Its been a while since I posted but I had to share the latest news on my boyfriend's recovery. Its been 3 months since he had his revision surgery and then he caught a staph infection right after that surgery which involved more surgery. He saw his pain management dr last week and there is still alot of swelling around the spine which is causing alot of pain. Then today he saw his surgeon and they took x-rays and he didn't see any sign of fusion yet. The dr wasn't pleased at all so he is sending my boyfriend for a CT scan. I am hoping the fusion is just delayed because of his weakened immune system from the infection and he was anemic.

And of course my sciatic nerve has been acting up. It happens every few years and I've been seeing my chiropractor who is extremely helpful.


Definitely not how I wanted to end this year.

Lynne

Not that I asked any questions but I was hoping someone would respond to my post. I've read that several people here have had multiple failed fusions so what happens then? I just can't imagine that the dr would want to operate again after an infection which is still being treated. It took 9 months for the dr to consider the first surgery a failure. My boyfriend is extremely upset. We both had our hopes up that something positive would have showed up on the x-rays. The CT scan is on Tuesday. I just wonder whats next.

Lynne

I can't really help you since I have had one successful fusion and am now 20 years later facing my second fusion.

I wonder if this staph infection is contributing to him not fusing and I simply could not imagine the surgeon wanting to operate at this point if any infection is present.

I will pray that the CT scan will show some fusion.

Lynne720
Your boyfriend ought to get a second opinion!

Oh my god, I have had a staff infection in my finger before and it was horrible, I can't imagine having it in my spine!!! I have no answers for you - but I do have prayers for you both!! I hope he heals godspeed

Last night when I was praying for your boyfriend and laying in bed, I too thought to myself.....................he needs to run to another spinal surgeon. He has had this infection for too long. Is he diabetic by some chance?

I'm sorry I wasn't clear about my boyfriend's stapf infection. Its gone now. He was treated with IV antiobiotics for 6 weeks and is still on oral antibiotics. The infection was just under the skin in his back but it thankfully never went into the spine according to all the doctors. It wasn't a deep infection but they thought it was best to treat it aggressively. I just think that because his immune system was weak that it slowed down the healing process.

And thanks for your prayers. Every bit helps.

Lynne