Anyone have a "Fusion of spine bones, insertion of anterior spinal instrument" surgery?

go52182
go52182 Posts: 133 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I am going to have this surgery. Currently I am jumping over the hurdles my insurance company is putting me though. :s I am having to go through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy before insurance will approve me. The counselor encouraged me to find others who have gone through this surgery. If you have will you message me and share your experience?

I am needing to know if it was a good experience or bad? Was it worth it or not? Do you have any tips for post-surgery recovery? Is there anything you wish you would have done differently? Any advice or tips?

Now I am not talking about the laser surgery... I've heard that one is a big flop. If it worked for you that's really great!! I am talking about: "Fusion of spine bones with removal of disc at lower spinal column anterior approach. Insertion of anterior spinal instrumentation for spinal stabilization 2 to 3 vertebral segments."

Anyone?

Replies

  • go52182
    go52182 Posts: 133 Member
    craygslyst1 wrote: »
    Ok, I’ll give my .02.

    I’ve had 2 spinal surgeries. One lower back with two disc removal. Called it a microdiscectomy. It went well, but full recovery took a year.

    The other was a removal of a disc in my neck. Inserted a cadaver bone and a titanium plate with screws. 100% successful surgery.

    So, it can be successful. The lower back was tougher to recover from.

    I hope that gives you some helpful info.


    Thank you for your feedback! Were there any problems you ran into post-surgery and during recovery that you didn't expect? Is all of your pain gone now in your neck and back?
  • ew_david
    ew_david Posts: 3,473 Member
    I didn't have a fusion, but I did have a microdiscectomy and concur the recovery is long. Make sure you have a GOOD physical therapist lined up when you're cleared to go.

    My post surgery setback I was not prepared for was a horrible spinal headache. I had a dural tear during surgery that they did patch, but it didn't hold. Post op day 3 or 4 I got hit with the worst headache of my life and eventually had a blood patch. The first 2 weeks were a mess for me, but that was really the worst of it.
  • RAinWA
    RAinWA Posts: 1,980 Member
    I had a fusion at L4-L5 along with 3 microdiscectomies and a replacement cervical disk (not all at the same time!).

    After the fusion, be prepared for it to hurt a lot directly after surgery. Follow your doctor's instructions, but I was warned not to sit for more than 20 minutes at a time and to spend most of my time the first couple of weeks lying down. A walker really helped those first two weeks because I wasn't terribly stable. We put in a temporary toilet seat riser which made getting up and down easier.

    I hope they have you go to an appointment with a PT prior to your surgery - got a lot of useful information about things like how to get out of bed, what motions to avoid, etc. while I was healing. Be sure to have someone you can rely on to be at home with you for several days afterwards.

    I am really glad I had it done, I was in awful pain beforehand. The surgery resolved the pain mostly - I still get stiff and sore sometimes but, then again, I'm pretty old! I ended up with some nerve damage from my hip down my leg - just numb spots that never resolved after surgery (they were there before surgery and the doctor couldn't guarantee they'd go away since it was nerve damage).

    Best of luck to you!
  • go52182
    go52182 Posts: 133 Member
    _dracarys_ wrote: »
    My post surgery setback I was not prepared for was a horrible spinal headache. I had a dural tear during surgery that they did patch, but it didn't hold. Post op day 3 or 4 I got hit with the worst headache of my life and eventually had a blood patch. The first 2 weeks were a mess for me, but that was really the worst of it.

    Oh wow. That does sound like you had a terrible time! :( My doctor said "You would be fine being off two weeks and then return to work." Since he worded it like that I asked if it was necessary to take off two weeks, since I have a desk job, and would love to salvage any PTO I can. The reply was "You can take off just one week but you may not feel ready that soon." This makes sense to me now after what you've said! I was hoping it wouldn't feel like a major surgery but I am thinking it may end up that way. Thank you for sharing with me!
  • go52182
    go52182 Posts: 133 Member
    RAinWA wrote: »
    I had a fusion at L4-L5 along with 3 microdiscectomies and a replacement cervical disk (not all at the same time!).

    After the fusion, be prepared for it to hurt a lot directly after surgery. Follow your doctor's instructions, but I was warned not to sit for more than 20 minutes at a time and to spend most of my time the first couple of weeks lying down. A walker really helped those first two weeks because I wasn't terribly stable. We put in a temporary toilet seat riser which made getting up and down easier.

    I hope they have you go to an appointment with a PT prior to your surgery - got a lot of useful information about things like how to get out of bed, what motions to avoid, etc. while I was healing. Be sure to have someone you can rely on to be at home with you for several days afterwards.

    Mine will be the L4-L5 also. :/ My doctor hasn't said anything to me about post-surgery and it's really frustrating. I had to ask him how much time I'll need to take off work because he hadn't even given me that information. As far as PT I'm still waiting to hear back from him about that and a few other questions I had. Going to the PT before surgery is a really great idea!

    I'm so glad for you that you're doing better than you were before surgery. Sorry to hear about the nerve damage though! I'm only 36 years old but that's what I am trying avoid. If I get myself fixed now I am hoping to avoid more pain and damage in the future.
  • go52182
    go52182 Posts: 133 Member
    craygslyst1 wrote: »
    I think I was most surprised by how long recovery took.

    I didn’t do PT, and should have.

    I have zero neck pain. I do have residual nerve damage extending into my right foot. It’s minimal. (From the lower back surgery).

    I now run, do body weight exercises, cut the grass.... do whatever I want except roller coasters and weight lifting.

    Yes your recovery time is excessive!! I'm being told three to six months!?

    You said the nerve damage was caused by the surgery? It wasn't there before the surgery?

    Do you choose not to lift weights or was that a restriction after surgery?? I really enjoy lifting weights and am looking forward to doing more after I'm healed. I have to be super careful right now not to overextend myself and can't do certain things like dead lifts. I want to do more than I've ever done before after I'm healed.
  • aWildFlowere
    aWildFlowere Posts: 76 Member
    Oh goodness my whole reply was lost. Fusion 3 mo ago. Friend me fusion MFP ppl! I will repost when I can.
  • AndyWR72
    AndyWR72 Posts: 35 Member
    I had a spinal fusion for scoliosis around 30 years ago, I was in full upper body cast for six months after surgery. I still get back pain now and again.
  • Leannep2201
    Leannep2201 Posts: 441 Member
    edited August 2018
    I’ve had an L5/S1 fusion, with a bone graft, and surgical screws and a cage inserted.
    Recovery took about 3months before I was feeling pretty normal. Full strength was longer than that, can’t remember how long exactly. First couple of weeks were pretty tough- although I had a complication though which resulted in a second surgery, and so wasn’t allowed out of bed until day 6. In terms of pain, the bone graft site (hip) hurt more than the surgery site!

    Now, the only issue I have is a numb patch on my thigh due to some nerve damage. It’s a small spot though and doesn’t affect me at all- I can barely even remember it’s there most of the time.

    After years of spinal issues, the surgery was the best thing I ever did. Back is great now, have had no further issues so far!!!

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