Chronic pain and spinal fusion

Hi
I had a spinal fusion in 2006. I was fused from T2 through L4. I had suffered many years from pain due to scoliosis as well as the other many common spinal ailments, spondlyothedisis, degenerative disc disease , etc. My plan was never to do surgery, choosing instead to do epidurals at different times. A car accident changed everything,making my very complicated spine completely unstable, hence the surgery. The first surgery in 2006, took 12 hours and did not fuse. The entire thing had to be done again in 2007, this time the fusion took hold. Many years have passed and I am so disappointed, left with chronic pain and what looks like a dowagers hump as my surgeon said my problem went so high she had to slightly bend the rod at the top otherwise I might have tipped forward or backward. I hate looking at myself when walking by a store front, I look l8ke a turtle. Is there anything that can be done just at the top, where this hump is? I just hate it but am petrified to have all the hardware removed. My surgeon told me to remove the hardware would be another two days of surgery at about 12 hours each time, with no guarantee’s. Is it possible to just corrrect the top where that ugly hump is? Does it mean they would have to break my bone where the hump has grown over the rod? I am guessing this is probably the only way and that frightens me to death. I am also on Warfarin as I had aortic valve replacement in 2001 and have a mechanical valve. Due to valve I have to be on this blood thinner forever, which when having surgery has much more additional risks, either losing too much blood or cutting back on the blood thinner too much and risk having a blood clot. Why can’t something be easier for me? Any ideas or advice would be much appreciated.

@lynn12 Im sorry you have all this but you are right to fear this surgery I dont have any answers for you but will lift you up in prayer

Hi @lynn12, welcome back to Connect. I moved your message to the discussion you started in a little while back so that you could easily get back in touch with you the members you connected with, who share experiences with chronic pain. It is understandable that you're not welcoming the thought of corrective surgery. You ask great questions however to help your decision making.

Did you ask your surgeon about what the 2 day, 12 hour each, surgeries would involve? She or he would be the only person who could knowledgeably tell you if by removing the hardware that they hump would be reduced or eliminated, and if so, how. I encourage you to contact your surgeon to ask these questions.
Lynn, would the goal of this surgery also be to reduce the pain?

@mamacita

Good Morning!

I was just reading your post from August 16th.
I found many of the things you are going through is similar to me.
I also had 2 back surgeries; one surgery the end February 2018 on my cervical spine, and another surgery 3 weeks ago on my lumbar spine.
It can take a full year to be sully healed so I have a ways to go.
My cervical just 3 weeks ago.
The first one, in my cervical spine (removed bad discs and replaced with artificial ones.
The cervical surgery was easy compaed to my lumbar which has been HORRIBLE!
I feel like I live in a drug related head.
I want to get off Effexor, but will probably wait until the holidays are over.
Monday will be the beginning of the 4th week of recovery.
I definately see improvement but I am still in quite a bit of pain and I need assistive walking device.
On the plus side, I am now able to fall asleep and remain asleep.
I am using my cane more often that the walker.
Except for the early morning, I am to move around with only my walker. I no longer need by hubby to hold me from the rear.
I've cut my meds way down, including the dreaded opiods........like relearning to walk without assistive walking device.
I am trying to cut down the opiods for fear of becoming addicited.
I seem to be getting down the opiods.
I was taking 2 tabs and 5 mg.wcwey 4-6 hours.
It was moved to 10 mg.
Now, I am taking the opiods 2-3 times a day.
I now take 1 I1g) when I get up and when I go to sleep. If I have pain that wakes me up during the night, is all I take.
After reading about Effexor withdrawal, I believe I am going through some of the symptoms.

Well, good luck!!!
Have a terrific weekend!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

Hello @grandmar

I just noticed your post (directed to @mamacita) however, I wanted to drop in to your conversation and let you know how pleased I am that you are one month into recovery and noticing some improvements. I'm sure it will take some more time, but I'm glad that you are seeing some good bench-marks in your pain and recovery. Will you keep in touch and post again?

@hopeful33250
Good Morning Teresa!
Thank you for dropping in!
I am happy to post messages.
Have a great day!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

@grandmar

You have been on my mind for 3 days, and this is the first time I've been able to ask how you are doing from your lumbar surgery. I see that some things are physically better, which is wonderful. However you are still having lots of pain. I'm so sorry about the pain, and again encourage you to take the amounts of medication prescribed by your surgeon. You will need to go through withdrawal anyway in the future, so you may as well be as comfortable as possible now. I'm sure you will do well after everything is healed because you have such a great attitude! I'm wishing you well and holding you in my thoughts as pain free.

@janice0809 how are you feeling, I hope you’ve managed to stay afloat but remember chronic pain can really tough so I hope you’re being kind to yourself especially on those tough days.

Hello,
Thank you all for your posts. I'm hoping (praying) that my L5-S1 fusion hasn't failed.. I'm almost 12 years post fusion and have had minimal problems although not pain free. 4 weeks ago I started having an increase in pain directly over the fusion site, my hip feels like its locking up (for lack of a better way to describe), tingling down my leg and foot.. I've been icing daily.. Needless to say I'm scared to death. I have an appointment with my surgeon Dec 11th, 2018.

@nona I hope you dont have to have anymore surgery but Im glad your going to Dr.maybe just some P. T. Will help I know for myself since I had a fractured back I still have pain and have to not overdue resting every afternoon. Water aerobics and back exercises have helped my back hopefully this will be the case for you Let me know how you are .