pages and wondered when the US would catch up to Germany. They have all sorts of different back surgery products, the lady I saw was supposed to get 3 maverick levels with something called a Wallis implant. She ended up with only the maverick. The problem I have is doctors can't tell if my fusion failed. Looking at Xrays, they see what looks like incomplete fusion; so I'll get rods added next Wednesday to see if it helps. Germany never answered my question if they would try to pull the cage out to use the maverick, so I decided to stay local. I doubt I could handle the long plane ride there.
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Kathy, Sorry you having so much trouble, but glad the initial surgery is over. I was very lucky with my surgery and didn't have too much trouble afterward. I never had to take any pain meds stronger than a BC Powder, and my surgeon could not understand this because he said grown men beg for meds after the surgery. I know I have a high threshold for pain. My hip has never caused me any problems at all other than the skin over the incision tends to become dry and itchy. I had an unstable back fracture at L1 so my fusion is higher than yours, but I can't bend at the waist either, and also can't turn. I can turn my head, or my whole body, and nothing in between. In addition to the fusion, they added Harrington rods, so I have a lot of area tied off. They had intended to leave the rods about 2 years and then remove them, but I moved, had different doctors, different insurance, etc. and that just didn't happen. I have done really well and can do most things although I may do them in a different way. The first year and a half will be the worst, but after that you will have learned how to deal with it all and not hurt yourself doing it. I tell you all of this for several reasons. I hope it will help you to cope until you are feeling better. I had the surgery in 1986 and had very little pain until the last year or so, except the one listed below. Shortly after the surgery several things did happen to me, and you may have some of the same issues. (1) I had a metal taste in my mouth as if my fillings were melting. LOL I don't know if it was my body reacting to the metal in my back or what, but that lasted about a year. (2) The muscle burning still happens to me across my shoulders. I wonder if it isn't because so many nerves were cut. I would be very worried however if I had pain shooting down my legs as you describe because that sounds like a spinal issue. (3) I had one little spot (and I mean little spot) that hurt and felt like something was poking me with a sharp object. It was on the opposite hip from where the bone was removed. They did nothing on that side. The doc marked it and took xrays and there was nothing there that should hurt. Probably something pinching from the new posture. It went away on it's own. (4)I have had several dentists that would not touch my mouth unless I was on antibiotics. I took a lot. My current dentist doesn't do that, but I still usually ask for one when I am going to have my teeth cleaned. The theory at the time of my surgery was that a bacterial infection in your blood would quickly form along that steel and that was very close to the spine. Mine was probably because of my rods tho because I have 9 inches of steel down each side of my spine. That makes for a long incision. (5)I have screws also and some little things that look like bumper jacks. Every now and then it feels like I get a muscle hung on the wrong side of something. For me it is mostly at the top of my rods, but a screw would do the same thing. The muscle will ache and cramp, but usually if I can relax it will stop and slide back into the right place. In my case it normally happens when I am on my back and have my hand, or hands, above my head. I just lower my hand, try to relax, and wait. It seems to fix itself in a couple of minutes. (6)And there is the cold.....I was never a cold natured person and that is a good thing because when that steel gets cold, you are cold all over. Of course, I have a lot more steel, but when it gets cold, I don't just shiver, I shake. It bothers my husband so badly that he always just tries to put me in a big bear hug to try to help me warm up. I had suffered for many years with serious headaches which went away after the surgery. That was a bonus that the doc didn't expect. Life will be good again, but it will be a little different. Hang in there and it will get better. My thoughts and prayers go with you as you recover. Carol
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lynne_melb
16 years ago
Iasheff, glad that your daughter is doing so well. I'm going to see a neurosurgeon tomorrow - not sure what he can do for me.

Can your daughter put her shoes and socks on OK?

After her spinal surgery, my mother couldn't, but she also had bad hips.

Bmurphy, sending good thoughts for a speedy recovery.
iasheff
16 years ago
Yes, my daughter can put her shoes and socks on now. The first couple of weeks, one of us or her siblings would have to help her but now she does it on her own. Again, it may be her age too.

The thing that she can't do that drives her nuts is pick up her 10 month old son. That has put more limitations on her than anything else. When her fiance is at work, one of us has to be with her all the time. She does all the care for the baby, it just takes one of us to lift him up and down on the changing table, in and out of the high chair, etc. The baby learned how to climb on the couch really quick to get up on Mommy's lap when he figured out that she couldn't lift him up. They are in the process of purchasing a home so they moved in with us until the home is completed so it has worked out really well. Between her fiance, her dad and I and her 3 siblings, someone has always been around to help her with him.

She also can't drive LOL And she has a new car that she hasn't driven yet... she has sat in the driver's seat and that is it LOL

Good luck at the neurosurgeon. Hopefully they will find something to help you.
lynne_melb
16 years ago
Thanks Iasheff. It's great that she as family to help her.
pugluvrnj
16 years ago
I had a two-level (L4/5-S1) fusion 13 months ago (12/04/06), as well as a laminectomy. I was lucky that I was not in much pain afterwards, and stopped all pain meds by two weeks post-op. I did find that several weeks of physical therapy at three times a week loosened me up - I'm able to bend over and touch my toes! I was about to turn 55 when I had the surgery.
contactcarlotta_yahoo_com
13 years ago
I am 19 days post op on l4 to s1 fusion my first surgery 35 days ago l5 to s1 fusion didn't hold. I am happy with results so far walking further than before surgery. After 1st had lots of pain and was walking very little. I got to go to rehab after 2nd surgery they taught me how to care for self. I have a baby I can't lift but am blessed with help and creative mind. It is hard painfull and I would do it again.

Spinal Fusion Recovery

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littleonefb

iasheff

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