Positive results from fusion????

[Greg]

I now know that most all of the negative feddback and stories I read about fusions is due to the fact that the ones that succeed have other things to do than get support online for pain.

I am now looking like I will have my spine fused at L4/L5 & L5/S1. As I should be for any back surgery, I am a little concerned about the risks and possibility of complications especially considering we are talking multiple levels. I have learned a lot so far but I do not know enough. I would love to hear about some success' or which methods have worked better for others. Ultimately my desicion is always mine to make but more needs to be learned for an educated decision.

Any advice on fusions or stories about it working would be fantastic to hear. I never realized fusion had SO MANY DIFFERENT ways/approaches/techniques. As for the bone grafting part, does it seem better to do a hip harvest or are the technological advances worth considering? What type of pain are we looking at if they do a harvest from my own body? Thanks for your help

[Keano16]

I do not have personal experience (still, as I am having TLIF and dynamic stabilization in 2 weeks).

First of all, I recommend minimally-invasive approach because of many benefits, I am sure you know about them.

Then, we can talk about fusion types. Currently, mostly used fusion types are PLIF and TLIF (they are similar, but TLIF has better approach and can do less damage to your tissue and nerves), then ALIF (anterior approach, trough your stomach). This are most used methods.

Lately, some other methods have been used, like XLIF (lateral approach).

You need to make sure to find qualified and trained spine surgeon, that fully understands MISS approach...and then you won't even notice the difference between PLIF, TLIF, ALIF, XLIF, because you will be doing and recovering well.

[Keano16]

And about bone materials used... I am not sure why would you suffer from any pain... You wont feel pain as you will 99% be under general anesthesia. They can use bone, bone marrow and bone proteins to make fusion process quicker.

[KBear]

You are exactly right, they are out living. I had this same question about ADR patients prior to surgery and was told the exact same thing. I can attest to it being true, as I have seen people come on here, be on here all the time, have surgery, get better and you never hear from them again.


On the pain, I woke up for surgery and wanted to die I hurt so bad and I just had the 1 cut in my abdomen (I had ADR). For the first 2 days my pain was unreal, I literally prayed for death. Now, let me say that I am very tolerant to anesthia and pain medication. I have always been hard to sedate and treat, even before I was on narcotics. At the dentist, they will have to give me shot after shot and I still will fell the pain. During procedures and such, I have waken and remembered every bit of it, they have had a hard time getting me to go out and such. I was getting oxycodone and morphine shots after surgery, which barely took a little bit of the edge off. I have heard of people getting an epidural for the pain, I would highly suggest asking for one of these. And a morphine pump. I would try to get in and talk to the anesthiologist prior to surgery to get all of the details worked out and talk to your surgeon about the after surgery treatment (as he will most likely be the one controlling your pain control regimine). If I had it to do over again, I would definitely have demanded an epidural and pain pump.... I think it would have made a huge difference. On another note, I haven't heard of many surgeons in the US doing the epidural, mainly heard about this from people who had surgery in Germany.

[Greg]

Currently, mostly used fusion types are PLIF and TLIF (they are similar, but TLIF has better approach and can do less damage to your tissue and nerves), then ALIF (anterior approach, trough your stomach). This are most used methods.

Thank you! I have left a message for the dr to call me so we can discuss what he may be siggesting. The dr is 4 hours away so I am trying to avoid as many all day trips as possible

And about bone materials used... I am not sure why would you suffer from any pain... You wont feel pain as you will 99% be under general anesthesia. They can use bone, bone marrow and bone proteins to make fusion process quicker.

My question about the pain from the bone graft is for after surgery. If they harvestes from my hip, what kind of things/feelings/problems are to be expected if any

On the pain, I woke up for surgery and wanted to die I hurt so bad and I just had the 1 cut in my abdomen (I had ADR). For the first 2 days my pain was unreal, I literally prayed for death. Now, let me say that I am very tolerant to anesthia and pain medication. I have always been hard to sedate and treat, even before I was on narcotics. At the dentist, they will have to give me shot after shot and I still will fell the pain. During procedures and such, I have waken and remembered every bit of it, they have had a hard time getting me to go out and such. I was getting oxycodone and morphine shots after surgery, which barely took a little bit of the edge off. I have heard of people getting an epidural for the pain, I would highly suggest asking for one of these. And a morphine pump. I would try to get in and talk to the anesthiologist prior to surgery to get all of the details worked out and talk to your surgeon about the after surgery treatment (as he will most likely be the one controlling your pain control regimine). If I had it to do over again, I would definitely have demanded an epidural and pain pump.... I think it would have made a huge difference. On another note, I haven't heard of many surgeons in the US doing the epidural, mainly heard about this from people who had surgery in Germany.

I am the exact same way when it comes to tolerance to pain meds and ansthesia. I have always had those problems since I was a kid. Luckily enough my dentist now knows to go ahead and juice me up good with the lidocaine before we attempt anything. Same thing goes for the dr who gave me 5 epiduril steroid injections....loaded up on anesthesia but still quinched and squirmed like a littlw baby. I will be sure to try and secure ANY AND ALL pain relief processes before we even start. My experience from my shoulder surgery was horrible.

I received a $2000 never block for anesthesia that was supposed to last 18-24 hours. 3 hours after getting home, 6 hours total post-op, it wore off and no matter how many meds I took I couldnt kill the pain. I didnt sleep for 36 hours. At 3 AM i decided to stop wasting the meds since they werent doing anything and wait until 8 AM for the Dr office to open up. I explained myself and they said they couldnt give me a shot and to go to the ER. It took 2 hours in the back of the ER to get the shot of demmeral. Didnt kill the pain but finally knocked me out (while eating a cheesesteak) I later found out the dr's nurse could have wrote me a script for a shot and made the 3.5 hour ER visit into 40 minutes.....Oh well, I know now

[linda]

Hey Greg,
So glad you are back. I have been wandering how you were doing. Where have you decided to get this surgery done that is 4 hours away? When I went to my doc the other day to get reenrolled into the study I asked the study girl what other trials they were doing and I think she mentioned something about flexible fusion. I could be totally wrong about this because I had a sore throat that day and felt like crap. Anyway, I thought the sound of flexible fusion sounded good. I'm glad you are getting somewhere in your journey.
Linda

[Keano16]

Thank you! I have left a message for the dr to call me so we can discuss what he may be siggesting. The dr is 4 hours away so I am trying to avoid as many all day trips as possible

I fully understand you. My doctor is 4 hours from me also, and I've already been there 20-30 times. Imagine that?

My question about the pain from the bone graft is for after surgery. If they harvestes from my hip, what kind of things/feelings/problems are to be expected if any

I am really not sure about pain level. Someone who had fusion might be able to tell you that. Or I will tell you in 2 weeks

[Greg]

Hey Greg,
So glad you are back. I have been wandering how you were doing. Where have you decided to get this surgery done that is 4 hours away? When I went to my doc the other day to get reenrolled into the study I asked the study girl what other trials they were doing and I think she mentioned something about flexible fusion. I could be totally wrong about this because I had a sore throat that day and felt like crap. Anyway, I thought the sound of flexible fusion sounded good. I'm glad you are getting somewhere in your journey.
Linda

The Dr is in Charlotte, NC at the Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates. My referring neurosurgeon who sent me there wanted me to go there because Coric is one of the best and most experienced ADR surgeons in NC. I have to wait for a phone call back from the original surgeon (from wilmington, 30 minutes away) because maybe he is just as qualified since we are going for a fusion now. It would be a lot nicer to be so close to home. Especially if the meds I get cant be called or faxed in to the pharmacy due to the "high narcoticness"....if thats a word.

Whats the protocol for that if I was operated on VERY FAR FROM HOME for getting medication. Do you really have to drive there for each prescription or do they change the rules for surgeries? I have been told by many dr that any prescription higher than vicodin you have to have the script in your hand. I hope this isnt true if I am operated on in Charlotte

[Phylly]

Greg,
I had a neck fusion 7 years ago at two levels and used harvested bone. I did have quite a bit of pain in the hip area but recovered quickly and the neck did well. I was back to work at 6 weeks but it took about a year to feel completely better. This time around, things were a lot different since I was removing lumbar ADR's anteriorly and then being fused posteriorly. Bone protein and cages were used and being 8 months out I still have pain. I had been in pain so long I am having difficulty weaning off my meds. I do feel there is more pain this time around and it could be from the added complication of several surgeries in the same area. I am hoping the pain continues to decrease but it is better than with the ADR's in. I guess the jury is still out on this one. The posterior fusion used a muscle sparing technique and I do have rods and screws to provide stability in the lumbar L4-S1. I am able to sit for several hours and can walk well. I hope this helps a bit??
Phylly

[linda]

Good question about the meds. I have to drive 40 minutes to get my script for oxycodone IR and I was having to take off work early every two weeks. At my last appt. after much persistance My doc gave me a month supply (240 5 mg). So maybe you could ask about this. Also my friend who is in the pain clinic at Duke gets 2 scripts written but on the second one it will say fill after the 9th (of the the next month). Maybe if your operation goes well you won't need pain meds for months!!! It sounds like you have found a great place to have your surgery. However It would be great if you could just have it in Wilmington. Only you can decide which Dr. is the best.
Linda