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L4 to S1 fusion 11 months post surgery

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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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  • alicia32392
    alicia32392 debkmc

    Posted

    Where do you live
    • alicia32392
      alicia32392

      Posted

      Where are you living, can you talk through messenger. It is a MENTAL and long effort to text every person through the forum. But I've had two fusions, ALIF and highly educated about it
  • scrannel
    scrannel debkmc

    Posted

    New as well.  About 6months ago had level 8 fusion.  Bolts, rods cadavar bone etc.  First fusion went in through my stomach.  10 hours on table, one week in hospital.  Got home, dumped painkillers.  Relied on Tylenol.  Kept active.  Up and down all the time.  6 months later back on my mountain bike and my motorcycle.  Working chest and shoulders in gym.  So, my experience was/is great.  But -- IMHO -- you have to challenge your pain. 
    • Enna1
      Enna1 scrannel

      Posted

      Would you mind telling me where you had your op.?

      That is absolutely fantastic I will look the drug up. I have been on tramadol and lyrica now for 3 years approx. I suppose it depends on the drug the surgeons like. My consultant said it would be too dangerous for me to have fusion but two private consultants both recommended it l4/5 and l3/4 etc but had decompression on one of these discs 6 yrs ago and despite walking and yoga am in terrible pain and forgot my medication one day and so decided that I would wait until my next med was due. I am not joking when I say I had a headache from hell for 2 days. Waiting for a cortisone injection, I have had so many lost count and afraid they will do the injection in my spine. They don't work with me but not a nice consultant at all. Well worth paying to see a private consultant but do wonder what in it for them...I am getting v sceptical now after over 10 years and pain just as it was...

      Hope everyone is bearing up today.

    • scrannel
      scrannel Enna1

      Posted

      Had my op at Cedars, Southern California.  Tylenol is basically an over the counter pain killer.  BTW, I'm 69.
    • Enna1
      Enna1 scrannel

      Posted

      Gosh that's a long way to come. I do exercises every day but by now not very challenging. My surgeon in Spain won't do fusion although if I went privately another surgeon said he would but 20000euros. Of course we expect the uk to do ops but only send you to pain clinic as have Spain. Prob too old now at 72 I have same level l4/5 and s1/

      L5 and....how successful will it be. I could be worse off. I have new appt at hospital in 2 weeks so see what happens then!!! Thanks for info. Could do with another hol in California!!!!fantastic

    • Dog_Lover
      Dog_Lover scrannel

      Posted

      S fanned, Yours is the successful outcome I am looking forward to having. I love and trust my surgeon, who did a 2 level fusion on me five years ago. I was finally pain-free!  But now I need a 4 level fusion, (and he'll remove my old hardware and use those same holes) which sounds similar to what you had done. But for my own clarification, when you say an 8 level fusion, did you mean they fused 9 vertebra together? And, if so, did your surgeon use 1 "rod" -- or 2 or more?  Obviously, I'm nervous about having this major surgery and am very encouraged to learn about your successful results.  Thanks, Susan
  • scrannel
    scrannel debkmc

    Posted

    Of course you need a doctor who is an ace at fusion surgery.  I took my time until finding the one I wanted.  You have to be careful. 
    • Enna1
      Enna1 scrannel

      Posted

      Have you had a look on spine health web site - I know that adrsupportuk have a list so maybe add support (America) has a list you could ask anyway its an excellent informative website.

      However I dread up on the 2 surgeons that did my operations and both did an absolute mess both highly recommended in the press and by patients.

      So maybe its me as everyone is different...good luck

    • scrannel
      scrannel Enna1

      Posted

      The doctor I chose had done a friend.  But the biggest clues I got was when I met him: he was intense; tried to talk me out of surgery; then admitted he'd had it done himself... and then I found out he worked on dwarves.  Which means he had to be real good.  Surgery was 10 hours and every hour his staff called my wife with an update.  Then to call to say it was a success.  From that point on it was my problem.  For sure I chose wisely. 
    • Enna1
      Enna1 scrannel

      Posted

      You sure did. A bit different in england and different again in Spain. Inspain you are allocated a surgeon and most now are what's left of the doctors that didn't go on strike. I think you can still choose your surgeon wherever you are in england. But then if you have insurance you can go anywhere. I am a bit old to have had insurance and in any case mine would have been a pre existing illness and I wouldn't have had insurance. Again in england we expected the NHS to look after us having paid insurance all our lives.

      In Spain it seems almost the norm for grandparents to fund their grandchildren insurance. Again its all about the generations.

    • scrannel
      scrannel Enna1

      Posted

      Have a private policy through the Writer's Guild, which is one of the best.  Plus in the US you can pay a nominal amount for your children to remain on one's policy until they turn 26. With mine, I can also pay after that to keep my son on if I wish. 
  • james15716
    james15716 debkmc

    Posted

    I went through the same thing starting in 94, I had a two lam fusion with instrumentation. They removed the harware and bone stimulator in 95. And I was not careful enough over the years so, now I am a fully functional, partial paraplegic. I do not suffer from incontinence nor do I need a leg bag. Most days my pain is at a 6-7, I also have crps in my right leg and, I have just finished the trial for a nervo scs. I have been scheduled for a permanent one in mid June, if the insurance company company doesn't derail it. I am also on a lot of pain meds and a good night sleep for me is avout 3 to 4 hours a night. So, I hope that you can find some relief for your pain.
    • scrannel
      scrannel james15716

      Posted

      Not sure what you mean by "removed the hardware."  If you means the Pedicle screws, was there some reason you needed this done?  Usually they're left in.  Perhaps you mean something else.  6+ months ago had level 8 lumbar fusion and have zero pain. 
    • james15716
      james15716 scrannel

      Posted

      Scrannel,

      In 94 when I had my surgery, which was a 2 lam fusion with instrumentation. I had a titanium bar with 6 screws and a bone stimulator at L4-L5-s1. The bone for the fusion came from my pelvis on the right hand side, it was a standard practice to remove hardware one the fusion was stable. That has never been the issue, my chronic pain comes from scar tissue and 2 additional injuries. I have a herniated disc at L2-L3 and impingement at L3-L4. Also I am going in for my 3rd SCS later this month, I had a really great trial and my pain levels went down by half. Btw, I am glad to hear that your surgery was successful and you are pain free. I assume that when you typed level lumbar, the 8 was a typo since, there are only 5 lumbar levels.

    • scott17436
      scott17436 scrannel

      Posted

      That is some size of fusion. I found a double of L4-S1 tough going so hats off to you coping with that size and multiple surgeries to boot. Can I ask why so many surgeries?
    • scrannel
      scrannel scott17436

      Posted

      Just one surgery that lasted 10 hours.  It really wasn't that tough.  It's 80% attitude, I am now told by Dr friends.  That link didn't descibe my surgery, just an example.  Mine was pretty ho-hum. 
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