XLIF-Spinal Fusion

Also get a really good back brace for stability.  Mine has a heat/cold pad which is great.  

Pain management is really important.  I found it really frustrating in the hospital b/c  I was on a morphine pump that I had to press every 5 min which meant I didn't get any sleep at all.  I would suggest you use more pain killers in the first few days and then taper off as needed.  

I hope you have some help for the first few days to get you meals etc.  Putting on socks is not an easy task.  

Hope this helps...best of luck 

I did not have fusion in my lower back but I have it in my neck area.  Needless to say that you have to be geared up for the lengthly rehab and wear a neck brace and that was the most important thing.  Just as well you have to wear the back brace as you don't want your back to twist which can make your condition get far worse and even possibly cause some damage.  Your more likely be given a walker as well.  Check all that out.  Remember, the spine is where the nerves go through to the brain.  This are so critical and make certain that your doctor is very good inf what he does and how many procedures did he do.  Also, and at least to me, I look at all the reviews but you can't take this verbatim.  I know it is hard to mention but investigate how many of these surgeries were successful and how many not.  Anytime, you have a surgery such as this, get 2nd and 3rd opinions from doctors outside of their medical practice.  If you have insurance, find out if they will pay and if not, then maybe it is worth to pay for it.  They are messing with an iimportant area of your body and you don't want any mistakes.  Expect to be in pain and have the best pain meds for the first few days.  My neck surgery or fusion required me to be in ICU for 24 hours as you have to be carefully monitored.  In your case, you probably won't have to be in ICU.  I know that the pain was bad for me.  Even though they give you morphine, you only get a very small amount as  you control it and you can't get more until it is time.  It really was not that great.  Long time ago, I had surgery and I got Demerol which was the best thing ever.  Talk to your surgeon or anethiesiologist about it.  I know it is not much anymore but it is a shame they don't.  It was used for so many years and since heavy control of narcotics today generally inhibits the use of very large doses of opiates.  This will only be for 24 to 48 hours so why shouldn't you be comfortable.  Sometime doctors forget that.  I wish you a good surgery and heal fast.  By the way I only am saying all this for your information and what I went through.  Good luck, god bless and have a nice holiday.