Just Joining-need ALIF

[Kimberly]

Welcome

I just wanted to chime in in agreement with the recovery time for an ALIF.

I had a two-level ALIF L4-S1 about 3 1/5 months ago and could not have imagined working at the 3 week mark. I did not begin PT until 3 months. I had posterior instrumentation "installed" with two 4" incisions in the back but these were far less annoying than the smaller 3" anterior incision. That bugger in the front gave me WAY more grief. Frankly it still does (but it is getting better.)

Sorry, I don't want to cause any alarm about recovery time, I just think having realistic expectations is really important in recovery. At least for me.

Again, welcome.

Kimberly

[laid up doc]

kimberly is right on the money... recovery time from fusion is much more variable than from ADR, because the fusion (aka arthrodesis) has to "take" and form new bone before you can put ANY stress on that level. for lumbar patients, that means restricted lifting/bending/twisting.

also not trying to be a debbie downer... but i would say 3mo is a MINIMUM if you have a less physically demanding nursing job, and more like 4-6mo if you have to lift pts and whatnot. that is what i was anticipating for myself had i gone the fusion route.

[Pbchoclovr]

Valerie,

Welcome to the site. Sorry to hear of your troubles. Like everyone else, realistically, 3 weeks isn't feasible to return to work. I had a minimally invasive TLIF in my lumbar region on 6-29 and didn't return to work until late August. At that point, I started PT. Even then, I was on half days. My surgeon offered my a whole semester of half days, but I don't have that kind of leave. I took a couple of weeks instead. I work in a school and my work is not physically intense. If I could have waited longer to return to work and didn't have to worry about using all my leave up, I probably would have waited much longer to return to work. This is not a quick recovery. I'm 4 months post - op this week, and I still experience some pain from the surgery. Things have improved greatly, but I'm not 100% yet. Not even close. I think recovery is easiest from the comfort of home. It's harder when you have to be at work. In my case, everyone is very helpful and understanding, but to some extent there's still an expectation that I need to pull my weight. Overall, it's best to take your time and not rush the healing process, unless from a financial standpoint it's necessary. Even then, I'd try to find a way around it or at least extend the home recuperation as long as possible.
Just my two cents....

Linda