[Spinal Fusion / Lumbar] Recent XLIF at L3/L4 after failure of previous fusion

[juanky94]

Hello I am juanky94.

I had spinal fusion at L5-S-1 over 30 years ago, it is ok. In 3/2008 I had a laminectomi performed at L-3L4 level with 4 metal screws and plates installed for stability. In 2010 I started having LBP again, went back to my surgeon who found a a broken screw and no fusion at all. I wonder how he didn't notice no bone growth in the post operative and visits/xrays. He said he couldnt do anything else for me and gave referals for orthopedic specialists. Last 12/2010 I had surgery performed for pseudoarthrosis at L-3L4 level. Had an XLIF performed with 2 screws and plate that level. I have visited the new surgeon 2 times postop. because my LBP doesn't go away, have pain in my left hip an a weak left leg. He says everything is ok in place. Sent me back to work but I can't , pain is there all the time. Ican't seat too long, walk too long, drive too long. He says it is a matter of time. Can anybody help?

[Justin]

Hello I am juanky94.

Last 12/2010 I had surgery performed for pseudoarthrosis at L-3L4 level. Had an XLIF performed with 2 screws and plate that level. I have visited the new surgeon 2 times postop. because my LBP doesn't go away, have pain in my left hip an a weak left leg. He says everything is ok in place. Sent me back to work but I can't , pain is there all the time. Ican't seat too long, walk too long, drive too long. He says it is a matter of time. Can anybody help?

Hi juanky94,

Welcome to the Spine Patient Society.

Well, you have had quite the spinal history. I'm so sorry to read everything you have been through. In terms of your recent XLIF at L3/L4 in December 2010, you are still VERY early post-op. You might also experience new pain post-op that you have never had before; this can all be normal during the recovery process. Placement usually looks great after most fusions. The part that really takes time to heal is the irritation of nerves and surrounding muscles--your body just went through a traumatic experience that it wasn't ready for (even if you were "mentally prepared").

If you have a look in the Surgical Outcomes Forum, you will see that most people take a few months (even around the 6 month mark) to really start turning the corner in terms of recovery. Click here --> Surgical Outcomes. Also, you can try a search for "XLIF" or "extreme lateral interbody fusion" in the upper-righthand corner of the Forum.

Once again, welcome.

[KBear]

You are definitely very early post op. I had increased pain for months after my surgery, so would definitely expect someone less than 2 months out to still have pain. That said, seems like surgeons are all about telling people they will be healed in 6 weeks and so we expect that. If you don't have a pain management doctor, who just handles your medication and such, then I would find one. A good one is priceless. They are a lot more realistic about what it takes to be 100% after surgery and are also able to give you the right combination of medication to help you be in the least pain, with the least side effects. Good Luck,
Kathy

[Cindylou]

juanky94, welcome! I do agree with Justin on your surgery still being "so new." I hope you can take some comfort in that.....healing will come, in fits and starts. Please try to be patient (not my strong suite, myself) and give your body the proper time to heal. Those nerves especially, as Justin already addressed, are angry and slow to heal, after a surgery such as yours. I wish you only the best in your recovery and look forward to hearing more from you as you continue on your journey of healing. Cindylou

[juanky94]

KBear as you said doctors tell you in 6 weeks one should be ok, thats what I was told!!! I am in the process of finding a pain management specialist.

Thank you all as now I know I can expect 6 month+ of recovery and that there is not anything wrong with my healing process or surgery. I was (or are?) very anxious because of my previously failed surgery. I will keep in touch.

[Justin]

KBear as you said doctors tell you in 6 weeks one should be ok, thats what I was told!!! I am in the process of finding a pain management specialist.

Thank you all as now I know I can expect 6 month+ of recovery and that there is not anything wrong with my healing process or surgery. I was (or are?) very anxious because of my previously failed surgery. I will keep in touch.

I'm glad that we (KBear, in particular) helped ease your mind. Recovery takes time and there is not a set rhyme or reason--everyone is unique and heals a little differently.

Please get us updated on how you are progressing.

[juanky94]

Hello Kbear, I see you are in Denton, Texas. This is a coincidence, tomorrow I will be arriving in Denton, Texas to a pain management clinic called PREMIER Pain Clinic. I have been told they are very good.

[KBear]

Hello Kbear, I see you are in Denton, Texas. This is a coincidence, tomorrow I will be arriving in Denton, Texas to a pain management clinic called PREMIER Pain Clinic. I have been told they are very good.

I went to Dr. Garcia at Premier Pain Clinic from about 6 months after my injury to about the 18 month mark. He also treated my husband for a herniated disc around the same time (which involved getting 2 epidural injections about 6 months apart and hubby has been fine since.) For me, he had me do the usual stuff ie. physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic, facet injections, epidural injections, rhizotomy and then Idet. None of it worked for me, but that's just the nature of spine issues, some of us fail conservative therapy. I really liked him as a person, very friendly and really seemed to care. He was anti surgery for me and when I saw him later after leaving his care and told him I had ADR and felt great he told me that was still just a fusion (not sure what that is supposed to mean.) Anyhow, I think he is good with the basic patients, but once you start needing surgery and such, it's best to see someone else, in my opinion (if hubby ever needs another injection, I would have no problem sending him back to Dr. Garcia.)

I didn't realize he did just pain management, as it was always another treatment for me and after the failed Idet he acted as if I should be better and just didn't know why I was still in pain. Part of my diagnosis was DDD after Idet (as in the Idet killed my disc and accelerated the degeneration.) It was about 9 months after the failed Idet that I switched to another doctor, trying to find something new. I ended up going to a place in Southlake that was supposed to be wonderful, but turned into more of the same, did that for another year and then found Texas Back Institute. That is where I finally got a good diagnosis and a solution.

Now Dr. Garcia's wife (think her name is Mary?), who is also the nurse that checks vitals and all she is less than pleasant (that's putting it mildly.) I couldn't stand that woman, she would be so rude to me and is a know it all. Funny thing- I have major issues with sedation, they have a horrid time trying to get me knocked out. Well, usually when you have a procedure you may be 'awake' but you won't remember anything that was said or done. Not the case with me, since it takes a lot to medicate me. So I remember before my Idet, which I had done at his office, the nurses (his wife wasn't in the procedure room) talking about his wife and how awful she was. I'm assuming that they thought that I wouldn't remember it or even be coherent of what they were saying. After that, I realized I wasn't crazy in thinking that she was mean, that even others in the office felt that way.

I was seeing a pain management doctor at Texas Back Institute in Denton and was very happy with him. Now that I'm pain free, I don't have to see him anymore either. Hopefully, other than follow up surgical appointments, I'm done with spine doctors.

[Fried-spine]

Hi juanky94, I too had a XLIF surgery in December of 2009. I have just been diagnoised with severe nerve damage, a piece of disk that the previous doctor that performed the XLIF surgery left behind is causing havoc and no one every told me.

Besides that information I was also informed by another doctor that XLIF isn't a good way to approach the spine. My new doctor that's trying to help me out of the awful situation I'm in said he was trained in XLIF surgery but would never perform it on any of his patient's because there is no way to perform it without nerve damage. I hope that isn't your case but I know the awful pain you're in and 2 plus years later I'm still unable to sit for any length of time at all.

I can't believe after 2 months your doctor released you back to work. Don't know what you do for a living but I can tell you that even if it's sednatary you need more time. Please take time to find another doctor to help you so that you can try to heal from this very invasive surgery they tell us is "LESS INVASIVE"

Wish you well and hope your outcome will be better than mine!

[LC39B]

Hi Jaunky. I am sorry You are going through so much and without what I would think is good explanatory answers. I am curious how they are addressing the "no fusion", my neurosurgeon told me I am not fusing and that Something needs to be done because after about 6 to 9 months the screws and rods will start to fail because they are not intended to be replacements for our God givenm bones but braces while they heal. He is sending Me to Shands teaching hospital for bone biopsies. With this, if I understood everything, it makes me wonder how You are going back to work and not addressing the fusion?