15 month Post Operation Questions

[drummerman]

Hi everybody,

Well, it's been quite awhile since I've posted... been very busy and I think somewhat smug in my post-operative situation since the pain is mostly GONE!

I've had THREE spinal operations over the last nearly three years. C4-C5 fusion. Laminectomy L4-L5 with no fusion. During the second operation my surgeon wanted to go conservative to see if I could get away without fusion by freeing the area around the nerve causing pain. Well... it didn't work! I was basically in bed with pain and meds for nine months. The third time he fused L4-L5 with hardware.

The results of the first operation on my neck has been very successful. Once I got over the healing process - the result has been wonderful. Basically no pain nor discomfort in any way. I cannot tell I had the fusion (movement wise) in my neck.

The lumbar fusion results is more complicated. It has been 15 months since the lumber operation. I'm generally pain free. Now here is where I need some enlightenment and feedback if anyone would be so inclined. It would be greatly appreciated. Well... I feel very vulnerable with my lower spine still (not like my neck). If I sometimes move a little too fast or twist a little too quickly I cause my back to hurt for a couple of days. Sometimes the pain is significant. It sometimes feel like "Oh, no... I damaged the operation site (I've dislocated the instrumentation or whatever)." It gets really scarry. Oh, no... I'll have to have an emergency operation to repair the damage... I really work myself up and think of all kinds of possibilities. Upon stretching and various movements I often hear a clicking and a realization from experience if I go too far I'm going to hurt myself. Is this the way it's always going to be or will this get better.

Having a lively imagination, I lately thought to myself "Wow, what if I get into some sort of physical trauma (like an auto accident or what happens if one is subject to a criminal assault resulting in a punch or wrestling event - would that break my fusions causing serious injury or death? Has anyone done research or have knowledge regarding these kinds of possible traumas. Does anyone else feel vulnerable now like I do?

Thanks

Ron

[Katie]

Hi Ron,

It's good to see you back on the forum! Good questions; ones we have all had stuck in our heads, I think.

Have you had any images post op? I had a CT scan done at about 8 months to ensure all is well, and it really was great for piece of mind. It was supposed to be at one year, but I put in a request early as it can take awhile to get in here, and the appointment came early. I also had a full series of x-rays earlier in the process, as per the surgeon's request. That might be your ticket to putting your fears at rest.

I am just one year out from two level fusions at L4/5/S1, and an ADR at C5/6. There was no instrumentation at the fusions, just the cages themselves. Unfortunately I had several bad falls this winter, landing on ice and hitting the door frame of the front door, plus landing flat on my back on snow covered ice, like slipping on the banana joke. They were at about seven and ten months out from surgery. Weirdly enough, after knowing that my images showed a solid fusion, the first thing I worried about after the falls wasn't my back, it was my hip (and my head...got quite a nasty bonk there too).

I have regular visits to my chiro & other PT to keep me tuned up, and the main pain I have is more from soft tissue, right in the area of the fusion, but also in the muscles up and down my back as I try to do more and use things that haven't felt movement in a very long time Plus I still have pain while in bed at night...not sure why, but suspect it has something to do with our fairly new & pricey bed. We're at a good hotel right now and I've been able to sleep on my side here which I can't do at home. I'm hoping more building of core muscles will help at home. Can't afford yet another bed right now

I've never had the noise you describe...perhaps talk to your doctor about it...the original surgeon would have more answers I think.

Good luck with this, and if all is well, try not to worry about future damage to the back. I was told that the fusion is probably stronger than the remaining spine...good to know if I keep landing on my butt

[ajj1001]

as long as it fused it will be stronger than a normal persons as the instrumentation is there as well as the bone, it's the other levels that may be a bit more vulnerable. nothing to be worried about just no sky diving.

[Hooch]

You still playing man? I picked up the sax again for a while post op, put it back in the box for now.

U need physio btw, think of your spine as an instrument u dont know how to play too good.

go shed

[drummerman]

Hi Ron,

It's good to see you back on the forum! Good questions; ones we have all had stuck in our heads, I think.

Have you had any images post op? I had a CT scan done at about 8 months to ensure all is well, and it really was great for piece of mind. It was supposed to be at one year, but I put in a request early as it can take awhile to get in here, and the appointment came early. I also had a full series of x-rays earlier in the process, as per the surgeon's request. That might be your ticket to putting your fears at rest.

I am just one year out from two level fusions at L4/5/S1, and an ADR at C5/6. There was no instrumentation at the fusions, just the cages themselves. Unfortunately I had several bad falls this winter, landing on ice and hitting the door frame of the front door, plus landing flat on my back on snow covered ice, like slipping on the banana joke. They were at about seven and ten months out from surgery. Weirdly enough, after knowing that my images showed a solid fusion, the first thing I worried about after the falls wasn't my back, it was my hip (and my head...got quite a nasty bonk there too).

I have regular visits to my chiro & other PT to keep me tuned up, and the main pain I have is more from soft tissue, right in the area of the fusion, but also in the muscles up and down my back as I try to do more and use things that haven't felt movement in a very long time Plus I still have pain while in bed at night...not sure why, but suspect it has something to do with our fairly new & pricey bed. We're at a good hotel right now and I've been able to sleep on my side here which I can't do at home. I'm hoping more building of core muscles will help at home. Can't afford yet another bed right now

I've never had the noise you describe...perhaps talk to your doctor about it...the original surgeon would have more answers I think.

Good luck with this, and if all is well, try not to worry about future damage to the back. I was told that the fusion is probably stronger than the remaining spine...good to know if I keep landing on my butt

Hi Katie,

So kind of you to write. Wow! You have fallen so many times. Hope everything is alright. I've been in a fog this past year. I twist, turn or do something that periodically causes some pain for a couple a days. I've have to be careful. I just read a sorrowful person's post about a "failed" fusion. It alarmed me now to think that maybe with the grinding and clicking noise I feel and hear at the operation site that... Oh no! Do I have a "failed" fusion now. Funny... I just started thinking perhaps I should see my surgeon now too. He did a Ct-scan a month or two (don't remember) after the operation and said that a fusion has occurred and everything looked alright. Despite this, is it a good idea to see him again?? I thought this was all over with. Is this grinding feeling an indication that possibly the fusion has not taken after all. If so, isn't that dangerous. Boy! I feel I'm working myself up... as I said I have a very vivid imagination

thanks Katie

[Cindylou]

Hi Katie,

So kind of you to write. Wow! You have fallen so many times. Hope everything is alright. I've been in a fog this past year. I twist, turn or do something that periodically causes some pain for a couple a days. I've have to be careful. I just read a sorrowful person's post about a "failed" fusion. It alarmed me now to think that maybe with the grinding and clicking noise I feel and hear at the operation site that... Oh no! Do I have a "failed" fusion now. Funny... I just started thinking perhaps I should see my surgeon now too. He did a Ct-scan a month or two (don't remember) after the operation and said that a fusion has occurred and everything looked alright. Despite this, is it a good idea to see him again?? I thought this was all over with. Is this grinding feeling an indication that possibly the fusion has not taken after all. If so, isn't that dangerous. Boy! I feel I'm working myself up... as I said I have a very vivid imagination
thanks Katie

How many times have you seen your surgeon since your initial surgery? I find it kind of hard to believe that you would have had a complete fusion 1-2 months after surgery.....imho. I am no doc, mind you. If I were in your shoes, however, I would definitely make another follow-up appt. w/ your surgeon. He/she should have been doing periodic cat-scans to be checking for successful fusion, anyway. (like 1, 3, 6, 12 months, then 24 months, for example) I can't really speak to the grinding noise you are experiencing, but this is something you could definitely bring up at your next appt. I know it is very difficult, and easier said than done, but try not to let your imagination get the best of you, you know? It's just undue stress you don't need. I do hope you get these issues with your spine resolved. Good luck to you. Cindylou

[drummerman]

How many times have you seen your surgeon since your initial surgery? I find it kind of hard to believe that you would have had a complete fusion 1-2 months after surgery.....imho. I am no doc, mind you. If I were in your shoes, however, I would definitely make another follow-up appt. w/ your surgeon. He/she should have been doing periodic cat-scans to be checking for successful fusion, anyway. (like 1, 3, 6, 12 months, then 24 months, for example) I can't really speak to the grinding noise you are experiencing, but this is something you could definitely bring up at your next appt. I know it is very difficult, and easier said than done, but try not to let your imagination get the best of you, you know? It's just undue stress you don't need. I do hope you get these issues with your spine resolved. Good luck to you. Cindylou

thank you so much, Cindylou

been kinda of afraid of checking responses to my post... but thanks... kinda confused... my neurosurgeon never directed me to get these follow-up cat-scans???...o.k. I'll try to not work myself up... will plan and make arrangements to see my doctor... whew, this is scary

Ron

[Katie]

Hi Ron,

I'm glad you are here and asking questions. Yes, you should have had follow-up x-rays and CT scans, although I only needed the latter at a year post-op. (Mine ended up being at 8 mo., as I had to try and book mine early and I got an unexpected appointment. We have to normally wait months to get an appointment for that or MRIs)

Just to let you know that CT scans involve a lot more radiation than x-rays, so it would be good to know exactly what your doctor requires for a follow-up. Press him/her for what should be done. While like Cindylou, I am no doctor, but what I expect to find at 1-2 months post-op is the beginnings of fusion, not a complete one. That normally takes months, from what I understand. But again, check with your surgeon.

Better to have the real facts than stew about 'what could be'. My mom has just done that....and probably has a second bout of cancer to deal with that has been brewing for months now, as she didn't want to know and go through it all over again.

I treat tax returns that way....hide my head till the last minute to avoid the pain, but definitely not the best plan