[Spinal Fusion / Lumbar] Fusion (ALIF) at L4-L5 and stabilization of existing fusion (PLIF) at L5-S1

[Wishful Runner]

Hello everyone,

I wish I had found a forum like this in 2006 when I had my L5-S1 fusion. It was a difficult recovery because I had a severe spinal fluid leak the day they took me out of intensive care. As soon as I was put into a regular room and was scheduled to go home the following day, a nurse made a mistake while emptying my drain and gave it too much suction. Within an hour I was in torturous head pain, body convulsing and rushed to x-ray because they thought something happened with the hardware. When my Doc arrived he immediately saw the problem because the drain was filled with clear fluid instead of blood. I then spent the next two days back in ICU inverted to keep what little spinal fluid I had left in my head to cushion my brain. I then had a very difficult time walking due to dizziness and it took months for the headache to completely subside.

I had experienced the spinal leaking problem in 1992 with the birth of my first child after a spinal tap and had to have a blood patch then but I hadn't even considered that when having the fusion. If my Doc had known I was prone to leaking, they would've patched everything while they still had me open but it was a "live and learn" thing. Now anytime they do anything that requires a hole in the spinal sac, they automatically do a patch.

Anyway, what was suppose to be a 3 day hospital stay turned into 8 days, but the surgery itself was a complete success. Pain free other than the surgery pain and the residual pain from the leak.

It's been just over four years and I've had a few problem but nothing major until now. About three or four months ago started having some sciatic type pain in the left buttock and down leg, then the right buttock and down that leg. Finally got bad enough to see Doc a few weeks ago. X-rays showed left SI Joint raised and right SI Joint lowered making them almost two inches out of whack! Physical therapy, although very painful at first, started doing the trick and there was some relief but not much. Back to Doc for follow-up yesterday and he feels the pain has to be coming from somewhere else because the SI Joints are back in place. The right leg pain is different now than it was prior to the therapy. The worst part is I can't sleep at night because as soon as I lay down, on either side, the legs start hurting, mostly the right one. Lastnight, it was horrific! The entire right leg from butt to toes was a mess. If I lay directly on my back, it's not so bad but I have a terrible time trying to sleep that way.

Anyway, had a bone scan yesterday and he gave me Toradol for pain and inflammation and a muscle relaxer if needed. I go back next Tuesday for bone scan results and suppose to bring a driver in case he wants to do more tests or injections of any kind. I'm a little worried because the location of the pain is similar to the pain I had prior to surgery. I'm hoping nothing has gone wrong with the fusion.

The thing I want to do most in my life is to become a runner. I spent my first 30 years abusing my body by smoking and drinking and not eating well. I stopped smoking in 2005 and became allergic to alcohol in 2006, go figure! So my only vice now is over-eating! I'm about 60 pounds overweight now. My goal with running is to be able to come home from work, put on my running clothes and my Zune and release all the tension of the day with a nice run. Then I would like to run a 5K and then a 10K and then a half-marathon! I don't think that's too much to ask since I'm only 40 and in very good health otherwise.

However, with this current problem, I can barely walk more than a mile without my leg starting pain and my lower back. Well, that's enough from me for now. Thanks for listening.

[Greg]

Welcome to the forum. Wow.....what a time you had in the hospital after your fusion. I sure hope that nurse spent a lot of time apologizing to you. I just had a L4-S1 ALIF 2 months ago but have been battling issues with my sacroilliac joints since I can remember. Here's a couple interesting facts for you. Females who have given birth (due to the relaxing of muscles and ligaments) are a lot more likely to have SI joint issues. Also, after someone has had a fusion at L5/S1 they are also more prone to SI joint issues. So needless to say if SI joints are your problem (which it sounds just like my SI joint issues) you are definitely more likely to have that than others. Its nice to see your doctor has recognized the SI joint issues as I have found that not all doctors want to believe SI joints can cause pain. Even if yours are back in alignment you can still have issues from them. Have you had a bilateral sacroilliac joint injection? I am still battling my SI joint pain as the doctors I have seen are stuck in the old days when they didnt believe SI joints can cause pain so its been tough to get treated. If you ever want to chat or talk I'd love to talk to you and share experiences and information about fusions or whatever but paticularly the SI joints....would love to get some advice from you!

[KBear]

Welcome to the forum; but sorry you are in such pain. I'm not much help on SI joints; but I do know there are a few people on here with SI joint pain.... Greg & Cindylou come to mind. There is another but I can not remember his name, he posts for his wife, anyone know who I'm talking about?
I'm sure more people will post soon,
Kathy

[Greg]

Welcome to the forum; but sorry you are in such pain. I'm not much help on SI joints; but I do know there are a few people on here with SI joint pain.... Greg & Cindylou come to mind. There is another but I can not remember his name, he posts for his wife, anyone know who I'm talking about?
I'm sure more people will post soon,
Kathy

"Ryan G" is the person you are thinking about Kathy and I believe he is posting for his wife Sarah who had a Sacroilliac Joint fusion, just like CindyLou. Here is a link to his thread about his wife Sarah's Sacroilliac Joint Fusion Operation.

Sacroiliac joint fusion operation

Hoping the best for you "Wishful Runner"

[lolenona]

Welcome Wishful Runner! Sorry to hear about your pain...hopefully with all the advances in spine surgery the last few years and hopefully more in the coming years, there will be a solution for you too. Isn't it amazing how easy it is to take the small things like walking and running for granted. I hope you get to meet your goals in the very near future. Take care

[Wishful Runner]

Thanks everyone.

The doc gave me Toradol for pain and inflammation and Zanaflex muscle relaxer to take until next Tuesday when I have an appointment. However, after I took them I wasn't in as much pain so lastnight I vacuumed the house because I hadn't for two weeks cause of pain, and then this morning I bent to put something in a dresser drawer and something went nuts in my lower back. I was stuck holding myself up on my dresser for about ten minutes til could finally put weight on legs. It eased up and I got myself to work but I was in alot of pain just sitting at my desk and very hard to get up and down. Then I got up to get something off my printer and it happened again, couldn't put any weight on legs. The baliff insisted I call my husband and he took me out in a wheelchair. My doc saw me immediately but xray showed my hardware was ok so he wanted an MRI but can't get me in til Monday morning. He really wants a Mylogram but is hesitant cause of the spinal leaking. He said that would be our last option.

So now I'm at home in my husbands recliner and he set up the computer on the lamp table so I could occupy my time. They put me in a different back brace than I've ever had before. It's much more convenient cause it's worn on the outside of clothing. So here I sit, wishing I was at work! I'm a court clerk and we are really busy right now.

The pain down my legs is actually a little better since getting the SI Joints back in place but something is definitely going on. This pain is very similar to when I loosed the hardware from running but xrays showed it wasn't anything like that so who knows!

Greg, I had to have injections once since having the fusion and it was SI pain then. Oh that's not true, I also had injections for the loosened hardware. So twice that I remember. I hope you find some relief soon for your SI pain. I know it can be very painful.

I forgot to mention in my signature that I have a bulging disc at C6-C7 that in the past has caused headaches for months on end but it hasn't bothered me for close to a year now.

[trkdoc714]

Wishful,

I hope this turns out to be something simple like a muscular issue. If not, you've found a great place for research, experience and advice. Welcome to the forum!

Bob

[Justin]

Hi Wishful Runner, welcome to the Spine Patient Society! Please let us know what you hear on Monday...I wish you the very best.

[Wishful Runner]

Found out today that L4 vertabrae has shifted and is pressing on the spinal cord. Put me in a better back brace and will be having surgery on Thursday morning. My L5-S1 fusion in 2006 was done from the back. This time they are going in from the front and reinforcing the L5-S1 fusion with a metal plate and screws. Removing the disc at L4-L5 and inserting cadavor bone filled plastic in it's place that gets held in with two screws.

Of course, as soon as the doctor left the room, I started bawling because I don't want to have another surgery. It's such a long recovery and people around you, mainly at work, just don't understand. It's not like having your gall bladder removed! You're not just "all better" within six weeks. My husband of 18 years was with me and he went over everything with me and my Doc. I would never want to see anyone else. Dr. Abernathie and his assistant Luis Visot at the Columbia Orthopaedic Group in Columbia, MO, are my doctors and they are wonderful. They did such a terrific job with me last time and their after care during the spinal fluid leak was terrific. I would recommend them to anyone. I know any surgery has it's risks and I hate that I have to do this, but I also know I'm in good hands.

Wish me luck!

[Metalneck07]

Wishful Runner - I'm so sorry to hear about your needed surgery. I know how hard it is to prepare yourself mentally for the challenge.(I'm facing my 3rd spine surgery in Sept.) The most important thing here is that they we're able to identify the problem and schedule you for surgery in a very quick manner. The sooner you can have this done the sooner you will be on the road to recovery. If you need anyone to talk to I would be more than happy to talk. I know how important it is to talk with others who understand what your going thru.Take care .You are in my prayers.
Caitlin aka Metalneck07