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Lumbar Fusion & Laminectomy, Need Positives, Comments, Tips
Spine Health | Last Active: 1 hour ago | Replies (37)Comment receiving replies
I'm a 65-year-old woman dealing with spinal issues.
16 months post-op T11-S1 Lumbar Laminectomy. Followed 14 days later by an emergency infection washout. Soon after a seroma developed and the pain began again.
16 week post-op L2-L3 discectomy. And the seroma was back again.
Now I am 5 days post-op L2-L3 spinal fusion surgery. This was a minimally invasive procedure. I am home now and dealing with post-op muscle and nerve pain.
The past 2 plus years has been crazy with pain, tests, travel for medical appointments. I know there is an end insite, but I am having a hard time focusing on the positives.
Replies to "I'm a 65-year-old woman dealing with spinal issues. 16 months post-op T11-S1 Lumbar Laminectomy. Followed 14..."
@pnwviv - also hoping that @ladyaceintx1 and @grayhairs will have some input for you, as well.
@pnwviv I'm so sorry to hear that you've had so many medical complications along with pain. Your complications are delaying the healing process which does take about 6 months on average. My surgery was both an anterior (meaning a horizontal incision below the belly button) and a posterior/vertical incision (on my back) approach to place an allograft and cage around the vertebrae L3-4. My complication 2 weeks afterwards, was developing a chain of Nickel sized blood clots from my right knee to my groin and having to undergo a Thrombectomy to remove them. Soon after, I learned that I actually had a blood clotting disease called APS (Antiphospholipid Syndrome) and was placed on Warfarin for life. After my spinal surgery, i had regular follow up visits with xrays, and didn't lie around in bed. I made myself walk thru the house at least twice a day and feel that this helped me recover faster. I have 21 allergies to medication so taking pain medication wasn't an option for me, but there are many types of nerve blocking drugs that may help you. Ask to see a Pain Management physician for help. Wishing you good health in your journey.
@pnwviv sorry to hear about your plight. If I may inquire why did they not do the discectomy and fusion in one procedure? Looks like you’ve had a messy back for sometime? You didn’t elicit your age but have you had a Dexa scan to assess your spinal bones?
I had my fusion surgery L4-S1 in 1990 after falling during a small earthquake in Los Angeles in 1988. My spine has deteriorated since then because PT and post-op rehab was not what it is today. At 74 I’ve got OP, OA, peripheral neuropathy of my legs but I feel pretty good. I walk 2 miles daily and exercise at home twice a day. The key is to remain limber after surgery and don’t ever quit doing what PT gives you. Good luck
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@pnwviv - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I'm sorry you've been through so much pain and procedures.
What I did was to move your post to an existing discussion about lumbar fusion and laminectomy, so you could chat with others who have had similar experiences. Here's the discussion:
- Lumbar Fusion & Laminectomy, Need Positives, Comments, Tips https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/lumbar-fusion-and-laminectomy-need-help/
I'm tagging @wywomanjk @sherrym25 @ladyaceintx1, and hoping others will also come in and tell you about their or a loved one's stories with pain, tests, travel for medical appointments. I also hope that they will have some hopeful comments for you if they are further along in this journey.
How are you feeling today, pnwviv?