Hello all – I thought I would post an update to my surgery. First a refresher…
Went in Monday 6/22/09 to Duke Univ. Hospital for a L5/S1 fusion. The n-surg did two 2.5 inch cuts in my back and did a minimally invasive fusion. He cut off 1 facet and ground it up to use as an autograft. It was put in a cage and put in where the L5/S1 disc had been. He then secured it with rods and screws. They used glue, no stitches.
The first few days were HELL! It would have been a lot better if I had some nurses to help in the hospital but I got no help and no pain relief (see other posts for details on how that got screwed up).
I spent just 1 night in the hospital and welcomed coming home so that I could get my pain under control and get some help.
Once home, I went to see my primary care doctor to get a good routine for pain meds. I am on Oxycontin 30 mg, twice per day for long term pain control. I have Percocet (10 mg) for breakthrough pain and Tramadol as well. Yesterday, I made it through with just the Oxycontin and tramodal without needing any extra Percocets.
I also had arm pain (near my bicep) – a big red splotch, very sore when I moved my arm, and kind of hard. I went to the doctor who sent me to the hospital for a sonogram. They found superficial blood clot and inflamed vein. I was given antibiotics for infection, told to take 600 mg. of Motrin 3X per day (even though normally I would not be allowed to because of the fusion), and told to put heat on it. It is somewhat better today.
The one week mark came with a definite improvement in overall pain. My incisions look great and I am moving more easily. My back is sore but overall – I feel so much improved. I still can’t tell if the surgery was successful at reducing my pre-surgery pain for severe Degenerative Disc Disease or not.
I am walking every day. Yesterday was my first walk of any significant length, I went about 1/2 + mile. Today, I am going to the gym and trying the treadmill so that I can see how much I can tolerate. My legs are sore but I have a massage chair at home that will massage my legs and that has been very helpful to get the blood flowing better through my legs.
It did take me 7 days before I had my first BM post surgery and it was very difficult. I feel like I didn’t have any muscle strength in that area. I am still a far way away from being back to normal in that area but I am happy that at least I started feeling the need to go again!
If you have any comments or questions, I would love to hear them!
Elizabeth
July 4, 2009 at 11:19 am
I am trying to make the decision about having spinal fusion for spondylolysthesis. Your diary gives me some sort of idea what the recovery might be like. The long recovery and a “no guarantee” of pain improvement scares me. I have had three surgical opinions and can find no one that will do a minimally invasive procedure. I don’t know what the difference in recovery between the MI procedure and open back procedure would be. I appreciate your sharing your experience. I am surprized at the treatment you received at Duke, as I would have thought they would provide excellent care.
robin
December 12, 2009 at 11:46 pm
I had spinal fusion two and a half weeks ago, was relaesed day after, pain fopr first week in all areas, moving from belly (where they cut me, which is much better than from the back I hear) and pain moved into back and legs…have been braced but up and moving very well for a week now and am so far very happy with the results..I go for my xrays to see how I am healing in two weeks, and am excited to see what the results are. I was sent home on 15mg morphine 2X per day and percocet for break thru pain and it has worked for me. Good luck as this is not an easy decision to make when they cannot guarantee results…I hope this helps someone.
KB
December 21, 2009 at 11:17 pm
L5-S1 on 9-11-09 @Stanford U Hospital,Ca…..I have suffered from Spondy since early childhood,mostly due to being seriously struck by a car at age 3.
I am 55 and the pain I’ve endured ove r the last 46 years has been more than difficult.I finally surrendered to the surgery when I saw no light at the end of the tunnel with being unable to walk or do anything anymore ,as well as my dependence on heavy pain meds.
I am pleased with my recovery,and I made sure to at least keep my upper body in good shape ,but the legs have been painful to get back into condition,and still a ways to go.
I am almost 4 months into recovery and even though am still battling with some pain and very low 5mg of OxyCodone I am better off than before.But I did have an excellent Surgical Team and Facility.
So only you can make the decision and know what you need to do for yourself.
Educate yourself by reading and talking to as many people and Dr’s as you can.That will help a lot!
Wishing all the very best to heal…..
Scot
September 8, 2010 at 2:46 am
8-4-10, I had L-5, S1 Fusion, and spondylolysthesis Surgery. The surgery was 7.5 hours (more damage than expected). I believe it will be worth it. They went through the front first (Anterior), removed what little disc was left, raised the disc space to right height and fixed the spondylolysthesis. They placed a single Titanium Cage towards filled with BMP-2, and then inserted a cadaver bone to fill the rest of the space. Flipped me over and placed an Aspen Device for the Fixation device. This was at UC Davis Med Center in Sacramento, CA. “HORRIBLE” hospital experience for first three days. The pump for diladid didn’t work and I did not receive any drugs for up to 12 or more hours. It has been 1 month and bearable pain until I am fully healed. First time in 20 years I can lay on a bed couch etc, for pretty much as long as I want. My only complaints are the lack of pain management in hospital and other problems trying to fill meds at home. A muscle relaxer is a must, and of course I suggest you demand the doctors try different pain meds to see what works best for you, not just the standard Percocet (10 mg). Also, make them give you a rough outline of what activities the average patient can do each day of recovery. My discharge notes said “Get up out of bed daily and dress so you do not have clots in your lungs”. I am writing a patient guide to Post Fusion Surgery, but I doubt the Nurses ( the ones who decide all meds etc.) will dane to look at it. These medical professionals have no clue what we go through. They have sliced and diced us and that seems to be where it ends. I am surprised there is as much success as there is.
Yes, I am a pissed off patient. Needless suffering because they do not want to listen to prior patients is immoral.
The surgery so far has been worth it!!!!!!! It could have been a much better experience.
If you have the surgery, be demanding, or I should say have an advocate (spouse) be demanding of your hospital stay, and home medications.
I hope this has helped.
Good Luck anybody else.
Brian
September 9, 2010 at 2:45 am
Hello !
Your post was what I was looking for. I just had my L5 S1 fused on 8/31 and coming to my one week mark post surgery and I’m doing very well so far myself. I’m very glad your doing good too. So far everything is working out great, walking is getting a lot better, but still a bit of back pain but i figured that will take a while before that starts to go away. Thanks for posting your experience.
imacosmetologist
September 30, 2010 at 1:47 pm
i myself also had the L5-S1 fusion. I went through many, many test and much thinking about the possible side effects, not only the fact that it may not work, but others as well. I seem to have been blessed with the care I received in the hospital, St. Vincents. The nurses were great. They tried working with me on the proper way of getting in and out of the bed(a log roll) but I was already familiar with it for having done it for so many years just to get out of the bed. I had a morphine pump set to go off every 7 minutes if I needed it. I was sent home with Oxycontin, Percocet and Baclofen. I had to use a walker for the first week and now I only use a back brace (my surgery was July 29, 2010). The only pain I can feel at this point is from the surgery. I’ve had several falls after they raised my amount of lifting weight and tingling in my legs (they say the nerves are “waking up”). I tried some extended traveling time and then added mall walking the same day and that was more activity in one day that I could handle and was in a lot of pain so sometimes I have to just do what you can do without causing more pain, it’s not worth that. They cautioned me that trying to overdue it or make wrong moves could cause the surgery to be redone so I back off if it causes too much pain for me because I would rather do that than take an extensive amount of pain medication. The doctor said it would take approximately 6 months to have a total recover to be back to normal. Good Luck to everyone. I have recommended this surgery to everyone who has asked.
Scot
November 4, 2010 at 2:43 pm
Were you happy with your doctor? I too am to have the same surgery in December of this year at UC Davis.
Did the doctor go in through the front or side to do the surgery on direct in on your back side?
Beth
December 24, 2010 at 10:15 am
How are you doing now? I may be having the surgery as well and wanted some feedback on your experience.
lynne
December 24, 2010 at 11:06 pm
It is hard to fully answer that question. I had good pain relief from the fusion. One major problem I had (at the end of the day I was unable to stand up after sitting down with screaming out in pain) is totally fixed! So, for that alone, I would do it again. However, I am not pain free or even close – so the fusion fixed some of my pain but not all of my pain. I am still on pain meds daily, they tell me there is nothing else they can do for me. They have tried injections and that didn’t work. It is hard living in daily pain. I guess it depends on what is causing your pain on whether a fusion will fix it all. I wish you the best, please post and let me know how it goes. Lynne
Jim
March 18, 2011 at 11:17 pm
.Had my L5 S1 fusion March 9th.The first 2 days were a nightmare.I bagan feeling a little better each day,some more than others.Todai is 9 days post op,and the past 2 days have been tough,with alot of pain.My doctor,a workers comp doctor,is VERY STINGY with pain meds.He only gave me a script for Percosets that won’t last me untill my next visit.I am trying 2 take it as easy as possible,but it’s going to take ALOT of time 2 recover,which is something I can’t afford.Does anybody have any tips for recovery???
Walt
March 21, 2011 at 12:00 pm
I am scheduled for a 2 level fusion that wil be done minimally invasive. ( L4- L5 and L5-S). Has anyone had experience with a 2 level infusion done this way, I had a lamenectomy at the same levels 10 years ago. It worked for 10 years, but now I have pain and numbness from the low back down the right leg and into the foot.
Mike
July 24, 2011 at 3:09 am
I had the L-4,L-5,L-5,S-1fusion done 5 days ago, I was able to come home today, 1st 2days after surgery they controlled the pain pretty good, but after that it’s been hell, I have a 9 inch incision with 22 staples and the pain meds they give and want you to take at home are terrible, can’t really tell how much improvement there is in my legs yet, you can only lay on your side so long, when you roll over to lay on your back it’s a job then you get there and there is so much pain, I’m confident about what the results will be but as of 5 days after surgery it’s miserable.
steve
October 3, 2011 at 9:22 am
I am getting ready to go in for L5 fusion, came across your story and would love to know how you are feeling, any regrets and anthing that maybe helpful to me
Thank you in advance
Steve
lynne
October 3, 2011 at 9:29 am
Hi Steve,
I am fully recovered from the fusion. I still have a fair amount of pain but I don’t think my pain is all related to something the fusion could fix. I think my surgery was a success and fixed part of my pain. I used to sit down at the end of the day and my back would seize up and when I would try to stand up, I couldn’t without screaming out in severe pain – that is all gone since the fusion! So – I wouldn’t change my decision to have a fusion for anything! Yet, I am still need pain meds daily, my activities are still limited and I don’t think I will ever not be pain free or fully functional again. I don’t know what the rest of my problems stem from and neither do my doctors so I don’t know how to fix them. I see a chiropractor weekly and that helps. I can feel my screw really sticking out on the right side of my back (which wasn’t there a year ago) and I don’t know why – but I am not about to go have them do more surgery right now so I will just leave things alone and continue on the path I am on. I don’t have any regrets except not having someone stay at the hospital overnight with me since the care was horrific. If you have any questions let me know. I wish you the best. Are you have minimally invasive surgery or open surgery? Lynne
Karin
November 26, 2011 at 10:15 am
Wow! Thank you for posting! When you said your first week was hell I felt better. I’m only 4 days post op but the pain I have in my butt is hell! Is this what tou experienced? I had fusion & rods at l5-s1. How long since your surgery & how are you feeling? Thank you sooo much!
Karin
lynne
November 26, 2011 at 11:04 am
Karin,
I am sorry you are in pain, it WILL get better! It seems so long ago now that I can’t remember the details of exactly when things started to feel better. I posted 2 videos on utube with a follow-up from the first week, so check those out. It has been 2.5 years since my surgery now. It is interesting when people ask if it is a success. I can say, Yes, it was but I am still in terrible pain – so I have to explain. I am slowly learning that my back pain comes from multiple areas and there are multiple reasons for my pain. One reason was because of the problem at L5/S1. The pain and trouble I had from that area has been fixed – and I am so happy for that. That was so terrible. I used to “lock” in place at the end of the day. I would sit down at the end of the day and my back would stick and to stand up would cause me to scream out in terrible pain – it was horrific! That is all gone! I would do the fusion again in a heartbeat for that reason alone. However, the pain is still there, because, as I have learned, it wasn’t just the L5/S1 that was causing all my pain. I believe I have SI joint dysfunction as well and a twisted pelvis. I am just now learning about all this with the help of a chiropractor. It is all making sense including why the doctors can no long find anything wrong with my spine even though I continue to have serious pain. Unfortunately, SI joint dysfunction is really hard to treat. Injections did not work for me so now I am going to try to find a doctor who really understands this disorder (I am not optimistic since no one has been able to even figure out I have it except my chiropractor). So, I continue to work through this battle… I take narcotics daily to deal with the pain and muscle relaxers to fight the spasms that the muscles get in trying to compensate for the imbalance in my joints. I can’t bend or be active without being in pain – but, I am still better off than I was before the fusion. Sorry for the long answer. Hopefully, your situation will be much simpler – if your pain was directly related to your back at the l5-s1 level, then I hope that you end up pain free. Keep in touch.
sheila messick
January 24, 2012 at 10:55 am
can you see any thing poke out under your skin on your back. went to walk my mom yesterday at the rest home she fell i had to catch her,my back is really hurting,I had robs put in my back their is something pokeing out but i dont know if that was there befor
lynne
January 24, 2012 at 1:10 pm
As a matter of fact, I do feel the screws poking out of my back now. I kept telling my doctors about this lump that getting bigger and bigger and they kept doing scans and couldn’t see anything. I went to the n-surg who did the surgery about it and his teaching fellow said it was a lipoma (which I knew it wasn’t), finally my chiropractor told me it was the screw, which I realize she is right, it is the screw and yet NO ONE could figure that out!! Not even the damn n-surg, shows how stupid some of these doctors really are! Very frustrating! I don’t know if it will cause problems later, the chiropractor said it wore down the fat pad that was there.