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L4 to S1 fusion 11 months post surgery

Posted , 9 users are following.

debkmc
debkmc

Hello! I'm new to the forum. Fusion L4-S1 with rods, pedicle screws, and bone graft. That's my surgery 11 months ago. I am in so much pain when I try to sleep at night. After 5 hours I'm up b/c of intense discomfort. I never had this before surgery. In the day I'm still having so much discomfort. I stand 7 hours with no sitting on my job shift. Lastly I'm still on pain meds. Does anyone have a similar experience? Thanks so much!

0 likes, 36 replies

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  • fred92666
    fred92666 debkmc

    Posted

    If you go through this it can quickly turn into a nightmare!! PLEASE BE CAREFUL WITH WHAT YOU DO GOING FORWARD!! Had same done!! Then put in spine stim!! Ever since I have been in crippling pain!! I wrote a story on here that explains what happened and what I am going thru!! My name is Fred Ingersoll story would be under Fredlinc60!! Please please please do not let them do to you what they have done to me!!! P.s. You get about four hours more sleep a day than I do!! I went to bed at 8pm and was awakened in crippling pain at 11pm!!! Have been up since!!
    • Enna1
      Enna1 fred92666

      Posted

      Omg are you saying you had the same op and then had stimulator if you are I won't be persuaded to have that. I cannot understand why the surgeons do this do you think its part of a trial. I know that some surgeons choose to use certain things and 2 surgeons recommended fusion with screws and bone graft. They are top notch surgeons they said I would walk out of hospital in 2 days. He showed me the titanium widgets they were massive bug the cost 22000euros. I don't have insurance.
    • fred92666
      fred92666 Enna1

      Posted

      I had the same surgery!! All titanium and that stuff!! 7 years later the spine stims!! I wish I had known!! I'm 1000 times worse!!
    • Laura3333
      Laura3333 fred92666

      Posted

      Trouble is Fred, she was already having problems that's why people have back surgery, it works for some people, and most people don't go on to have a SCS put in, everyone has different experiences.
    • Enna1
      Enna1 Laura3333

      Posted

      Suzy what doesSCS mean? I know its an awkward question would anyone recommend having s1 fused?

    • fred92666
      fred92666

      Posted

      The titanium is bull crap!! Most people who get it end up with failed lower back pain syndrome!! Wich is a brutal thing!! They don't even know what damage these spine stims do if they malfunction!! Sad!!
    • james15716
      james15716 fred92666

      Posted

      Fred,

      The titanium that I mentioned was the actual rod that they used with 6 screws after my 2 lam fusion with instrumentation in 94. The new SCS will be my 3rd one, the first 2 were manufacturered by medtronic, the new one is made by nervo and runs at a much higher frequency and. I could barely feel the pulse and the trial was amazing, my pain level dropped by half. As for the FSS(Failed Back Surgery Syndrome) it was caused by an IDET(Intra-Discal Electrothermal Therapy). In 99 my pain specialist that I had at the time tried to do this procedure because it was the only way to try and save a herniated disc at L2-L3. And yes I have gotten worse after 22 years of dealing with constant pain that goes from a 6- 7 to a 10 most days. I am maxed out on meds and the new SCS seems to be my only recourse right now.

    • fred92666
      fred92666 james15716

      Posted

      My two stims were Medtronic also!! And now they want to put the nervo hf10 system in!! I'm very skeptical but am not going to have a choice but to try!! The first stim every time I turned in would give burning pain and within a half hour I would be so swollen I couldn't move!! It was terrible!! Now I feel that pain also everyday like it's still in me!! I can't do anything without being in severe pain!! I am also on max pain meds but that's a road that doesn't work long term!! Just so frustrated and sore that I'm ready to give up!! Not enjoying life at all!!
    • james15716
      james15716 fred92666

      Posted

      Fred,

      The Nervo Senza trial was great, I am counting down the days, I have 1 more week until surgery and I can get around again. While I might not be able to worknoutside of my home again, I am looking firward to being able to help my wife and kids around the house again, without wanting to double over in pain. Out of the 11 different types of pain that I have heardnif, I have 9 of them. So 2ish me luck and I hope that you can fins some relief as well.

    • fred92666
      fred92666 james15716

      Posted

      Good luck James!!! Hope alm goes well for the both of us!!
  • Laura3333
    Laura3333 debkmc

    Posted

    I had l5 s1 fusion in 1984, and haven't been able to stand for very long ever since.

    I think your job is too much for you, could you get a job where you could sit down and go for short walks?

    I don't think you are ever back totally to normal after spinal surgery, and hard as it is you need to adapt and make changes, you can't go on like this in so much pain.

    I now work from home, no choice.

  • scott17436
    scott17436 debkmc

    Posted

    I had L4-S1 fusion surgery 5.5 weeks ago. It's been a tough time but I'm hoping the worst is over with.

    I'm taking short walks everyday and although I'm still on all my meds!

    I've had 2 previous surgeries in 07 and 2012. This time they went in through the stomach as my back has scar tissue and I have already go damaged nerves.

    Have you been back to your surgeon? Physio? Swimming? And what Meds you still on?

    Today is the first in a few weeks where I've had some discomfort as my scar is a little inflamed and I've a little niggling ache in my lower left back and nerve pain in my left leg. The nerve pain is no different from what I previously had.

    Definitely go back and see your surgeon and find out if anything has moved or come loose?

    • Enna1
      Enna1 scott17436

      Posted

      I know no matter who I talk to it doesn't necessarily mean I would have a successful op. I agree that exercise is one of the keys and luckily I did yoga anyway. What ops did you have in o7 and 12 just wondered .. I thought decompression would be easy least but no it wasn't. I am in terrible pain and forgot my lunchtime ones one day last week I honestly though my head was going to explode for 2 days so god knows how I will come off them but that's just a twig in the wood pile. You sound pretty chipper for just 6 months and I hope all goes well for you.

  • Enna1
    Enna1 debkmc

    Posted

    Hi, I dread reading your notes I was so wanting a consultant do something with my s1 and I haven't heard of anyone yet who had successful op so hope someone answers your posting. Last I saw my surgeon he said it was too dangerous for me whether its my age I don't know. I really feel for you. Who did the op? I know when I had decompression I haven't been free of pain and that's 6 years ago.very fed up.as you must be. Did he say you would be in pain. Wondered what medication you are on.

    Can you go back to you surgeon I heard you can have pain tests!! And I know by where your pain is they know where the problem is or roughly.

    I hope someone comes up and helps but this is to say I am thinking of you.

    • Laura3333
      Laura3333 Enna1

      Posted

      If you Google dermatomes, the diagrams show where your pain is originating from.
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