Hardware removal to surf again? S1 - L4 fusion 15 months ago

To the best of my knowledge, hardware removal is not typically performed after fusion unless there is some issue with the hardware (e.g., loose screw). I agree that after 15 months you should be fully recovered. It sounds like you might need some additional studies (MRI, CT, etc.) or a second opinion to determine why the fusion surgery hasn't resulted in a better outcome.

@jong
I am not a surfer but I did have L3-L5 decompression and fusion surgery 8/2/2024 and hardware was used to stabilize my spine. I was diagnosed with severe congenital stenosis, degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis. I am 55 years old (female).

Have you had updated MRIs, EMGs and myelogram recently to identify which nerve roots/nerves are being affected or if you have any new compression on your spinal cord to explain all of your symptoms? How did you feel 3-6 months post surgery? Did you get better then worse again? Do you have a new injury/compression? Have you tried any pain management, spinal injections, nerve ablations, etc. if they have narrowed down the exact source of your pain?

I’m not a surfer either.
But I did have revision by removing screws of L4-5 (prior fusion )then new extension down L5-S1 fusion.
They waited from Jan, 2021 to July, 2023.
It relieved the pain I had, not sure if the screws were touching nerves or it was scar tissue. But it helped and also stabilized my lower back better. I’m not free of pain, However! Some PT helped, and I use a big child’s tennis ball and the wall to give myself some pressure point therapy. All the best in your search for getting back to surfing

Yes we're very on top of the MRIs and cts. Two things people should know about. One is there's unpredictability about what parts will heal. For me my right foot has crazy electrical feelings every time I wake up. So I can't put my foot down without working it back and forth for anywhere between two and 30 seconds. So you get used to it and it's not nearly as bad as pre-surgery symptoms. The thing that's got me stymied is that I get huge advances in the gym and can even surf a little. But then I pay for it in ways that are way different than pre-surgery. I can only attribute it to the hardware. It's not the type of post surfing soreness that I used to get. Fortunately with my gym work I don't get any of that. Just these crazy electrical shocks in my back that go right into my abductors or hamstrings. Anywhere from my little zing too bam you're going to go right down to the floor. That shouldn't happen that's what I'm after..

To all of you, @jong, @ga29, @vincescs and @
dlydailyhope

You are all scaring me to death! I haven't posted regularly on this forum, but today is a different day.
@jong and @ga29 seem to be athletic and committed to body strength and in perfect health. I am different, I am 63 years old, I am in relatively good health and not over weight or have any medical conditions,. I am not a gym fanatic or health guru either. I was diagnosed with numerous problems such as spinal stenosis, degenerative bone disease, disc compression at l2, l3, l4 and l5. My third opinion from the neurosurgeon today is recommending decompression at all 4 vertebrae with cages. Additional support with fusion from T10 to S1. My question to those of you who have had cages implanted, did your surgeon recommend rods into the pelvic bone like this and do you have any thoughts on this?

I’m 64, had L5 S1 fusion at about 52. Surfed pretty regularly before surgery. Doctor said I should be able to surf again in about 9 months. The back pain was much worse after surgery and never got better. I’ve inquired about hardware removal from multiple surgeons and they all said they don’t do it unless they can prove hardware is causing issues, then rarely. It’s a struggle, I wish I had advice but I’ve been trying to find solutions for over 10 years. Did your bones fuse? Ask your doctor to test area around fusion for problems.

hi, your in a different situation than me. I can tell you that I got a recommendation from a super highend place for fusion of s1 to L2- that would have been WAY TOO MUCH, so watch out- get more opinions from the nueros and orthos..

My doctor and i meet in october for another reviewed. i know you can go overseas/ asia to get this done..

@jong I don't think there is an exact way to correlate your current condition with your spinal hardware and not the trauma caused by the procedure itself. Sometimes patients have a non-union where they fail to fuse and if that happened in your lower spine, it would be a bad situation. Unless there was a needed revision, a spine surgeon would likely be hard to convince to remove spinal hardware, and then you may get more hardware. You are still healing and growing bone to fuse the area which goes on for a few years.

Surgery does cause a lot of scar tissue, and that can influence pain and function when it all tightens up. That affects anything you try to do, and it isn't that long since your surgery and your body needs rest because it is directing energy to healing. I am a cervical surgery patient, but I do know that lumbar surgeries are a longer more involved recovery.

What you may want to investigate is myofascial release therapy that can loosen the scar tissue and help you move better. It can't overcome fused levels of your spine, but it helps when the rest of the body can be more mobile.

Here is our discussion where you can learn more. I have done a lot of this MFR work and it has helped me a lot. I also did this after my surgeries to loosen scar tissue.

Neuropathy - "Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) for treating compression and pain"
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/
Have you heard of Myofascial Release before?

yes, Ive been on that since day one- for sure that and cupping are the best remedies for me