NeuroTalk Support Groups - 44 yr old got fused -L4-L5-S1

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- - 44 yr old got fused -L4-L5-S1 (https://www.neurotalk.org/spinal-disorders-and-back-pain/147241-44-yr-fused-l4-l5-s1.html)

hope you get dr rooney

i went back for a visit and while there , asked if i could see an xray of the parts now in me . he even gave me a cd to take home ! i fabricate metal for custom jobs so i was very intrigued . he actually took the time to THOROUGHLY explain it to me in technical terms . i was shocked , most docs just rush through a visit as if they dont have time to be bothered .

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Originally Posted by diane54 (Post 756251)

Hi Bak To Bak You mentioned your surgeon was in Seattle. Who did you see? Was it at Swedish? Thanks! You can PM me if you want. Diane

hello back to bak

Hello and I am glad you are recovering. All the next six months you will find out just what you can do. Believe me, if you over do it, you will know about it. I am 8 months almost to the day of surgery and I spent one hour pulling weeds outside today. Nice to be able just to do that. I had doner bone on a C3-7, none out of my hip. I heard that can be an ouch for a long time. I thought I was too sore for PT at 4 weeks, but I did start and finish the program. It did help me, and it was not pushed on me to do more than I could. PT was a good experience, and helped me to get on my feet sooner. I was afraid of it too at the beginning. Don't put it off too long if you can. Good luck in your recovery. ginnie

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Originally Posted by bak2bak (Post 755982)

i will spare u guys the agonizing tale of pain . if you r here , then u already know.

i had L4-L5-S1 fused--plates ,rod,cage. my back pain at the spine is GONE . apparently my doc used material from my left hip along with the piece of s1 floating around in there . my left hip is now my nemesis . i did not expect to go thru this without pain and recovery time , but i'm here to say my left hip hurts like hell !!! i'm a pretty tough guy and was blessed/cursed with a very high threshold for pain . oddly though i have a higher resistance to pain meds , sedatives etc...
so when i say i'm in pain....the average person would be screaming . i've done some of that since the op as well as been in tears .
i'm active and stubborn . right away , post op , i would take advantage of feeling way better a particular morning and push myself....no walker or cane and enjoy the day . BIG mistake .i payed dearly . all it took was my shoe catching something , causing me to twist and i had to jerk my body to catch myself from falling . my hip especially let me know about my poor judgement .

so now i use the walker almost every time i get up , no matter if i'm only going 6 feet away . i started taking it easy and now i can walk 1/8 mile in my driveway . still sore but walking seems to be the best exercise .
its humbling that my 4 yr. old daughter puts my socks on for me but just be prepared to take things slow . i now have been streching and i have put my own socks on 4 times now . lol .
i would like to point out a few things . the side of my left leg still feels bruised and has areas that are numb . i see the doc today , so ima ask about that . going to the bathroom is still a great chore , trying to turn to wipe(if u know what i mean ). i recommend a raised toilet seat (handicap retail store), but be SURE its one that will touch the floor . mine doesnt and i fell . soaking in epsom salt as soon as u r able was great for me . after a 2 hr soak i was feeling great .
my spine is still feeling great and no pain in my right hip AT ALL since the op .
getting this done lifted my spirits tremendously . if u r thinking about having this procedure done , maybe dont put it off for 4 yrs like i did . you r already in pain so u may as well get it over with . although my doc suggests not racing mountain bikes and hitting trees any more i think ima be just fine .
good luck to evreyone .
BY THE WAY--coughing and especially sneezing , even laughing hurt pretty badly . i had muscle spasms due to that . for me , diazapam/valium works well . so try to get your doc to prescribe those now(before u leave hospital) just in case .

I am you I had my fusion on Jan 25th my hip pain is gone thank god but I have what doc says is phanthon pain. My body was so use to having pain the nerves still have memory... makes no sense to me. I am on oxycodone and it does take my pain away. Is anyone else having phantom pain?

well i'm sorry u hav a collar , i would b nuts by now if i had to deal with that along w/everything else . good luck .

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Originally Posted by cath1 (Post 757768)

I had C5-7 fused with titanium discs, cadaver bone n screws on march 2, 2011... So at 4 weeks post up I'm still learning like you what my personal limitations are. I never thought I would still be hurting a month after surgery, but I am. I am able to do more on my own each day ( I can shower all by myself like a big girl now, lol, have to laugh...) my biggest issue is the cervical collar I have to wear 24/7 which creates the worst back n neck spasms, omg, and muscle relaxers knock me out, so it's a trade off, be a slug or be in more pain. Like you my original pain seems better, but has been replaced by new pain, irritated nerves, and terrible sore neck. But on the mend. Gravity sucks, you're right, but don't stay in one spot too ling, vary your positions often, and I find alternating my beloved heating pad with ice and biofreeze does take the edge off.

Take care, here is to a fast pain free recovery for us both!
Thanks for sharing your progress it's nice to know one is not alone in this.
Cathie

what i dont get is , why is my phantom pain on the other side that had never hurt before . my left hip is still killing me . i also still have a large numb area on my hip area in the skin .

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Originally Posted by dovecottage (Post 761425)

MY LEFT HIP HURTS LIKE HELL !!!!! which as u guys following my story already know , never hurt to begin with .
a sneeze , laugh , or cough will still kill me if i dont bend at the waist .
last week i had just layed down , BARELY MOVED to reposition , and i thought my hip broke ......new worst pain i've ever felt . i scared my wife because i screamed as loud as possible (while trying not to ). i'm surprised the neighbors didnt call the police ! my hip is now getting worse . i quit taking pain meds cause they dont work on my body (docs never believe me ).
after working on my wifes car (at the speed of a sloth ) , i epsom salt soaked 3hrs . i knew i was gonna b paying for those repairs somehow . i did . i saved $300.00 which is great since our money has run out due to my lack of working . EVERY muscle in my body hurt like a torn muscle . it took 8 days to recover . that next morning i had to b helped outa bed . and when i tried to rush to the bathroom , i literrally had to drag my left leg . all these months prior to surgery i had been less & less active . compounded by recovery vegetation , i guess my body was almost atrophied .
so , i suggest that you do isometric workouts . i also suggest not replacing a wheel bearing hub which was a real bi#@! to do in the 1st place .
i need to go see my doc due to the hip and something new i've noticed . theres a large area of my skin around the left hip that looks mottled red , almost likened to stria . i can still walk pretty well . 1/8 mile or more a day without much pain . the doc wants me to get rid of the walker and just carry my cane loosely for emergency only . screw that ! when i do laps in the driveway...i have the walker . in the house i use the cane . i can always catch myself w/a wall or furniture---lol .
sad to say that all of this is taking a mental toll on me . i'm useless in my eyes . still need help putting my socks on half the time . and the pain is winning . i took (in a 1 hr period ) 3valium ,4 oxycod. ,800mg ibuprofen , 2 vicodin .....didnt help . my wife couldnt believe i was even awake . not only awake but soaking with my music , wine , and epsom salt . i have quit meds all together now since they dont work . not to mention i'm guessing i can still o.d. even if i'm not feeling effects . how can my body possibly b that resistant . hell , i always have to let any anesthesiologist know of my history of waking up during procedures . anyway one good thing is that all the tub soaking i do ...my 4 yr old comes n and we throw a beach ball around the bathroom .
i really miss mowing the lawn ....soon i'm hoping to get out there . i own a high end finish construction co. it's so specialized , i usually work alone . i may have to find something else to do . btw , if u wanna see what i do , go to youtube.com search "sheridan finish work " or user name "SHERM8TOR"
HOPE THE REST OF U ARE HEALING WELL , damn-do we have to do group hugs ? LOL

Hi cath, glad you are post surgery, this side of healing. I am 8 months post today and had almost the same surgery as you. C3-7, with all the fancy trimmings. I get along pretty good. Some pain at C1-2 which is a bit worrysome. Some kinks and ouches, but for the most part a good deal better.
(bak to bak,} your hip sounds terrible painfull. That can't be right. I know there is alot of pain with it but yours sounds over the top. Maybe a good idea for dr, to check it especially as you said there were molted looking area. ginnie I wish you all speedy healing and no more pain.:hug:

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Originally Posted by bak2bak (Post 759459)

i just noticed i wrote "gavity"---i meant gravity .

I am officially NEVER having anything more invasive than an RFD done! I'll survive on Duragesic! You all are the brave ones. This sounds worse than what we're originally going through. I admire you so much Bak2bak for plowing through this difficult recovery. Good thing you're a stubborn man-- LOL. A less determined guy would be laying on his back in bed all day!!!

Hi My name is Rick i am having surgery july 5th and its a L4 L5 S1 fusion done my doctor is going to put a upaduro i hope i spelled that right in me to limit the pain and a cathader do you or anyone agree with that i am really scared

Rick, It's probably an epidural.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epidural