2tall4u
09-15-2005, 06:59 PM
Help! I had a two level 360' lumbar fusion L3/4, L4/5 on 8/9/05. Things have been ok until about a week ago. I noticed a lump underneath the top of my incision. It feels hard like my spine, only it's bigger. I had my mom feel it a week ago, and then today she felt it again and said it felt bigger. Do you think it's inflammation, hardware poking (god forbid!), or what. I have a 6 week check up next Wednesday. Has anyone had this happen? Am I worrying needlessly? I do not want another surgery on my back and am hoping I'm just paranoid :eek:
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2tall4u
09-16-2005, 09:31 AM
any ideas?
shawley
09-16-2005, 09:49 AM
I had a softball size lump over my incision , Still do. But Its not like bone ..I would call and talk to your nurse . Just to be safe . Good luck,, And dont bend, twist,or lift anything for a while.
Quietcook
09-16-2005, 11:54 AM
2tall,
I've had 8 spine surgeries, 4 were fusions. In the last fusion of 10 levels, I too had what I considered knots in the thoracic area, which concerned me. They didn't hurt when touched, but I knew they were there and my mother could feel and see them. I worried at first that the screws might not be in all the way or could they be working out even though I was very stable. My spine specialist explained to me that in the areas where I don't have extra padding, I will feel the hardware some, but the films showed all was secure. Also, following sugery, where all the muscles, etc are tramatized, things are a bit swollen and it would receed in time. In the months since (my surgery was 9 months ago) I don't notice them now.
Still, you should talk with your surgeon about your concerns. If you don't have an appointment soon, do as shawley suggested and phone his nurse and ask about it, but if you are having tenderness or any indication that it might be more than the long term needed for healing, don't wait. Call for an appointment because soreness, or fever on the spot is not something to ignore.
Best wishes and hope you will keep us updated.
I've had 8 spine surgeries, 4 were fusions. In the last fusion of 10 levels, I too had what I considered knots in the thoracic area, which concerned me. They didn't hurt when touched, but I knew they were there and my mother could feel and see them. I worried at first that the screws might not be in all the way or could they be working out even though I was very stable. My spine specialist explained to me that in the areas where I don't have extra padding, I will feel the hardware some, but the films showed all was secure. Also, following sugery, where all the muscles, etc are tramatized, things are a bit swollen and it would receed in time. In the months since (my surgery was 9 months ago) I don't notice them now.
Still, you should talk with your surgeon about your concerns. If you don't have an appointment soon, do as shawley suggested and phone his nurse and ask about it, but if you are having tenderness or any indication that it might be more than the long term needed for healing, don't wait. Call for an appointment because soreness, or fever on the spot is not something to ignore.
Best wishes and hope you will keep us updated.
melinda553
09-16-2005, 05:36 PM
Could it be scar tissue? I felt like I had lumps where my incision was and where they took the donor bone for a few months. The PT said to massage the area and now it is totally flat. Just a thought. Melinda