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Have multi level spinal fusion next week! Help!!!!
Hi, I'm new to this forum, but not to back problems. Sorry about some of the spelling before I start. I've been suffering with a bad back for 7 years. I'm so looking forward to this surgery. I can't take the pain much longer. Last year it hit the worst. I think that's when my L4,L5 disk went. The L5,S1 disk went in 2000. I have besides herniated disks, sevior curving of my lower spin, where it's pulling away from my pelvic bone, arthritis in my L4,L5,and S1, caused from stress fractures, degenerative spine disorder, spondylios(sp), and last but not least spinal bifita occulata(sp). So it's a mess.
I have had every possible back test thought up by man, and trust me some of them where killers. Did the epideral injections, brought on diabetes, did physical therapy, tried a chyropractor(sp), he admitted he couldn't help, also recevied a tez unit . I don't for see any other treatments left for me. Right now I take enough oxycodone, and other type drugs, that it's effecting my personality,bouts of depression, anxiety, paramoid, and making me act like a teenager(I'm 37) also, and after surgery, they have to ween me off them. It also effecting my job. They think I'm drunk, NOT! I almost lost my job too! My friends are really wondering about me, along with my family! I was never like this, before last year and the drugs.
My question is has anyone else gone through all this h__l? Has anyone else had this kind of surgery, and did it help? I don't think I can take much more of this. Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.
I have had every possible back test thought up by man, and trust me some of them where killers. Did the epideral injections, brought on diabetes, did physical therapy, tried a chyropractor(sp), he admitted he couldn't help, also recevied a tez unit . I don't for see any other treatments left for me. Right now I take enough oxycodone, and other type drugs, that it's effecting my personality,bouts of depression, anxiety, paramoid, and making me act like a teenager(I'm 37) also, and after surgery, they have to ween me off them. It also effecting my job. They think I'm drunk, NOT! I almost lost my job too! My friends are really wondering about me, along with my family! I was never like this, before last year and the drugs.
My question is has anyone else gone through all this h__l? Has anyone else had this kind of surgery, and did it help? I don't think I can take much more of this. Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.
My quick story to share about my fusion, I know most of you may not have scoliosis but I had a fusion also.
I had harrington rod/fusion surgery for scoliosis almost 23 years ago. In the last 10-15 + years, I have had terrible complications from the surgery, neurosurgeon calls it flatback syndrome. My 2 rods start at T3 and end at L2, they took bone off my left hip at the time of surgery to fuse the spine.
I have been in and out of doctor's offices, counselors, physical therapy, seen many massage therapists, chiropractors, multiple prescription use, and also have used many modalities of alternative medicine. Because I suffer from chronic pain all the time, fibromyalgia symptoms, myofascial pain (tons of knots in the muscles...everywhere), pinching and burning of nerves and especially around the rods/fusion and my legs, extreme dizziness/vertigo, migraines that last for weeks, TMJ disorder, bulged disks, abnormal forward curvature (at least 30%) of the cervical spine, degenerating disks, pre osteoarthritis, arthritis, bursitis, sciatica, numbness , burning, and tingling of extremities, muscle fatigue and weakness/atrophy, edema, shortness of breath, thyroid issues, gall bladder issues, hypoglycemia, poor concentration, memory problems, moodiness and depression, sleep issues... I think that just about covers it all :( I never had any pain or any issues before my surgery, even though I was only eleven. Many other scoliosis friends that have had fusions are suffering with the same things as well because of the long term outcomes.
I had harrington rod/fusion surgery for scoliosis almost 23 years ago. In the last 10-15 + years, I have had terrible complications from the surgery, neurosurgeon calls it flatback syndrome. My 2 rods start at T3 and end at L2, they took bone off my left hip at the time of surgery to fuse the spine.
I have been in and out of doctor's offices, counselors, physical therapy, seen many massage therapists, chiropractors, multiple prescription use, and also have used many modalities of alternative medicine. Because I suffer from chronic pain all the time, fibromyalgia symptoms, myofascial pain (tons of knots in the muscles...everywhere), pinching and burning of nerves and especially around the rods/fusion and my legs, extreme dizziness/vertigo, migraines that last for weeks, TMJ disorder, bulged disks, abnormal forward curvature (at least 30%) of the cervical spine, degenerating disks, pre osteoarthritis, arthritis, bursitis, sciatica, numbness , burning, and tingling of extremities, muscle fatigue and weakness/atrophy, edema, shortness of breath, thyroid issues, gall bladder issues, hypoglycemia, poor concentration, memory problems, moodiness and depression, sleep issues... I think that just about covers it all :( I never had any pain or any issues before my surgery, even though I was only eleven. Many other scoliosis friends that have had fusions are suffering with the same things as well because of the long term outcomes.
How much pain were you in after the surgery? Did they go front and back? And who was your doctor?
Thanks
Thanks
Hi I had my third back surgery almost two months ago and I am still in the healing process for this one so I am not sure of the over all outcome yet.
I have had lower back pain since 1998 and I have been through everything that you can possibly imagine to try and fix the problem and some things I have done more than once due to moving. I did pt at least four times, I have been though pain managment twice and then the three surgeries. I have also had more needles stuck in my than I could have ever imagined in a life time ( and I have four kids).
My first surgery was done in Texas in Dec 2008 and I thought it was going ok till I lost all feeling in my pelvic area and all the way down my left leg. When I went to see my Dr he told me that one of the bone fragments was missing and that they couldnt find it so I was sent for a milagram. The day after the milagram I went back to the Dr and he said that I had to have surgery again on in the morning, so April 2009. After this surgery I was extra careful and tried to watch what I was doing because I was lead to believe that the second surgery was my fault, but I found out about six months later when I got my hospital records that it was the dr that messed up. The surgical records stated that there was a plastic clip removed from my nerve during the second surgery that had been left in during the first surgery.
After moving from Texas I was still having a lot of back pain and I have trouble getting out of bed so I started seeing a new Dr. After my first MRI came back the surgain called me in and told me that there was no choice I had to have a third surgery. At this news I broke down crying and had to get myself under control so that I could go get in the car with my kids. This being my third surgery I knew that there was going to be a lot of pain, but I was not really sure what all was going to happen and neither was the Dr. I came out fine, but I am still in pain and on pain meds and they told me that I probl. will be for the rest of my life.
I am 34 years old and I have a nine inch scar on my back, fusions at L3-L4 L4-L5 L5-S1, 8 screws, 6 pins, and scar tissue that has to be scrapped periodically off my nerve in my back. I also have had some issues with depression because everyday I find new things that I will no longer be able to do with my kids, my family.
I know that this all sounds like the bad side of fusion surgery, but I can walk still and I am alive to be with my family so I guess there are the good things to look at too. I am also a person that believe you should know every side of what you are walking into and with surgery there is danger.
As far as the pain is concerned yes there is going to be pain and it will be bad when you first wake up, but it can be overcome and the pain is different for everyone. The recovery is different for everyone and from what I have seen it also varies by Dr.
I wish everyone good luck and you will all be in my prays I know what you are going through.
I have had lower back pain since 1998 and I have been through everything that you can possibly imagine to try and fix the problem and some things I have done more than once due to moving. I did pt at least four times, I have been though pain managment twice and then the three surgeries. I have also had more needles stuck in my than I could have ever imagined in a life time ( and I have four kids).
My first surgery was done in Texas in Dec 2008 and I thought it was going ok till I lost all feeling in my pelvic area and all the way down my left leg. When I went to see my Dr he told me that one of the bone fragments was missing and that they couldnt find it so I was sent for a milagram. The day after the milagram I went back to the Dr and he said that I had to have surgery again on in the morning, so April 2009. After this surgery I was extra careful and tried to watch what I was doing because I was lead to believe that the second surgery was my fault, but I found out about six months later when I got my hospital records that it was the dr that messed up. The surgical records stated that there was a plastic clip removed from my nerve during the second surgery that had been left in during the first surgery.
After moving from Texas I was still having a lot of back pain and I have trouble getting out of bed so I started seeing a new Dr. After my first MRI came back the surgain called me in and told me that there was no choice I had to have a third surgery. At this news I broke down crying and had to get myself under control so that I could go get in the car with my kids. This being my third surgery I knew that there was going to be a lot of pain, but I was not really sure what all was going to happen and neither was the Dr. I came out fine, but I am still in pain and on pain meds and they told me that I probl. will be for the rest of my life.
I am 34 years old and I have a nine inch scar on my back, fusions at L3-L4 L4-L5 L5-S1, 8 screws, 6 pins, and scar tissue that has to be scrapped periodically off my nerve in my back. I also have had some issues with depression because everyday I find new things that I will no longer be able to do with my kids, my family.
I know that this all sounds like the bad side of fusion surgery, but I can walk still and I am alive to be with my family so I guess there are the good things to look at too. I am also a person that believe you should know every side of what you are walking into and with surgery there is danger.
As far as the pain is concerned yes there is going to be pain and it will be bad when you first wake up, but it can be overcome and the pain is different for everyone. The recovery is different for everyone and from what I have seen it also varies by Dr.
I wish everyone good luck and you will all be in my prays I know what you are going through.
Although it isn't urgent yet & I'll be going back for exams every 3 months, I will be needing multi-level Cervical Fusion of C2 through C7 some time in the next few years. Timing depends on how it progresses, but I have basically no discs left in those 4 spaces as well as some movement which is causing compression of the spinal column. My Dr intends to build a full strut for the anterior side, as well as fusing the posterior side, all 5 vert. He's telling me anywhere between 6-12 weeks with hard collar, and loss of approximately 25-30% mobility.
Anyone out there done this many Cervical?
Anyone out there done this many Cervical?
This coming April 12, 2010 I will be having an ANTERIOR LUMBAR DISCECTOMY AND INTERBODY FUSION AND PARTIAL DISCECTOMY. In other words, the surgeon will make an 8"incision on my abdomen and enter through the front, moving all my insides to the side then spreading the lower vertebraes apart to put in spacers along with screws(fusing 3 vertebraes) Then a mesh will be applied and a bone fusion liquid will be injected. I will then be turned over for a series of micro incisions along my spine for microc surgery to clean bone spurs and partial discectomy. Has any body had this experience so that I might have something to reflect upon. I feel very comfortable with both of the surgeons required to do this procedure.
Mrs. H.
Mrs. H.
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