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Reply With Quotehi jeanie, it's good to hear from you. what surgery are you having done?
alison x
This is a discussion on Lumbar Laminectomy & Fusion, 12/27/10 within the Surgical Outcomes forums, part of the Spine Surgery Forums category; I am having surgery 12-27-10. After 5 years of pain and varous treatments and drugs, I feel hopeful that something ...
Lumbar Laminectomy & Fusion, 12/27/10 I am having surgery 12-27-10. After 5 years of pain and varous treatments and drugs, I feel hopeful that something can be done that will allow me to have less pain and more mobility. I try not to complain to my friends and family--but you all understand the sadness and anxiety that I have been experiencing for the last 5 years! Thanks for being here.
jeanie
5 years of pain and problems walking
Difficulty getting a doctor to listen
Diagnosis: spondylosis and spondylolisthesis
Decision to have surgery to fuse L5/S1, 2 and 3
Surgery on 12-27-10
Doing well so far
jeanie
re: New Member says thank you (Upcoming Lumbar Laminectomy & Fusion, 12/27/10) hi jeanie, it's good to hear from you. what surgery are you having done?
alison x
Last edited by ajj1001; 11-15-2010 at 04:14 AM.
re: New Member says thank you (Upcoming Lumbar Laminectomy & Fusion, 12/27/10) Hi Jeanie,
I'm glad you are here, because there are some very caring people in the SPS. Good luck with your surgery in Dec.
I had L3-L5 and probably came out of it in some ways worse than when I went in. Each situation is different, and I hope your plan works for you. I had a fall in '04 and have been chronic pain patient in La Jolla since. I see you are from San Diego, or at least there for now. I live closeby in Carlsbad and native San Diegan, so look me up and we can compare war stories. Bye and good luck! Keith.
Hi, I'm Keith
Surgeries and Procedures:
- Post-laminectomy w/ DDD L2-S1
- Left side Facet L3-4, and L4-5 removed during surgery
- Severe lower back pain on left side, and left leg pain knee-foot.
- Jan. 2005: Left side Laminectomy L3- L5, Pedicle partially removed that was on nerve L3-4, L4-5
- 2007: Laser decompression of discs L3-L5
- 2005- Now: Epidural injections, nerve blocks, Radio Frequency ablations every 4 months L3-S1
- Feb. 2010: Stimulator trial failed to give relief.
re: New Member says thank you (Upcoming Lumbar Laminectomy & Fusion, 12/27/10) Hi Jeanie,Originally Posted by jeanie
I am having surgery 12-27-10. After 5 years of pain and varous treatments and drugs, I feel hopeful that something can be done that will allow me to have less pain and more mobility. I try not to complain to my friends and family--but you all understand the sadness and anxiety that I have been experiencing for the last 5 years! Thanks for being here.
Welcome to the Spine Patient Society.
It sounds like you have been through quite a lot with your spine.What type of surgery are you having on 12/27? I'm excited to read about your successful outcome--please keep us posted, and if you need anything, we are here to help.
Justin Averna
Founder & President, Spine Patient Society™
www.SpinePatientSociety.org
A 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Nonprofit & Charitable Organization
I'm here to help.
- 1994: Football Injury, Severe Hyperextension
- 1997: Snow Skiing Injury
- 3/7/1997: Laminotomy L4/L5
- 1999 & 2003: Motor Vehicle Accidents (not at fault both times) --> Grade V Annular Tears L4/L5 & L5/L6
- 11/15/2003: 2-Level ProDisc® L4/L5 & L5/L6*, *lumbosacral transitional vertebra --> Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli
- 4/2008: 4.5 years pain-free before "new" leg pain
- 5/14/2009: Dynamic Stabilization System L4/L5, Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli
Questions? Suggestions? Need help with registering, creating a signature, etc.?
justin (at) spinepatientsociety.org
Disclosure: I have no financial relationships with any surgeons, spine clinics, device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, etc. -- the SPS Board of Directors serve without compensation.
re: New Member says thank you (Upcoming Lumbar Laminectomy & Fusion, 12/27/10) to the forum!
31 years old- 1/06- In wreck with 18 wheeler at 25 years old; 6/06- Head on collision on Interstate, both wrecks other drivers fault. Numerous MRI's, PT, chiropractic, acupuncture, TENS therapy, massage therapy, facet injections, epidural injections, Nerve study, Discogram, confirms pain in L4/5, IDET, decompression, Bi-lateral neurotomy L3/4/5, denied by insurance twice, in Active L clinical trial, had surgery March 17, 2009 in Miami, FL- received Active L disc at 29 years old. Pain and medication free as of October 2010!Mommy to Emma- 8 years, Ava- 6 years & had baby Eli after ADR, via c-section on March 25, 2011, completely pain free still!
re: New Member says thank you (Upcoming Lumbar Laminectomy & Fusion, 12/27/10) Welcome Jeanie,Look forward to hearing about your surgery type and generally getting to know you better. Cindylou
• January 2000 MVA passenger, used jaws of life to retrieve me, neck injury and months of PT
• June 2001 Bicycle accident, 2 compression fractures at T12/L1, Vertebroplasty Sept. 2001
• April 2006 right hip, labral tear and repair
• April 2007 3 level ProDisc @ L3/4, L4/5 & L5/6✷ ✷Lumbosacral transitional vertebra; Dr. Rudolph Bertagnoli
• July 2, 2008 ALIF & Laminectomy @ L6/S1
• July 30, 2008 re-opened 28 days later to remove bone cement that had leaked onto S1 nerve root
• August 2008 Pulmonary embolism, double pneumonia, collapsed left lung, re-hospitalized 1 week
• March 10, 2009 Right SI Joint Fusion
• April 27, 2010 2nd right hip arthroscopy to remove adhesions and release psoas muscle
• September 30, 2010 lumbar facet rhizotomy
• December 9, 2010 12 bilateral lumbar trigger point and steroid injections
• December 23, 2010 12 more bilateral trigger point injections w/o steroid
• February 15, 2011 ESI bilaterally in lower lumbar...relief only for few days. Considering 1 more.
Did Spinal Cord Stimulator trial from 5/11/11-5/17/11 with excellent results; Spinal Cord Stimulator surgery is Monday,
July 18, 2011
re: New Member says thank you (Upcoming Lumbar Laminectomy & Fusion, 12/27/10) I am having a laminectomy (I first wrote lemonectomy) and 3 fusions L5-S1, 2 and 3. 12-27-10 at Kaiser in San Diego. It took me 5 years to get to this place--both emotionally and through the medical system at Kaiser. Sometimes I take a step or two and it feels normal and I think I am getting better, then the pain and lameness sets in and I remember that I am working on acceptance. I take nortriptyline for the nerve pain and it makes me so sleepy, one of my friends thought I was depressed and nortrip is an anti-depressant, but it make my affect flat. Ugh.
Already I learned a lot of tips from this site to prepare for the hospitalization (4days) , and the recuperation. I hope I can get better quickly as I am self-employed. I have lots of support and a wonderful husband. All suggestions are gratefully appreciated.
I am delighted to met you all and have you to talk to--I don't want to complain to my family about my pain or that would be all I talk about!
jeanie
5 years of pain and problems walking
Difficulty getting a doctor to listen
Diagnosis: spondylosis and spondylolisthesis
Decision to have surgery to fuse L5/S1, 2 and 3
Surgery on 12-27-10
Doing well so far
re: New Member says thank you (Upcoming Lumbar Laminectomy & Fusion, 12/27/10) Lemonectomy sounds so much nicer! Is that one fusion lower down and two together higher up? Are you having a posterior approach?
Doing your preparation now will really help your recovery period as post fusion you are pretty limited what you are allowed to do.
Alison 46 year old female
2012 Doing Rehab
2011 Sept 3rd Op Removal of old instrumentation and PLIF L4/L5 - L5/S1 both adr in situ
2010 May Discogram on L2/L3 & L3/L4
2009 May 2nd Op Failed revision fusion on L5/S1 with Charite ADR in situ
2008 Caudal epidural exacerbated nerve symptoms. Prolapse L2/L3
2007 L5/S1 Facet deterioration
2002 March 1st Op ADR Charite - L4/5, L5/S1
2000 Disc prolapses L4/5, L5/S1
re: New Member says thank you (Upcoming Lumbar Laminectomy & Fusion, 12/27/10) Hi Jeanie! Welcome to the board
I'm glad that you are getting some great information and tips on this board. I'm still quite new here, but I am in LOVE with this placeEveryone here is so helpful and wonderful...this is definatley the place to be for support and a place to vent. I really hope your procedure gets rid of your pain and you are able to experience life again, pain-free! Wishing you the best of luck and keep us posted
Vanessa
~ Vanessa ~ Living my life one Dr. Visit at a time
- Work injury while working as a Veterinary Assistant 1998 - herniated lumbar discs @ L4, L5, thoracic L2, L3
- PT, LSI, Tens Unit from 1998 - 2009
- 6/2010 severe leg pain down right leg
Lyrica, Neurontin, Cymbalta, Morphine etc.
- MRI - DDD multiple levels, nerve root narrowing @ L4, L5
- 9/8/2010 Laminotomy & Discectomy @ L4, L5-S1
- 11/3/2010 Repeat MRI shows collapse of L4, L5 (continued nerve pain)
Any advice Any advice to get ready for the operation and recovery would be appreciated. This is a silly question, but do I bring my own things to wear in the hospital for 4 days? Like a nightgown or robe? I figure I need big elastic waist pants. Can you pull t-shirts over your head, or do I need button down shirts? At home, a raised toilet seat w arms? A grabber. The only hospital stay I have had was a c-section at age 40 to have our son--and I have no memory of what I wore or did, but I remember I got a purple sleeper for him.
jeanie
5 years of pain and problems walking
Difficulty getting a doctor to listen
Diagnosis: spondylosis and spondylolisthesis
Decision to have surgery to fuse L5/S1, 2 and 3
Surgery on 12-27-10
Doing well so far
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