Anyone had a lumbar fusion?

[BravoXray]

I've been enduring lower back pain, shooting pains in my legs and increasing numbness in my legs for a few years, and in a week I'm going in for a two level spinal fusion of L3, L4 and L5. I'm not looking forward to the surgery and recovery, but was told by the neurosurgeon that if I didn't get it done soon, I could lose the use of my legs. After looking at the MRI and X-rays, he said he was surprised I could walk as well as I can.
Originally, back in 2018 I had the surgery scheduled for late December with another surgeon at another clinic, but called it off because I was just put off by the personality and manner of the surgeon, even though he is highly regarded and recommended. I just didn't feel comfortable having him do the surgery.
Last summer when I was seeing my GP, I asked her if she knew of a good surgeon. She said "Well here's the guy that all the other doctors go to." That sounded like a pretty good endorsement, so I was finally able to see him in early December and the surgery is scheduled for January 24th.
My experience with the doctor that did the initial evaluation and the surgeon left me with an entirely different feeling of their competence, and was much more at ease in their company. I have recently talked to a former patient and the daughter of a former patient and both couldn't give him enough praise for the treatment and results, so that is very comforting.
It looks like I'll spend three nights in the hospital and then go home, if everything goes as planned. Fortunately my present house guest is a recently retired RN, so I'll have my own personal Nurse Ratched (One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest) to watch me.
If you've had this surgery, what was your experience.

 

[MossRoad]

Good luck to you! And a speedy recovery, too.

 

[scootr]

My Sister had it done last year. She said the results are well worth any post-op discomfort. My Mom had it done 50 yrs ago. She's 99 and still walking. I'm still putting it off. I'm chicken I guess. Keep us posted on this. What is your age?
Prayers for a complete and speedy recovery

 

[WM75Guy]

Good luck with your surgery. A friend just had fusion with hardware placement from T12 to S1 due to degenerative disease of the lower spine. He said it was worth it. I too can relate to your situation. I have had low back pain since 2019 due to osteoarthritis causing stenosis or narrowing of the spinal canal. I am scheduled Jan 27th for a laminectomy of L2,L3,&L4 with decompression of the nerve root. They just remove the back of the vertebrae to decrease pressure on the nerves and clean out the arthritic material around the nerves that is pressing on them. Just an overnight stay for me.

 

[BX23S-1]

I`ve had bone fusion and plates & screws put in my spine. Its no picnic. The cold weather wreaks havoc with me though. But that`s because i`m all plated up.

 

[BravoXray]

Thanks for the well wishes, I appreciate it.

Good luck with your surgery.

I have had low back pain since 2019 due to osteoarthritis causing stenosis or narrowing of the spinal canal. I am scheduled Jan 27th for a laminectomy of L2,L3,&L4 with decompression of the nerve root. They just remove the back of the vertebrae to decrease pressure on the nerves and clean out the arthritic material around the nerves that is pressing on them. Just an overnight stay for me.

That's basically what I am having done, a laminectomy, just one vertebrae lower. Same problems, arthritic narrowing and stenosis.
The reason I'll be in for three days is that they will put in a drain tube and have to make sure there is no infection. Once that is removed I can go home.

So now I'll have a couple of rods in my back, a metal shoulder joint replacement and a plate and screws in my left fibula from a skiing accident years ago. I'll be worth a lot of money just in the titanium I'm carrying around.

 

[etpm]

I got hit head on by a truck in the wrong lane. There was a lot of severe damage and they missed, apparently, a couple vertebra that had shifted. So, after a few years, I started to have pretty bad problems because of stenosis. The stenosis resulted from my spine trying to stabilize itself. Since I had already had over a dozen orthopedic surgeries from the truck impact I was very reluctant to have another surgery. I already had 60 grand worth of metal in both arms with some extra in my pelvis. But the pain was too much so I had the vertebra relocated so that they were back in line, had a carbon fiber spacer installed in place of a ruined dish, and had plates and screws installed to hold everything in place while my back healed. The pain is gone and has been for over 18 years. The surgeon told me after the surgery that I would have been paralyzed in 6 months or less if I hadn't had my back fixed. Recovery took about 6 months. This was because of the extensive work that had to be done. I am very happy with the fusion.
Eric

 

[scootr]

I got hit head on by a truck in the wrong lane. There was a lot of severe damage and they missed, apparently, a couple vertebra that had shifted. So, after a few years, I started to have pretty bad problems because of stenosis. The stenosis resulted from my spine trying to stabilize itself. Since I had already had over a dozen orthopedic surgeries from the truck impact I was very reluctant to have another surgery. I already had 60 grand worth of metal in both arms with some extra in my pelvis. But the pain was too much so I had the vertebra relocated so that they were back in line, had a carbon fiber spacer installed in place of a ruined dish, and had plates and screws installed to hold everything in place while my back healed. The pain is gone and has been for over 18 years. The surgeon told me after the surgery that I would have been paralyzed in 6 months or less if I hadn't had my back fixed. Recovery took about 6 months. This was because of the extensive work that had to be done. I am very happy with the fusion.
Eric

Wow - I feel silly I ever complained about mine. Glad it work out so well.

 

[jjeff]

Had c2,3,4 or c3,4,5? fusion done in neck replaced the blown out doughnuts and vertebrate with titanium however, not in my lumbar spine. I was apprehensive and passed initially on first opportunity due to underlying condition and ignorant stubbornness to try and fix it myself with "natural" non surgical means, but kept getting worse, before surgery by far the worst chronic pain I ever experienced. I had my surgery in 2018, I'm certain, if I didn't have it done it would have driven me to drink after almost 15 yrs being on the wagon. Been almost 5 years no noticeable side affects, cool scar on neck lol, some slight arthritic stiffness when turning head, minimal tingling in extremities and no pain like I experienced before. First few days was a little tough recovering that's about it. I feel like I owe the neurosurgeon hat did my surgery at least the decency to try and take care of my self better. Anyways I'll never be that apprehensive to get surgery done again by professionals who dedicated there lives to helping folks out. Anyways Hope my meme hijack can put you a little at ease, Best of luck.

 

[zzvyb6]

A friend of ours just had her 2nd one (motorcycle crash). She's finally free of a walker, brace, cane, & pain after 10 years. Upper neck.

 

[nybirdman]

I had that same surgery in 2020,L3,4,5;metal rods+bone graft.Not easy but necessary.Couldn't hardly walk before surgery,got put off by a couple months because of Covid.Now at least I am good for about an hour's walk or work.I think more damage was done because it was delayed.
My surgeon had done 400+similar surgeries.

 

[japody]

Had mine done in 2004. The worst part was where they had to cut through the muscle to get to the spine. Took a few weeks for the muscle to heal. Other than that, it went fine. Still have an occasional ache but now I'm able to do most chores.

 

[duffer]

Wife had same L4, L5 surgery a few years ago (3-4?). Took almost a year to get back to normal.

DO THE PT !!

 

[BravoXray]

Thanks all for the shared experiences and the encouragement.
One week and counting .....

 

[BX23S-1]

Thanks all for the shared experiences and the encouragement.
One week and counting .....

GOOD LUCK TO YOU! I pray it all goes well for you! When i had my surgery, it was a couple weeks after the surgery before i started to feel a little better. Surgery is a shock to your system. Its gonna take some time for the swelling & pain to come down. After the surgery for a couple weeks, you`ll think nothing changed, and its gonna suck. Its still gonna feel like the same to you right after surgery for a short time. Give it some time, and DON`T do anything until you`re healed up a bit. Make sure you do your physical therapy right to a T! Be sure to holler back to us to let us know how you`re doing. You`ll have lots of time on your hands after surgery, so don`t make no excuses not to come back in here and let us know how you`re doin... yah HEAR?!?!?!

 

[Death Row Dave]

I have C3 -C7 fused .

All I can advise you please read Drs reviews and get second opinion . My first surgeon was supposed to be the best , just ask him . He missed the Bones with 4 screws , shot the screws into previously good discs . The screws pulled out and the spine collapsed in 6 weeks . Proven in CAT scan and MRI images taken by surgeon . I returned to see this freak for 8 years explaining the pain is 100x worse after surgery . He finally says “ look do not return , nothing wrong ! Toughen up big boy !” He took 6 MRI images in 8 years , all plainly showed fusion had failed . I took the last MRI image to a second surgeon , and was on the operating table in 6 days . 2 of the previously incorrectly installed screws were dug into rear of wind pipe , 2 were pressing on spinal cord .

2nd surgery was totally done correctly . Pain level on a good day is a 3-4 , by end of every day is 6-7 , range of motion has a 30% loss . But from the first surgeons mistake , what I have now is heaven . I still have 2 discs in lower back with major issues . I had ablation 8 months ago , doing ok so far .

35 years of manual labor and riding a Harley is not so good on the flexible spine . 3 types of Arthritis , CHF , from a year of Chemo , please remember things can always be worse and make the best of the gifts you have been granted , don’t sweat the small stuff .

If anyone is in the greater Cinti area and thinking about spinal surgery , PM me and I’ll share more info on Surgeon NOT to allow to touch you .

 

[workinonit]

I had L4 and L5 fused on 11/17/21. Probably one of the best decisions I've ever made. Though the recovery was really fast, like a month or so, it took about 8 months to get my golf swing back to full motion. I don't regret it a bit and it aleviated almost all of my pain. I still can't stand up for long periods but the leg pain is no more. We are going to Park City skiing next week for the first time since the surgery.

 

[BravoXray]

GOOD LUCK TO YOU! I pray it all goes well for you! When i had my surgery, it was a couple weeks after the surgery before i started to feel a little better. Surgery is a shock to your system. Its gonna take some time for the swelling & pain to come down. After the surgery for a couple weeks, you`ll think nothing changed, and its gonna suck. Its still gonna feel like the same to you right after surgery for a short time. Give it some time, and DON`T do anything until you`re healed up a bit. Make sure you do your physical therapy right to a T! Be sure to holler back to us to let us know how you`re doing. You`ll have lots of time on your hands after surgery, so don`t make no excuses not to come back in here and let us know how you`re doin... yah HEAR?!?!?!

I have no aspersions about recovery being a little rough, but I tolerate pain pretty well.
For example, when I had complete replacement done on my right shoulder, rather than get in a fight with the nurse, I took pain meds that I really didn't need or want. After I left the hospital the next day, I never took any pain meds. None. I really didn't need them. Then when I started rehab, after a week (3 sessions), the PT said I was good to go, the fastest rehab she ever saw. Even the surgeon was surprised when I went in for my one month post-op visit.

I plan on taking my laptop to the hospital with me so I can keep up with the latest rumors here at TBN.

 

[BX23S-1]

I have no aspersions about recovery being a little rough, but I tolerate pain pretty well.
For example, when I had complete replacement done on my right shoulder, rather than get in a fight with the nurse, I took pain meds that I really didn't need or want. After I left the hospital the next day, I never took any pain meds. None. I really didn't need them. Then when I started rehab, after a week (3 sessions), the PT said I was good to go, the fastest rehab she ever saw. Even the surgeon was surprised when I went in for my one month post-op visit.

I plan on taking my laptop to the hospital with me so I can keep up with the latest rumors here at TBN.

Good for you my friend, sounds like you`re already knowing what to expect. I wish you the best of luck, and pain free as soon as possible.

 

[BX23S-1]

Late in on this one... My wife has spinal stenosis - discs pressing on nerves around L4 & L5. Came on really fast - she walked like she was in her 80's (she's 65). Chiropractors and physical therapy didn't help, nor did gabopentin. We bought a used Teeter inversion table and it's been a miracle. She inverts about 60 degrees twice a day. I swear it allows the discs to return to a smaller and more proper place. Before going under a knife I'd give an inversion table a try.

Be very careful with those inversion tables. Take it for what is worth. They are NOT good for you.