L5-S1 PLIF on 7/15/11

**med** · 07-26-2011, 05:07 PM

I had L5-S1 PLIF on 7/15/11 and am having moderate bleeding from surgical site for the last 5 days but it is slowing down slowly. Also is it normal to have this much pain? And are the European doctors better at these surgeries, I believed that I had a very good US doctor.

**Justin** · 07-26-2011, 06:37 PM

Originally Posted by med

I had L5-S1 PLIF on 7/15/11 and am having moderate bleeding from surgical site for the last 5 days but it is slowing down slowly. Also is it normal to have this much pain? And are the European doctors better at these surgeries, I believed that I had a very good US doctor.

Hi med,

Welcome to the Spine Patient Society.

It is normal to have a significant amount of pain post-invasive spine surgery. What is your pain like currently?

Spinal fusion is pretty much the same wherever you go. Yes, some surgeons are more talented than others. However, for the majority of spine surgeons are very well versed in spinal fusion.

Now, you are in the recovery phase--the most important phase in my opinion. Many Spine Patients try to "speed up recovery" and end up hurting themselves and jeopardizing their recover forever. Just remember to take things slow, listen to your surgeon regarding activities post-op and if you think you can lift something because it's "not too heavy," don't!

Keep us posted on your progress and I wish you the very best.

**med** · 07-26-2011, 07:50 PM

Thank you for responding to my questions. Currently my back pain is a 7-8 but i have very severe right hip pain which is a 10 and is unbearable, fortunately it only lasts 5-10 seconds an episode. I have had the hip pain many times in the past since I injured my back but not this severe. I was wondering about the european doctors because I see a lot of other people mention them.

**Katie** · 07-27-2011, 11:07 PM

Many of us have had out of country surgeries, usually with great success, but not always. I was one of the very lucky ones...my surgery went wonderfully. But there are also others here who have had great results with US surgeons, like KBear in Texas. It did take a while to be pain free...two years for her, and I'm just over one year, and almost there.

I do know from personal experience that the international surgeons seem to be more willing to discuss options with you, plus they have more to choose from because they are not limited by the FDA restrictions on devices.

More than anything, I think the successes and total number of surgeries that the surgeon has done is often one of the most important things. Someone who has done 100 or less can't touch the success of someone who is pushing 1000 surgeries or more. And the Europeans, etc. have just been doing it longer because ADR surgery has been used for almost twenty years there, unlike here.

I hope you will be feeling better soon. I found that my post-op pain was from muscle and ligament/soft tissue instead of the actual surgery site, if that makes sense. I've been getting therapy and stretching exercises from my wonderful chiropractor since my surgery a year ago, and am improving a lot. I really notice it when I don't go in for a few weeks

All the best...

**Pbchoclovr** · 07-27-2011, 11:47 PM

Hello,

I just had a TLIF fusion on the L4/5 a week or so after you. I had draining from my surgical site for about 5 days post surgery. Currently, my pain levels with meds are about a 4-5 when I'm up and about. Without meds, I don't even want to guess what it would be. Laying, I have almost no pain, unless I try to reposition myself or roll over. Sometimes when I go to stand up, I get a horrible pain and my back muscles almost don't kick in to support me. Then it goes away. Everyone heals at different paces. One of the directions/guidelines I was given about post surgery pain and contacting the surgeon was if the pain got worse and didn't go away with rest and meds, then to contact him.

Hope things improve for you.

Linda

**Katie** · 07-28-2011, 03:44 AM

When I had other abdominal surgery about eight years ago, I had discharge about a week to ten days after and it turned out to be infection. It might be a good idea, as ajj said, to speak to the doctor about it soon.

And as said also, I had discharge for a few days after my spine fusion last year, just for a few days. By the time I left hospital at eight days, the bandages were off and the area clean.

**med** · 08-03-2011, 07:26 PM

Hello again, I want to thank everyone who has helped me out w/ their replies. Should I be posting this thread in another area? Update: my back pain has decreased a bit as long as I do not twist or bend even a little bit. Although it still feels like my surgeon put a golf ball between my vertebrae. Also bleeding has stopped and incision looks good. I am going to see my PM Dr friday for an eval of my hip and he is going to order an MRI, I hope. Anyone else having any hip pain? I have had it since shortly after I injured my back intermittently, but it has never lasted this long w/ such severity. It is stopping me from being able to walk very much before becoming unbearable, which I really need to do to help in healing. I have to use a wheeled walker when I walk just in case my hip gives out. I could do much more walking w/o the hip pain. I would love to read any replies, really.

**Pbchoclovr** · 08-06-2011, 01:59 PM

Hi Med,

Glad to hear that things have improved with your incision site and that it's healing nicely.

I don't know that it feels like a golf ball in my vertebra at my site, but I most certainly feel something there. It's been 6 and 1/2 weeks since my surgery. I would definately talk with your surgeon at your next appointment about the pain in your hips and how you're feeling overall. Hopefully your MRI will show if anything is up. This may all be part of the healing process. If I overdo it, I get hip pain and even soreness in my legs, especially my knees. Mine seems to go away with rest and meds. The last week or so for me has produced sore knees to the point it hurts sometimes to walk. I just think it's added stress on them to not bend or twist my back. I find that if something is just out of reach and I don't have my grabber, I do a modified ballet move to pick it up. I'm almost positive that's the cause of my pain in my knees. I keep forgetting to get the grabber... I go for xrays next week and then my surgeon the following week. Hope things continue to improve for you.

Linda