27 y/o active - TLIF at L5/S1 or live with the pain??
Dear all -
I am looking for advice from people who are around my age / activity level to tell me about their experiences with TLIF spine fusion surgery, or experiences in deciding NOT to have the surgery. I have had this back pain for 9 months now, have had 22 PT visits, 2 cortison injections, own/use my home traction unit, muscle relaxers, NSAIDS, you name it. Everything but fusion surgery. I am 27, and I used to be a runner until this disc/spine issue came up in early Sept. 2009. I go to the gym every day, I used to be pretty overweight, got active and lost about 32 lbs, and I have been a 5-7 day runner/gym goer for the past 4 years.
Yesterday a neurosurgeon advise me I should have TLIF at L5-S1. My disc is completely bulged out of the disc space, and there is no disc space, L5 is collapsed onto S1. I have sharp pain in my right hip/through my upper thigh & buttocks (more of a nerve pain). Most days, the pain is pretty tolerable and sometimes I even have really good almost pain free days. Every couple of weeks it gets debilitating. It is hard to fall asleep at night/hurts when I wake up and I'm an attorney so I sit at my desk pretty much all day every day. Right now, I don't feel that limited and think I should continue with life as is. My doctor said that if I do that, I am prolonging the inevitable, and eventually my vertebrae / spine will not be able to distribute / tolerate the pain as well and it will become even harder/more painful to perform basic daily functions. I feel like my fears about the surgery are superficial, and that I'm basically being a chicken because I'm scared. I have some concerns and I am really really hoping that some one there who is like me can tell me what their experience has been like. Some of my major worries:
1) I have a desk job. How long will I really be out of work? I have a State job, do not make much money and have not earned nearly enough sick time to be out for the 6-8 weeks my doctor suggested would be likely.
2) How long before I could at least swim/do the elliptical at the gym? Any physical activity at all? (other than walking, I have read about how important it is to walk 1-2 hours a day and I can handle that but it's not the same). I cannot handle being sedentary, even if it's only for 6-8 weeks or possibly 3 months. Some people have said it takes almost a year for a full recovery? I am ok with never running again, I have accepted that, but being sedentary for months is hard to digest. Advice?
I know this was a long post, but I am really hoping someone out there will read it and reply? All doctors have their separate opinions, and none of them say the same thing. I'm scared about having TLIF surgery, but I'm scared not to have it, and I get absolutely elated at the thought of waking up one day without this pain - but at what cost?
Re: 27 y/o active - TLIF at L5/S1 or live with the pain??
It's a quality of life decision of which only you can be the judge. Personally I will not tolerate serious pain even if surgery is the only viable option. I'm the first one to jump on the OR table and tell them to start. I have recently had extensive surgery which has required relatively sedentary existence but it's all worth it to have the pain at L3-L4 is gone (vertebrae had slipped forward and had to be fused to L4)
My first surgery was in my 20's and I recovered quite well. I was out of work for about 6-8 weeks. My employer didn't provide extensive sick pay or disability leave so they just said "take a few months" (it was a non profit social service job). My parents helped out so I was in no hurry to get back to work (as it was summer and I was enjoying sitting back and reading, etc). I eventually got back to swimming, walking, hiking, cross-country skiing, etc.
Don't let my surgical history scare you. I have loose ligaments so my joints (including my spine) move around too much. That is the sole reason for my subsequent lumbar surgeries.
1) I have a desk job. How long will I really be out of work? I have a State job, do not make much money and have not earned nearly enough sick time to be out for the 6-8 weeks my doctor suggested would be likely. ASK YOUR HR/BENEFITS IF THERE IS ANY SHORT TERM DISABILITY AVAILABLE FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT REQUIRE YOU BE OUT FOR MORE THAN A FEW DAYS. If you live in CA, NY, NJ, HI, PR or RI there is state mandated Short Term Disability. If you don't live in those states often state employees have Short Term Disability (STD) available to them. L5-S1 is a single level fusion and your recovery could be relatively quick, maybe getting back to work part time a few weeks after surgery and making sure you are fully ready for full time by gradually increasing your hours if this is an option. But you always have to be prepared to be out longer just in case you recovery more slowly.
2) How long before I could at least swim/do the elliptical at the gym? Any physical activity at all? (other than walking, I have read about how important it is to walk 1-2 hours a day and I can handle that but it's not the same). I cannot handle being sedentary, even if it's only for 6-8 weeks or possibly 3 months. Some people have said it takes almost a year for a full recovery? I am ok with never running again, I have accepted that, but being sedentary for months is hard to digest. Advice? ACTIVITIES AFTER SURGERY WILL DEPEND ON HOW WELL YOU ARE RECOVERING AND WHEN YOUR DOCTOR RELEASES YOU TO RETURN TO THESE ACTIVITIES. THEY KEY IS TO LISTEN TO YOUR BODY. IF YOU AIM TO DO THE ELIPTICAL FOR 30 MINUTES BUT HURT AT 10 THEN YOU'LL HAVE TO STOP. YOU'LL WANT TO WORK BACK UP TO WALKING. 1-2 HOURS A DAY IS EXCESSIVE. FIRST YOU'LL START AT 15 MINUTES AND THEN WORK YOURSELF UP TO 30-45 MINUTES BUT ONLY WHEN YOUR BODY IS READY. FULL RECOVERY MEANS "FULLY FUSED". I AM 3 MONTHS POST L3-S1 FUSION AND AM ABLE TO WALK AND GET AROUND QUITE WELL, AND MY SURGERY WAS MORE EXTENSIVE. IF YOU ARE HEALTHY AND FIT GOING IN YOU WILL HAVE A MUCH BETTER RECOVERY AND RECOVER MORE QUICKLY.
The key is that you have to decide when the pain has been enough and you are willing to set aside a long period of time to recovery. That doesn't mean being bed bound, but controlling your urge to over do physical activity. To acknowledge that maybe you can only do 30 minutes of walking by 4 weeks, and that's fine.
Re: 27 y/o active - TLIF at L5/S1 or live with the pain??
My husband is also a state employee and in Arizona if you are out for an extended period of time the HR Department can ask other employees to donate some leave time to you. That helped us when he was out for cancer treatment.
We also opted to "stretch out" his leave time by getting paid for 20 hours per week instead of 40. That helped by keeping him listed as an active employee to keep our medical insurance. After a certain period of time, he was eligible for short term disability.
Perhaps these suggestions might help you. Take care.
Re: 27 y/o active - TLIF at L5/S1 or live with the pain??
You should seek a second opinion from a Surgeon who performs Selective Endoscopic Discectomy. There are a few Surgeons in the Phx area. This surgery is minimally invasive (1-3 weeks recovery) and statistically provides the same results. I am 48 and have chosen to have this surgery on 5/4. I had a cervical 3 level disc replacement and fusion and feel this option is last resort. Look into this - there is lots of information on the web. Take Care - Buckwheat
Re: 27 y/o active - TLIF at L5/S1 or live with the pain??
That was all very helpful - thank you all so much for responding. I have a second opinion scheduled for May 10th. I really don't want surgery, but I really want to feel better and don't want it to get worse! Funny enough none of the doctors I've talked to have mentioned anything about a discectomy, etc. I need to explore that more.
Re: 27 y/o active - TLIF at L5/S1 or live with the pain??
So, I looked up the Selective Endoscopic Discectomy and, the problem is (I think), that my L5 and S1 are basically sitting right on top of each other. There is no disc space/height there. I feel like my pain is in two places, although rarely occurring at the same exact time. One place is right over my right hip, where I know my bulging disc is sitting (it is completely protruded to the right of my spine). The second place is right in the middle of spine, where L5/S1 meet. I have one good disc between L4-5, and then the three discs above that are very degenerated. (I'm only 27!?!). I have also been told for ever by every doctor I've ever seen about how unstable my hips/spine/feet/legs are. So, I don't know if I would a good candidate for SED? Does anyone have any thoughts? I would have SED in a heartbeat over TLIF/fusion, but I don't know that SED is going to solve anything / the bigger problem?
Re: 27 y/o active - TLIF at L5/S1 or live with the pain??
When you have one vertebrae sitting on the other, essentially most of the disc material is out of where it should be and can't be moved back into the space. If this is the case you should be able to clearly see the area of collapse on an x-ray (you'd see in levels above a disc between the vertebrae with appropriate disc height but reduced or no disc height at L5-S1). Many times in the L5-S1 area this occurs, and what fusion does is pull L5 and S1 together in proper alignment, while eliminating any disc or other material that is impinging the nerves (like bone spurs that may occur). Certainly get another opinion and perhaps at least one from an orthopedic spine surgeon (I've used OSS on all my spine stuff).
If you are seeing your L5 is virtually on your S1 then removing disc material is only half the battle. You want to make sure L5 and S1 are fused so there is stability. So when you are out riding a bike you don't move slightly the wrong way and L5 moves on S1 (bone on bone pain) and you have ongoing instability. In cases like this often the L5 may fuse itself to S1 over years of bone on bone rubbing. BUT, this doesn't mean it's in correct alignment. You want to intercede before it's too late no matter what treatment option you choose. SED is usually for those with good disc height and just a bit of disc material out of place (the OSS who did my neck fusion is the son of one of the major innovators of SED so read a ton about it while sitting in their office.
Re: 27 y/o active - TLIF at L5/S1 or live with the pain??
Thank you, that does all help! I have seen my films several times, and I can see where there is no space (not much anyway) left between L5-S1 for the disc to go back in. I just feel like it's not "that bad" yet, so much so that I should have spine/fusion surgery, it's not affecting the nerves in my leg too much (although it does aggravate the radicular pattern right under where the disc is sitting, but only when I try to run-which I've given up). One part of me says I shouldn't do it now b/c it's not that bad and *maybe* won't ever be absolutely necessary - the other part of me says if I wait, it will get worse, and the recovery could be worse/longer too. I guess we'll see what the 2nd opinion doctor says.
Anyone have any thoughts on Ortho. spine surgeon vs. neuro spine surgeon?
Re: 27 y/o active - TLIF at L5/S1 or live with the pain??
I prefer Orthopedic Spine Surgeons over Neurosurgeons. Totally based on my experiences. Each OSS (used 3 over the last 17 years) has been more focused on getting me to return to maximum spine and body functional ability.
I did consult with a NS here and he was a viable choice. He has a good spinal reputation but my gut told me the OSS would work better for me.
In either case make sure their sole practice is spine work. Not a NS who does brain surgery and "some" spine work or an OSS who does shoulders and "some" spine work.
My current OSS is in a multi-doctor orthopedic practice. He and 1 other doc are solely spine. The remainder are OS who work on other areas
And, as you know, my surgery decisions have always been based on "do it now" so it doesn't get worse and need more extensive work later.
Re: 27 y/o active - TLIF at L5/S1 or live with the pain??
Hope I'm not making things too complicated here, but you said you also have right hip pain, and it also hurts after you get up in the morning. Does your right side or right hip area always hurt after you get up from a lying down position and/or from a sitting position? If so, you may have a problem with your SI joint as well. I have multiple back issues and two surgerys under my belt already. This winter my pain got worse, and I assumed my back got worse;which was partially true. When I finally told my doctor my EXACT symptom-hurts horrible after I get up, he pushed on both my hips, and the left one didn't hurt but the right one , oh,boy!! So, you might also want to ask your doctor about x-raying the SI joint. I think we have someone on the boards here that had two unnecessary back surgerys because the real problem was her SI joint. Just a thought.....janiee
Re: 27 y/o active - TLIF at L5/S1 or live with the pain??
Thank you for the heads up on the SI joint. What did they tell you you needed surgery for? Did you have spine fusion? Was it just a disc issue or was it a spine/facet joint/collapse of the disc space issue?
I have been told by 2 PT's that I have a chronic SI problem, i think it's some kind of instability, but all of the doctor's i've talked to said that might come from the instability in the spine. I have seen my films, and facet joint swelling and the collapsed disc space, and I see where the disc is right over the right hip, but I also think the SI is involved too - at least from what the PT's have said - I don't know if it's a chicken and egg problem? (Which came first or which causes the other?). What did you do about your SI joint problem? You did not get any relief from surgery? If an SI joint solution would fix it all, or even part of it, I would much rather go that route! More thoughts? Thank you!
Re: 27 y/o active - TLIF at L5/S1 or live with the pain??
Complicating things even more BUT. . . . also consider piriformis syndrome. It's a long thinish muscle that runs deep inside the buttock from the sacrum to the hip (so in the same area that can give SI joint pain)
If it is tight or spasmed it can irritate the sciatic nerve at the point where they cross (in the bum)
Of course there is nothing to say that it can't be 2 (or more) problems at the same time.
A physiotherapist should be able to identify both problems. Exercise is usually prescribed.
Take care
Helen
Last edited by helenlegs11; 05-05-2010 at 07:50 AM.
Re: 27 y/o active - TLIF at L5/S1 or live with the pain??
Not sure if this will help anyone at all, but I went through most of what everyone has said. The person who initially started this thread stated that he had right hip/right thigh pain. I was there, I had pain going down my right leg all day every day and then last year started in my left. I went through two months of laying on the couch cause I couldn't sit. After two cortico steroid shots that didn't work, Lyrica and Tromedol(spelling?), and Gabapentin to try to fix the nerve pain, my doctor(third one at this point) had me do a pain test. I was pain free for one day before I was in agony. He recommended a total disc replacement as he does not agree with narcotic pain meds on a life long basis which is the less invasive option. At 22 I went with the surgery.
Had the surgery 1/11/2010 to replace my L5-S1, it is now 5/7/2010 and I have never felt better. It will be a while until my sciatic nerve fully heals, but I haven't taken Advil or Excedrin for anything other than a headache since before the surgery. To me at my age, the 4 day hospital stay and the recovery time were worth it to finally after 4 years(hurt my back in Jan 2006) of agony and no diagnosis and I can finally live my life.
I know that I am a success story and with the surgery still being kind of new having only recently been approved by the FDA in 2004 in the US I would definitely talk with your doctor about what is best for you. Do your research, think about the long run, and don't just jump in. Not sure if this will help anyone, but figured maybe my story could!
Re: 27 y/o active - TLIF at L5/S1 or live with the pain??
jen, I am quite busy this weekend as I have a big wedding to attend to tomorrow. However, I didn't want to leave your post completely unanswered. First, I would really research what the person below me said. About my self; 49 y.o., had a spinal fusion when I was 16 and this was successful and I went on and had a professional career. After having two kids, and in my thirties, had been having chronic pain for a few years. One day I woke up and had horrible sciatica pain. Did all the conservative treatments;they didn't work, then had a six-level fusion in the fall of 2007. I fused wonderfully and was doing well until the fifth month. Started having pain in areas I never had before. My surgeon refused to see me. Went from one doctor to the next without a diagnosis. Went to two ER's.One ER actually threw me out. Actually threw the wheelchair in my room and did not escort me out. This is a very famous hospital. I went there because my surgeon's P.A. told me to go there (because he didn't want to see me anymore once I wasn't doing well anymore). Also, this is where I had my surgery. Finally in the fall of 2008 I found my present P.M. and he diagnosed me with Failed Back Surgery Syndrome. Some doctors call it Failed Laminectomy Syndrome (I had laminectomy's done too). It can be caused by a number of things, but mine was caused by scar tissue, specifically scar tissue impinging on the nerve root. This diagnosis means that you have had a fusion and or lami. and your outcome was either the same, or worse. Mine was worse; much worse. I went from VicodanES four times a day before surgery, to Oxycontin LA 20 in the a.m. and 40 in the p.m. and Percocet 5 twice a day for breakthrough pain. Last December, I slightly bent over a trash basket and heard a noise in my back. I screamed because the pain was so bad. I could hardly walk back to the kitchen table. I had an MRI which showed that the mild degeneration that I had a year ago, had changed to severe. That was basically the only thing that CHANGED. Spinal fusions will accelerate degeneration. So, I thought that was the reason for my increase pain. Maybe I didn't do anything afterall when I bent over like that over the trash. Then from Jan. to Mar. of 2010. I was really suffering. I had the back pain, and this new right hip pain. Sometimes it was in the right groin and thigh too, esp. in the beginning. It hurt worse after I got out of bed and started walking. Or, when I got out of bed in the a.m., then sat on the toilet, the R hip seemed like it had a pulse of it's own. Last month, I told my PM about it again(not the director, whom I like so much better) and I asked about x-rays, and he said, "that wouldn't do any good". Then he pressed on my L hip, then my R hip. When he pressed on the R hip I screamed it hurt so much!!!! That's when he said it was my SI joint. I don't know much about this @ all. I know more about the back. And he didn't explain anything either! But of course he put in a referral for an injection! However I have been getting them for my back and I have been noticing that they are really elevating my glucose levels! Back to you-have you had pic's done of your SI joint? Have you had an MRI with contrast done on your back? and which levels? That should be done first. It could be that your back and your SI joint need to be addressed, or just one of them. There are several members here who had problems with their SI joint-I hope they stop by to help you!! Also, are you seeing a board certified Orthopedic Surgeon? Sorry I wrote a novella I probably won't be on line till Sunday or Monday-so see ya then!! Good Luck....janiee
Re: 27 y/o active - TLIF at L5/S1 or live with the pain??
Janiee,
First, I have to say I am unbelievably shocked? Impressed? I don't know what the word is - that you had a 6 level fusion done - that seems unimaginable to me - and you have had little relief from that? I am really sorry to hear about your trouble finding a doctor to help you with this, I can't believe you had to go through that after everything else you had already been through!! (there are medical boards and professional organizations you can report that to! Not that it would help your physical problem, but if you felt like it might help with closure, or preventing them from treating someone else like that, it's worth looking into?). (I had a doctor steal money from me that was due through an insurance co. reimbursement and I reported them and quit going there - lord knows how many other people they are doing that to!). ANYWAY - I have had a lumbar spine MRI and I have seen those films several times. I can see what they are talking about as far as the collapsed disc space between L5-S1, the disecation/degeneration of the 3 or 4 discs above it, and the L5/S1 disc protruding out to the right over my right hip/nerve, so I know that has to be part of the problem (as in, the SI may be contributing or causing/but I don't know that it's the only problem?). BUT given what you and the other helpful people have posted about the SI problem, and given that I know I've been told by my PT's that I have chronic problems with my SI joint, I am going to ask about this seriously at my appointment tomorrow with the spine surgeon who i'm meeting with about a second opinion. The surgeon I talked with, and the surgeon I'm seeing tomorrow, are both neuro spine surgeons, not orthopedic spine surgeons - I know there is a difference, but I'm not sure if one is better than the other?
Another issue - I know that spine fusion accelerates the degeneration of the discs above, and the 3 or 4 discs above my L5-S1 are already significantly degenerated. So, it doesn't seem like it is going to take long for me to end up back on the surgery table. The thing is, I'm young, I'm physically active, I like to take my dog on walks, go to forests and go hiking, I work out every morning, work every day, and love doing it. I am not ready to start what seems like an inevitable life of surgery after surgery and it is just scary. The pain just isn't that bad, that often, for me to go this far (surgery). On the other hand, it seems inevitable that I'll have to have it, and recovery should be faster if I'm younger? I just don't know.
As for the SI thing, I haven't had Xrays of my SI joint specifically, I had 3 done of me bending forward/backward I think to check on what the bending does to the stability/instability of my spine, but the films didn't turn out b/c the Xray is too blurred or something (glad I paid for them). So, I am going to ask the surgeon tomorrow what he thinks about the SI joint contributing to or causing this mess, and if he thinks handling an SI joint problem would help anything, before considering surgery. As for the piraformis issue/syndrome, I have already ruled that out. My piraformis (I think I'm spelled it wrong) was strained before, I did some stretches and trigger point therapy with the PT and have the piraformis all worked out. I can tell that is not a source of this problem.
It seems like the pain my back is two fold, almost like two separate kinds of pain, maybe unrelated although they seem like they should each be causing/contributing to the other. The first pain, the one I usually have most often and that usually hurts the worst, is the right hip pain, right where my L5-S1 disc is sitting. It's not nerve pain at all. I have nooo nerve pain in my right leg (except the occasional ridicular pattern in my right glute/butt cheek - sorry for the blunt reference to the butt - when I try to run, which I never ever do any more). It's like a sharp rod driving straight through my hip or like a really sharp, snappy feeling. I don't know if that makes sense. The other, second pain is sort of always there, a constant 2-3 on a scale of 1-10, in my lower back right in the middle where my spine is. It hurts insanely bad when I bend forward a lot (like picking up files at work from bottom shelves, not because of the weight of the files or anything, just from the motion itself). It hurts when I lay down straight without curling or bending my legs at all, and hurts bad when I lay on my stomach (which I never do). Or, when I sit for a long time. Sometimes I feel them at the same time, sometimes one is worse than the other, I just can't figure it out. Other than the bending, I can't seem to figure out what 1 thing I do or don't do that triggers it (other than running, running I know is off the table).
Sorry this too seems like a novel. I am just confused. And, to be honest, I just want to live with it. If it could just stay like this forever, and not get worse, I would accept it, without surgery. I don't want surgery. Especially if there's such a likelihood that fusion is a) not going to help much, b) will make me have to have more surgeries later, for the rest of my life pretty much, and/or c) might make things worse. I have yet to hear 1 person, other than I think the person who just posted recently who had surgery on 1/11/10, say that they are glad they had spine fusion surgery and function the same if not better afterwards. It seems like if I have fusion now at 27, i'm going to have another at 37, and another at 45, and it will go on and on.
Re: 27 y/o active - TLIF at L5/S1 or live with the pain??
Jenn
I am so sorry you had to go thru this back pain. I was in a similar situation as you. I have had 3 microdiscectomy and then I herniated my L5S1 for the 4th time in Jan. I was not advised by my dr to get a fusion so I went to see 5 other doctors, 2 ortho/spine specialists, neurologist for eval of nerves, neurosurgeon, and a pain medicine dr. The pain med dr gave me 2 cortisone shots which worked great for me until I decided what to do.
Whatever you decide is your own choice but this is what persuaded me to get my fusion.
I am 46 and very active, I teach special needs kids pe so I have to run, and move with them, and lift my students. I have 3 active teens and our family skis, hikes, and bikes. I could not imagine not being active, it is what I do. Every time my disc would herniate it would do damage to my nerves. I have lost feeling in my toes of my left foot, and have 1/3 decrease in strength due to nerve damage in my left foot. Neurologist I saw who tested me told me that I could do more damage the longer my joint was left so unstable. My disc would also fragment when it went out so pieces would be lodged in my sciatic nerve. I decided fusion was for me. I researched my dr, he went to a good school, did internship at Cleveland Clinic and is an active athlete himself.
I am now 2 weeks post op and can function really well. Currently I am walking a mile several times a day, can do stairs, sit at the computer, and can do spot exercises. The first week was really tough and I needed full care out of the hospital(2-3 days in hospital), this second week I am able to shower, dress, and navigate taking care of my self and keeping myself busy, but can not bend to cook, do wash, or lift more then a gallon of milk. I needed extra time to heal and strengthen before going back to school in Sept. The physical needs of my job are demanding and I want to be fully healed. Because I am in shape I feel I am able to recover faster, and so far only the first week was really hard. With each week it gets easier.
My advice would be if you can have someone take care of you for 3 weeks, and leave yourself at least 6 weeks to recover if you have a physical job, fusion could be a wise choice for you. My family has had to help me and fend for themselves for the past several weeks. I am thankful I did have the surgery because now when I am teaching, or being active there wont be this little fear in my mind about when will my disc go out again next, and how far will it knock me out again and for how long.
I know everyone has to come to their own conclusion but I hope my positive experience will help you.
Re: 27 y/o active - TLIF at L5/S1 or live with the pain??
Hello, Im 39 and very active and fit. You and I are almost Identical, all the way to same diagnosis L5 S1. I wanted to avoid the surgery ofcourse because I too love to run,yoga,dance, & EVERYTHING else that requires alot of movement. So I did the whole,accupunture/current, pilates, message, heat/cold, & cupping thing with loads of money wasted. Then I had a great doctor who helped me and was very patient. We tried the Epidural Steroid Injection using Flouiscopy. Yes, my pain was gone but only for a month or so. I remember crying when the pain came back, "It didnt work". I even hid it from my husband so I wouldnt have to resort to surgery or god forbid, quit my daily run and lunchtime swim. Longstory short, It got worse. I went to the doctor knowing Id have to have surgery of some sort (but ofcourse I waited until the end of our vacation...being the stubborn person I am and hoping the pain would magically vanish). I had the TLIF on 15Apr10. I stood up on that very evening (wobbly ofcourse). I was discharged on the 18th. Although, most dont stand or check out of hospital so quickly, I bet your a powerhouse like me and will do the same. Docs like to wait til you can go pee on your own before sending you home. I was walking up and down the corridors of the hospital like a champ!!Yes, I have good days and bad, but Im proud of the fact that with all the delays, the fears, the PAIN....I finally did it! I was driving the 3rd week. Yes, walkwalkwalk thats what they say. You sound so much like I did before the surgery. I dont care how long before I can do my daily stuff anymore. I simply do NEW or revised exercise. Man! its harder now so I feel Im getting an awesome workout either way. Im healing just as the Doc said (even a little quicker) Im upbeat and strong. Im going back to work next week and am well ready for it. I think 6 weeks is plenty of time off from work. Im enjoying my plans for a better quality of life. You should do the same. Every question you had was mine. Bottom line is if you really are the concerned, fit, & hardworking person you seem to be,then this surgery is exactly what you need and recovery will be a snap. Im so happy I did this! Im even wishing I did it earlier! I feel great. And hell, Im only 5weeks post op. I went in for follow up today. Doctor said,"Ok, now bend as far as you can"....I though, "***"!!!!! NO WAY!!! I was actually scared! Scared I might feel pain and Im at square one? maybe...But I did and would ya believe I I didnt have pain but it did feel very very tight. And ofcourse, my bend was minimal. But Im gettin there. And tight is a million times better than PAINFUL!!! He gave the go ahead to walk in the pool. My incision is tiny and can barely see it. My husband took a pix and Im tellin you, I was amazed! Now, the only downfall was that my hips hurt and felt swollen. He said it was normal and that I will have aches and pains.. But again this pain wasnt for very long. I just walked more and STRETCH! DO THIS ASAP. And by the way. Im from a long line of large people! Pacific Islander. My girlfriend came for a visit and said I shrunk! Yep, from only walking SLOW? I mean turtle compared to my runs. I kept the low carb lifestyle I normally had, had an enormous supply of fruits,and drank Green Tea/no sugar by the gallon. The meds you take will constipate. Hydrate! Green Tea tastes absolutely awful! But I can do "awful" for the benefits I believe its brought me with my hydration,fatburning,& overall antioxident effects. Good luck to you!
Re: 27 y/o active - TLIF at L5/S1 or live with the pain??
CC
I am sooooo excited more positive experiences with fusion are being posted!!!!
I also drove at 3 weeks and can do PT at 4 weeks for 2x per week I have been walking and you use different muscles and will tone differently. I now can go out walking and encourage my 'out of shape' friends bc now I am at a pace that is right for them. When I walk my dog I have to take a friend or kid with me to hold the leash. It helps me spend time with the kids and the dog does not miss her usual walks.
I think the constipation was the worst part of it all. I used stool softeners, dried prunes, milk of magnesia, and probiotics as well as all the water. I had surgery on Tues, they took the foley out on Wed am, and I walked around the hall too!! The PT was like, you are ok, I did stairs with the pt in the hospital on Thurs am and they sent me home Thurs PM. At 2 weeks I had a dr visit and he said I was ahead of the healing curve. He wanted me to wait till 5 weeks to go in the pool bc of possible infection. He removed my steri strips and my scar was half of what it used to be bc he cut off all the old tissue and made it pretty. I had 3 previous surgeries so the scar is long, but now it is thin.
The peace of mind that my disc will not herniate whenever is the best part of the whole process. Good luck with your healing and strengthening, give yourself permission to take over the remote control every once in awhile and rest!!
Re: 27 y/o active - TLIF at L5/S1 or live with the pain??
Thank you both so much for sharing your positive stories - I really needed to hear it!!
I think my little hound dog would miss our walks, but my significant other promised me he'd make sure she won't get neglected. My sister might come to stay with me for a few weeks (she is a teacher with a flexible schedule) - how long/how many weeks did you all need a lot of help after the surgery?
Here's a bigger question: My second opinion surgeon (and the one who would do this surgery) told me he recommends ALIF - that's the procedure he would do. He is a spine specialist. The first surgeon I talked to about spine fusion was a neurosurgeon, and I he's certainly smart and capable - he is the one who wanted to do the TLIF procedure. The second surgeon said that ALIF is much easier (by comparison, not that it's easy at all) on your body than TLIF - I have read all about the differences, although I can't really determine which is better and all doctors have their own opinions. I think I would go with the 2nd surgeon and the ALIF procedure, but I might even go get a third opinion!
Did any of you try reading that book by Dr. Sarto? ( I think that's his name..) Someone on this blog/site talked about it as a semi-cure - the mental connection between back pain and healing, etc. and surgery not being necessary. this sounds absolutely crazy to me particularly because I've seen my films - I can see my disc completely misplaced and I can see my vertebrae sitting on top of each other, I'm not sure what mental exercise could fix that or make that not hurt (although I do know that mental strength and a positive attitude are essential to a good fast recovery) - has anyone tried this approach or am I crazy for asking?
Also, here's the biggest question I have so far that has gone unanswered (by the doctors, etc.) - how much is this going to cost me??? I know no one on here knows my insurance policy to tell me any numbers necessarily, but I have standard State BCBS health plan (I am a state employee), and I don't know if that's could or not, but on average (if you guys don't mind my asking?) how much did you all end up paying out of pocket for this surgery (and the post-op care like PT?) - That might be an inappropriate question, so pardon my asking! But, if anyone is willing to share some ballpark numbers I would really appreciate it. (I have tried calling the finance/billing person at the spine center I would have this procedure through, and she has yet to return my calls which I don't consider a good sign but maybe she's just on vacation these past two weeks...?)....
Any more thoughts? Thank you all so much for your thoughts and sharing your experiences. I was going to try to wait until next summer to have this surgery but I was standing and sitting in court for three days straight last week (which I don't think is that long) - I drove 1 1/2 hours there and back for 4 days, and by Thursday I was absolutely miserable. I am considering having this procedure before Christmas (although, there are some other factors I have to consider) But - any thoughts?
, oh,boy!! So, you might also want to ask your doctor about x-raying the SI joint. I think we have someone on the boards here that had two unnecessary back surgerys because the real problem was her SI joint. Just a thought.....janiee
Then he pressed on my L hip, then my R hip. When he pressed on the R hip I screamed it hurt so much!!!! That's when he said it was my SI joint. I don't know much about this @ all. I know more about the back. And he didn't explain anything either! But of course he put in a referral for an injection! However I have been getting them for my back and I have been noticing that they are really elevating my glucose levels! Back to you-have you had pic's done of your SI joint? Have you had an MRI with contrast done on your back? and which levels? That should be done first. It could be that your back and your SI joint need to be addressed, or just one of them. There are several members here who had problems with their SI joint-I hope they stop by to help you!! Also, are you seeing a board certified Orthopedic Surgeon? Sorry I wrote a novella
I probably won't be on line till Sunday or Monday-so see ya then!! Good Luck....janiee
