Spinal Fusion date set...

[Carmen]

Hi everyone,
It has been suggested that I start a new thread for this so you don't have to go around searching for it.

This is what my mylogram had to say:

*_A_* Multilevel degenerative change

. *_B_* Complete obliteration of the L5 to S1 disk

. *_C_* L4 and L5 there is a pronounced rotatory subluxation component

. *_D_* Rotoscoliosis of the lumber spine with marked multilevel degenerate change

. *_E_* Central canal is most compromised at L2 to L3 due to disk herniation

. *_F_* Multiple levels of lateralizing degenerative change resulting in neural foraminal narrowing.

During my research I have had many opinions from various doctors. They all have said been pretty much the same.
They could not do it all minimally invasive. They will do the first one XLIF. Because the operaion would be
between 10-12 hours with positioning, they had to break it up. The nurse told me that it is not a good idea to keep a patient
under anesthesia for that long of a time. Another member emailed me and said he was under for 10 hours and they had
a hard time waking him up. The problem with the surgeries' was that since I already made this appointment awhile back
before I knew there were going to be two, I will have to be there over the week-end. The doctor only has operating room
hours on Monday and Wednesday.

Part 1 will be on Wednesday June 23, and Part 2 will be on the following Monday, June 28th. I will get to leave probably
3 days later,depending how on how well I am doing. This is a rather long hospital stay. I would prefer to go to a rehab center
after that but the doctor does not think it will be needed. He also does not think I will be needing a stiff brace. Do you think this doctor is over-confident? He is from Rush Hospital in Chicago. It is a teaching hospital and well respected. The doctor has
reported that he has completed over 50 XLIF's. He has been a doctor for 31 years so says his bio.
I would like to thank Jack and Cindy-

[Greg]

WOW! I knew you had to have some serious conditions given the fact that they are working on T12-Sacrum but thats some serious work. I will definitely pray for you. You said they are going to break it up into 2 surgeries. Are they still going to be fusing all 6 levels?

[Carmen]

WOW! I knew you had to have some serious conditions given the fact that they are working on T12-Sacrum but thats some serious work. I will definitely pray for you. You said they are going to break it up into 2 surgeries. Are they still going to be fusing all 6 levels?

Hi Greg,
You see why I was so anxious to hear about your surgery and what they were going to do. They are doing the posterior for extra stabalization and support. They will need to augment the fusion by placing screws and rods into the vertebrae
to hold them together. The XLIF will be a piece of cake compared to the other. The doctor indicated that I will not have to wear a brace after the two surgeries. I will wear one after the first one so I don't injure anything before the second one.
I don't think this doctor will be doing T12 to the sacrum. He will be doing approx. 6 levels. I taped everything that was said. Well any new information that comes my way I will pass it on. Please keep in touch regarding your surgery. Thanks for your prayers. Carmen

[Greg]

Hi Greg,
You see why I was so anxious to hear about your surgery and what they were going to do. They are doing the posterior for extra stabalization and support. They will need to augment the fusion by placing screws and rods into the vertebrae
to hold them together. The XLIF will be a piece of cake compared to the other. The doctor indicated that I will not have to wear a brace after the two surgeries. I will wear one after the first one so I don't injure anything before the second one.
I don't think this doctor will be doing T12 to the sacrum. He will be doing approx. 6 levels. I taped everything that was said. Well any new information that comes my way I will pass it on. Please keep in touch regarding your surgery. Thanks for your prayers. Carmen

I completely understand now. Of course I'm not a doctor but I'm only having 2 levels fused (L4-S1) and they said I am going to have to wear the brace for 2-3 months so I dont understand why you wouldnt need one for 6 levels....although they are doing mine from the front (anterior) and the screws and rods are placed in the back. If they went through the front they wouldnt be able to place the screws and rods in without going into the back. Maybe thats why I have to wear a brace and you dont....since you have the screws and rods you dont need the brace. MAYBE THOUGH.....this is just my brain trying to make a conclusion

That is a great idea to tape everything the doctor said I will definitely have to do that when I go up for the pre-ops....IT JUST MAKES SENSE! I only have 3 weeks left and they havent scheduled my pre-op appointments or even given me a time of the surgery. That kinda worries me and makes me wonder if my surgery date is even locked in Now they said the pre-ops couldnt be done any sooner than a week before surgery and since I'm 3 hours away and have to take time off work for appointments, they would try to fulfill my request to have all 3 pre-op appointments on one day to minimize travel time and time off work. Maybe thats why I havent heard back and should quit convincing myself that somethings wrong

I've just had too many years of let-downs and goof ups and everything going wrong to believe this is actually happening.

Sorry....didnt mean to steal your thread to talk about my issues Keep us posted on your progress as I'm anxious to hear how you are doing!

[Cindylou]

I don't want to steal Carmen's thread, but I did want to just offer to you Greg that most of the time patients are required to make their own pre-op appointment with their own primary care physician, in case you hadn't heard. Now, that said, it could be your doc's office has a different plan in place, but if I were you, I would call them first thing tomorrow to get confirmation as to who is making your pre-op appt. My best regards to you. Cindylou

[Katie]

I'm so glad you have a date Carmen! Once I had one, a sense of relief set in, and probably subconsciously I started to get more nervous, but I don't remember feeling that. I am usually able to ignore things like that until the day before...like an ostrich

I am surprised that the surgeon doesn't think you'll need a brace. I don't have any extra support in the way of rods and screws, but I think even if I did, I would like the feeling that the brace gives me. It also reminds me to not do something foolish, like bend over too much. Mine is somewhat firm but still quite elastic with long 'boning' in the back, both longer and more comfortable than one I had previously.

Have you had a look at the list of post-op 'should have' items on another thread? The one I wish I had gotten sooner is the long 'grabber' stick for picking things off the floor, etc.

Good luck with this...the time will fly by.

[Greg]

I don't want to steal Carmen's thread, but I did want to just offer to you Greg that most of the time patients are required to make their own pre-op appointment with their own primary care physician, in case you hadn't heard. Now, that said, it could be your doc's office has a different plan in place, but if I were you, I would call them first thing tomorrow to get confirmation as to who is making your pre-op appt. My best regards to you. Cindylou

Thanks Cindy, ironically my surgery date changed today to June 18th when I called...I dont want to keep stealing Carmen's thread so I'll post more about this on mine.

I'm so glad you have a date Carmen! Once I had one, a sense of relief set in, and probably subconsciously I started to get more nervous, but I don't remember feeling that. I am usually able to ignore things like that until the day before...like an ostrich

I am surprised that the surgeon doesn't think you'll need a brace. I don't have any extra support in the way of rods and screws, but I think even if I did, I would like the feeling that the brace gives me. It also reminds me to not do something foolish, like bend over too much. Mine is somewhat firm but still quite elastic with long 'boning' in the back, both longer and more comfortable than one I had previously.

Have you had a look at the list of post-op 'should have' items on another thread? The one I wish I had gotten sooner is the long 'grabber' stick for picking things off the floor, etc.

Good luck with this...the time will fly by.

I couldnt have said that better myself. When I had my shoulder surgery I was put in what I called my "Bionic Arm Brace" that immobalized my shoulder by strapping the arm brace to my stomach to prevent any movement. I hated wearing it but I really believe the best thing that came out of wearing the brace was it reminded me that I need to take it easy and limit my activites. Plus when people saw the brace on me they knew to use caution around me and be careful not to slap me on the shoulder or bump into me. The brace was a good reminder (not to mention it ensured I healed correctly) to me and others of my limitations and to be careful.

And when it comes down to making your body do an unnatural thing like fusing bones together it would seem to me that immobilizing you in a brace to prevent movement would be a great thing! Hope everything works out for you Carmen....your still in my nightly prayers!

[Carmen]

I don't want to steal Carmen's thread, but I did want to just offer to you Greg that most of the time patients are required to make their own pre-op appointment with their own primary care physician, in case you hadn't heard. Now, that said, it could be your doc's office has a different plan in place, but if I were you, I would call them first thing tomorrow to get confirmation as to who is making your pre-op appt. My best regards to you. Cindylou

HI Cindylou,
I was looking for you and am glad I found you. I hope Greg reads this too. Of course his surgery is right around the corner and I can see why he is concerned. I would definately call them up and ask them who is suppose to make the appointment? CL you are such a wonderful human being. You are always helping someone and you do it in such a nice way. I have to thank Ron for what he did and it is so funny since I saw his doctor on 50 of the Best Spine Doctor's by Becker's review and I was going to email him with that news when he emailed me. How is your hip doing? Going to bed after I do some work on this poor overworked laptop. Talk to you later, Carmen

[Greg]

HI Cindylou,
I was looking for you and am glad I found you. I hope Greg reads this too. Of course his surgery is right around the corner and I can see why he is concerned. I would definately call them up and ask them who is suppose to make the appointment? CL you are such a wonderful human being. You are always helping someone and you do it in such a nice way. I have to thank Ron for what he did and it is so funny since I saw his doctor on 50 of the Best Spine Doctor's by Becker's review and I was going to email him with that news when he emailed me. How is your hip doing? Going to bed after I do some work on this poor overworked laptop. Talk to you later, Carmen

Thats funny you say that because I left them a message on Friday about this because it was time to follow up....the plan we set a month ago was for the surgery scheduler to coordinate all my pre-op appointments since I'm 3 hours ay and wanted them to do them all at once. Well.....when they called me back this morning they moved the surgery from 5-28 to 6-18 so I'm glad the appts weren't made because they nee to be in June now.

CL, like SOOOOOO many others in this group are extremely WONDERFUL people who I share my heart with. And I can tell that you seem to fit right in Carmen. You make an excellent addition to the group of selfless caring people. Welcome again an I'll be sure to explain more about the new date and why in the correct thread

I swear I am so sorry your thread keeps getting used for off-topic discussions. This has never happeed so bad to me before.

[Gilbert P]

Hi Carmen and the Gang

I am glad you are moving forward with all those levels.

I just heard from the TBI cannot do ADR too many levels

I will also may be looking at a four level fusion

I WILL PRAY FOR U

Keep us posted

All The Best

Gil