1. < Spine Health
Profile picture for southernbelle13

L5 S1 surgery recovery: what to expect re: what I can do for myself?

Posted by southernbelle13 @southernbelle13, Jul 24 7:44am

I asked a question about this, but don't see where I put it. Sorry for the repeat. Mayo suggested a L5S1 with both post and anterior entry. I have osteopenia, not full blown thankfully, Am wondering what to expect in so far as how to do things for yourself and when. Wash hair, go to a salon, sit in a soft chair, take a trip to Disney with grandkids or even overseas? I assume bathroom etc will be a learning curve but am planning to put a bidet on our toilet.
I did ask the Mayo doctor what he would say to his mother or family member and he declined to answer that directly. Simply said he never t ells his patients what to do about surgery. Not sure what that means as to if he really recommends it. It is an option for me since I have tried all the conservative things over the last 6-8 yrs and now the left leg and hip are acting up more often. Slight foot drop and weakness etc. Am waiting to talk to a local surgeon to avoid the flight to Rochester and see what he says about it all. If he agrees that will be good. If he disagrees that will be confusing.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Spine Health Support Group.

Profile picture for sophie00
sophie00 | @sophie00 | 1 day ago
In reply to @sophie00 "@sophie00 This is my secon to perform surgery opion, and I have selected him (Alex Roper)" + (show)
Profile picture for sophie00 @sophie00

@sophie00
This is my secon to perform surgery
opion, and I have selected him (Alex Roper)

Jump to this post

@doslovesdogs21
This is my second openion

REPLY
Profile picture for southernbelle13
southernbelle13 | @southernbelle13 | 1 day ago
In reply to @profevl "@southernbelle13 While the log roll is recommended and I use it, it can be a challenge..." + (show)
Profile picture for ProfEVL @profevl

@southernbelle13
While the log roll is recommended and I use it, it can be a challenge (high bed, shorter stature, etc).
I'd suggest acquiring a low step or bench to help getting onto and off a bed.
While BLT is abhorred for recovery, it is near-impossible to totally avoid bending (toilet, basin, (un)dressing, etc). Just don't over-extend your back when you do. And definitely do not bend and twist simultaneously, so take on all tasks front-on. So, I am not advocating any bending, I am merely stating that I cannot get through a full day without some degree of bending periodically.
I have my first physio session next week, so I'll be able to give more on my own recovery at that time.

Jump to this post

@profevl how was you PT session, how far out from surgery are you at this point?
How are you feeling now and what are you able to do?

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for ProfEVL
ProfEVL | @profevl | 1 day ago
In reply to @southernbelle13 "@profevl how was you PT session, how far out from surgery are you at this point?..." + (show)
Profile picture for southernbelle13 @southernbelle13

@profevl how was you PT session, how far out from surgery are you at this point?
How are you feeling now and what are you able to do?

Jump to this post

@southernbelle13
I'm now 3 weeks and 3 days post ALIF plus Pedicle Screws.
PT was a waste of time last week because it was probably 1 week too early - I was in significant discomfort (slight pain, more to do with trying to feel out what I can and can't do). The biggest issue was the 25min car-trip to the PT (spine - specialist), because I cannot sit for that long yet. I have my next PT session on 21st Aug, and I'm already in a much better state for that.
I am now walking approximately 1km every day up and down a hill, easily accommodating stairs, exercising the upper body with elasto-bands and avoiding most BLT movements. I managed to sit at our dining table for a family meal yesterday for the first time, rather than eating on my own from the side of my bed. So this is another big step forward.
I also took my car for a short drive yesterday, so am comfortable that my reaction times and flexibility behind the wheel are mostly unimpeded.
I discontinued all meds around 1.5 weeks ago, and my headaches stopped 4 days ago (annoying waking up daily with a severe headache, but not any more).
My left leg gave me a scare last week with a constant burning sensation in the calf for 3 days, but that's just settling nerves. Absolutely fine now. In fact, my left leg is fully functional again with no residual issues (my left leg was my biggest issue pre-surgery, as I was not able to control it perfectly. Now I can).
I put a new dressing on my stomach incision after a few days without it because the friction-rubbing of my shirt on the wound was painful. I'll remove this dresing on the weekend and give it another try. The front and rear wounds are fully closed, so there's no risk of infection.
So all-in, I'm in an excellent state of recovery so far and am poisitive that the surgery was absolutely necessary and is starting to give me my life back.

Shared files

ALIF-plus-sctrews-images-DrEVL26 (ALIF-plus-sctrews-images-DrEVL26.pdf)

REPLY
Profile picture for southernbelle13
southernbelle13 | @southernbelle13 | 18 hours ago

that's wonderful news! So happy that you are doing well and feel like this was the right decision.
Keep us updated on your recovery.
Have to say I am still a bit unsure about it for me though, unless due to age my time to have it done is running out (like with the rest of my back) I am still waiting to hear from the surgeon locally who is head of the Orthopedics dept at the med school here

REPLY
Profile picture for cori
cori | @ccchang | 3 hours ago
In reply to @bdiver1verizon "@profevl THIS is very helpful for me - I have L5 - S1 fusion with hardware..." + (show)
Profile picture for bdiver1verizon @bdiver1verizon

@profevl
THIS is very helpful for me - I have L5 - S1 fusion with hardware end of Sept at Mayo. I have a 12 inch harrington rod from 53 years ago and L 5 - S 1 not fused but compressed after a clincial trial with weight lifting and they smashed - cut off nerves and it;s been almost 2 years of trying to deal with pain. Surgery the only option now and 2 surgeons I talked to here in Pittsburgh did a FEW of these surgeries... I went to Mayo for another opinion and they were amazing. He said I was not complicated for him. He gets a lot like me. Im not over weight, do not smoke, and am doing core training to strengthen for the surgery recovery. I am not concerned about pain in recovery because my pain now is horrible and meds do not help. If there is relief after a few months I will walk through hell to get there. I worried most about flying home..., they will have a back brace and meds plus a friend will fly with me. Mayo said - WE DO THIS ALL THE TIME and you will be uncomfortable but it's fine... So after getting out of hospital 3 or 4 nights, I will stay at local hotel to make sure I am ok, and Mayo is close, Then fly home. I live alone with stairs so planning to stay with a friend a week or so. Please keep us posted on your recovery!

Jump to this post

@bdiver1verizon I have Harrington Rods from surgery 46 years ago with pain and nerve issues now. Can you please let me know who your Mayo surgeon will be? and assume it's at Rochester location? Thank you!

REPLY
Profile picture for cori
cori | @ccchang | 3 hours ago
In reply to @bdiver1verizon "@profevl THIS is very helpful for me - I have L5 - S1 fusion with hardware..." + (show)
Profile picture for bdiver1verizon @bdiver1verizon

@profevl
THIS is very helpful for me - I have L5 - S1 fusion with hardware end of Sept at Mayo. I have a 12 inch harrington rod from 53 years ago and L 5 - S 1 not fused but compressed after a clincial trial with weight lifting and they smashed - cut off nerves and it;s been almost 2 years of trying to deal with pain. Surgery the only option now and 2 surgeons I talked to here in Pittsburgh did a FEW of these surgeries... I went to Mayo for another opinion and they were amazing. He said I was not complicated for him. He gets a lot like me. Im not over weight, do not smoke, and am doing core training to strengthen for the surgery recovery. I am not concerned about pain in recovery because my pain now is horrible and meds do not help. If there is relief after a few months I will walk through hell to get there. I worried most about flying home..., they will have a back brace and meds plus a friend will fly with me. Mayo said - WE DO THIS ALL THE TIME and you will be uncomfortable but it's fine... So after getting out of hospital 3 or 4 nights, I will stay at local hotel to make sure I am ok, and Mayo is close, Then fly home. I live alone with stairs so planning to stay with a friend a week or so. Please keep us posted on your recovery!

Jump to this post

@bdiver1verizon Oops my apologies! I see that you provided your surgeon's name in a previous reply. Wishing you a smooth surgery and speedy and full recovery! Please let us know how it goes.

REPLY
Profile picture for cori
cori | @ccchang | 3 hours ago
In reply to @joanland "@southernbelle13 In meeting w a local, and exceptionally well regarded brain & spine surgeon, I learned..." + (show)
Profile picture for joanland @joanland

@southernbelle13 In meeting w a local, and exceptionally well regarded brain & spine surgeon, I learned there is not enough bone at the spot where the nerve is compressed, to remove some bone to relieve the compression.
That is not an option. He recommends a fusion of L5-S1, a fusion he recommended against 2 years ago. I asked why it would not lead to a failed fusion, and his reply was that trchniques have changed and he would put in a cage to replace the failing disk which would take the pressure off the nerve.
Although we are in a town of only around 120K people, he is reputed to be the best spine surgeon between Seattle and San Francisco; to get a second opinion would mean considerable travel. The surgery, if done here, would involve a vascular surgeon as well. It takes time to get pre-ops done. I'm moving forward slowly. I can decide this isn't the route for me at any time.

Jump to this post

@joanland Hi. May I ask, who is your surgeon & which hospital?

REPLY
Profile picture for cori
cori | @ccchang | 3 hours ago
In reply to @sophie00 "@joanland I’m facing a very major spinal reconstruction and would really appreciate hearing from people who..." + (show)
Profile picture for sophie00 @sophie00

@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?

Jump to this post

@sophie00 Do you have Harrington rods? I do. Which surgeon (and hospital) are you seeing?

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.