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.
Mon, 11/02/2009 - 09:13
Recovery time for second fusions
Greetings everyone,
I'm 7 weeks post op from a l4-l5 plif. This is my second plif. I'm fused at l5-s1. My first fusion recovery was a breeze but this is not even close.
I'm still log rolling out of bed every morning and taking oxycotin norco and soma. My pain is in my back and hips. My back feels very stiff and my hips Hurt when I lay down and get up. I was just wondering if anyone has had more than one fusion and if recovery was worse than the first. I expected this would be harder but not like this. Last surgery I was off meds 2 weeks post op didn't need therapy and at work in ten weeks. Now I don't know when I'll return to work. I'm due back dec. 9th . Financially I need to go back then. My recovery has been rough cause I am a mother of two little ones not to mention I fell in the shower three weeks post op. Every day I keep telling myself it will get better but some days I don't know. I'm only 28 years old and I want to start feeling like it .my doc said my back was like a 60 year olds back and boy I feel 60. Thanks for listening and would like to hear from second timers or anyone about your recoveries.
User login
advertisement
New forum topics
Top Clinical Trials
Quick Find
Who's online
There are currently 13 users and 828 guests online.
I feel bad to hear how much pain you are in. Also, taking care of little one's while trying to recover makes it harder. I have only had one fusion and it sounds like your recovery mirrors mine this time. I too have back, hip and leg pn. It is too early to tell if it is surgery pain or if my surgery just didn't work. I sincerely hope you feel better and don't over do. Keep us posted on your progress.
Have you tried a heating pad? I have on on my couch at all times and use it when I lay down often throughout the day, It really relaxes my back and just feels good!
Take care,
Rachel
Front and back alif, fusion l-5, s-1 09/09. Microdiscectomy 12/08. Meds: Norco, cymbalta.
Life is beautiful!!
I hope you talked to your doctor after you fell in the shower.
I haven't had a fusion. Although, I understand pain and hope you feel better soon.
Hello Jas,
Like you my first fusion (these are neck but might help per your question?) went perfectly! I healed extremely fast, and almost felt like my old self in no time. A little over a year later I had my second fusion - C6/7 - level below the prior fusion. I was back to work after 6 weeks on the first one, and for this one it has been a nightmare! I am about to start week 12 still not working! On Tuesday I see my surgeon to see what else might be going on. Hopefully he won't have to go back in. I have been very "nice" to my neck as I did with my last surgery - followed every instruction to the tea! I hope you have answers soon too!! I hope you feel better soon. Take care.
Brenda
ACDF C6/7 & Partial Corpectomy with Instrumentation Aug. 2009 - Top of fusion separated still not fusing
ACDF C5/6 & Partial Corpectomy with Instrumentation Mar. 2008
Ulnar Subcutaneous Transposition and Guyon’s Release Apr. 2008
C2/3 Disk Bulge / Stenosis / Per NS - DDD (new) Oct. 2009 – No symptoms at this time: Left posterolateral disc osteophyte complex resulting in moderate crowding of the left C3 nerve root exit zone. Chronic moderate left-sided foraminal narrowing related to uncovertebral joint thickening and posterolateral towards foraminal bulging of the disc.
Lyrica
I've just had the one fusion (two surgeries, three levels, but one big event) so I don't know about the second time around and hope I'll never experience it. Was this a fix of the first fusion? An adjacent level? At any rate, I just wanted to say that I hope you will start to mend well and be in less pain. One surgery is enough as far as I'm concerned. I wish you the best.
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.
Well monday i see my dr. And I'm going to ask him what is going on as well. The pain in my hip/groin is getting worse. I can't walk without severe pain or lay down without pain. This is my second lumbar fusion because I had adjacent segment disease above my l5-s1 fusion and now I wonder if I have adjacent disease below this at my sacroiliac joints. Maybe my joints couldn't take more load after this fusion and that is why i am having so much pain in My hips and groin. Anyway this second fusion has just been a complete nightmare since day one in the hospital and I'm waiting to wake up from this nightmare and start living a life with less pain.