I'm scheduled for 2 level L4 - S1 the end of June and I figured out Friday what TLSO brace means. How many of you had to have a hard body brace and how difficult is it to deal with?

I had a 2 level L4-S1 fusion in Jan. 06 and had to wear the hard brace for 4 months. Just recently got it off. It is annoying at first but you get used to it and become some what dependent on it. When my dr. removed it I felt naked and then it takes some getting used to not wearing it. Hope this helped you at all.

Pooh - thanks for responding. Realistically, what will I need at home to help me so far as equipment goes? How difficult was it to get in / out of a car or drive? And, how long did you have to wait to do those things?

Was your fusion anterior or posterior? mine will be posterior.

I'm told I'll be in the hospital 5 to 7 days - I'm a single parent. My mom will be here while I'm in the hospital but how much physical help will I need when I get home? I've never paid anyone to clean for me - would it be a good idea to try to work that out - have someone do the laundry, etc, for a week or two after I get home?

I'm about a month from surgery and thinking I better getting the planning done now. Thanks for any help / suggestions you can give me (or anyone else too!). :-)

Hi there....just like pooh said the brace takes some getting used to, but once you do it will be okay. Every doctor is different on their instructions with the brace. I was told I only had to wear it when I left the house and I know others that had to wear it all the time except for showering. As far as having someone with you at home it would be a good idea for at least the first couple of weeks. You will probably be told to not twist or bend at all for a couple of months and driving as well. I would get a grabber to pick things off the floor so there is no bending involved, a portable table that can slide over the bed, LOTS of dvds, cassettes, etc......prepare meals ahead of time so they can just be heated up in the micro.....make sure things you will need are at a level where you are not bending or reaching.........My surgery was both anterior and posterior so I was in bed for a while once home, so if it weren't for my wife I would have been screwed.......oh yeah.....get a RAISED TOILET SEAT...I cannot stress this enough...lol......Everyone heals differently so I can only tell you how it was for me........Just take things one day at a time and listen to your doctor's instructions.....best of luck...

proboy74 - thanks so much for the info! I keep sitting in different spots thinking to myself - hmm, my knees will be higher than my hips in this chair so can't sit here! I am going to get the raised toilet seat - I didn't have one when I had my laminectomy but I also didn't have a brace.

I really appreciate the help I'm getting here. thank you. If you think of anything else - I'd sure like to hear it. My surgeon's office gave me a book with lists of stuff to prepare with as well - so I better start!

How long did it take to get your pain really under control - were you in decent shape when you left the hospital? I took percocet for (I think) two weeks after the laminectomy last year and then vicodin after that. I know everyone is different - but hoping I'm not hurting much more than the last time after surgery - although something tells me this will be much worse.

I was in the hospital 4 days and then the following two weeks were pretty horrible with respect to pain. They gave me percocet to take every 4 hours as needed and oxycontin to take twice a day so when they both kicked in I was in my own world for a little while......After a month or so I was pretty much off of the pain medication because I was feeling better and because I didn't want to get hooked on them.....My pain tolerance was pretty high at that point so another person might have stayed on the meds when I stopped......I was cleared by my surgeon for all activities within reason a couple of weeks ago so just think positive and remember that there are some lifestyle changes that have to be made after a surgery like this but you get used to it.........I could ramble on all day........oh yeah...when in the hospital ask for pain medication immediately when you start to feel any pain. Don't wait until it gets bad.....you might not be able to catch up for a while...

mk,
You might want to invest on a sock doner , you put your sock over it and all you do is insert your foot to put on a sock ,it comes handy let me tell you. Plus you have to plan on someone to wipe your butt , I could't reach mine , so my wife wiped me ,she wasn't happy either . lol...I had my laminectomy and fusion at the same time . I came home from the hospital on my 4th day , by choice. My next fusion ( last October ) I was in the hospital for 7 days . I wasn't in a hurry that time. The 2 1/2 hour ride was hell . Make sure you have pain meds for the ride,

Good luck

Geez, guess I better find me someone ! haha just kidding. And, you sure as heck know my kids aren't going to be wanting to do some of that stuff for me!

What about the hand held shower head? Is that a must? Seems that would come in handy.

Thanks for the info - it's all starting to sink in.

Hmmm.. I never thought of the hand held shower head. I guess if you want to clean your butt up with that it's a must..lol..I was thinking of inventing a butt wipe system for people who can't reach to clean themselves. It's still in the works.

well, definitely the sock thingy would come in handy and although I would prefer to be a bit more discreet about other, ahmm, problems - I surely do appreciate you bringing them to light (so to speak). !

Hey - it is what it is and I DID ask the question, didn't I?!

The table that will turn to go over my bed sounds good too - I have a laptop I can use in bed and wireless internet so that will probably have me working as soon as I'm able to make sounds decisions without the cloud of narcotics. I could probably do some damage to the business making decisions too soon after I get home, I suppose! I'm really trying to maintain a positive attitude about this even though I'm nervous.

With the last surgery I was in lots of pain, but I can honestly say the thing that bothered me the most was after I was in my room, out of recovery, I felt like I couldn't get a good breath - and I'm told it was from having the tube down my throat during surgery. This surgery will be longer than the last by 3 or 4 hours so the surgeon told me to address that with the anesthesiologist.

Anybody else have that problem?

mkf,

I didnt have problems breathing afterwards, but my throat as a little sore. My fusion was posterior, and when they tube you, are face up. But then when they flip you over and back again.. the tube in your throat gets turned with each movement.

My biggest problem was I had a fat lip and my left side of my mouth was quite numb for a week and took almost 2 weeks for the feeling to completely return.

The Anest-- explained all of this to me beforehand and he was right. He didnt miss a thing. So indeed, if they don't fully disclose to you, ask to talk to them.

I wish you the best for your upcoming surgery. You will do fine. Take care. Tammy

Hi,me too,just saw the vascular surgeon today who suppose to assist for the anterior procedure,he said the bone graft site is the worse cause its like having a broken bone,great!And pain meds don't work that well for me orally,not sure how intravenes works if enough to take the edge off.Said won't be able to eat for 3 days,and some rehab,looking at a week in hospital.So gang,once ya home,how do you enjoy watching DVD's if ya in bed?wouldn't be uncomfortable?What about a reclining chair?still trying to figure out where to sleep,guess standing up.

Hi All,
I had the hard brace for 5 months almost, It didnt' take too long to get used to, I had a leg brace for my left leg attatched for the first 3 months, I had major nerve damage, doc didn't want me bending my leg except to sit, after first 5 weeks.

I was in hosp. for 10 days, they did back and then 4 days later did the front approach. I was confined to bed for the first 5 weeks, only got up for potty, had to have a wiper too. I was only allowed to take brace off to shower after 5 weeks was over. I had to get someone to wash my hair too, that was tricky, laid on bed with head over the edge, they had a small basin and pitcher of water to rinse, it was the thing that made me feel so good to have clean hair, also to have arms and legs rubbed with lotion, it helped with circulation from laying so much too. T

ake every chance you can get to pamper your self !!! It was the only way I made it thru.

Pain control was ok, once I started to take meds as prescribed, not when I needed it. I took it every 4 hours if it said to, whether I needed it or not, had someone wake me if I had too, it so important to keep meds at a constant level to attain the best result.

I had a three hour ride home, took meds when I left the hosp. started feeling lil sore when I got just about home, so if you have a long ride, get the RX filled before you get home.

My biggest problem was constipation :eek: from oxy., DON'T LET THAT HAPPEN !!!! :nono: I was in tears from that. Drink prune juice twice daily, spinach , any thing that will prevent it. My first two weeks was dealing with that, it was too painful to push :eek: ( sorry for details, but i truely feel it is neccesary) with incisions front and back !!! We really reveal a lil too much on these boards sometime,lol.

Good Luck & God Bless

Carol :wave:

Listen to Mamakitkat She is a seasoned veteran to the process.

On the constipation topic: I agree we reveal alot here, but we wouldnt be helping each other if we didnt. hehe. Being constipated anytime is not good, and especially after surgery. I know my body and what it takes to keep the ole pipes going. Then I thought I needed to up that a tad because of pain meds and lack of apetite. So whatever your normal routine is, you need to add to that process after the surgery.

Me.. I have added in infused cherry prunes (they taste better to me), grape nuts cereal, high fiber breads of 4grams of fiber per slice or more, pineapple, more salads, high fiber beans, and other fruits I can eat (i am allergic to many). And the most important thing.. WATER, WATER, WATER. Hydration is so important for all your organs and your muscles too. And I eat these religously and throughout the day, not just once in a while.

Hope this helps! Hope everyone has a great day! Tammy

Hi Tammy & MKF,
Thanks for the HOORAY for me Tammy, but thats one title I wish I didn't earn, as well I wish we all on here were not earning it either. I did want to throw in there, as in a previous post, take the one step step stool with ya everywhere, thats if you have a high vehicle, we have a mini-van. I keep one in our van and one in the kitchen, by your bed if its a higher one too. As you get stronger and more balanced you will fall in love with it. I could not have gotten in the van when I came home with out it, stand on it turn your butt towards seat, sit down, THEN, turn your body into the car from the sitting position, I learned that from a veteran neighbor of scoliosis surgery. It really is the easiest way to get in car, to get out reverse the process, it makes it just as easy as sitting in a chair is. Don't forget your log rolls in and out of bed !!! I'm done now, lol.

Good Luck again!!!

God Bless

Carol

I forgot to mention , If you have a choice of back braces ask for the one that has straps on the front , I had straps on the front with my first surgery and it was much better than my second shell from my 2nd surgery. I took my new one off and put my old ( to small ) one on. I gained 20 lbs after my first surgery. Good luck and stay away from the sweet's