L-5 fusion

[acme]

TexJoann,
I had L-4/L5 Fusion with all the hardware in Oct. 2001! Glad I did it! I am normal again.......No meds......No pain!!!!! I suffered for 14 yrs before I had it done. Kept waiting for Tecnology to advance so I could avoid it!! Sorry I waited!!
Like others have said .........don't worry about the pain right after surgery they'll keep you pretty goofy with meds the 1st few days!!
As far as recovery........everyone is different! I was outside walking within a couple of weeks.....A couple of blocks 1st. Then miles! Walking is the key to your recovery! Back to work part time in one month.
All I can say is ..........Life is wonderful!!
I was 53 when I had surgery!! An Old Fart.........& it still worked!!

Larry

[michigansk8er]

Acme,

Glad to hear another success story. I'm planning to be one too.

Mouseman,

I considered an artificial disc. I opted for the fusion because of my age, activity level that I wanted to resume, etc. My surgeon suggested the disc as an option, and after weighing pros and cons for each, the fusion was best for me in my case. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[texjoann]

I don't know too much about all the terminology yet, but I am finding out more here. I would go for whatever procedure is the least invasive that has the best outcome, etc. I had read about disk replacement but didn't know if I fit the criteriia. I know that when I looked up the surgery options before I gave up on my civilian Dr. I used a search engine and found out that there are Dr's who do these by a laparscopy type incision, and when I typed in my zip code to find a surgeon in my area that did them, they gave me the names of the Dr's at the base hospital I go to.

I've had a pretty bad day today. my leg has been going numb all day, I can't even sit on the toilet for very long today beacuse my foot goes completely numb, my leg, foot and ankle are swollen really bad. The percocet has made me nauseated all day, Plus my chest has been hurting like I'm having a heart attack, with the pain going down my left arm. Don't know what alll that's about. I am having problems having a bm probably due to the percocet, and sitting on the toilet is killing me.
We went to the store yesterday to get groceries, and I guess I should have stayed home.

That's the most depressing thing. I can't go shopping...Really ticks me off to be unable to do stuff.

Been on the computer, thank goodness I have a laptop.

[michigansk8er]

Texjoan,

When I was on percocet (only taking 1/2 doses because like you, it made me nauseated all day as well as very dizzy) I was having chest pains. I thought I was having a heart attack and actually went to the doctor. Passed the heart tests with flying colors, but didn't do so well on some sort of breathing test. They chalked it up to some sort of adult onset asthma and gave me Advair. I've been fine ever since. Not sure if there was a percoset connection........might just be a coincidence. Anyhow, maybe you should get checked out. Stress can cause a lot of different things too.

It sounds like back-wise and attitude-wise you need to get to your doctor and get aggressive about getting this thing fixed one way or another. The longer you put it off, the longer it will be until you are on the road to recovery. Good luck!

Also, I was told to take a laxative and a stool softener when on percoset. Something you might want to consider.

[texjoann]

Yes tonight I feel better. I think the percocet I took this morning wore off. I may need to only take it when I go to bed, but it makes me stay awake, and want to get up and clean because my back doesn't hurt.
I know I am not taking it tonight and tomorrow so that when I get that needle test Tuesday the pain won't be masked.

Could be the percocet is making me hyper this time. I haven't taken any in a long time. Weird how these meds act different. The one time I took Neurontin it caused this anaphylactic reaction, couldn't breathe etc. I have strange allergies, like coconut, most soaps, have to sleep on 100% cotton sheets. I have atopic dermatitis, but it's controlled with atarax, and special soaps and shampoos.

I just want to quit putting drugs in my body. I have to take high blood pressure medication, seizure medication, imitrex for migraines, zantac for gerd, premarin, and pain meds I could do without. I have to take 5 pills in the morning and 3 at night every day. To add pain pills too, And I'm sure some of these could react with each other. I don't take pain meds with anything else.

Will keep ya'll posted what the doc says.