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How long can recovery continue after spinal surgery?
Spine Health | Last Active: Oct 18 10:26am | Replies (13)Comment receiving replies
@carmine1237
Have you had follow-up MRI to check veins/arteries post surgery? My understanding is your surgery is related to blood vessels and arteries where there is malformation. What were your symptoms before surgery and how old were you when they started?
I had cervical and lumbar decompression and fusion surgeries to address spinal cord/nerve root issues but your surgery seems more tied to issues with blood flow through spine and supporting lower half of your body. If blood flow is not optimal, it could affect oxygen reaching your muscles and nerves/cells to keep them healthy.
Have you seen an orthopedic spine specialist and/or neurosurgeon to check spine health? Have you seen a neurologist for EMG/nerve conduction studies/small fiber neuropathy of your limbs to check nerve health?
What type of surgeon did your fistula surgery?
Replies to "@carmine1237 Have you had follow-up MRI to check veins/arteries post surgery? My understanding is your surgery..."
Thank you for your thoughtful response. Yes I have had MRIs post surgery and I was told that my spinal cord showed steady recovery. (but that is not what I have experienced yet.)
Three neurosurgeons at Johns Hopkins performed the surgery.
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@carmine1237
P.S. I was told for my type of spine surgery for lumbar spine (they removed bad discs, fused my vertebrae L3-L5 levels, put in rods and screws to stabilize, etc.), it takes about 3 months to recover from surgery and a full year to notice the full effects and benefits from surgery. I just started physical therapy at 2.5 months post surgery and would hope to notice benefits within 1-3 months. It seems your long recovery even with PT shows there may still be issues with your spine, blood flow and spinal cord/nerve roots that affect your lower body strength. Updated MRIs of your cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine can provide a surgeon with a full view of what it happening structurally and how it ties to your symptoms. The weakness in your legs is similar to what I had with compression in my lumbar spine causing neurogenic claudication. It sounds like you may also still have some vascular claudication. An orthopedic spine specialist/surgeon or neurosurgeon may be able to help pinpoint the cause of your weakness in your legs.