OfflineHi
I am scheduled to have a second revision PLIF and now it has hit me I am terrified. What do I expect - same as before?
How many times can I go thro this? Seriously, hysteria asde, I ask having suffered for over 4 years and been post op 18 mths and 6 mths, can they really salvage me so I have pain reduction - what are the chances?
I have read the papers that suggest the longer you wait the less likely your recovery or full recovery in respect of pain reduction. Should I just leave it and take the risks and suffer the pain?
Could this 3rd operation make the pain worse still?
So many questions...any serious replies would be appreciated.
Spondy, DDD, Spondylolsis - Dynesys and S1 PLIF 2007, revision PLIF L4/5 Feb 2008 and revision PLIF September 2008
Pain is compulsary, suffering is optional
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I am so sorry you have to go through this yet again. If I remember correctly you had the cage that needs to be removed?
Hopefully this should be a more simplified procedure then you have had in the past and as you know, you really have to try to think positively about thie surgery.
OK- Now this may sound crazy but bear with me on this.
Think of your surgeries as baking a cake.
First you have to mix all the ingredients together and that takes time, finding the right bowl, measuring etc.
That was your first surgery.
Next you have to bake the cake in the oven (we dont use microwaves here!) and that takes time toowaiting for the oven to heat and preparing the tin etc. Cant hurry it.
So that is your second surgery.
Then and finally you have to fine tune it and decorate it!
This is the best part as you are near the completion
And this is your 3rd surgery!
So really all you are having done is putting the icing on the cake and decorating it then it will all be done.
WOW you should see the cake I have in mind for you, just perfect and beautiful and fun and yummy
Blesings Sara
P.S I just re-read your post and saw you wanted serious replies, so seriously, you do need to be positive about this if you decide to go ahead.
As you know only you can make the decision but you need to look at your quality of life. How much can you do now and weigh it up against what you are risking.
Aussie girl from Sydney
Work related injury 2001, Bulging discs L2-S1 had Laminectomy/discectomy L4-5 2001. Semi-success.
Since developed DDD, Stenosis, scoliosis,& very numb feet and legs & more.
Continued with PT, Hydrotherapy, Deep tissue massage, facet block injections (no change) light gym work.
PLIF L3-S1 using BMP, with decompression, hardware, & correction to scoliosis May 7th 2008. 10 days hospital 2 weeks in rehabilitation hospital.
Started PT day 1, aquatherapy (heaven)day 14.
Finished PT and aquatherapy and waitng to start at gym.
Doing really well with only the occassional hiccup. Still on Oxycontin 5mg x 2, Endone 5mg X 2, Valium 5mg x 2,am reducing these as I improve.
Our minds are more powerful then our bodies so watch your thoughts and be careful what you wish for.
No prbs Sara, the cake story works fine!
I do hope you are right!
Spondy, DDD, Spondylolsis - Dynesys and S1 PLIF 2007, revision PLIF L4/5 Feb 2008 and revision PLIF September 2008
Pain is compulsary, suffering is optional
I absolutely love your cake analogy! You are definitely one for visualization! You are awesome and I think your positive thinking is rubbing off on lots of us here. Thank-you so much,
Sue
20+ years of back pain, Grade I spondylolisthesis L4 on L5 secondary to bilateral spondylolysis (pars defects, unstable), L4-5 disc desiccation, facet arthrosis L4-5, L5-S1. LESI's X 4, facet injections, chiropractic, massage, Bowen therapy, aquatherapy, Left L4-5 Polar (posterior oblique lumbar arthrodesis) with posterolateral fusion and instrumention on August 5,2008(BAK Vista PEEK cage, BMP, Connexus, autograph, ST360 Spinal Stabilization System) Norco, Soma, (NO MORE MOTRIN
), Bone-growth Stimulator
II Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
I can say that having revisions is something that you have to have a dedicated surgeon for. No surgeon wants to go back and redo or correct or clean up what they thought that they had taken care of already. Especially when they know that someone is suffering for it. I've had several revisions and I have a lower back that feels great. Had it not been for those revisions I doubt I'd be sitting here typing away like this.
I found that the longer the time between the surgeries, the more I would get nervous. The ones where I'd wake up from surgery and know things weren't right, or know a few days later ... those were easier.
Hang in there, you obviously have a surgeon who cares and that is awesome!
"C"
"Bionic pain relief rocks the rails of the Krazytrain!"