Timeline, expectations on healing, quality of life after long fusion?

I have my long fusion surgery scheduled and intend to go through with it (Pelvis to T2) - thank you for being here to share your story. I'm at the point where I am getting very nervous and my husband keeps reminding me that I can barely move now, so even if I have mobility decrease, I will no longer be suffering and I will still be able to do more than I can do now - even if I don't get to do everything I want to do. I wish you the best in your surgery and hopefully we can keep sharing our experiences here in the aftermath.

@calofmichigan So sorry for taking so long to reply. I have had some set backs and it will be a while before I can have my surgery. Thank you for giving me some positive feedback. It really means a lot.

@rwdixon4 Thank you for providing such positive and encouraging information. So sorry to have taken me so long to respond.
Unfortunately I had a minor surgery to replace an implant and ended up with deep vein thrombosis. It will be a few weeks yet before I have another Doppler ultrasound to hopefully get the all clear. Then I can start the countdown to surgery that will hopefully be as positive as your’s.

@donaldrobert ~ I'm sure it will be a dramatic improvement.
Sending healing prayers for you.

Thank you for saying that. I always believe that the one I am about to have is the one that will work. Something has to be after all. So why not this upcoming one? I’m certain it it will make all the difference

@lwallenfeldt I had a pelvis to T-9 fusion done in July of 2021. It was done in one surgery that lasted nearly nine hour’s. My wife told me that she barely recognized me in the recovery room because my face was so swollen. The surgeon wanted to do another level because of a herniated disk but my vital’s were not good so he had to stop. I haven’t went back to fix that level yet, and he didn’t put screw’s in my L-3 because I had a compression fracture at that level that need’s to be cemented. Haven’t went back for that yet as well. That was my 16th spine surgery, and had my 17th last September fusing my C-6/7 and C-5/6. So I’m fused 12 level’s now. It’s been quite a frustrating road for me since my original injury in August of 2000. So 26 year’s of this crap and I can hardly walk anymore. After my big long fusion surgery I told the nurse’s that my back didn’t hurt at all, 66 staples, two drain tube’s, because my left leg was on FIRE!! They couldn’t understand that because they had never had nerve pain before. It was excruciating for almost three day’s solid and the pain meds, including Fentanyl, didn’t touch it. Plus I had my stay extended to nine day’s because I had to get pneumonia to top it off, and had to receive two unit’s of blood because my blood pressure would crash every time I stood up. It did help my lower back pain quite a bit, but the nerve pain I have in my leg now was just not worth the surgery and recovery. Good luck to you, I’ll be praying for you!🙏🏻 I just don’t think I can do this anymore!! I’m 61, have been on disability since I was 44, when I got trampled by eight 280lb market hog’s during loading them on the truck. After I got trampled I had to get back up and finish loading the last 53 hog’s on the truck. When the adrenaline wore off I realized I had really hurt myself. Sorry so long, I could go on and on, but I’ve had over thirty surgeries now and just don’t think it’s worth fighting anymore!! I have five grandkid’s now, that I can’t even play with because God had to make me a Farmer. Once I lost being a Farmer, I lost who I was!! I’ve tried to run a combine and tractors, but it’s just to painful to do. I feel for anybody that has to deal with serious back problem’s, because nobody can see how much pain you’re really in?? I have people tell me all the time, well you look like you’re doing better, seriously!!! I’ve been married to my high school sweetheart for almost 41 years now, but this is not the life I had planned at this stage of our lives. She had to go back to work when I had to quit Farming, and that alone just kill’s me. I’m done now. Sorry so long.