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Spinal fusio on a large scale

Posted , 7 users are following.

Basia19
Basia19

Hi my name is Basia I am 68 almost 69 , am about to have 20 screw's fitted in my back, in May.

From T1. - L5 ..... anyone else had this experience or something like it?

Can you tell me what to expect

1 like, 16 replies

16 Replies

  • Weritapreciosa
    Weritapreciosa Basia19

    Posted

    Hi there my surgery wasn't so big L1 to S1 rods to correct scoliosis and 8 screws...it was big enough. Waiting now for hip replacement surgery ruined my left hip from scoliosis walked crooked all my life. I am 45. My surgery went well. Not too much pain. Just desperation at unforced immobility for 1 month. By six weeks I was swimming and driving. Just have patience and follow doctors orders don't try to speed up recovery you will get there.
    • Basia19
      Basia19 Weritapreciosa

      Posted

      Hello. WERITAPRECIOSA

      Uh oh not good to hear that. BTW am supposed to have knee done too

    • lindagkelly
      lindagkelly Basia19

      Posted

      He told you a year? That sounds right.  A little generous, but that's great. You really should not push going back to work after such a big surgery.  You'll have to wear a bone stimulator to promote the healing of your back.  In your case, I wouldn't be surprised if you have two or three.  It's like a large back brace.  It actually looks like a steering wheel. You put it on, and it can cover up to 6 levels of discs at a time.  You wear it for like an hour at a time I think, every day, for several months.  It's very important to do that. Plus the doctors can actually check the records on it and make sure you have used it every day.  It's not bad or uncomfortable at all.  It sends out magic superman rays to your spine to help your spine heal.  But it can only be used once a day, and it has a life span of about 9 or 10 months.  You'll probably have more than one to cover the entire length of your spine.  Unless they have something better than that.'

      You might have to wear a "TURTLE" brace.  It's a hard rigid brace that you wear all day long to protect your spine.  I'm not sure if you are supposed to sleep in it at night.  I was lucky, I didn't have to do that, but i saw someone who did.  

      Once you recover from your surgery enough to get up and move, you'll be transferred to a rehab hospital.  I spent 2 weeks in the rehab hospital learning how to walk, lift my leg, put my shoes and sock on with a device that helps you pull your socks up when you are wearing a rigid back brace and you can't reach down.  I actually enjoyed physical therapy.  We all had to get up and get ourselves down to the cafeteria every day for every meal.  It was a great motivator.  In my case, the doctor had damaged my femoral nerve, when he did a lateral fusion on my left side and he put in a cage.  I woke up with my knee pulled up to my chin.  It took several days before I could put my leg down on the floor, and it hurt really really bad.  It took a YEAR before the surgeon would admit to me that he had damaged the femoral nerve.  My leg hurts to this day.  Don't let them do a lateral surgery (on your side) because apparently this is a common side effect of the surgery!

      Follow your instructions.  If you feel you are in more pain than you should be, let them know and ask for more pain killers.  I had to ask for more pain killers for 9 days after my surgery before I finally got to talk to a pain management doctor who listened to me.  No way could I even start my physical therapy until they increased my pain killers.

      Good luck to you!  Stick with it.  Don't expect an immediate recovery and have patience.  Remember, you are the one who needs to be in charge of your care and recovery.

      Linda

    • Basia19
      Basia19 lindagkelly

      Posted

      Thanks for all your help Have emailed the specialist based on some of the points you raised will let you know the outcome.

      Regards Basia

  • susan72937
    susan72937 Basia19

    Posted

    Hi Basia  I had double spinal fusion (L3-4, L4-5) last June. I'm 72 years old. The best advice is not to lift, bend or twist (BLT) until your doctor gives the ok. I still have some nerve issues in my legs and feet but the back pain is gone. I started walking within a week or so and that helped a lot. I don't think age made much of a difference. Good luck to you.
    • Basia19
      Basia19 susan72937

      Posted

      Thanks Susan

      I hear they like to get you upright a.s.a.p. Post OP

  • lindagkelly
    lindagkelly Basia19

    Posted

    That's huge. I had 5 levels only problem was L5-s1. That's a bad spot. I knew someone who had a fusion from T1-L5, and she did just fine

    I would suggest googling you doctor and see what other patients say about him/her. Good Luck

    Linda

    • Basia19
      Basia19 lindagkelly

      Posted

      Hello Linda.

      I have googled the specialist before going to him, he had also operated on a g/f too.

      He told me it would take a year to get over the OP.

      I just wanted advice pre op and post op to better prepare my self 😇

  • DonnaL
    DonnaL Basia19

    Posted

    Hello Basia,

    I'm in the US in Arizona. This site has been very helpful to me and will be to you. I like what lindagkelly says. She didn't say what kind of surgeon she had -  I hope your surgeon is a neurosurgeon. I consider this the most important choice to make after you decide on surgery, which you obviously need. They know nerves and typically don't damage them. As you know, it's all very delicate surgery. My surgeon is a gem.

    I had a spondylolisthesis and had L4, 5 and S1 fused after L5 was moved back into position. Rods and only 6 screws. Your surgery is more complex. I agree that you shouldn't go back to work for some time, if you still work. I was 66 when I had my surgery. It went beautifully - no nerves damaged and my stabbing pain in L5 and my awful radiating pain in one leg are gone! 

    But it has taken the connective tissues - muscles, tendons, etc., quite some time to adapt to my new structure. With so many levels, your body will take time to adapt. At times I felt like my body was saying "what did you do to me??"

    At our age, it's normal for healing to take longer and we have to be very careful. I found physiotherapy often aggravated it and caused "flare-ups." My surgeon believes the best therapy for back recovery is walking and more walking as you can do it. I know some people say you should work hard in PT, but I opted not to do anything that caused me more pain - sometimes for days. They were gentle with me mostly, but I feel best when I walk.

    It's now been 19 months since my surgery. I will be very honest and tell you that I still have trouble sitting for longer times. It's still improving. I had a fractured tailbone - coccyx - years ago so that adds to sitting issues. I recommend you get a 2" flat foam pillow and put it in a soft tote bag that is pleasant looking and take it anywhere you may have to sit on hard surfaces. I take mine into all restaurants, appts, and just sit on the tote bag. Easy! The cushion queen!

    You'll be taught how to get up, turn and get out of bed and so on. Be sure to have a couple of those grabbers/picker-uppers to use because bending to pick things up won't be something you'll want to do. I even kept one in the car. Be very patient and stay strong and positive. Don't let anyone push you to do painful things. Gentle massages help a lot to relax surrounding muscles.

    You will be ok as long as you don't push yourself or think you should be fine in just a few months. The first year won't be easy, but it will all be worth it!  Each month gets better. We have many years to go! Good luck and I'll watch your posts.

    Donna

    • lindagkelly
      lindagkelly DonnaL

      Posted

      Good answer Donna!  I had an orthopedic surgeon and learned later on - too late of course - that a neurosurgeon would have been better.  I'm in Arizona too - Chandler - a suburb of Phoenix. But we're moving in October to Boise. I agree that walking is the best thing.  I can't do that because it is too painful for my right foot.  We'll see how things go after my RFA this week.  It's supposed to help my foot.  The sympathetic nerve block helped for a week. So, we'll see.  Then, they'll try to help with the pain in my leg.  Next, we'll see what we can do about my back pain. Then I'll be like new!  Good luck to you Basia.

      Half of it is attitude!

      Linda

    • Basia19
      Basia19 DonnaL

      Posted

      Thanks Donna and yes I do have a neurosurgeon a very approachable one too,will keep you posted and thanks for your suport

      Regards

      Basia

    • Basia19
      Basia19

      Posted

      Linda * sorry
    • Basia19
      Basia19 DonnaL

      Posted

      Thank you so much for your advice and concern Donna 💜

      Regards Basia

    • DonnaL
      DonnaL lindagkelly

      Posted

      Attitude is so important. I hope you get relief for your pain. You're in Chandler and I'm up in Sedona! If you want a neurosurgeon's opinion, I went to Barrow's Neuro and my surgeon was Udaya Kumar Kakarla. I'd recomment Barrows and him to anyone. Good luck to you too!
    • DonnaL
      DonnaL Basia19

      Posted

      You are so welcome! I got help at this site before and after my surgery and I'm happy to share my experience to help you be ready for yours!

      Donna

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