Posted: 3/26/2010 8:11:17 PM EDT
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Anyone here have this type of surgery done on their back? I might be a candidate for it in the future according to the doc and was curious what the healing time, limitations to physical activity, etc are. Any advice is great! |
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I just had the surgery 4 weeks ago on L5S1. I had a completely ruptured and factured disc that I was told needed to be fused.
I got 4 opinions before I met my surgeon. He is a neurosurgeon (national recognized Havard educated)and informed me that I didn't need it fused but did need to get the disc cleaned up and remove the fragments. He indicated that fusing will result eventually blowing the disc above and below. The procedure he preformed cut away some bone, took out the fragements and put the nerves back in place. Then the idea is to strengthen the core muscles to prevent future issues. It is a newer strategy since fusing (as it turns out) is bad. I am not one that likes getting cut open but I was told if I didn't have it done it would result in permanent nerve damage. Otherwise, he said under normal conditions the disc can heal on its own over time. So make sure it can only be fixed with surgery otherwise try to have it heal naturally. Anyway, the surgery was a piece of cake. I was in the hospital 2 nights (only because I got snowed in) other wise I could have left the same day. Make sure you stay on top of your pain with the meds. I was off my feet for about 2 weeks before going back to work and am still in PT (8 weeks x2days a week of PT total). I will say this I am so glad I had the surgery. The pain I was feeling was brutal and now has gone completely away. I have some healing pain but that is a walk in the park compared to before the surgery. Also, my father had the surgery. They bolted a titanium plate to the discs and placed a piece of cadavor bone in between. He had that surgery about 15 years ago and lost no mobility. During your research make sure you ask the following questions: 1. Can this heal itself over time and what do I need to help it heal? 2. If you need surgery, can it be done without fusing the discs? One last item, if they need to use some bone for the fusing use a cadavor bone not your own (sometimes they take part of your hip bone). I have been told that it hurts like a bitch for a long time. Good luck and if you have any questions feel free to drop me a line. |
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Fusions in the neck have a higher rate of success than fusions in the low back. I'd have a low back fusion only if I had a spine fracture that was unstable and threatening to turn me into a paraplegic or if I was becoming incontinent from nerve damage and needed the fusion to prevent permanent damage.
"There is no back pain that can't be worsened by surgery." "The only thing worse than back pain is back pain with a scar." There are lots of things to try first. Make sure you get multiple opinions before heading into this. |
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Harvard? What do they know?
<––––––––- did my residency there, so I'm allowed to joke. I may have given anesthesia for your surgeon. 
Get several opinions. It can fix your problem, or it could start a spiral into the nightmare of "failed back surgery syndome." Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
| I had no choice but to have the fusion.i had an unstable fracture that was crushing the nerve,the only issue i had was one of the pedicle screws was a little off,and was hitting the nerve,after a few months they removed the hardware on one side,while it helped some numbness,and some pain,i still have a lot of both,due to scar tissue around the opening for the nerve.get in the best shape you can before the surgery,do as much as you can to strengthen trunk,it will make recovery alot easier. |
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Quoted: Get several opinions. It can fix your problem, or it could start a spiral into the nightmare of "failed back surgery syndome." This with a Big +1 I had no choice as the incident caused the need for immediate surgery as I lost motor control on my legs have fusion of T6,T7, & T9 Fixed the problem fine I have pain from the incision site requiring a Pain Management Dr. My work was done in 03 spent 6 weeks in rehab (in Hosp) then visiting nurse at home doing PT |
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As mentioned above, cadaver bone (in any form) can be risky, regardless of what you are told. My friend lost his leg due to uncontrollable infection after the cadaver bone "repair" for a fairly minor broken leg. I know "infection" was to blame, but, the infection was in the bone!
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Quoted:
Thanks for the advice! I've seen a couple different doctors and gotten a few different opinions, and the general consensus is that a fusion from T4-L2 is what would be needed to correct my back. T4-L2 is a lot of levels...That just can't be the best option. Have you looked into the procedure where they put flexible rods in on either side of the spine that keep the discs from collapsing? As I understand it that procedure has a much lower morbidity rate than multiple-level fusions. I'm expecting to have a PETD procedure at T5 one of these days, been putting it off. |
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Had L4 and L5 done 8 JAN 2010, second week home was feeling a bit better, then developed a serious infection.
Nothing but PAIN AND HELL since. The original pain in hip and leg was far less than what I am trying to endure now. Had epidural nerve block shot this past Monday, did not help. Go every 2 weeks for another, can only get 3 a year. I take a few vicodins every day, and just started 25 MG Elavil, it is used 'off label' to treat neuopathic pain, may be helping slightly. Good Luck! EDIT: Have rods, screws, and 'donor' bone. |
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Quoted:
As mentioned above, cadaver bone (in any form) can be risky, regardless of what you are told. My friend lost his leg due to uncontrollable infection after the cadaver bone "repair" for a fairly minor broken leg. I know "infection" was to blame, but, the infection was in the bone! Donor bone is heavily processed and sterilized. There's a good chance the infection came from something other than the cadaver bone. Since the surgery was on the bone, it could have become infected even if no cadaver bone was used. Lots of people have infection in their bones––diabetics with foot ulcers, paraplegics with sacral ulcers, etc. Infection in a bone is a bad thing, though. Can be very, very tough to eliminate. |
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Quoted:
Thanks for the advice! I've seen a couple different doctors and gotten a few different opinions, and the general consensus is that a fusion from T4-L2 is what would be needed to correct my back. That's a pretty big surgery. When I've been involved in cases like that, it was frequently scoliosis, and with bad scoliosis, instrumentation may be the best answer. It's definitely nothing to rush into. If you smoke, quit now. It will make a big difference in how you heal. I've had surgical colleagues who wouldn't operate on people who smoked. Also, if you're on any narcotic pain meds, try to get off them before the procedure. good luck. |
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I have back problems as well. I have been putting off surgery for years. I just deal with the pain and take pain meds. I have self limit the meds to keep my tolerance lower. Seems different surgeons have different opinions on how to fix my back. Some say fusion, screws,etc, and other say no operating.
Good luck with your back, and please do not rush into a surgery, I know too many folks that have and it changed there lives forever, not for the better. If anyone who reads this thread has medical knowledge, I would love to share my latest MRI report and get a educated opinion from someone outside of this small town and the "common practices" here. Seems there are better and less evasive things out there, just not here. 
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The wife had 3 vertebrae fused & 2 discs replaced. (looks like a ladder in the X-ray) She also had the bone grafts done, but the bone used was from her pelvis. Operation was done on Friday afternoon. I took her home Tuesday morning without the need of a walker. She is still using a back brace & takes rehab twice a week. She had been attempting to avoid surgery for over a year seeking different options & relying upon pain management. Unfortunately, things got too bad to endure & she opted for surgery. A lot of useful info including animations of the different procedures can be found here...
http://www.understandspinesurgery.com Best of luck to you with whatever decision you make. |