I was to my doctor on friday and she told me that I needed to quit smoking before my back surgery on the 24th, she started me on chantix and said its a new and really good drug to help. How many people have had to quit before you had surgery. Does it really help the healing process that much? I would like to thank all of you who had helped on my previous posts. Thanks again

not smoking increases the chance of successful fusion. there have been many studies on this and its well documented. it increases the odds by like 10% or so (I thinks thats about the right figure).

I have smoked since I was 14 years old. I'm now 52. I had a double fusion with entry front and back in 2005. I never quit smoking. I got pneumonia 17 days after the surgery and had to be re-hospitalized for 6 days. Now I want my hardware out. The insurance company questions me on everything because of the smoking. Statistics show a smaller change of fusion/bone graft taking if you smoke. Blood flow is decreased because of the smoking. Some doctors even refuse to do fusions on smokers. Now I want to have this next surgery to somehow reduce my pain level. I have been on the new stop smoking drug that you mentioned for 8 days. Today was day 1 of not smoking for me. You will need to not only stop smoking before the surgery, but remain off smoking for up to 2 years afterward. By then you are a non-smoker anyway:D . Keep in contact with us regarding your stopping smoking and your surgery. Good Luck:wave:

Yes, you definitely have to quit before surgery. Smoking reduces your blood supply to your skin, muscles, etc...and probably would hinder your recovery or if you're having fusion, it can increase the risk of failure. Not smoking will help you heal much quicker and probaly avoid complications. It could even help avoid complications during surgery.

I was told by my Doctor that if i smoke he would refuse to perform fusion on me. I also read some info about fusion surgeries on Internet and it was very strongly recommended not to smoke if you have fusion - big % of smockers don't fuse.
And also - back surgery is not an easy one, recovery takes time... Why to put your body in more stress during anesthesia and recovery? I had to quit 6 month before surgery and never had another sigarette since. It was not easy - but i did not want to blame myself for smoking if i would not fuse.
So your Doctor is right! Good luck to you.

I agree with all the others...you need to quit...I smoke and my dr keeps telling me to quit....the nicotine goes into your back and can prevent/increase diseases, injuries....I am going to quit...it has also been documented that people with back problems, also smoke (smoked)...don't know where I read this at..just know it is true....I'm going to ask my dr to prescribe something so I can quit.

Hi Tjdnsm, I had back fusion in December of 06. I smoked for 11 years. 10 days before my fusion I quit smoking with the help of chantix. It is five months later ( today the day :) ) and I am still not smoking. I really have not wanting to smoke at all. There a times of stress when you think about it, but it only lasts for about a min and its gone. I am also no longer taking the Chantix and not smoking. I wish you the best of luck in quitting! Its the best thing you can do for yourself and your back! also, I wish you the best of luck in your up coming surgery. Take care.

Rose:wave:

Hi and welcome to the board,

First off, I smoke. I've had 3 spinal surgeries. Thank goodness I've never had complications do to smoking. I've been lucky.

Two of my surgeries happened a day apart, the first one was a cervical 5-6 disectomy and fusion with plate and pins. The second surgery a day later was a disectomy and fusion of L4-5. My surgeries are 2 years out.

Recently, I've found out that my C5-6 is fused...YEAH :blob_fire . However, my L4-5 in not fused..:confused: . So, with respect to only me, I can't really say, that it does or does not affect fusion. I've been told that it most certainly does have an affect in regards to the fusion taking or not. And it makes sense that the healing process needs adequate (sp) blood flow, and such. If you smoke, your bodies not getting the most amount available of blood flow.

Truly the decision is yours, weigh it all out, whats this surgery worth to you? If there's a chance to not fuse do to smoking, would you take it? Do you really like to smoke? I can tell you with certainty, that if you have a fusion, it's a major surgery, and with some very real healing pains. I guess what I'm trying to say is that, it's a hard surgery and not one that you would want again do to non union because of smoking. I hope I'm making sense.

Speaking as a smoker, I can tell you that my dr. never told me any chances related to non fusion. He didn't tell me to quit either. I don't like to smoke, but it's my crutch for anything stressful. I know alot of people won't/can't understand this, because they don't or never have smoked.

If I could go back in time, I would have tried with everything to quit before my surgery. Just for a chance to have fused. I do really want to quit, but it has to be when I'm ready and am ready for the fight of my life. I've been smoking since age 13, and I'm 41.

I will be wishing you the best with your surgery, and with one of the hardest fights you will face. Take care and please let us know how your doing and if you quit.

I was told by my surgeon I had to quit smoking at least 6 weeks before my surgery. I had my last smoke on Sept 13, 2006 and surgery was on Nov 8, 2006. I think the fact that I quit smoking was a big reason why I started to fuse by my 3rd month.

However, I started smoking again a few weeks ago while going thru oxycontin withdrawls. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Oh well, at least I lasted 7 months, and have cut the amount I smoke in half. Wow, listen to me try to convice myself it is okay. lol

But all in all, yes if you smoke I highly suggest you quit, it can make the difference between successful surgery or not.

~hugs Niki

Thank you to everyone who has taken time to answer my question, off the subject of quitting smoking for a second, how many of you would have never taken the drug oxycontin if you would have known about the withdrawl and everything? I'm just asking because of all the bad stuff on the news and in the papers. If the doctor perscribes me that medication should I tell him to try something else first or, is that the only thing that helps with the pain from surgery? It just makes me kind of nervous with all the stuff going on now. It would be great to get some feedback for this.......

After surgery, while still in the hospital I was given first the IV pump with morphine. Then they went to injections of Demerol. When released I was back on Norco. My surgeon has never wanted me on anything stronger than schedule 3 pain killers. I went to another doctor and got the stronger meds. Like I said, I am allergic to them to the point of hospitization. Surgery pain is going down in intensity everyday after the surgery. So real strong meds are only necessary there at the hospital. Chronic pain is something different. It is very difficult to treat with pain meds. Withdrawal from even Norco/Vicodin is hard. Back on the smoking thing. My doctor told me that people that smoke and quit just prior to spinal fusion surgery, have a better chance of fusion than a non-smoker (being someone who never smoked). He didn't know why this was. I don't think he would say this just try and get me to quit.

I had my last smoke 3 hrs before they cut me :) trying to quit while being all nerved up prior to surgery isnt easy heh.

as far as narcotic pain drugs, your doc will taper you slowly off them. It took about 3 months to taper from 60 mg oxycontin to zip (I was at that dose for about 6 months). I had very little withdraw symptoms but still did felt them a bit at the end. not a big deal though. all in all it was worth the pain relief. back surgery hurts.

everyone is different though. you may find you dont need them anywhere as long as I did. if you can quit them sooner I would recommend it.

Hi Jen. I am fighting with my insurance company to pay for Chantix. I have filed an appeal. I should know in 7 days weather they will cover it or not. I have a question for you. How long were you on (chantix)?

I was told by my surgeon I had to quit smoking at least 6 weeks before my surgery. I had my last smoke on Sept 13, 2006 and surgery was on Nov 8, 2006. I think the fact that I quit smoking was a big reason why I started to fuse by my 3rd month.

However, I started smoking again a few weeks ago while going thru oxycontin withdrawls. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Oh well, at least I lasted 7 months, and have cut the amount I smoke in half. Wow, listen to me try to convice myself it is okay. lol

But all in all, yes if you smoke I highly suggest you quit, it can make the difference between successful surgery or not.

~hugs Niki
Hi Niki. Way to go for making it 7 months. I wish I could say that.

Hi Jen. I am fighting with my insurance company to pay for Chantix. I have filed an appeal. I should know in 7 days weather they will cover it or not. I have a question for you. How long were you on (chantix)?

Hi Fishlady, I was on Chantix for two months. Some are on it longer. I had fusion four weeks after I started it. I hope your insurance company will cover this for you, it really does help with the cravings. Wishing you luck.

Rose:)

I like Zeroman had smoked up to very close to the time they cut me open. There was no difference to the next time I had another operation, but this time I had quit for 6 months. But I still needed anothereven thought I had quit. I found no change in recovery or the time it took to get up again. But I'm now a non smoker for over 7 years now and don't miss the smelly things. I don't think this has shed any light on o this subject, but this is what did actually happen to me. All the best from the Tattman. :wave: