Your experiences with spinal fusion surgery?

Beemerguy, good luck to you!

CajunBass said:

My wife has had two, one in her lower back, and one on her neck. She got the one in her back done before I knew her, but the one in her neck came after we were married (she has degenerative disk disease).

One night after the surgery, I woke up to a strange sound in the room. I listened and finally recognized it. It was my wife, quietly giggling in her sleep. I had never heard her do that. I had heard her crying because of the pain in her neck, but I had never heard her giggle like that.

Praise God and thank the doctors He used to relieve her of that.

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I'm glad things worked out so well for your wife. I'm really looking forward to being pain-free myself for the first time in many years!

CajunBass said:

My wife has had two, one in her lower back, and one on her neck. She got the one in her back done before I knew her, but the one in her neck came after we were married (she has degenerative disk disease).

One night after the surgery, I woke up to a strange sound in the room. I listened and finally recognized it. It was my wife, quietly giggling in her sleep. I had never heard her do that. I had heard her crying because of the pain in her neck, but I had never heard her giggle like that.

Praise God and thank the doctors He used to relieve her of that.

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Awesome story, thanks for sharing- yes we must praise HIM everyday, 26

ogilvyspecial said:

Hang in there! Before my first surgery I was apprehensive, for my second I was cool as a cucumber since I knew what I was getting into. It was interesting how my 2nd "whacking," as I affectionately call 'em, went down.

It was scheduled for a Friday the 13th and every Nurse, or Tech, that I ran across during my pre-op office visits just had to comment on that fact, wondering if I thought it a good choice of date for such things. I told them that I was born on the 13th, not a Friday, but that I did turn 13 on a Friday the 13th. I remember sitting in Science Class that day watching the clock at it rolled around to 1:13 & 13 seconds. Nothing happened to me when all those 13's got stacked up but my table mate that day was gunned down by the Police about 6 years later. He deserved it though since he was robbing a bank at the time so I guess he made his own bad luck eh?

Back to the story; I worked the night before my 2nd "whacking" so, for me, it was kind of like business as usual. As I was driving to the Hospital that day, the 13th, my wife kept staring at me while I was stopped at a traffic light not too far from the Hospital. Because of this I turned to her and said, what? She said, "you act like you are just going up to the store for a loaf of bread or a gal. of milk." I said, yeah? She then said, bless her heart, "If it were me I would be afraid that I would end up dead or in a wheelchair, it being a Friday the 13th and all." In a very calm voice I asked, would you do me a favor? Wife: "Sure, what?" Please shut the f*** up........

You'll be alright Beemerguy53 and one day this will all be a memory. Thinking about it, prior to my 1st, was far worse than actually having it done and the relief that I had was oh so sweet, even if it only lasted three years. This wasn't any fault of my Surgeon, I was injured, once again, at work through no fault of my own, same with this last time when I was hit in the back by a fork truck driver moving dunnage around by hand. I was just standing there putting on Oil Pans (3800 V6 Engines) when, wham, I was hit with the corner of a 25 lb., 5 x 5' plastic divider that Oil Pans were shipped in on, right where I had been worked on twice. There was no walking that one off and is the major contributor of why I'll need a third go around........

The reason that I included the last part is so you won't get discouraged and think that I had to have multiple "whackings" without good reason. Like I said, you'll be alright, just follow all the pre & post-op instructions and give your body the time it needs to heal before trying anything "they" say you shouldn't be doing and even after that I would feel things out as time goes on. You know your body better than anybody else and don't forget that fact when doing any post-op therapy.

Take care my S&W Friend!

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Great post...you made my day! Thanks!

I was dreading this surgery for a long time, but with things the way they are now, I am looking forward to getting this over and done with as soon as possible. I'm thinking how nice it will be to be able to walk, and sit, and lie down, without having to change position or shift around to stop the constant pain I am now experiencing.

I'm an optimist by nature. After my surgery, I will be recuperating at home during what is often the worst part of our Maryland winter (we had two blizzards last February), and when I am able to resume a normal life, we'll have nice weather and warm temperatures, etc. There's a metaphor there...a new beginning for me in the springtime...

I am blessed to have some truly close friends, including a wonderful lady in my life, who will be able to help me through my recovery. One of my neighbors, a fine young man who is the same age as one of my sons and an avid motorcyclist himself, has offered to look after my beloved BMW, and start it regularly while I am disabled.

I'm already planning a vacation in late spring or early summer...perhaps a motorcycle tour (yes, I am REALLY an optimist, LOL!) to Nova Scotia, or a trip to Germany to visit my friends there. We'll see...

Good luck to you on your own upcoming surgery...and thanks again for your terrific post!

Beemerguy, now I know you'll do alright. With that attitude how can you not!

Oh, you're more than welcome!!

Well, the big day is almost here...

Hello all...

My long-awaited back surgery will take place tomorrow, on Monday, January 31.

I talked with my doctor's surgical coordinator at length the other day. She explained that the operation -- called a laminectomy -- will take about 2-1/2 hours, and that I will be in the recovery room another 3 hours or so after that. I will be discharged from the hospital on either Tuesday or Wednesday, depending upon how I am feeling and how well I am able to move about. My insurance will not cover a stay in a care facility for a patient who's had "only" a laminectomy, so I will have to go right home from the hospital and do the best I can.

For someone like me, who is pretty active and not a couch potato, the recovery is going to be difficult. I will not be able to leave my home for two weeks, or drive for four weeks. I will not be able to bend over, or lift anything that weighs more than ten pounds, for one month.

I have my followup appointment with my surgeon on Wednesday, March 2, and if I am doing well at that time, I might be able to return to work on a light duty basis. I will not be able to resume my normal duties at work for six to eight weeks.

I have a network of family members and friends who are going to help me out, from getting my mail in, to doing my grocery shopping, to starting my motorcycle and letting it warm up weekly, so I should be okay. I have a big stack of books to read and DVDs to watch, and of course, I will be able to go online.

I'm not looking forward to this surgery, or the recovery...but I am definitely looking forward to getting rid of this back pain I've lived with for so many years!

Wish me luck!

Beemerguy

Very best wishes for a smooth healing and real pain relief.

Please let us know how you are doing.

John

Good luck Beemerguy!

Just remember, one of the things that you have total control over during the whole process is your attitude.

A positive attitude will go a long ways in helping with your recovery, a negative one will do nothing at all, except maybe alienate those around you who will only be trying to help. Based on your posts here I think the attitude issue is a non-issue, just thought I would mention it because we all get frustrated at times.......

good luck beemerguy. let us all know how things come out. try to make sure you have someone there for at least the first few days.put things you will need up where you can get them and take up all throw rugs from the floor during the recovery. last but not least, get on here and talk to people as much as you can. helps with the attitude thing as mentioned earlier. i meet with my surgeon on feb 8th and get mine scheduled. will have 6 fused together after it's over.

Spinal Surgery

I do not even want to read all the massages on this topic.but please read this before you conscent to any spinal surgery.
Back in the 1970's I had two spinal surgeries to correct herniated disks, first L3/4 and then L4/5. Surgeries we about 4 years apart and then I had pain relief untill the early 1990's. My doctor then sent me to an Neurosurgeon who said he would prefer not to operate on me and he sent me to have spinal injections. They were about a month apart and the first two injections did not provide relief. Then I had a third injection and I had immediate pain relief. By immediatly I mean when I got of the procedure table.
This relief lasted until 1994 when I started to suffer increased pain in my lower back and down my leg. Typical Sciatic symptoms. Then one day as I was getting out of my golf gart my left leg collapsed. My family doctor, because of my previous history sent me to a Neurosurgeon. He reccomended a series of physical therapy sessions which did absolutly nothing for the pain. He the reccomended surgery which I believed would be another simple laminectomy. After the surgery whchich lasted about 10 hours I woke to find the docter had fused my spine for 4 levels using 2 titanium rods and 8 screws. After the first day of recovery in intensive care i developed a sever crushing pain in my right foot. The doctor assured me it was just post operative pain. A month after surgery I was still in severe pain, could not walk properly and my incision was still draining. I was put back into the hospital and opened up once again to seal the leak of blood and spinal fluid. For three years I sill had the pain, was sent to another pain specialist and took therapy with no relief. I was living on pain relievers. The Neurosurgeon who did my surgery (and by the way was highly reccomended at the time) had left town and moved to California. My family doctor then reccomended I go to the Mayo Clinic. There I was put through a pain management program which provided no relief. I was then sent to see one of thir Neurosurgeons who ordered a series of tests. When he looked at the results of the x-rays, MRI's and CT scans he just shook his head and said he was amazed I was still able to walk. Apparently one of the screws in my spine was through my right side sciatic nerve and the left screw was impinging on my left side sciatic nerve. Well, another operation, this one lasting over 12 hours and another 7 days in Intensive Care. Now I had 4 titanium rods and 16 screws in my back which formed a 9 level fusion. Well it improved my condition but not enough to make me whole. After living on Pecocete for over 3 years I have just resently had a pain pump put in. I am now gettin better pain reliefe but I have resigned myself to the fact I will never be out of pain.
My message is, make sure you go into your surgery "heads up" and expolor every, and I mean every alternative before having spinal surgery. Also, get second and even third opinions.

Gordo1 said:

I do not even want to read all the massages on this topic.but please read this before you conscent to any spinal surgery....

My message is, make sure you go into your surgery "heads up" and expolor every, and I mean every alternative before having spinal surgery. Also, get second and even third opinions.

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Gordo, I read your entire post, and I am very sorry for all the pain you've experienced; it makes what I am going through seem minor by comparison. I truly hope the pain pump brings you some relief.

To be sure, there are plenty of back surgery horror stories out there. I work with a man in his 70s who underwent surgery last year. When his pain was unchanged, he discovered his doctor operated on the wrong vertebra!

I have been seeing my doctor for almost 11 years now, beginning when I bulged a disc in February of 2000. He is very conservative, and does not operate frivolously. And yes, as my pain has gotten progressively worse over the years, I have progressed from one pain management technique to another: Physical therapy and exercise, nerve blocks, chiropractic, etc. I am indeed now at the point where the only option left is surgery.

My doctor has been in practice for more than 20 years, is one of the most prominent orthopods in this area, and has a sterling reputation. He performs several hundred of these operations a year, and I am very comfortable letting him do this one.

Good luck to you, and thanks for your thoughtful post.

ogilvyspecial said:

Good luck Beemerguy!

Just remember, one of the things that you have total control over during the whole process is your attitude.

A positive attitude will go a long ways in helping with your recovery, a negative one will do nothing at all, except maybe alienate those around you who will only be trying to help. Based on your posts here I think the attitude issue is a non-issue, just thought I would mention it because we all get frustrated at times.......

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Thanks! I'm really not looking forward to this surgery, but I am focusing on the ultimate result. I'm prepared -- I hope! -- for that whole frustration issue, and trying to be very positive. I think I'll be okay...

perrazi said:

good luck beemerguy. let us all know how things come out. try to make sure you have someone there for at least the first few days.put things you will need up where you can get them and take up all throw rugs from the floor during the recovery. last but not least, get on here and talk to people as much as you can. helps with the attitude thing as mentioned earlier. i meet with my surgeon on feb 8th and get mine scheduled. will have 6 fused together after it's over.

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For the last several days, I've been preparing my home for my recovery. I have the books I want to read and the DVDs I want to watch on my dining room table, where I won't have to bend over to reach them. All my laundry is clean, my dishwasher is empty, I've dusted and vacuumed, etc...

My girlfriend will be coming over several times every day, and has offered to cook and clean for me. (Yes, she is definitely a keeper!) My sons, and my neighbors and other friends, will be looking in on me regularly, so I will have the help I will need.

Perrazi, thanks for your encouragement, and good luck to you with your own upcoming surgery.

Fellow Forum members, I want to thank you all again for your many thoughtful posts and helpful suggestions; you really did ease my mind quite a bit. As soon as I get home, and feel well enough to go online, I will let you know how I made out.

Time to go to bed now and get ready for the big adventure...

Beemerguy

I havent read all the posts here, but when I met my wife 8 years ago she had just gone from a wheelchair to a walker. She had hurt her back as a cashier. She said she had picked up a case of water for a customer and it about killed her! (She has never went back to working a job, except for takeing care of me.) She was in utter pain habitualy when we met.
The surgeons told her she was as good as she was going to get unless she had fusions done. She almost did it. One day she met a woman with similar trouble that had it done. She warned dont do it as she said she now had to be on a morphine drip for life! My wife opted not to get the opperation. She was in constant pain and on crutchs and canes for about two years after we married. We moved here to utah and she went to a chiropracter---- finaly! He pretty much cured her and got her off the canes! She isnt 100% and still has relapses when she over exzerts herself, but is a world better than when we met.

I had fusion at L-5/S-1 almost five years ago. Unlike some, I had not had years of previous back problems. Shortly after New Years in 2006, I started having some pretty bad sciatica. It hurt in what I thought was my hip-joint. I went to a "spine guy" at one of the best orthopedic clinics in the Southeast, Hughston Clinic. After two different severe bouts with loss of feeling in my right leg, along with some excruciating pain, I scheduled the surgery. As a good friend told me, you might claim you will never submit to back surgery, but when that pain hits you just right, you will beg someone to cut your leg off to make it stop.

My Doc told me if he operated on ten patients with my problem, one would say he was no better after the surgery, one would say he was worse off, and eight would thank him for relieving them from the pain.

I was one of the lucky eight. After five years, I still have a partially numb right leg, foot, and especially the sole of the foot. About twice a day, it feels like someone is driving a 10 penny finishing nail through my big toe. Even with that, I would rate the surgery as a roaring success after the pain I went through for about three months.

I figured up one time that from the time I was about 10 years old until I had the surgery at 57, I had spent somewhere around 15,000 hours with my backside in the seat of a small farm tractor. I guess with all that bouncing, I am lucky not to have had more back problems.

Good luck to you. Before my surgery, I had to just quit researching it on the interwebs. All the horror stories can really get to you. I have to say that my experience is positive, and that of most of the people I know who have had similar surgeries is good.

Good luck!

I went thru the whole gamut from PT, ice and heat, medications, then to discectomy, lamenectomy and finally a fusion. The fusion was 5 years ago and I feel much much better. I can do just about anything a "normal" 52 year old can do, however I do take it easy as the doc recommended. The main thing here is that the nerve pain down the leg is gone. Low back pain is probably what most other 52 year old men who led a laborers life have. Depending on how extensively they cut the muscles back there, you may have muscle pain from the incision for up to 3 years (I did).

Good luck and make sure to listen to the doc's post surgery instructions and don't push it just because you are feeling ood. Been there, done that, wont do it again like that!

Back in 1987 I took a tumble down a cliff and fractured L-1 vertabrae. My only real option at the time was to have L-1 fused with the vertabrae above and below it. After the surgery my spine was supported with two 10" rods that they inserted while it healed. They left the rods in for about 4 months and did a second surgury to remove them. After what seemed like a long recovery (3-4 months) I felt pretty good. After all these years I still feel pretty good but do have back pain when I have over done it or just really tired. For the most part 3 Motrin will take care of it. It has not stopped me from doing anything. I still do physical work when I need to and pretty much whatever I want. There are times though that I will just move wrong and I am done for the day. That is rare though.

Best of luck with whatever you do. If you have any questions please feel free to PM me.

Hey Beemerguy,
Because of the "thrills and spills" of my youth...mostly the windshield of a 1972 Pontiac in 1974, my upper right body was suddenly paralyzed in December 1999. Had the MRI and I was a mess. I was very close to have the spinal cord closed down on. The first week in January 2000 I had a 3 level fusion and plating. C4 thru C7. It took several days but my upper right side came back. I had excellent results. 10 days after the surgery I was at my desk at work. With the approval of my surgeon, 2 weeks after my surgery I was shooting skeet...not 12 gauge but the sub gauges... 20ga, 28ga and .410!
It's true that I have some reduced range of motion but HEY! my neck was always "stiff" after that car wreck 25 years before!
I have no pain or issues that I'm aware of 11 years later.
It's a scary thing but I had no choice. These neuro guys can
work near miracles. I'm sure you'll do fine.
Oh! I'm an NRA Conventional Pistol shooter and after my surgery I was able to "leg out" and earn my Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge! #1319! Yay!
Good luck!
I'll be thinking of you and watching this thread.

JLK

I'm one of those guys that if it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have any luck at all. But, I guess every cloud has a silver lining. About 4 years ago I was already having some back trouble, but was dealing with it. I was in my side yard digging a French drain with a sharpshooter, when I blew out the disc between my 4th and 5th lower vertebre(sp bad). I couldn't sit, stand or walk the pain was so bad. I crawled around on all fours. Our hospital is bad news, but I had no choice. The pain was unbearable. Boy, did I luck out! They had a new nerosurgen there. He went in and did what they had to do. The next morning a bounced out of bed walking, the whole nine yards. Was home in 3 days wearing a brace of course, but putting insullation in our new addition attic. I'm 70 now, and other than loosing about 10% of my neck turning radius to the left, I'm good as new, or as good as it gets at 70 years old. Still riding motorcycles and lawn mowers and act a fool.

Well, everything turned out great!

Hi, folks!

I had my back surgery on schedule last Monday, and it went very well, far better than I could have expected...in fact, I am amazed at how good I feel, and how well and how quickly I am recovering!

I walked out of the hospital, unassisted, barely 27 hours after my surgery. The severe lower back and left leg pain I'd been experiencing, which had been a part of my life for so long, is gone. I have a minimal amount of stiffness and pain from my incision and the surgery, but I'm managing that just fine with a prescription medication.

While I spent the first few days after I got home dozing on and off and basically doing nothing, I am improving daily, and have been getting around just fine. I take walks, and do my exercises, and have been following my doctor's instructions to the letter. (No riding in a vehicle for two weeks, no driving for four weeks, and no bending, lifting, or twisting until I see him again on March 2.) The worst problem I'm having is boredom, and getting my sleep schedule regulated.

My wonderful girlfriend has been keeping me fed, and helping me with showering, housework, etc. I am also blessed to have a network of close friends and family members who've been stopping by my home to help me out and keep me company, and I have been very thankful for that as well. A home health care nurse and a physical therapist have checked up on me, and a nurse will come to my home late this week to remove the 16 staples from my incision, which is healing nicely.

I have to say that if I had known this was going to go this well, I would have had it done years ago, and skipped all the other treatments I've tried, especially in the past year. I'm not completely out of the woods just yet, and the true extent of my recovery won't be known until I'm completely off medications, and have resumed my daily routine...but so far, things are looking great!

Thanks for all your prayers, advice, kind thoughts, and good wishes...you guys helped me out more than you could possibly know.

Beemerguy