Back Surgery and Neck Surgery
Welcome to Spine-health’s Back Surgery and Neck Surgery patient community. You can also read doctor approved Back Surgery and Neck Surgery Articles and watch Back Surgery and Neck Surgery Videos.
- Most Popular Back Surgery and Neck Surgery Articles
- Back Surgery and Neck Surgery Overview
- Lumbar Laminectomy Surgery for Spinal Stenosis (Open Decompression)
- Most Popular Back Surgery and Neck Surgery Videos
- Spine Fusion Surgery Video
- Video: Am I a Candidate for Back Surgery?
March 15, 2010 - 6:24am
drainage
My microD was on 3/1 and I'm still experiencing drainage 15 days later. I saw my surgeon last week and he said that was still kinda normal, that I was just taking longer to heal and he pushed back my appt to have staples removed until tomorrow. But here I am, a week later, and still experiencing some drainage. Most of the time, it is not alot, but I notice when I'm up and moving alot, it gets worse. Saturday night while eating dinner, I felt the back of my robe was wet and sure enough it was from the drainage that had leaked through a pad, my shirt, and my heavy robe. When we put a new pad on, it had soaked through again in a matter of minutes. Is this normal?? I guess I'm just afraid he is going to release me back to work and since I'm constantly on my feet at work, that scares me. Especially since I cannot put the dressing on myself. Thank you for any responses!!
PS I'm using the extra absorbant dressings and tape two of them on together, But sometimes I just use what is really just a huge bandaid when it is not draining realy bad, and that seems to help more. I dont' know if it is because of the pressure it puts on it or not?? But even if that is why, is that a good thing?
User login
advertisement
New forum topics
Clinical Trials
Who's online
There are currently 7 users and 305 guests online.
Connect with Us
Hi,
I didn't have this problem but I think there was someone who had staples after MicroD and might be able to comment.
But I would express the exact concern to your doctor. How's everything else progressing?
I would certainly bring this concern to the attention of your surgeon.
"C"
“If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it.”
Marcus Aurelius
Hi Amanda,
I had a lot of drainage after my back fusion, but I also had a drainage tub. It was left in longer for that reason. And in ways I wish they would of left it in longer. At a month and a half, they did a MRI with contrast, and there was a large pool of liquid. NS said not to worry will go away. Now 3 years later, and armed with more knowledge about fusion, and drainage issues. I think it should of been left in longer, and the fluid that was trapped in my fusion area drained at least.
So I would say from personal experience draining is a good thing. I would however talk to your surgeon about it, because there's always a risk of something leaking that shouldn't be. But from your discription sound more like heavy drainage, and everyones body drains differently.
Bobbi Jo
You said you had a micro D, how big is your incision?
I had open back surgery for my laminectomy/discectomy and my scar is about 2 inches and was closed with butterfly stitches and I never had any drainage and they just fell off after a few weeks.
I sure hope its ok, but checking with your doctor is the best thing to do.
Good luck, let us know
Sandra
July 2009 - Laminectomy, discectomy at L5-S1
May 2010 - Laminectomy, foraminotomy and facetectomy at
L5-S1
June 2011 - ALIF fusion at L5-S1
So I finally just measured my scar and it is 3 inches!! I knew it lookes alot longer than 1 1/2 - 2 in. like the told me! I counted my staples and I have 12 of them! I'm not sure why it is so much bigger but I may ask tomorrow.
Besides the drainage, a few back spasms here and there, and a little soreness, I'm doing great. No leg pain at all!! I'm sure I've been doing wayyy too much because of that though. Today for instance I felt so good that I took a Lortab this morning and felt fine so didnt take anymore. Then we went to a basketball game at 5, went to the funeral home for an hour, then to another game at 7. Unfortunatly at the funeral home I started to feel really ill, which I think was probably withdrawl since I hadnt taken my pill in 10 hours and I've been on them for over a year now. So I guess I will need to be a little more careful with that.
Now that the weather is nice I need to get out and start walking alot more so I can contine to lose more weight. Since September I've lost about 25 lbs. and I need to lose about anther 75 to be skinny for once! I turn 30 in Sept. so my goal is to lose most of it by then.
Okay, off tooo bed so I can get up extra early for my appt!
Had my open discectomy L4/L5 on 3/2.. I had a drainage tube but the surgeon yanked it out the next day.. had a little bit of bleeding on the bandage for maybe 3 days further. Should def ask about that
I did just see my dr. a week ago and he told my hubby to what to watch out for in terms of the drainage. Its not cloudy, white, or greenish, so it's not infected. They just didnt' tell me how long I should expect the drainage. I'll go good for a couple days then all of a sudden it will pick up. But I go in the morning now and I will be asking.
Thanks all!