L4/L5 Decompression and Fusion with Instrumentation
 

Hello All!

So I am sceduled to have L4/L5 Decompression and Fusion with Instrumentation surgery on the 23rd of February. I'm pretty freaked out about it. I have a few questions. I am 24 years old and very healthy. I was wondering what the typical recovery time is, how long I will be out of work, how long will I be "non-functional". The reason that I am wondering is because I'm getting married on July 3rd, and really don't want to be a burden with the pain and all. Any help/tips/info.... Give me all you have!

Thanks so much!

Matt

Same here!
 

Hi Matt, I am 24 years old as well, and also very healthy (well I was anyway, before all this back stuff). I am going in on the 12th for anterior/posterior lumbar fusion. I'm not too sure how similar our surgeries are, but I am going to need a week in the hospital followed by 4-6 weeks very limited movement. After my surgery I'll get on this forum and let you know what it was like (surgery) if you want.

Hello & Welcome ,
Didn't your surgeon give you any kind of time frame for your recovery?

I wish they would give people a paper with general info about these things...
and then make a note for any specifics to your issue...

are you seeing him another time before the surgery?
if so take a list of your main points and questions, it's so easy to forget what you want to know and then the appt is over with...:(

I'm sure others will be along to share their experiences with you soon.

welcome...sorry your needing surgery, and I can't offer any info, I have other spinal issues. I have many friends that have had this surgery and it is different for everyone....Good luck....

Yes that would be great! Thanks and good luck!

My surgeon told me 4 to 6 weeks but reading other peoples stories that seems a little optimistic. I didn't know if he said that because I'm young and thinks I will be able to heal fast. I am going to book another appointment before my surgery.

I am scheduled to have an L4 fusion with instrumentation on February 24, 2009 and am a little freaked out about it myself. Not so much the surgery itself but the recovery period. At least it will be warm here by the time I'm fully recovered!

I'm also just very concerned about the recovery time! I'm worried what my condition will be on july 3rd when I get married. If I'm not good to go I may post-pone the surgery! Good luck!

Butabie

given your age I don't think your recovery will be prolonged. My first fusion surgery was when I was 40 and I was back to work full time in 12 weeks. It is a long process. Your progress will be slow in the beginning. The best thing you can do ( if possible is walk, walk walk).

I'm not going to sugar coat it. The pain is intense! Are they doing it through the front or back? The surgery through the back is worse as they cut all your muscles to get to your spine.

Follow drs orders and go slow and easy. Im pretty confident you will be close if not 100% by July. By the way congrats on the wedding!!!

Dottie

Thank you for the information Dottie, and thank you for not sugar coating anything! I want to go in to this knowing the worst and expecting the best. I will go and talk with my Dr. this week just to go over a few things.

I want to find out what he will be fusing with. Why he wants to do a full fusion rather than a lamectomy (I think that's how you spell it) etcetera...

Thanks again for the reply, best wishes to you!

Matt

Well we are in the same boat then! Where are you from? I am from North Carolina and it will just be starting to get warm here too. What is really unfortuate about the timing of this is that I love to ride my motorcylce and won't be able to for quite sometime!

Thanks for the reply and good luck with your surgery!

Matt

Hi, I am in NY. Lots of snow and cold. I was talking to my surgeon, we like to chat medical stuff cause my husband is a veterinary technician and I am a medical secretary and we were talking and he said lumbar fusions are a lot different than a thoracic fusion which is what I had done. You will be doing a lot of walking. Lots and lots and lots of walking. The more you do, the happier they are as long as you do it at a reasonable pace and you don't kill yourself. My Dad had it too. You may have a permanent weight lifting restriction, like nothing over 25lbs for the rest of your life, you just have to wait and see. Pain wise, mine was really bad, they had to break my ribs to do my surgery, for awhile that hurt more than my back. They will give you enough meds that you will be ok. The worst part is the boredom when you're sore and you're stuck in bed staring at the walls. I have insomnia and I have to have it quiet to sleep, and after my surgery I didn't sleep for 48 hours, even though I was on morphine because of all the hospital noises, I had my ambien and everything, they finally had to bring my ipod in and put a wash cloth over my eyes so it was completely black and I could sleep.

Well, feel free to ask me any questions, being a medical secretary for almost 9 years I kinda know both sides of the fence in this business. I also do nails and makeup for anyone who lives local.:o
Talk to you soon,Crystal

Hello. I feel the same way! I am not scheduled for an appt before my surgery on the 24th and have many questions! Such as, recovery process, will I be bale to walk around or do I have to remain immobile, when can I get back to work, etc. It would be nice if there was some kind of handout addressing these issues. Thanks.

Thanks Crystal for the information! I've been reading quite a few forums and getting tips on what to do before the surgery and what you have ready to help with the bordum. Luckily I have my Fiance' and some family in the area that will be staying with me so at least I will have someone to talk to and watch movies with! I have another appointment with my Dr on Wednesday so I will be able to ask questions. I'm so nervous but am trusting that it will all be okay! I am taking T3's right now for the pain which helps but of course doesn't help with the numbness down my left leg.

Looks like I will have alot of time to keep the forum updated on my progress and wine to you guys/gals about how bad it hurts!

I wish I could take you up on the offer to get my hair done! Except that I have two issues! I shaved my head since my dad blessed me with his wonderful hair line and I live in North Carolina :)... Thanks again for your reply!

Matt

Julie,

Looks like we will only be a day apart on our recovery! It would be nice to go back and fourth on our progress! I wish you the best of luck! Are you nervous?

Matt

Post-Surgery
 

First of all I apologize this is going to be a little random and I'm going to type whatever I'm thinking of at the time! Sorry!

Today is Saturday February 28th. I had my Surgery on Monday. I was released from the hospital on Thrusday around noon, and have been back home since.

People that get this surgery or any I guess need to be aware of the bloating that you will go through! I could'nt believe it! I went to the hospital to have back surgery and what ended up hurting the most was my stomach! The Doc told me that the Morphine was causing my stomach to be distended and painful. I think it was gas! Since as soon as I got some laxative and made it to the toilet, (no other way to say it) I released the gas and felt so much better!

I wonder if you ask the nurse to go ahead and give stool softner and laxative as soon as they know you will be able to get to sit on the toilet, if they would give it to you? I would try, do not wait until you are double over balling your eyes out because the pain is so bad!

I will say that I had three worst pains I have ever had in my life while at the hospital. When I woke up from Surgery, The stomach pains as talked about above, and when they took the foley catheter out! Oh my God!

It is very hard to find a comfortable position but is getting easier day by day. When the Physical Therapists came into my room and made me move I thought I would die! Luckily I had two great guys that were incredibly nice and helped me alot! The more I got up the better/easier it was. Walking has been helping alot also! Sometimes I don't want to do it but know that it will make me feel better!

The satin sheets were a great idea for getting in and out of bed. Wish I would have bought some silk pajamas for the couch since that is where I spend most of my time!

Yesterday I finally got my apetite back! I'm not so sure that is a good thing since I'm sitting around all day close to the kitchen and have all the snacks in the grocery store to eat! Hopefully I won't put on to much weight.

My doc didn't right for percocet before he left the hosptital the first night, the morphine pump wasn't even touching the pain. I had to wait until about 1000 the next morning to get some morphine and sleep. BTW I didn't sleep at all my first night! Probably didn't help that my catheter tubing was kinked and the nurse didn't realize it until 4 AM, when I called her and told her I wanted to die! I filled up two bags when she unkinked it! I seriously looked like I was pregnant! This could have been bad if my bladder had burst!

I've been taking percocet every four house and a flexiril every eight hourse. The Flexiril really helps since usually the pain in my back feels like the muscles are just too tight! These relax me and the percocet cleans up all the pain! Let's just say I've been napping alot!

I would like to have insight from people as far as good lying positions, any little tricks that would help. Also if anyone is getting this surgery and has questions from me please ask. I'm pretty bored sitting on the couch and would like to help anyone that wants it.

Hope you all are having a great day.

Matt

I am having L4 L5 fusion w/ instrumentation
 

Hello it is good to hear your replies, I am having this surgery March 25, 2009 and I am scared out of my mind! I am 32 and have scoliosis, DDD, Facet Joint Disease, bone spurs, and much more! I have been on disability since October 08, and my nuero finally decided for the surgery. I am really hoping time goes by slow cause I am scared :eek:

L4/L5 Post Surgery Info
 

How are your now 4 months after surgery? I would realy like to know since a similar surgery is in the picture for me as soon as 09/2009?