Spinal Fusion Recovery

18 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.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

littleonefb
18 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
18 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!
Related Discussions
Checking in!
Q
Comments (1)
Kathy, Sorry to hear of your troubles. My husband went through much of what you did back in 2005 but his back's been pretty much OK since 2006. I empathize about not getting out into the garden. I fell down our basement stairs after 4th of July and broke three bones in my ankle (lots of screws, couple of plates) and I understand what you mean about the pain from where the screws are. I was on morphone and percocet and still had unbelievable pain, so they switched to oxycontin and oxycodone - better but not great. I'm in my 8th week of cast and about 3 more before the walking boot. Right ankle means I can't drive so I'm stuck at home and driving myself and everyone else crazy. Cheers and here's to a good recovery, Ann
...See More
Boulders for raised beds?
Q
Comments (4)
The trouble with sitting to garden is that you're 'side-on' to the work and cannot use your body fully. The problem with 12" high is that it doesn't come at a useful bendy bit of your body. Other than that - boulders do sink over time as you raise the soil level. They make lovely habitats for nibbling insects. Perennial weeds wiggle underneath and snigger as you try to root them out. If you were to think about a 'double wall' of rocks - even like a dry stone wall with a gap between for a soil infill, set so the inside space is about 3' across and set to catch the sun. About as high as where your legs join your body. That way you can lean against it while working. Table top gardening using something like glasshouse staging for growing the smaller versions of vegies. I've noticed that many of my senior gardener friends are growing more of the gourmet foods than the bulk 'feed the family' crops. Many of them don't need the sheer space required for crops such as potatoes. Cut and come again crops don't need vast space - just good soil, warmth and reliable water. Aside: if you think about installing a covered area and hard paths now you'll be willing to go out to garden for much longer, even when less agile than now. A glasshouse, or protected area, is wonderful for pottering and thinking and tinkering. Just be sure it's big enough to allow for a walking frame or seat. It probably won't need heating if you have it set to catch much of the winter sun. As soon as you're comfortable with the notion - look for ways to do your vegie gardening in 'unconventional' ways to get the crops you use the most. And, if you're planning to have fruit trees - think dwarf and espallier - and making them part of your landscaping layout as attractive, airy space dividers. Much easier to care for and harvest from.
...See More
spinal fusion anyone?
Q
Comments (32)
Bop, I also had spinal stenosis along with the bad discs. Sounds like you have a surgeon you trust, so I would trust his judgement on the epidurals. Keep us updated. Nancy, good luck with your surgery...I had L4, L5, and S1 fused and a laminectomy for the spinal stenosis. I was worried about it also but was so tired of living with the pain. I'm so glad I finally had the surgery. Keep us posted on your progress also.
...See More
My upcoming neck surgery
Q
Comments (57)
Thanks for asking Socks .... Had the surgery one week ago today. Got out of the hospital the next afternoon. I'm now home wearing a hard collar, bone stimulator machine and trying to stay off the computer. I'm only allowed on for 20 mins at a time. I was totally bed-ridden until yesterday... sleeping most of the day and night, so that helped keep me off the computer. So far the only real pain is my throat and left shoulder. Loss of voice is typical with this surgery. Mine finally came back yesterday afternoon. I was warned my shoulders might hurt after the surgery but was never told why. I might call the doctor and ask what causes the shoulder pain. Surgery ended up not quite what I expected. Instead of removing the bottom two fused vertebrae, the doctor cleaned the bone spurs off the fused verts and removed C5 instead. He cleaned up and realigned C3 and C4 and fused C4-C5-C6 with what's called a PEEK cage. From what I can tell, my range of motion is better than before and very little pain when I move. But I'm not going to be able to fully test it for a couple months. Because my throat is still sore from them moving the esophagus and other stuff aside to access the spine from the front, it's difficult to tell if my cough and breathing issues are gone. But I think they are. Just won't know until I'm fully healed. Jodi-
...See More
lynne_melb
18 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
18 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
18 years ago
Thanks Iasheff. It's great that she as family to help her.
pugluvrnj
18 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
15 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

Comments (7)

littleonefb

iasheff

Related Discussions

lynne_melb

iasheff

lynne_melb

pugluvrnj

contactcarlotta_yahoo_com

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US