starrfish
04-12-2006, 10:43 AM
Hello! It has been a long time since I last posted. It seems like life just keeps hitting me with all these health and family problems.
Anyways, I thought I would give a short update and see how you all did post fusion. I FINALLY had a 2 level fusion back on Dec. 14th. I had gone through all the "conservative" treatments, even rhizotomy, and had 2 discograms. When I woke up, I thought a grenade had gone off in my back! (not to scare those who are gonna have one...I had been on methadone for over a year and had a cross tolerance) My entire body hurt. My neck hurt and arms hurt really bad, but I have DDD there too and a ruptured disc. Since they have you face down, I guess that might have irritated it? The nurse said all the nurves in my lower back had been irritated by the surgery and that was why my lower half was hurting so bad.
They finally got the pain down about 1 1/2 hours into recovery. I was definitely questioning my decision to have the surgery. I was told the fusion went over another 2 or so hours b/c my spine was "very very tiny". I guess they had to search the hospital for "parts that would fit" as I was told. Kinda weird.
I finally got to my room 5 hours after the surgery was done. The first night, my blood pressure was very low and my hemoglobin dropped to an 8. I was lucky and the doc decided not to give me a blood transfusion since I am so young (32). After the pain was under control, I was amazed. They had me up withing 8 hours walking to the gurney to go down to CT. And after that it just got better and better! I was up and walking (slowly) without any help the next morn. They never even sent PT up! Each day I rapidly got better and more mobile. The nurses were great, especially the night nurse...she kept me laughing. (I did not have many visitors b/c my whole family had caught some flubug that had them dealing with both ends, if you know what I mean. The docs were afraid I would catch it and that would have been horrible for my back). I did have this day nurse that insisted on making me drink HOT prune juice for the constipation. Talk about disgusting! I poured the first batch out and told her I could not do it. So, she brought me a fresh one. How sweet. It never did work.
So, I have been doing well. My surgeon did a great job...the incision is very thin...long, but thin. I continued to get better to the point I almost had no pain (but I was still on methadone). They were able to lower my meds from 3 to 2 a day. But now I am at a standstill. I went threw pt, but now I am wondering. My pain doc seemed annoyed that I went ahead with the surgery. He asked me if I was still in pain, and when I said yes...he said..see, it was not a success. We could have obliterated the nerves. But, my pain has decreased by about 60%. I call that a success.
Only, lately, I am finding myself in more pain. I had L4-5 & L5-S1 fused, but L3-4 also is degenerated and bulging, but it was not positive on the last discogram. I was told that it could be like a domino effect....the disc above the fusion would wear out and need surgery and so on. He did say the disc could last as little as a year...or it could hold out for up to 10. I am wondering if it is already going.
Don'nt get me wrong. I am so glad I had it done. At least now I am able to do more, get out more and play with my daughter more. I am just getting discouraged that I am doomed to a life of surgeries and pain. That I will never get off this methadone. Not to mention that my neck/arms have been hurting quite a bit and now my pain doc wants to start injections and rhizotomy there. *sigh*
Is there any hope that I can get away from these meds and treatments/surgery?????
Thanks for listening!
Anyways, I thought I would give a short update and see how you all did post fusion. I FINALLY had a 2 level fusion back on Dec. 14th. I had gone through all the "conservative" treatments, even rhizotomy, and had 2 discograms. When I woke up, I thought a grenade had gone off in my back! (not to scare those who are gonna have one...I had been on methadone for over a year and had a cross tolerance) My entire body hurt. My neck hurt and arms hurt really bad, but I have DDD there too and a ruptured disc. Since they have you face down, I guess that might have irritated it? The nurse said all the nurves in my lower back had been irritated by the surgery and that was why my lower half was hurting so bad.
They finally got the pain down about 1 1/2 hours into recovery. I was definitely questioning my decision to have the surgery. I was told the fusion went over another 2 or so hours b/c my spine was "very very tiny". I guess they had to search the hospital for "parts that would fit" as I was told. Kinda weird.
I finally got to my room 5 hours after the surgery was done. The first night, my blood pressure was very low and my hemoglobin dropped to an 8. I was lucky and the doc decided not to give me a blood transfusion since I am so young (32). After the pain was under control, I was amazed. They had me up withing 8 hours walking to the gurney to go down to CT. And after that it just got better and better! I was up and walking (slowly) without any help the next morn. They never even sent PT up! Each day I rapidly got better and more mobile. The nurses were great, especially the night nurse...she kept me laughing. (I did not have many visitors b/c my whole family had caught some flubug that had them dealing with both ends, if you know what I mean. The docs were afraid I would catch it and that would have been horrible for my back). I did have this day nurse that insisted on making me drink HOT prune juice for the constipation. Talk about disgusting! I poured the first batch out and told her I could not do it. So, she brought me a fresh one. How sweet. It never did work.
So, I have been doing well. My surgeon did a great job...the incision is very thin...long, but thin. I continued to get better to the point I almost had no pain (but I was still on methadone). They were able to lower my meds from 3 to 2 a day. But now I am at a standstill. I went threw pt, but now I am wondering. My pain doc seemed annoyed that I went ahead with the surgery. He asked me if I was still in pain, and when I said yes...he said..see, it was not a success. We could have obliterated the nerves. But, my pain has decreased by about 60%. I call that a success.
Only, lately, I am finding myself in more pain. I had L4-5 & L5-S1 fused, but L3-4 also is degenerated and bulging, but it was not positive on the last discogram. I was told that it could be like a domino effect....the disc above the fusion would wear out and need surgery and so on. He did say the disc could last as little as a year...or it could hold out for up to 10. I am wondering if it is already going.
Don'nt get me wrong. I am so glad I had it done. At least now I am able to do more, get out more and play with my daughter more. I am just getting discouraged that I am doomed to a life of surgeries and pain. That I will never get off this methadone. Not to mention that my neck/arms have been hurting quite a bit and now my pain doc wants to start injections and rhizotomy there. *sigh*
Is there any hope that I can get away from these meds and treatments/surgery?????
Thanks for listening!