Possible Fusion from T12 to Sacrum

[Carmen]

Hi Carmen,

Do you have your surgery date yet? I have been thinking of you. I thought I saw a date somewhere, under someone elses thread, but now can't find it. I think you need to start a new thread under surgeries/fusion, so all your information is mostly contained in one place. It will be so much easier to follow your progress, etc.

If you are a Mother, Happy Mother's Day! I will keep you in my prayers with your upcoming surgery Carmen. My very best to you.....Cindylou

Hi Cindylou,
I sent am email to Justin and I guess I thought he would have... I can do it. Thanks for the headsup. Carmen

[Carmen]

Hi KBear,
I am looking to have 5 to 6 level fusion. It will be from the T12 to the sacrum) How bad will it be? When will I start to feel better? I have to wear a brace for 3 month afterwards. I think I have the sheet for post-surgery as well as what to bring to the hospital. I have been on here for awhile. I have not been able to walk or stand. I hope this will be what is needed. I will be talking to you again.
carmen

UPDATED
Hi everyone,
Now that I was sent the General Informed Consent Form I will be updating the previous thread.

I will be having the XLIF Extreme Lateral Lumbar 2,3,4,5,interbody fusion. Four days later I will be having a posterior
laminectomy, Lumber 1,2,3,4. 5, to S1. I was told they could not do it in one day since a 12 hour surgery would be too long to be on anesthesia. I was told all the risks etc. If anyone has any recommendations beside jumping off of the nearest bridge, please sent a post. Thank you Carmen

[Greg]

UPDATED
Hi everyone,
Now that I was sent the General Informed Consent Form I will be updating the previous thread.

I will be having the XLIF Extreme Lateral Lumbar 2,3,4,5,interbody fusion. Four days later I will be having a posterior
laminectomy, Lumber 1,2,3,4. 5, to S1. I was told they could not do it in one day since a 12 hour surgery would be too long to be on anesthesia. I was told all the risks etc. If anyone has any recommendations beside jumping off of the nearest bridge, please sent a post. Thank you Carmen

Carmen,
I guess since you have the consent form then this surgery must be a done deal....as scary as it seems it's exciting to know you're getting it done

I'm just a little confused about the procedures they are doing on you. Are 2,3,4, &5 getting an XLIF AND a posterior laminectomy? And are they the lumbar vertebraes?

[Carmen]

Hi Greg,
Thank you for responding to my post. I guess the XLIF will be for inserting the cage. The laminectomy will be where they insert the screws and rods. That is how I understand it. I just talked to someone that had the doctor I was thinking of having and he had a 10 hour surgery. He said they had a hard time waking up. He also said, not to scare either one of us, but he is having a hard time with the pain. I told him to call his pain doctor to up the dosage on whatever he is taking. I am on oxycondin. The perscription was written for 3X a day. The pharmacist told me to take 2 a day. Since that did not do the job, I am following the doctor's orders which are on the bottle. The consent form describes the second operation as an instrumented fusion vs the XLIF. Did you get a chance to see the operation on line. Try going too to you tube and find podcast Lumbar Laminectomy and tTransforaminal Lumbar(TLIF) orlive.com, or you could google TLIF or PLIF. That will do it.

[Cindylou]

Good morning Carmen,

Got your PM as well.....thank-you. This is going to be a major surgery, no doubt about it. Or, 2 surgeries, I should say. Do you have any help lined up for when you discharge to home? You really will have to have some kind of help, for at least 2 weeks, imho. More would be better. I will keep you in my prayers. Which hospital are you using? I do recall with my 3 level lumbar artificial disc surgery in Germany, the first few days were real rough, pain wise. I just wanted to drive myself off a cliff, the pain was so stupid, bad. Try and see that you don't have that experience. If they can just get the pain managed, especially those first few days, that is HUGE. I don't want to scare you, by any means. I think you are already going into this surgery with your eyes wide open, but knowledge is power.

My best to you Carmen,

Cindylou

[Carmen]

Hi KBear,
I am looking to have 5 to 6 level fusion. It will be from the T12 to the sacrum) How bad will it be? When will I start to feel better? I have to wear a brace for 3 month afterwards. I think I have the sheet for post-surgery as well as what to bring to the hospital. I have been on here for awhile. I have not been able to walk or stand. I hope this will be what is needed. I will be talking to you again.
carmen

There has been an update to this. The above message is obsolete. Were you talking to me about glad my husband is taking time off of work? (in my dreams) Anyway if you can't find the update I will send you a PM. I started a thread with it. I think it may be under Lumber Fusion or something similar. Carmen