Hello! I'm new to the forum. Fusion L4-S1 with rods, pedicle screws, and bone graft. That's my surgery 11 months ago. I am in so much pain when I try to sleep at night. After 5 hours I'm up b/c of intense discomfort. I never had this before surgery. In the day I'm still having so much discomfort. I stand 7 hours with no sitting on my job shift. Lastly I'm still on pain meds. Does anyone have a similar experience? Thanks so much!
If you go through this it can quickly turn into a nightmare!! PLEASE BE CAREFUL WITH WHAT YOU DO GOING FORWARD!! Had same done!! Then put in spine stim!! Ever since I have been in crippling pain!! I wrote a story on here that explains what happened and what I am going thru!! My name is Fred Ingersoll story would be under Fredlinc60!! Please please please do not let them do to you what they have done to me!!! P.s. You get about four hours more sleep a day than I do!! I went to bed at 8pm and was awakened in crippling pain at 11pm!!! Have been up since!!
I had l5 s1 fusion in 1984, and haven't been able to stand for very long ever since.
I think your job is too much for you, could you get a job where you could sit down and go for short walks?
I don't think you are ever back totally to normal after spinal surgery, and hard as it is you need to adapt and make changes, you can't go on like this in so much pain.
I now work from home, no choice.
I had L4-S1 fusion surgery 5.5 weeks ago. It's been a tough time but I'm hoping the worst is over with.
I'm taking short walks everyday and although I'm still on all my meds!
I've had 2 previous surgeries in 07 and 2012. This time they went in through the stomach as my back has scar tissue and I have already go damaged nerves.
Have you been back to your surgeon? Physio? Swimming? And what Meds you still on?
Today is the first in a few weeks where I've had some discomfort as my scar is a little inflamed and I've a little niggling ache in my lower left back and nerve pain in my left leg. The nerve pain is no different from what I previously had.
Definitely go back and see your surgeon and find out if anything has moved or come loose?
Hi, I dread reading your notes I was so wanting a consultant do something with my s1 and I haven't heard of anyone yet who had successful op so hope someone answers your posting. Last I saw my surgeon he said it was too dangerous for me whether its my age I don't know. I really feel for you. Who did the op? I know when I had decompression I haven't been free of pain and that's 6 years ago.very fed up.as you must be. Did he say you would be in pain. Wondered what medication you are on.
Can you go back to you surgeon I heard you can have pain tests!! And I know by where your pain is they know where the problem is or roughly.
I hope someone comes up and helps but this is to say I am thinking of you.
Omg are you saying you had the same op and then had stimulator if you are I won't be persuaded to have that. I cannot understand why the surgeons do this do you think its part of a trial. I know that some surgeons choose to use certain things and 2 surgeons recommended fusion with screws and bone graft. They are top notch surgeons they said I would walk out of hospital in 2 days. He showed me the titanium widgets they were massive bug the cost 22000euros. I don't have insurance.
I know no matter who I talk to it doesn't necessarily mean I would have a successful op. I agree that exercise is one of the keys and luckily I did yoga anyway. What ops did you have in o7 and 12 just wondered .. I thought decompression would be easy least but no it wasn't. I am in terrible pain and forgot my lunchtime ones one day last week I honestly though my head was going to explode for 2 days so god knows how I will come off them but that's just a twig in the wood pile. You sound pretty chipper for just 6 months and I hope all goes well for you.
I had the same surgery!! All titanium and that stuff!! 7 years later the spine stims!! I wish I had known!! I'm 1000 times worse!!
Trouble is Fred, she was already having problems that's why people have back surgery, it works for some people, and most people don't go on to have a SCS put in, everyone has different experiences.
If you Google dermatomes, the diagrams show where your pain is originating from.
Suzy what doesSCS mean? I know its an awkward question would anyone recommend having s1 fused?
Thanks willdefinjtely loom tomorrow
Spinal cord stimulator.
Where do you live
Where are you living, can you talk through messenger. It is a MENTAL and long effort to text every person through the forum. But I've had two fusions, ALIF and highly educated about it
New as well. About 6months ago had level 8 fusion. Bolts, rods cadavar bone etc. First fusion went in through my stomach. 10 hours on table, one week in hospital. Got home, dumped painkillers. Relied on Tylenol. Kept active. Up and down all the time. 6 months later back on my mountain bike and my motorcycle. Working chest and shoulders in gym. So, my experience was/is great. But -- IMHO -- you have to challenge your pain.
Would you mind telling me where you had your op.?
That is absolutely fantastic I will look the drug up. I have been on tramadol and lyrica now for 3 years approx. I suppose it depends on the drug the surgeons like. My consultant said it would be too dangerous for me to have fusion but two private consultants both recommended it l4/5 and l3/4 etc but had decompression on one of these discs 6 yrs ago and despite walking and yoga am in terrible pain and forgot my medication one day and so decided that I would wait until my next med was due. I am not joking when I say I had a headache from hell for 2 days. Waiting for a cortisone injection, I have had so many lost count and afraid they will do the injection in my spine. They don't work with me but not a nice consultant at all. Well worth paying to see a private consultant but do wonder what in it for them...I am getting v sceptical now after over 10 years and pain just as it was...
Hope everyone is bearing up today.
Had my op at Cedars, Southern California. Tylenol is basically an over the counter pain killer. BTW, I'm 69.
Gosh that's a long way to come. I do exercises every day but by now not very challenging. My surgeon in Spain won't do fusion although if I went privately another surgeon said he would but 20000euros. Of course we expect the uk to do ops but only send you to pain clinic as have Spain. Prob too old now at 72 I have same level l4/5 and s1/
L5 and....how successful will it be. I could be worse off. I have new appt at hospital in 2 weeks so see what happens then!!! Thanks for info. Could do with another hol in California!!!!fantastic
Of course you need a doctor who is an ace at fusion surgery. I took my time until finding the one I wanted. You have to be careful.