New Member (upcoming anterior/posterior L3 - S1 fusion)

[angie2499]

Sorry if I post this to a new thread. I am a new member and just exploring the website and learning from others. I am scheduled for a three level anterior/posterior L3 - S1 here in the DFW area. This is my first back surgury and I do not know what to expect. If anyone has any experience with this particular surgery, can they please send me some tips that they learned on how to make this surgery easier for me. I am 49 years old and I was a very active person and never laid around the house. I am very hyper too. Presently I have three tears two of which are grade five and I also have arthritis of the facet joints in this L3- S1 group. Been in pain for couple of years and decided to have this surgery so I can go on with life and get back to doing what I want to do. My plan is to get off pain pills!! Please send me some advice. The surgery is scheduled for Dec 13 here in the north dallas location. My spine orthopedic practice is in Plano TX. I would love to hear from anyone is their ortho is in Plano TX also.

[KBear]

to the forum! Here is a thread with great post op tips and things to have to help your recovery go smoother: Spine Surgery Recovery: "Must Have" Items & Postoperative Tips I also am in the DFW area and I see Dr. Blumenthal at Texas Back Institute in Plano (have also saw Dr. Zigler and like them both). I didn't have surgery with Texas Back, because my insurance wouldn't pay for ADR, so I went to Miami and was in a clinical trial and now do all my follow up at TBI. Just curious, who do you see in Plano? We are very lucky to have such a top notch team of doctors so close to us.

That's a big surgery and it's going to take time to recover (I was so naive and thought I'd be better in weeks.) Follow doctor's advice and instructions, don't be afraid to ask for help and rest plenty.

Best of Luck,
Kathy

[jss]

Angie,

Condolences on the need for a triple lumbar fusion, but welcome to the site! You've come to the right place as there is a lot of lumbar experience here (though I'm cervical only). I'm in the DFW area too; live in Flower Mound and work on the Richardson/Plano line.

Good luck on the 13th, and please keep us posted!

Jeff

[Justin]

Hi Angie,

Welcome to the Spine Patient Society.

The link Kathy provided above has some great tips about recovery from spine surgery. Good luck on 12/13 and please keep us posted, as we do care.

[Cindylou]

Welcome Angie, sounds like you have a big surgery in front of you, but am I understanding this correctly.....TBI is your surgical destination? And who is your surgeon, if you don't mind telling us? The link the prior folk (s) provided will be an excellent resource tool for you as you get closer and closer to your surgery date. A 3 level lumbar fusion is a major, major surgery, and given your age (I am 58) you will need to allow ample time for a positive fusion experience to take place. Follow your Dr.'s orders to a T, and we'll be here as well, when you land on the other side. There's always a million questions it seems, after surgery. I hope this surgery ultimately gives you the much needed relief from your pain. My best to you, Cindylou

[angie2499]

to the forum! Here is a thread with great post op tips and things to have to help your recovery go smoother: Spine Surgery Recovery: "Must Have" Items & Postoperative Tips I also am in the DFW area and I see Dr. Blumenthal at Texas Back Institute in Plano (have also saw Dr. Zigler and like them both). I didn't have surgery with Texas Back, because my insurance wouldn't pay for ADR, so I went to Miami and was in a clinical trial and now do all my follow up at TBI. Just curious, who do you see in Plano? We are very lucky to have such a top notch team of doctors so close to us.

That's a big surgery and it's going to take time to recover (I was so naive and thought I'd be better in weeks.) Follow doctor's advice and instructions, don't be afraid to ask for help and rest plenty.

Best of Luck,

Sorry if i posted this wrong. Trying to find out where to type the reply!!!! The surgeon I am using is Dr Stephen Courtney, he was in D Magazine and is highly qualified surgeon. He does not do ADR or minimum invasive. He is well respected among his peers. For everyone reading this if you have to have a discogram use Select Pain on the toolway and request Dr Rodrigue. I was put to asleep then woke up and injected one dics and it hurt for 5 seconds and then next disc and it hurt for five seconds and then next disc and it hurt for five seconds and then back to asleep and woke up and then went straight to cat scan. It was a piece of cake and I feared and waited to so long and like I said in pain for total of 15 seconds and it was not that bad. Yes I am so scared. I am scared of the pain afterwards and wondering if the pca pump they put you on will take care of the pain. Right now take oxycodone 10 mg 4 pills a day and take flexxeril 10 mg. I just hope I can stay in hospital for seven days. I will be in Baylor Medical Center in Frisco.

[angie2499]

First someone asked me if I was TBI? What does TBI stand for? Also my surgeon is Dr Stephen Courtney. He is at Plano Sports & Medicine. He was in D magazine and texas Monthly for super doctor. He is highly qualified and respected among his peers. He only operates in crystal clear situations. yes I know this is a big surgery and I will follow doctors instructions. I am scared to death of the pain afterwards. Does the pca pump they give take you out of pain? How long will the severe pain last? How many nights in the hospital? I will have three doctors n room. One doctor cuts the anterior and moves the organs around for dr courtney to perform his surgery. Then they roll me over and dr courtney does the posterior surgery. Another doctor is in the operating room monitors my nerves, brain, overall health during surgery. I really feel confident with Dr Courtney just so scared to wake up in the pain. I have had two c-sections and hysterectomy so I know how painful that surgery was and how to move with abs cut but having two cuts I am scared to death. I will read the tips and thanks so much for your concern. I was be at baylor medical cnter in frisco. it is a beautiful hospital and i saw picture of the room and it is like a suite with a sitting room inside the patient roooms.

[angie2499]

Angie,

Condolences on the need for a triple lumbar fusion, but welcome to the site! You've come to the right place as there is a lot of lumbar experience here (though I'm cervical only). I'm in the DFW area too; live in Flower Mound and work on the Richardson/Plano line.

Good luck on the 13th, and please keep us posted!

Jeff

i just moved from flower mound to here south of rockwall. i used to live off 2499 and spinks near flower mound activity center. now i have one and one half acres. i love it out here.

[Justin]

First someone asked me if I was TBI? What does TBI stand for?

TBI = Texas Back Institute

I am scared to death of the pain afterwards. Does the pca pump they give take you out of pain? How long will the severe pain last? How many nights in the hospital?

The PCA pump should adequately control your post-operative pain. It is difficult to say how long the pain will last, as each Spine Patient is unique as is their pain.

I really feel confident with Dr Courtney just so scared to wake up in the pain. I have had two c-sections and hysterectomy so I know how painful that surgery was and how to move with abs cut but having two cuts I am scared to death. I will read the tips and thanks so much for your concern. I was be at baylor medical cnter in frisco. it is a beautiful hospital and i saw picture of the room and it is like a suite with a sitting room inside the patient roooms.

Angie, being scared about the unknown (your pain post-op) is a valid concern. I won't sugar-coat things: you will wake up in pain, as your body has just been through a significant trauma (the surgery). However, the PCA pump will allow you to "take control of your pain" post-op. 80% of the "battle" is showing up to the hospital for surgery.

I wish you the very best!

[KBear]

I love the D Magazine best doctors, I buy that issue every year and use it when looking for a doctor or checking out my current doctors. I wish I could remember where I had my discogram, but they did the same thing, knocked me out, woke me up, injected discs and knocked me out.... it was wonderful. The first discogram I ever had was not sedated and it was pure evil torture.
I'm not going to lie about the post op pain, as I was completely unprepared for what was coming. I didn't have any pain pump or epidural after my ADR surgery and I was in awful pain. In hindsight, I should have asked for the epidural during and after surgery. I ended up in the ICU for 2 days, because they just couldn't give me more medication (risk of respiratory depression), and my pain was so bad it was causing my blood pressure to go through the roof. Starting day 3 it became way more manageable with medication. Each day gets a little better than the last.
I'm loving the new 2499 extension to Teasley here in Denton, it connects about 2 miles from my house and I can now get to all the great shopping in Highland Village in 10 or 15 minutes.