I had PLIF (posterior interbody lumbar fusion) surgery done at L5-S1 on Sept. 23, 2009. It has been about 2 and a half months and I am feeling the best I have in over 12 years! I am a 32 yr. old wife and mother and lived with this problem for many, many years of my young adult life.
It went from my initial health insurer (Kaiser Permanente) not doing so much as an x-ray, to finally getting to the heart of the issue (severe DDD) at the mentioned level. In between I went through countless narcotic rx's (lived on them), mri's, discograms (ouch!), esi's, rhizotomy's, had a spinal cord stimulator implanted (worked a little). This was all while doing my homework on artifical disc replacements and fusion sugery (both had been recommeded to me by various surgeons). I saw at least 5!
I finally found an awesome surgeon in Dallas, TX and went with the PLIF procdure (I did not want ALIF).
Results are this: Surgery went as planned. PLIF was done and spinal cord stim was removed at same time. I had no complications. I was in hospital for 7 days...the first 5 were very painful, not gonna lie. I came home from there and recovered at an amazingly fast rate. Wore a rigid back brace at all times when I was upright for 6 weeks. I am already back into my normal routine (normal for a young mother with small children, not my pre-op state). I am doing so well, I did not even require phyical therapy. My activity level is 100x what it was pre-op!
If any of you would like to dicuss my experience, I would love to. If you are considering this procedure, or have any questions, I would be happy to do my best to answer them, as someone that has been through it. I was on this site before my surgery and some of the stuff I saw really scared me, so I want you all to know there are success stories!
I also had to deal with multiple insurance denials. I was successful at getting them turned over...want to know how? I went to my husband's employer (usually you can do this on the 2nd appeal, even thought they won't tell you that you have this right) to plead my case, state my evidence and ask for the care I pay for. Becasue they self funded the policy, they were able to overrule the administrator (Aetna). I won! Don't give up!
I look forward to hearing from any of you that I might be able to "help".
32 yr. old wife and mother of 2 kids
Low back pain for 12+ years
Severe Degenerative Disc Disease, annular tear and disc herniation at L5-S1
Treatments have included: countless MRI's, Discograms, ESI's, Rhizotomy's, many years of narcotic meds. (including (not all at same time): oxy ir, percocet, norco, fentanyl patch, kadian, opana er/ir)
SCS implant (trial and permanent) '07-'09
PLIF surgery Sept. 23, 2009 (SCS Stim. removed at same time)
SURGERY WAS A COMPLETE SUCCESS AND I AM PAIN AND NARCOTIC FREE TODAY! FINALLY!
That's great news. I'm glad you were finally able to find a surgeon who helped you and that everything is going well.
If I may, I'd just like to point out to anyone on the board who might be contemplating surgery that you are still very early in your recovery. You have a long way to go before your bones will have knitted together completely and are as strong as other bones.
I hope you are still being careful and avoiding activities and movements that will aggravate the site of the fusion. I know it is difficult with small children, but you want the bone to grow as strong as possible so in a couple years you truly will be able to do anything.
Just don't be in a hurry. The body has its own pace for recovery and you really can't do much to hurry it along. It sounds like you're making great progress. Just be mindful that there still is a ways to go....
I have no medical training. Comments are based on personal experience and lots of research and reading.
PLIF @ L4-5 with Peek cage, rods and screws Jan 2008
Lami-foraminotomy L5-S1 Jan 2009
Fusion L3-S1 coming up -- maybe!!
Actually, I am following my doctors orders...and I am doing great. While I am early post op (5 months) my story is a great success and people on here need to be allowed to see some good news. Surgery is a great option for some poeple...I wish I had done it sooner!
Stay positive!!!!!!
32 yr. old wife and mother of 2 kids
Low back pain for 12+ years
Severe Degenerative Disc Disease, annular tear and disc herniation at L5-S1
Treatments have included: countless MRI's, Discograms, ESI's, Rhizotomy's, many years of narcotic meds. (including (not all at same time): oxy ir, percocet, norco, fentanyl patch, kadian, opana er/ir)
SCS implant (trial and permanent) '07-'09
PLIF surgery Sept. 23, 2009 (SCS Stim. removed at same time)
SURGERY WAS A COMPLETE SUCCESS AND I AM PAIN AND NARCOTIC FREE TODAY! FINALLY!
http://www.spine-health.com/forum/back-surgery-and-neck-surgery/plif-suc...
"Reality is the mirror of your thoughts. Choose well what you put in front of the mirror"
- Unknown
Oh I see. On Jan 30, you wrote that your surgery was 2 1/2 months ago. 2 days later, you are five months. I didn't look closely at the date of your surgery.
There is quite a bit of difference between the two in terms of recovery.
I have no medical training. Comments are based on personal experience and lots of research and reading.
PLIF @ L4-5 with Peek cage, rods and screws Jan 2008
Lami-foraminotomy L5-S1 Jan 2009
Fusion L3-S1 coming up -- maybe!!
She copied and pasted her story, its close to 5 months.
http://www.spine-health.com/forum/degenerative-disc-disease/plif-surgery...
Herniated disk at L5-S1 8 years ago. 2 years ago Laminectomy on L5-S1
) etc.... Now L5-S1 with DDD
Epidurals, phys therapy, Discogram,(< that was not fun
ALIF Fusion w/disectomy and cage done on Feb 5th 2010 on L5-S1
actually, gwennie, some are on here to hear success stories. I did post it a few times, in different forums, as not everyone goes into all of them. and by they way, there was not much difference in my recovery from 2 1/2 months to 5. You are so negative and confrontational. get a life.
32 yr. old wife and mother of 2 kids
Low back pain for 12+ years
Severe Degenerative Disc Disease, annular tear and disc herniation at L5-S1
Treatments have included: countless MRI's, Discograms, ESI's, Rhizotomy's, many years of narcotic meds. (including (not all at same time): oxy ir, percocet, norco, fentanyl patch, kadian, opana er/ir)
SCS implant (trial and permanent) '07-'09
PLIF surgery Sept. 23, 2009 (SCS Stim. removed at same time)
SURGERY WAS A COMPLETE SUCCESS AND I AM PAIN AND NARCOTIC FREE TODAY! FINALLY!
Was answering your comments Re: PLIF on another thread and hit the wrong key and lost it.
My doc did a laminotomy in Florida in 2003 and I really trust him. He told me then that I would be facing this kind of surgery somewhere down the line. The line has ended and now will do PLIF without instrumentation L2 to L5. NO choice in the matter. I checked with other docs in California and did not like their recommendations. They wanted to use rods and screws but I have osteoporosis so I'm afraid the screws won't hold and I'll have more problems than I bargained for. My doc will not use general anesthesia, just epidural and IV sleep meds. I hate general anesthesia as it takes months to get over it. This will probably help in recovery.
I have backup docs in Reno that will oversee my rehab and they will communicate with my doc in Florida if needed so I feel that I'm pretty well covered. I'll stay 1 week in Florida after surgery and more if I have to. Thanks for answering my note as It really helps to hear from others in the same boat. Marsha
PS: I still have problems connecting on the threads that I want to persue....any answers?
tahoe granny
im new on the forums,haveing the exact same surgery as you had in a few weeks same everything you had wrong i also have, anything you can tell me about the surgery would be welcomed. im scared to death as i know your were also. my neurosurgeon does not use the back brace he says. makes the back muscles weak but mine are already super weak from so so many years of severe pain and mostly laying in my recliner for the past 4 or 5 months because its got that bad. this worries me i think the brace would cause a good heal and no accidental moves.
Deebra:
I just went to my Pre-op today, I'm getting the L5-S1 surgery but with alif, I asked my OS about the brace and he doesn't believe in them either, he said people lose their muscle tone, I asked a friend that my doctor did a 360 on that was a success and he didn't have a brace either. Some doctors do and some don't.
Herniated disk at L5-S1 8 years ago. 2 years ago Laminectomy on L5-S1
) etc.... Now L5-S1 with DDD
Epidurals, phys therapy, Discogram,(< that was not fun
ALIF Fusion w/disectomy and cage done on Feb 5th 2010 on L5-S1
would love to answer any questions you have. PM me.
32 yr. old wife and mother of 2 kids
Low back pain for 12+ years
Severe Degenerative Disc Disease, annular tear and disc herniation at L5-S1
Treatments have included: countless MRI's, Discograms, ESI's, Rhizotomy's, many years of narcotic meds. (including (not all at same time): oxy ir, percocet, norco, fentanyl patch, kadian, opana er/ir)
SCS implant (trial and permanent) '07-'09
PLIF surgery Sept. 23, 2009 (SCS Stim. removed at same time)
SURGERY WAS A COMPLETE SUCCESS AND I AM PAIN AND NARCOTIC FREE TODAY! FINALLY!
Hi. All member. I'm from Asia country. I'm also facing my spine problem. At my L5-S1 disk herniated. My surgeon informed that i need go for TLIF surgery. He had explained to me many of the risk that i need to think & prepare it. Including of blood transfer, bone & nerve problem. I'm very scare on it. This is my second operation for my spine. I had my first surgery on last December on Percudyn method. But, still not recover. I always fine a lot of information on the net because i feel unconfidence.
Please kindly give me more information on you all surgery. May i know how you get the preparation & how you take care after operation. The process of the surgery. How long i should off for my work. How long for the recovery etc.
Thank you.
Emma
______________
Degenerative Disc Disease & Herniated Disc
Percudyn Surgery on Dec'09
TLIF Surgery coming up
I love to hear success stories on here! THanks so much to "allbetter" for posting again and letting everyone know that there is hope! I think the more people do that the better we all will be and won't be so scared to contemplate things that could help us.
THanks again to allbetter!
4 YEARS SINCE L5-S1 MICRO-DISCECTOMY.
ESI, FACET JOINT INJECTIONS, NERVE ROOT BLOCKS AND LOTS MORE TO NO HELP
MRI SHOWED SEVERE DDD AT L5-S1
Sure is nice to here someone with great success.
-Never had back problems until I injured my back trying to pick up to much weight.
-Had left lower back pain that progressed into left leg tingling, pain, and weakness. Two weeks before surgery developed weakness in right ankle.
-8/18/09 had discectomy on L4/5 for left side broad based herniation.
-10/12/09 had MRI over new and on going pain issues. Surgeon says he sees nothing that would cause my problems and called them "odd".
10/13/09 started physical and massage therapy. Technique in massage therapy relieved some of my sciatic issues.
-11/16/09 weakness is gone in legs, left leg still has some sciatic issues, minor compared to what it was.
-No pain on lower left of back... the surgery side, but pain on lower right back that I never had before surgery, comes and goes sometimes with the hours. Right hip pain if I walk a mile or more, never had that before surgery.
-3/3/10 Pain in right side dissapeared overnight. Now sciatica in left leg. YEE HAW!