What are people's experiences with spinal fusion surgery?

Thank you - I did look it up now I understand. So glad it has helped you !

Glad it was clear! I don’t think I could have explained it clearly, LOL!

Thanks so much for the wonderful feedback! It’s also empowering/comforting to know there are solutions and a wonderful group to learn from past experiences and get advice. Thank you to those who responded to my questions.

All I was given was a hand-out to follow. I will have to very soon access private therapy . My pain control, since I came home has not been good. I'm on my previous meds, and the surgeon hydromorphone. I hate being on a lot of meds and am fearful of addiction. I have to advocate for myself, research credible on-line information, ask questions. The pharmacist is the only professional who has given me credible and helpful info. My pain isn't too bad during the day, but my nights aren't good and I have seldom slept well. I have added and taken away some meds, and finally got adequate sleep last night, but have drowsiness today. I must self motivate to get at my physio exercises twice a day.

I have a question to add to my posting- what experiences have people had with the external electric stimulators (like Dr. Ho's ). Have you had pain relief from them?

Yes TENS units like Dr. Ho work very well but everyone is an individual. I bought Dr. Ho is 1997 after seeing a late night TV ad since my back pain kept me awake. I’ve used his device since that time and recently added a muscle therapy machine to my regime. How long postop are you? My surgery was 1992.

My surgery was 1992 with stainless steel plates and screws, which provided me with stability but increased vertebrae wearing above and below. Now they typically use titanium cages or something similar. I recommend you check out the site for others who have previously charted their path.

@ga29 I never wore a back brace.. Occasionally I would wear an elastic back binder that wrapped around me but I was a University Professor and when lecturing would sit on my desk at the front.. but so many of my classes were Labs where I could go from student to student as they worked at a drawing board or computer.. I sat down beside the student rather than bending over .. I drove my car after a couple weeks... I used a walker only that first week.. That same spine surgeon prescribed a cervical traction device for me 5 years after the surgery.. .. with that I am on the floor with my legs below the knees up on the seat of the chair.. it stretches me for about a half an hour. Occasionally when standing at the kitchen counter preparing and cooking for over a 45 minutes I have to take a break for 15 minutes to get flat and take the load off the spine.. Good luck .. I retired at 63 to travel and enjoy my new freedom.. Ken

Just an FYI, I had both lumbar and cervical fusions in late 2011, with titanium cages, screws, etc. It will still place more stress force above and below the fusion site, because the normal mobility of the spine is “lost” in those areas. I now have problems below my previous lumbar fusion and both above and below my neck fusion (it was two levels, my back was also 2 levels). It’s just a not unheard of “eventual” side effect...at this point, I tolerate it and have refused further major surgery (more fusion levels).

You made me LOL! 😊