Hello,
I am new here and looking to communicate with those who understand fusion/recovery with 3 level fusion complicated by spondelothesis & transtional vertebrae. I tried 8 years of other modealities before having the surgery (acupuncture, physical therapy, worn a back brace, epidural steroid injections, facet joint injections, biofeedback, water therapy, all the drugs, etc). I am now at 3 and 1/2 months and physical therapy is going slowly, but surely. I find that weather has a great impact on pain levels (barometric changes, rain, etc). I walk as much as possible. Pain levels teeter between 5 & 6 (I lived at 8 & 9 prior to surgery). I'm wondering who else has had the same surgery? And, what your comments might be with respect to pain? I can't drive yet and am home on disability. It's a challenge to maintain a positive attitude day to day. Thanks for listening!
Double laminectomy L4-L5, bulging discs, DDD, Bone spurs, nerve damage in left leg and hip, DJD, and that to familiar visitor,arthritis
Welcome!!
Oh there is a ton of us. Not everyone the same. 1 , 2, 3, 4 levels PLIF we have a range of people.
There is alot of useful information and tools on on here to use. You can ask anyone of us for help.
One of the mods should be coming along soon giving your information on how to contact them with any concerns
We are able to give out personal experiences, but not medical advice.
You can check out our recovery thread for Aug/Sept recoveries.
It is a tuff one. Sounds like you have the right attitude.
I right now am going through a PLIF level 2 revision surgery. I will be 4 wks out on Oct 17th.
I also have spondy.
I do not have disability yet. I have been off work since 06. Fingers crossed I can go into the work field again someday.
Once again welcome so glad your here with us
Terri
**ALL ADVICE GIVEN IS STRICTLY PERSONAL AND NOT MEDICAL** 41yr old mom 3 kids Married 21 years.Former EMT-D, Firefighter, CNA, LPN nursing student.
Very sore.(IT WORKED!)Its not easy but ya HAVE to keep going or it will get to you first :)Former meds used: Oxycontin, Morphine, Fentynl patches, Methadone, Lortab, Ultram, Sklexin, Flexril, Norflex, Percocet, Dilaudid, MS. Contin. Kadian
2 C-sections 86/89
R kidney removal 02,
Cervical fusion 5/6 04,
Right lumbar hernia repair 05 (rare)
IBS, Osteo Arthritis, Fibro, Chronic kidney stones.
L5/S1 fusion w/ hardware own bone graft 9/2007
Proximal row carpectomy (3 bones removed out of wrist)08
T1-T2 large herniation with severe thecal sac compression. mild cord compression
9/17/08 Revision for non-fusion of lumbar L4-S1. Still sore. Angiogram 11/08,
11/24/08 Aortic Bi-Fem bypass surgery through the belly&thighs due to MIN. circulation in both legs, 90% blockage in left valve in my belly
Current meds: Valium, Soma, Chantix, Plavix May 09 scheduled for, 4 nerve blocks for facet joints cervical 7 & lumbar 3.
Although I have not been fused, I have had surgery and it seems to me like you are probably doing pretty good just to be 3 1/2 months out. I am sure that others will come along and share their experience with you.
I am in no way associated with the medical field. Anything that I post comes from personal experience only.
DDD, Facet Arthropathy, DJD,Collapsed Disc, Sleep Apnea
PT, Epidurals, Facet Blocks,Medial Branch Block, Rhizotomy,Discogram,Annular Tare L3/L4 Endoscopic MicroD and PLDD,
Methadone, Percocet, Baclofen, Welbutrin
I, too, had the 3 level fusion and 3 level laminectomy. I'm 8 weeks out today, and I am just finished my 1st week of PT, which is really aqua therapy. My total therapy at this point, involves walking in the pool for 1 hour. I am terribly hurting later that day and the next. I believe I'm on schedule, but not really sure since everyone is differenct. I'm still out of work. I still have pain, probably 4-5, most of the time. I have "discomfort" when I'm sitting, and cannot sit on a chair for more than 15 minutes at a time. I feel like I can feel the instrumentation, and yet, I'm told I can't, that it's muscle. It's difficult for me to lie on my back, roll from side to side without feeling that "box" in my back. I do quite a bit of walking, and very, very minor housework. I wear my back brace when I'm up for any length of time, in the car and for all of my walks.
My big problem now is this feeling of spasms that go from mid body down to my feet when I'm lying down or when I stand up. It's gripping. Doesn't hurt, but I can't really move. Has anyone experienced this? It is very troublesome. I take Soma 3x a day, but that doesn't seem to help. I try to stay away from the pain pills (norco) when possible.
3 level posterior lumbar interbody fusion
9-22-08