Back Surgery and Neck Surgery
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Sat, 11/07/2009 - 14:01
Hardware removal 12 days ago.
Hi Everyone, Thanks for all your thoughts, prayers, and private PMs. They were very much appreciated.
I was expecting a rather short and insignificant surgery two weeks when I checked into my short-stay surgery. Upon waking up I had a surprise. Apparently one of the screws had attached intself to my dural sac and when they were tugging at the screw, it made a rip in the sac. Fluid was lost and I was told I'd me flat in bed for 5 days, to make sure the patch they installed had time to heal. So much for a one day stay.
The headaches were/are pretty bad and I was/am never able to get comfy in bed. They wanted to keep me there longer incase I needed more surgery to re-patch the sac. I asked if we couldn't watch from home instead, so they released me afte 8 days.
It is so nice to be home again. Although I am unable to reach an acceptable level of pain control, and I can't sit or lay down flat. My question is if that's normal at 12 days post op? The only comfy position in bed is on my side with a pillow between my knees. Sitting is almost impossible in a chair. Right now I'm sitting at the side of my bed.
My other question is the back still swollen at 12 days? The inicison is not red, just seems swollen and hursts when I lay on it. You'd think I'd remember all this from last February when I had the fusion.
Thanks upfront for your answers.
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What a terrible thing to happen. I'm sorry you had to go through this. I'll bet the headaches where awful. I'm sure that loss of fluid is contributing to your level of pain and the duration of it. I didn't have much trouble sleeping in my bed when I got home and my back was somewhat swollen, but not specifically around my incisions. I used ice packs nearly every day. I had tegaderm dressings on my wound, so nothing could get in there to cause infection. As far as not being able to sit, yes, that is very normal for after a fusion. I had heard that hardware removal was an easier surgery, but it just goes to show you that it can be different for each person. Hang in there. I hope they get your pain under control and you're feeling better soon.
Linda
Ruptured discs L3/4, L4/5, L5/S1 May 2007
One ESI in 2007 with lots of PT
Microdiscectomy and foraminotomy L5/S1 December 2007
Worsening of symptoms (back pain, sciatica, right leg weakness) June 2008
New MRI and Discogram show all three discs torn through the annulus, left to right, all three levels
2 ESIs unsuccessful in managing pain
PT, Duragesic pain patch and percocet for break-through
Was told nothing could be done for me because I had three levels and DDD
Given option of three-level fusion after being told nothing could be done
Surgery was November 19, 2008 fusing L3/4 to S1
Attempted PLIF (from both sides) on November 19th.
Rods and pins were placed, but scar tissues prohibited removal of the old discs.
On November 24th, I had ALIF (opened from top of pubic bone to the bottom of my left ribcage) and removed the torn discs, placed dowels with cadaver bone, and some of my own bone marrow mixed with BMP. I left the hospital on the 26th of November.
Currently suffering temporary (hopefully) nerve damage of both legs and total numbness of right foot. Strange tingling in both feet at 4.5 months out of surgery. Numbness still exists in right foot at almost 9 months out.
Weaned off Fentanyl patches and only take occasional percocet for pain.
I told you it was a piece of cake. It wasnt for you by the sounds of it. It is to bad that they had that complication. I hope that soon your pain is under control. I am sure you are feeling the effects of the surgery, but if you are concerned at all call your Dr. With everything that happened, I dont feel that any question, is not deserving of an answer from them. So sorry you are going through all of this. I hope you get to feeling better really soon...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
Oh sweet heart, I can sooo feel for you. I had a fusion/disc replacement (cage w/bone marrow) in L5S1 in 2006. Either during or just after the surgery, a screw or bone chip tore my dura. I went home from the hospital with a headache that I though was going to make my head explode. I have heard that a spinal leak headache is 10X worse than the very worst migraine. And boy, do I believe it. I was also throwing up non-stop and could not raise my head up. I went to the ER 3 x in one week and each time my dr. kept sending me home telling me to DRINK CAFFFEINE. He was/is an idiot. My friend who took care of me finally got a Dr. at the ER to admit me - some random infectious disease doctor. I had a spinal/dura tear and spent 16 days (in addition to the 5 for surgery) flat on my back in the hospital while they drained the fluid and tried to get it to stop. It didn't. Finally, on the 14th day, they went in and it turns out I needed 3 stitches. That doesn't sound like much...but when we are talking about the spinal cord...3 stitches is a LOT. Now, 3 years later, I still have problems. Constant pain in my tailbone. Considering having the hardware removed or my coccyx removed or something... Anyway, all that is to say that I can really feel for you and I hope and pray that you feel better every day...
Oh sweet heart, I can sooo feel for you. I had a fusion/disc replacement (cage w/bone marrow) in L5S1 in 2006. Either during or just after the surgery, a screw or bone chip tore my dura. I went home from the hospital with a headache that I though was going to make my head explode. I have heard that a spinal leak headache is 10X worse than the very worst migraine. And boy, do I believe it. I was also throwing up non-stop and could not raise my head up. I went to the ER 3 x in one week and each time my dr. kept sending me home telling me to DRINK CAFFFEINE. He was/is an idiot. My friend who took care of me finally got a Dr. at the ER to admit me - some random infectious disease doctor. I had a spinal/dura tear and spent 16 days (in addition to the 5 for surgery) flat on my back in the hospital while they drained the fluid and tried to get it to stop. It didn't. Finally, on the 14th day, they went in and it turns out I needed 3 stitches. That doesn't sound like much...but when we are talking about the spinal cord...3 stitches is a LOT. Now, 3 years later, I still have problems. Constant pain in my tailbone. Considering having the hardware removed or my coccyx removed or something... Anyway, all that is to say that I can really feel for you and I hope and pray that you feel better every day...