Anyone Had A Spinal Fusion Done?

[KyCatFan]

I went back and fixed the photos I had posted since Photobucket won't allow you to post them elsewhere for free anymore. So if anyone was curious about them and hasn't seen them they are good to go. I forgot to post pictures of the lumbar x-ray so here they are.

 

[Nuke99m]

 

[preds7509]

my discectomy never really gave me relief and it's been since April last year. It re-herniated a week later after surgery and now I have nerve pain in both legs. I'm still working currently but wonder for how long. Sucks that a fusion is really all they can offer.

My surgeon was dr Nazar.

I know it sucks to talk about, but to the OP how is your pain manifesting now and what line of work were you in?

 

[KyCatFan]

I think my pain basically feels like bone on bone pain, but it increases like the nerves are being effected in my lower back. It hurts in my legs a little, but not like before when the nerve pain shot down my legs and I had numbness in my feet.

I worked in warehouses for over 10 years. It included picking, loading trucks, and riding around on forklifts and reach trucks. Most of the damage occurred from working at Kroger Distribution where they worked people 60-70 hours a week throwing around a couple thousand cases a day that included a bunch of 50 to 80 something pound boxes. More recently I spent most of my days driving reach trucks. That was usually 8 to 10 hours of standing up while riding the reach trucks and probably climbing down onto concrete floors probably 100 times a day. Much higher than your normal stair.

 

[preds7509]

I think my pain basically feels like bone on bone pain, but it increases like the nerves are being effected in my lower back. It hurts in my legs a little, but not like before when the nerve pain shot down my legs and I had numbness in my feet.

I worked in warehouses for over 10 years. It included picking, loading trucks, and riding around on forklifts and reach trucks. Most of the damage occurred from working at Kroger Distribution where they worked people 60-70 hours a week throwing around a couple thousand cases a day that included a bunch of 50 to 80 something pound boxes. More recently I spent most of my days driving reach trucks. That was usually 8 to 10 hours of standing up while riding the reach trucks and probably climbing down onto concrete floors probably 100 times a day. Much higher than your normal stair.

Well hopefully you continue to improve. My dad had a fusion in his neck back in the early 2000's from a motorcycle wreck. He still works 12 hours a day in a factory and he gives me hope for a somewhat normal working life with spine issues.

In your case I hope you continue to improve, thanks for the responses.

 

[goukcatsgo]

Do some research.

My wife had severe back pain and went to an orthopedic surgeon who wanted to do spinal fusion ASAP. She wanted a second opinion and went to a neurosurgeon. He told that no way should she have spinal fusion because it puts too much pressure on the other vertebrae. He says any doctor that would do spinal fusion should be sued for malpractice.

This. Way too many of these getting done right now. It's an incredibly expensive surgery. That's why doctors are recommending it so Much.

 

[goukcatsgo]

I actually barely take them now (haven't taken a single pill probably in the last 3 days). It has been a week and a half since I got out of the hospital and I've only taken about 6 or 7 out of the 120 they gave me so far. I was just hoping they would help knock me out and get some better sleep, but that wasn't happening so I stopped taking them for now. I guess I have been so use to pain that it isn't bad enough now to warrant taking pain meds all the time.

The doctor who gave you 120 of those should
Be put in jail for attempted murder.

We are the only country in the world that gives those out.

 

[Rex Kwon Do]

Tried something new at PT today, did some dry needling (acupuncture) with electric current. Basically on the right side of my ass and hip, triggered my pirafomis and hip pretty good after some disc manipulation.

We'll see but so far so good.

 

[Rex Kwon Do]

Tried something new at PT today, did some dry needling (acupuncture) with electric current. Basically on the right side of my ass and hip, triggered my pirafomis and hip pretty good after some disc manipulation.

We'll see but so far so good.

So....back has been getting progressively worse, got MRI this week, severe 7mm protrusion from L5S1. 3rd and final injection did nothing, shooting BBs at a freight train. PT saw the MRI and is ceasing treatment until I at least meet with my crew of docs (internist, pain mgt, and surgeon) to get on the same page.

So far met with my internist and I'm going to at least meet with surgeon but try another month or two of weight loss/swimming/core. Going to snag an inversion table today to at least decompress a little.

I'm not bedridden or anything, I work my ass off, play/coach my kids/live life but not going to lie it hurts like hell right now. Pain meds and going to try gabapentin for nerve relief starting Monday....I know that's not a long term solution but it's helping make do. I went and hit golf balls for an hour yesterday just to prove I still could, albeit a 3/4 old man swing. Sore as hell today but whatevs.

Here's the thing I'd really like to know from you guys that have had a discectomy....how long are you really "off" work and were you happy you had it? I own two small businesses and while that provides copious Paddock money I can't really be "off" work for two weeks. If they encourage walking, I'm walking my ass at work. Plus just seems like the success rate is not great. For example, Preds how did you reherniate?

I'm just pretty freaked out at a knife to my back, honestly. Go back and forth but leaning against it.

 

[Rex Kwon Do]

 

[preds7509]

i never had relieve from the discectomy tbh. and when i woke up from surgery my foot was numb completely and stayed that way for about a month or 2. Really didn't do anything to herniate again, but felt pain in right hip that wasnt there before surgery after a couple of weeks post surgery.

Now i have a 14mm protrusion to the right and scar tissue around the l5s1 nerve root where i had surgery. Something i wasn't aware of before surgery is that scar tissue can cause problems and compress a nerve just like a disc herniating.

Also i have facet joint problems at the l5s1 and the levels above causing some issues.

what surgeon you see? Nazar did my surgery.

 

[KyCatFan]

I felt immediate relief after my discectomy. Before it I couldn't do anything without major pain. Sitting, standing, walking, lying down, all made me miserable. I had severe pain shooting down from my spine, over to my right side, and then down my right leg into my foot. My foot was also numb from it.

After the surgery I felt 1000% better. It took about a month for the numbness in my foot to go away, but the nerve pain was basically gone in an instant. It took me about 6 weeks to get back to normal and return to work. I had a physical job though and probably could have come back in a couple weeks if I worked at a desk.

I was good to go for about 7 years before problems started to return, but it was pretty much expected from the diagnosis. I was told back then I would need a fusion eventually. At least I made it 7 years before getting to that point. Unfortunately it has taken 2 fusions so far to try and fix my issues.

It sounds like you need to have it done asap. The longer it goes on the worse it seems to get. The shots did nothing for me as well. It felt like an elephant was standing on my back as they performed the injection. Hopefully you have the luck I had right after the discectomy and don't have any future issues beyond that.

 

[backbeatcat]

I actually barely take them now (haven't taken a single pill probably in the last 3 days). It has been a week and a half since I got out of the hospital and I've only taken about 6 or 7 out of the 120 they gave me so far. I was just hoping they would help knock me out and get some better sleep, but that wasn't happening so I stopped taking them for now. I guess I have been so use to pain that it isn't bad enough now to warrant taking pain meds all the time.

Nice job! Stay away from your pain meds. Truly. The pain meds won't help with the pain but your body will manufacture more pain when you run out of pain meds. I now have MANY friends/coworkers who have been down that path with orthopedic surgeries and got hooked. Doctors need to just stop with those things altogether except for compassionate EOL care and very rare exceptions.

 

[bigbluedon]

So....back has been getting progressively worse, got MRI this week, severe 7mm protrusion from L5S1. 3rd and final injection did nothing, shooting BBs at a freight train. PT saw the MRI and is ceasing treatment until I at least meet with my crew of docs (internist, pain mgt, and surgeon) to get on the same page.

So far met with my internist and I'm going to at least meet with surgeon but try another month or two of weight loss/swimming/core. Going to snag an inversion table today to at least decompress a little.

I'm not bedridden or anything, I work my ass off, play/coach my kids/live life but not going to lie it hurts like hell right now. Pain meds and going to try gabapentin for nerve relief starting Monday....I know that's not a long term solution but it's helping make do. I went and hit golf balls for an hour yesterday just to prove I still could, albeit a 3/4 old man swing. Sore as hell today but whatevs.

Here's the thing I'd really like to know from you guys that have had a discectomy....how long are you really "off" work and were you happy you had it? I own two small businesses and while that provides copious Paddock money I can't really be "off" work for two weeks. If they encourage walking, I'm walking my ass at work. Plus just seems like the success rate is not great. For example, Preds how did you reherniate?

I'm just pretty freaked out at a knife to my back, honestly. Go back and forth but leaning against it.

I have not had a discectomy but I had a fusion at L4-5 and S1..I had tried the shots and exercise and nothing stopped the pain. Had the fusion done in Sept of 2014 and have never looked back..He told me I could start hitting short chip shots in Dec if I wanted but I usually dont play then so I waited until March..All the while I walked at least a mile per day and the recommended that..Walk as much as you can they said. In fall of 2015 I felt a bit tight in the surgery area so I had some dry needling done in the incision area and it helped a lot..Breaks down scar tissue and gets more blood flowing. i have been playing golf on a regular basis since the surgery and practice 1-2 times per week..I feel very fortunate my surgery went so well. Dr. Vemuri at Louisville Orthopedic Clinic did it at Baptist East. Good luck.

 

[blubo]

I have several issues with my spine including arthritis, severely deteriorated disc, stenosis, some which my doctor said would probably needs pins, fusion etc., to be corrected.

But, he said my main source of pain was the stenosis. he recommended a decompression procedure called the mild procedure. mild is an acronym for something, whatever.

I had it done last thursday at his clinic which is in my local hospital, and five days in i'm 99% pain free from pain that i've been suffering with 24/7 for 30 years. so far nothing short of unbelieveably wonderful.

Check out their website and ask your doctor if it might work for you:
http://www.mildprocedure.com/the-mild-procedure.html

 

[blubo]

Nice job! Stay away from your pain meds. Truly. The pain meds won't help with the pain but your body will manufacture more pain when you run out of pain meds. I now have MANY friends/coworkers who have been down that path with orthopedic surgeries and got hooked. Doctors need to just stop with those things altogether except for compassionate EOL care and very rare exceptions.

Respectfully disagree totally with you. pain medication is a great thing if used properly.

I was prescribed vicodin/hydrocodone 270 pills per script (3 month supply-3 a day) for fourteen years.
I had a physically demanding job and the opiates helped me through my final working years until my retirement, after which i quit the meds cold turkey, and never once did i ever feel i was "hooked."

People like you who say doctors should "just stop with those things altogether" frost my nuts.

 

[railroadkat_1]

My hair stylist -Barber recently had a fusion in the cervical spine and years ago good friends and neighbors the wife had a fusion in two disks and she is good. You have done everything the right way. A neurosurgeon is a well tuned specialist and you seem comfortable with yours that is good. Let us know how it goes and best of luck. Maybe not your belief but I have prayed about your surgery. I hope all is a success and a speedy recovery!

 

[Rex Kwon Do]

Update:

Met with the surgeon a couple times and added a CT scan since my last post. He was leaning towards an ALIF fusion at L5S1 but after the CT he felt the disc had stabilized and going to
Move forward with a laminectomy. Said he may trim the disc when he gets in there but it’s likely calcified and stabilized and if so it’s better to leave it alone. I’m 37 and a fusion at my age is last resort in his (and my) opinion.

Laminectomy (decompression by bone removal) he said was worth a try to push fusion down the road as far as we can. Goal is 1-2 weeks max off “work” but 4-6 weeks of no lifting/twisting. As I mentioned I’m a small business owner and if I’m up walking I’m going to be out with my employees and customers barring disaster. That’s my biggest fear more than anything, I can’t just disappear from my job for a month or two nor is that my nature.

Surgery on the 5th, less than two weeks ......any (positive hopefully) laminectomy stories?

 

[KyCatFan]

I never had that procedure done so I can't really comment on it. Maybe someone else can give you some good input on here that has been through it. Good luck and hopefully you have a quick recovery after your surgery.

 

[Double Tay]

It’s easy! Takes about an hour. You’ll walk out of the hospital the same morning as your procedure.

I’ve watched the procedure hundreds of times and have had two of them myself.

 

[Rex Kwon Do]

....thanks for demeaning my decade + sum of fears of back surgery buddy. Just kidding man....can you elaborate more? Why did you need a revision? How long before you were doing “normal” things? Driving a week or so after? Golf next spring?

I’m assuming you work in the industry if you’ve seen hundreds.....any info or insight is really really appreciated wildcat friend.

 

[Double Tay]

I didn’t have a revision. I had two of them 10 years apart at different levels. There’s really nothing to “revise”....a Lami is a Lami.

I had my second one two years ago thanksgiving week. Had it done Monday and was walking that day. I took it easy for the most part but walked 3 miles Thanksgiving morning. But that was a mistake! Just because you can walk that far doesn’t mean you should. You should be able to go to work the next week depending on the type of work that you do. But mine was generally pain-free other than typical incisional pain.

But obviously, Take your doctors advice over mine. I don’t know your history, age, physical shape, etc. But don’t be alarmed if you don’t get immediate pain relief. A lot of times those nerves are really agitated from the disks pushing on them and it takes a while for them to calm down. You’ll probably have residual pain for at least a few weeks and maybe a few months. But a Lami is a nice conservative procedure that generally works pretty well.

Not demeaning at all – but it’s a safe procedure that yields good results on average. But like any surgery you have to understand there are risks.

 

[UKRob 73]

Good luck man.
I tried it all as well, finally found some relief with pain management. It took several procedures, but my actual pain management Dr said he has been getting the same procedure annually for 18 years.

 

[Rex Kwon Do]

Update:

Had the microlaminectomy yesterday morning, surgery at 7am....home by 1pm. Pretty amazing procedure really. 95% of the sciatic pain/tingling/numbness in my leg and foot were gone the moment I woke up. Walking around like nothing happened.

Dr took out a piece of bone the size of my thumbnail to decompress...left the disc alone, said it looked stable. Moved sciatic nerve around so it could move freely.

Incision pain is definitely there and six weeks of no lifting/twisting but great start. Going back to work Monday albeit may make my hen drive me down Friday for a few min, getting antsy.

Wish I’d done it much sooner.

 

[Mojocat]

I took it easy for the most part but walked 3 miles Thanksgiving morning. But that was a mistake! Just because you can walk that far doesn’t mean you should.

heh. Reminds me of the day I had a vasectomy. This is cake! I thought. No worries!

I paid for it the next few days.....

 

[dgtatu01]

Good call man. Getting those nuts and bolts stuck in your spine normally turns out to be a disaster. I have never understood why Docs do them so quick and often.

 

[Bill Derington]

Update:

Had the microlaminectomy yesterday morning, surgery at 7am....home by 1pm. Pretty amazing procedure really. 95% of the sciatic pain/tingling/numbness in my leg and foot were gone the moment I woke up. Walking around like nothing happened.

Dr took out a piece of bone the size of my thumbnail to decompress...left the disc alone, said it looked stable. Moved sciatic nerve around so it could move freely.

Incision pain is definitely there and six weeks of no lifting/twisting but great start. Going back to work Monday albeit may make my hen drive me down Friday for a few min, getting antsy.

Wish I’d done it much sooner.

Go easy on it, I had microdiscectomy and woke up thinking I was a brand new man.

I didnt realize they put a morphine filled sponge on nerve that lasts about 2 days. I got a little overboard in my activity in those days, and paid for it like SOB for a week to 10 days afterward. Apparently swelling and nerves don’t mix well.
After that 2 weeks I was great, and have been since going on 3 years.

 

[Double Tay]

Update:

Had the microlaminectomy yesterday morning, surgery at 7am....home by 1pm. Pretty amazing procedure really. 95% of the sciatic pain/tingling/numbness in my leg and foot were gone the moment I woke up. Walking around like nothing happened.

Dr took out a piece of bone the size of my thumbnail to decompress...left the disc alone, said it looked stable. Moved sciatic nerve around so it could move freely.

Incision pain is definitely there and six weeks of no lifting/twisting but great start. Going back to work Monday albeit may make my hen drive me down Friday for a few min, getting antsy.

Wish I’d done it much sooner.

Good to hear

 

[Rex Kwon Do]

Update 2:

Been moving around pretty well, have had some periodic moments of shooting sensations down my leg....not necessarily pain but noticeable. I think (hope) that’s normal as the nerve calms down over the next few weeks at least Dr said it was. Overall still very glad I did it, off pain meds for 2 days, just drove myself for the first time today.

In summary, not out of the woods and need to heal for a while but I’m encouraged. Pain is night and day better but shewwwweeee paranoid about those little “shoots”.

Back stuff is no fun as you guys know but hopeful I’m on the right track.

 

[Bill Derington]

Update 2:

Been moving around pretty well, have had some periodic moments of shooting sensations down my leg....not necessarily pain but noticeable. I think (hope) that’s normal as the nerve calms down over the next few weeks at least Dr said it was. Overall still very glad I did it, off pain meds for 2 days, just drove myself for the first time today.

In summary, not out of the woods and need to heal for a while but I’m encouraged. Pain is night and day better but shewwwweeee paranoid about those little “shoots”.

Back stuff is no fun as you guys know but hopeful I’m on the right track.

The shots of pain are normal, sounds like you're doing awesome! Ice seemed to help me more than just about anything.