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?
February 8, 2010 - 5:36pm
had 360 fusion 5 days ago
Had ALIF/PLIF surgery (L4-S1 for spondylolithesis) Wednesday morning. I was in surgery for 6.5 hours. The pain is definitely manageable and is more of a soreness. They moved me to a rehab on Friday. Had a small fever for a few days but I didnt really feel all that bad. They have me on 4mg of dilaudid every 4 hours (so please excuse any spelling or incoherence) I was walking by the second day. Day 3-4 doing laps up and down the hallway with a walker. Today I ditched the walker and just slowed my pace for a little extra stability. Don't know when I'm getting out of here but I'm not in any rush (too much snow out there) I am 36 year old guy and am the youngest guy in here by about 35 years so its a little weird. I am a little backed up though but that is to be expected and we're working on it. Too soon to say about long term effects but I'm just letting people know that FOR ME it was much worse in my head leading up to the surgery than the actual surgery itself. If anyone has questions about the surgery, feel free to ask
User login
advertisement
New forum topics
Clinical Trials
Who's online
There are currently 4 users and 321 guests online.
Online users
Connect with Us
Great your surgery is done and you're having less pain. I hope they send you home when you're ready and things are moving okay. Take care and hope you heal completely from surgery. Charry
Any answers I have is not medical advice only a Doctor can help you with that. Just sharing my personal experience as a fellow Spine Health member only. Mild DDD of complete lumbar area with recent healing of L5-S1 HD and annular tear.Leg &foot weakness nerve compression L4-L5.Mod. disc changes C5-C7 nerve impingement sore elbow and numb hand. Sept. 2011 MRI L4-L5 disc bulge and L5 facet joint and narrowing. Meds-Oxycontin 80mg,Cymbalta,Lyrica, Flexeril,Naproxen,Serax. Platinum Infrared heating pad. ER and Oncology trained and Cardiology RN on Disability. Keep the faith.
It sounds to me like youre doing incredibly well. I had a 360 3 level anterior, posterior, with bone harvest from my hip in 2003. My anterior was about 4 hrs. and 3 days later the posterior was about 5 hrs.
Your doing much better than I was. They used morphine and I didn't do well with it. And I would assume the procedure is much more high tech. now.
But at any rate, I couldn't wait to go home. But that was kind of a mistake. Because the pain was,none the less controlled much better in the hospital and not worth a darn at home with the meds they prescribed! I could have stayed 2 or 3 more days if I chose to. And should have!
We had opposite views of the surgery though. I thought it would not be bad. And it was for me. I wish you luck in your recovery. And remember, It was major surgery! Take it slow and easy and don't hurt your self by getting over confident. This is a surgery that you don't want to screw up! And you don't want to have to say, oh man, I shouldn't have done that. There are some big prices to pay!
Good luck, Jim
You get what you get, It has nothing to do with what you deserve!........I stole that from Susan
Click my user name to see my medical history
Today is yours to embrace, as tomorrow, Who knows what will be starring you in the face
Hi Doug-I had a 360 L4-5 six weeks ago-you are doing great!Don't overdo,and rest-if someone can shop for you when you get home I suggest getting Miralax to keep you moving.It doesn't cramp,no "runs",it just keeps things normal.It comes in a big plastic jar,and is offered in generic.I went back in the hospital after my first fusion for pooping problems,and this is what the dr.put me on.--Let us hear how you are doing!Jeannie
well behaved women rarely make history
It sounds like you are on target for a great recovery. Remember, like Jim said, you just had a big surgery, be prepared for possible ups and downs. Keep us posted, we are here to support and encourage you.
God bless and keep You,
Shirley
8/31/09 l4-s1 tlif with bmp, hardware. Worse nerve symptoms post op,no improvememt in 3 months
2nd surgery 12/04/09 bone spurs/fragments removed, scar tissue "cleaned up".(compressing nerves l5-s1)
Norco 10/325 Neurontin 2100mg daily and Valium for m spasms.
that should be your user name!
Your post has been so encouraging for me to read, although I know that most people suffer more than you seem to have. I am facing a posterior fusion for spondylolisthesis and am reading all I can to arm myself with information.
I'm sure I'll think of some questions to ask, but for now, I've just got in and its late and time for bed. (I'm in the UK)
Take care and keep healing. I hope that your journey continues along this smooth and straight road.
Grade 2 spondylolisthesis causing severe stenosis + DDD
L4/L5 decompression (laminectomy) and PLIF 19th March 2010
Herniations at T12/L1, T9/T10 and T8/T9 (mildly indenting cord)
Significant cervical spondylosis from C3-C7
C3/C4 and C4/C5 are compressing the cord (mild to moderate)
Waiting 6 months to see how much worse things get
Sounds like you are doing well. I am glad your pain is being controlled for you. It is a big recovery, but you seem to be on the way. Keep that wonderful positive attitude and you will do great. Keep up with the walks. They really are important. Love, Robin
2 level PLIF Dec 2008
Hardware Removed Sept 2009
Bone tumor in Eye Socket removed 10-26-09, They confirmed I do have a brain LOL
Fentanyl Patch 100 Mico, Oxycodone 30 MG every 4 hours breakthrough
Surgery Dec 13, 2 level fusion L2-3, L-3-4, ALIF min invasive. Nuvasive procedure..quite the deal!
Good to hear from you so soon and that your recovery is going well. Keep taking things steadily and do lots of walking and resting once you're home. I'm nearly 4 months post-op and still have to be careful with sitting - 30 mins max.
Trish
ALIF L4/5 19th October 2009 - successful
Discectomy/laminectomy L4/5 April 2008 - didn't help
Disc degeneration at L3/4 and L5/S1 with right sided foraminal stenosis at L5/S1 with slight flattening and elevation of the right L5 nerve root.