This is a discussion on laminectomy next month with fusion of L4, L5 and s1 within the New Member Introductions forums, part of the Spine Patient Society Lobby category; will be having a laminectomy next month, Dec. 6 with fusion of L4, L5 and S1 and would welcome any ...
laminectomy next month with fusion of L4, L5 and s1 will be having a laminectomy next month, Dec. 6 with fusion of L4, L5 and S1 and would welcome any pre or post surgery tips. I am 74 but am in good health otherwise. Looking forward to your input. Thanks
My name is Rich Deringer and I am a new member. I am in the process of scheduling spinal surgery--laminectomy with fusion of L4, L5, and possibly S1. I am 74 and have spinal stenosis with severe compression at the forementioned vertebra.
Re: laminectomy next month with fusion of L4, L5 and s1 Welcome to the forum Rich
here is a good list of stuff to prepare for after the op to help the recovery period to go well.
Spine Surgery Recovery: "Must Have" Items & Postoperative Tips
(it says artificial disc replacement in the title but the things apply for most spine surgery)
Hope all your scheduling goes well
alison x
Alison 46 year old female
2012 Doing Rehab
2011 Sept 3rd Op Removal of old instrumentation and PLIF L4/L5 - L5/S1 both adr in situ
2010 May Discogram on L2/L3 & L3/L4
2009 May 2nd Op Failed revision fusion on L5/S1 with Charite ADR in situ
2008 Caudal epidural exacerbated nerve symptoms. Prolapse L2/L3
2007 L5/S1 Facet deterioration
2002 March 1st Op ADR Charite - L4/5, L5/S1
2000 Disc prolapses L4/5, L5/S1
Re: laminectomy next month with fusion of L4, L5 and s1 Hi Richard,
Welcome to SPS!:^) This is a GREAT site that's helped me in my recovery from my ALIF in March of last year. If I can help you in any way please feel free to write.
Regards,
Rob
- ~50 years old
- Back pain for ~25 years
- Spondylolisthesis Grade 2 L5/S1
- DDD L4/L5 & L5/S1
- Positive discogram L4/L5 & L5/S1
- Prior PT & injections to no great avail
- 360 degree fusion L4/L5/S1
- Surgery March 15, 2010
- ALIF with Posterior Stabilization Hardware
- Emory University Orthepaedics & Spine Hospital (Atlanta, GA)
- Currently doing really well - 85% improvement (Sept 2011)
- Hardware removel (4-pedical screws & 2-rods) October 3, 2011
Re: laminectomy next month with fusion of L4, L5 and s1 Rich,
Alison's lead to the check list thread is a great start. There are a couple of other things you might mention; how physically active are you now and what kind of pain are you in now. This will also help with how you deal with the operation and recovery.
FYI, i just had a L4/L5/S1 TLIF on 14 Sep and was back at work at 4 1/2 weeks. I am a little younger at 56and was fairly active up to a few months before the surgery.
The success rate for fusion is very high (high 90%) and almost everyone that goes through this gets better with surgery. The few weeks of recovery and management are worth the effort.
Dan
Severe numbness and weakness in right leg and left thigh w/difficulty walking or standing...Low Lumbar Pain levels
2002 DDD & Stenosis Lamin'y L4/L5 & L5/S1 with great success
Leg Probs resume 2010 - MRI & CT and NSR Inject (twice) & EPI & Rhyzhotomy
2011 CT- Things looked bad - L3/4 bulge with facet jt degen mild - mod
L4/5 disc vacuum & global bulge impinge right L4 nerve and bilat pars fracture. Grade 1-2 ant slip at L4 when bending from xrays not when erect
L5/S1 DDD bulge with disc osteophyte and left L5 nerve impinge w/facet jt degen - autofusing in bad way
14 Sep 2011 TLIF L4/L5/S1 w/BMP & own bone & DSS at L3/L4 to protect damaged disk
Back to work full time at 5 weeks & Off pain meds at 6 weeks
Still some numbness in legs but getting better
Re: laminectomy next month with fusion of L4, L5 and s1 Welcome to the forum Richard.
Like the others that have posted, I have found this site to be wonderfully helpful and supportive. I had a L4-L5/L5-S1 ALIF on June 29th and am recovering nicely. I am still in PT and have my ups and downs but all in all I am very very glad I had this surgery. I am doing much better than I was before the surgery and have had a HUGE reduction in pain and HUGE increase in abilities. Still have a ways to go, but I honestly wish I would have done this for myself sooner.
Allison's list is comprehensive and a great place to begin. One piece of equipment I found very useful was the "reacher-grabber" thingee. Before I graduated to picking up dirty socks from the floor, I used my "reacher" to grab the remote control or pull up the covers in bed. The other piece of equipment I found useful was a raised toilet seat. I bought a bedside commode from Walgreens (with arm rests/supports), took the "bucket" out and placed it directly over the toilet (nothing extra to clean and a nice, high, sturdy seat). They did this in the hospital and it was really helpful. That toilet was just waaaay too far away for a while.
The other thing I wish I had after my first surgery (L5-S1 microdiscectomy) was a good friend to sit me down (well, I actually couldn't sit AT ALL at that point) and discuss the finer points of ahem....keeping things moving post-op. A good bowel regimen for spine surgery patients is crucial and being new to narcotic pain medication at that time I didn't realize how terribly constipating they are. Also on my "must have" list is a couple of good laxatives/stool softeners (cuz ain't nothing movin' without 'em). Pardon my frankness and also relaying information that you may already be well aware of, but that's a pretty darn steep learning curve if you know what I mean. Wow....we just "met" and I went straight for the bowel chat didn't I? Sorry 'bout that.....
My best wishes for a successful surgery and recovery. Any other questions? Just ask!
Take care,
Kimberly
43 yr. old female with 11 and 13 year old kids.
10+ years of chronic back pain (Severe R/L leg pain for past year)
DDD at L3L4, L4L5, L5S1
Herniations, foraminal stenosis and facet hypertrophy at all 3 levels
Type II modic changes at L5S1
Conservative measures not helpful (medication, NSAIDs, injections, PT, massage, chiro, lifestyle and ergonomic modifications)
Microdiscectomy/Laminotomy (L5S1) 12/10 - Reherniated 6 weeks later.
2-level fusion (ALIF) (L4-L5, L5-S1) 6/29/11
Re: laminectomy next month with fusion of L4, L5 and s1 Hi Richard,
Glad you found the forum. It's a great place with wonderful people who will answer your questions and support you every step of the way.
As for suggestions...ditto what Kimberly said!
Glad you're here and I wish you a succesful surgery.
Linda
1976 - Fell from tree. The beginning!
1985 - Car accident - pull back muscle.
1985 - Spring 2010 -Flare ups off and on. Meds manage - Life goes on.
9/2010 -Pain returns, Diag DDD of the L4/5 & L5/S1 space with arthritis. .
10/ 2010 - Referral to PM Doctor & PT. PT not helpful. MRI confirms DDD, bulging disc of L4/5space. Pneumonia. Pain off charts!
11/2010 - 3/ 2011 2 RSNB/2 ESI. Relief short lived .Referred to surgeon.
6/29/11 -TLIF Fusion of L4/5 space.
Re: laminectomy next month with fusion of L4, L5 and s1 Richard,
You've gotten some good suggestions. Be sure and check out the list of forums and you'll find more. People in good health at 74 are likely to live to 100 so it's great that you are getting your back fixed up so you can continue to be active. Where are you having your surgery and who is your doctor? (Add it to your signature). Thanks.
Diagnosis:
Degenerative disc disease throughout spine
Generalized disc bulging with mild narrowing of thecal sac in L2-L3, L3-L4, L4-L5, L5-S1.
Moderate spinal stenosis L4-L5
Foraminal narrowing
Recent compression Fx at T10,T11.
Treatment:
Spinal decompression 2007
Cortisone injection in lower back in 2010
Relieved of pain for now
Hope for ADR
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