TLIF on L4 and L5 with 2 plates and 8 screws, How is the recovery after few years?
I am planning to have a TLIF on L4 and L5 with 2 plates and 8 screws very soon. Im not worry mush about the recovery becouse i know ti will be painful and take long. What i am worry about is what it will happen in the future. Am i going to have the same problem or other? meaning (pain, not able to work, exercise, etc) Is this surgical technique (TLIF with 2 plates and 8 screws) a permanent solution to my problem? Are there other surgical techniques to solve that kind of problems?
I would really appreciate any reply
Thanks in Advance
Re: TLIF on L4 and L5 with 2 plates and 8 screws, How is the recovery after few years
I don't have any personal experience with spinal fusion, but my dad had it done back in the mid 90's. His personal case is that he has been doing fine since then and has had no other issues. Others develop additional problems after fusion. Each person is different, and each case is different. Additional issues in the spine, how well one follows the doctor's instructions following the fusion, and if one has any accidents, falls, etc before the fusion is complete. I'm sure there are other factors as well.
The Following User Says Thank You to peps90436 For This Useful Post: Hambis (04-08-2012)
Re: TLIF on L4 and L5 with 2 plates and 8 screws, How is the recovery after few years
Welcome to the board. Just like no one can actually predict how a surgery will turn out, likewise it is impossible to say how you will be down the road. I know people who had fusion years ago and have gone mountain climbing, trips around the world, regularly kayak and are active participants in life. I know others who develop "adjacent disc disease" within a year or two of recovery and are back in having their surgery added on to....and I don't know what the difference is.
If it has been determined to your satisfaction that you need a fusion, there isn't another procedure at this time that replaces some type of fusion surgery. The surgeon is using sufficient hardware that you should be held together without incident.
The most important decision you have to make is the careful selection of your surgeon. I hope you got several opinions so you feel comfortable that a fusion is what you need, and nothing less would resolve your issues.
The Following User Says Thank You to teteri66 For This Useful Post: Hambis (04-08-2012)
Re: TLIF on L4 and L5 with 2 plates and 8 screws, How is the recovery after few years
I should add that the surgery the doctor recommends to you has a good success rate and allows the surgeon to place the bone graft in two areas, along the "gutters" as well as in the disc space, while avoiding going in through the front and risking disturbing vital organs and blood vessels. It should allow for a secure fusion that, once completely healed, will provide sufficient support for most activities.
I can't quite tell from the information provided if the surgeon is recommending a one level fusion, that will result in L4 and L5 being fused. Is that your understanding?
