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L5 S1 surgery recovery: what to expect re: what I can do for myself?
Spine Health | Last Active: 12 hours ago | Replies (34)Comment receiving replies
I'm so glad you are getting a second opinion. I have significant arthritis and am fused from L2-L5. Recently, I've had debilitating pain from a pinched nerve at L5-S1. The brain and spine surgeon commented that an additional fusion at L5-S1 would quickly be a "failed fusion." That may be because I'm already fused at the levels above it. Please check with your second opinion doctor to make certain there is nothing that would cause your circumstances to become a "failed fusion." Good luck.
(Am considering having a very limited surgery to release the pinched nerve at L5. SI see the brain and spine surgeon on 7/27.)
Replies to "I'm so glad you are getting a second opinion. I have significant arthritis and am fused..."
@joanland
did you decide to have the limited surgery to relieve the nerve at L5S1? did they tell you what they would do as a limited surgery to relieve that issue? I tend to downplay when my leg/hip hurt and have gotten so used to it and feel I can manage it for the most part, that I don't want to over exaggerate the issue and have a surgery that may fail or make me worse...or under exaggerate it and miss out on something that could actually be helpful and remove that discomfort permanently. Or mostly anyway.
@joanland
I’m facing a very major spinal reconstruction and would really appreciate hearing from people who have actually been through something similar.
My surgeon is planning to remove my existing hardware and replace it with new instrumentation, potentially using rods extending from my neck all the way to my tailbone. I’m expecting approximately two days of surgery.
My biggest concern isn’t simply the surgery itself—it’s what life is really like afterward.
For those who have had a long fusion or reconstruction extending through most or all of the spine:
* How is your quality of life now?
* What can you still do physically?
* How difficult is walking, sitting, sleeping, and getting around?
* How long did it take before you felt somewhat normal again?
* What do you wish you had known before surgery?
* Knowing what you know now, would you do it again?
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@joanland
Thank you. I assumed this to be a "limited surgery" as well but with having both post and anterior entry it sounds big to me of course. They won't touch my larger issues of scoliosis with arthritis, degenerative issues etc due to my age (76) he said. Still waiting on his notes re our conversation to be posted so I can read them to remember what he said.