Wife's 2nd fusion done on L2-5, now can't bend over. Relate?

@riflemanz64 Hello, I'm a spine surgery patient, and mine was a single level fusion in my neck. What you are saying makes sense about your wife not being able to bend with 3 fused levels in her lumbar spine. The thoracic level vertebrae don't have much bend in them so that leaves a lot of back movement to the lumbar area. I imagine everything will be different including walking. I hope this surgery will help and that she will feel better after she heals. This was a big surgery. How far along is she in her recovery?

I have had fusions from L3/4 to S1 in year 2000 and 2010. Feel great and can do pretty much anything, if squatting like weeding it does get tired. Best wishes to your wife. 🌺

Six years ago I had fusion with rods and screws of L3-S1 and rods to hip area to stabilize lower end of fusion. Was told I would not be able to bend over and touch my toes. No problem, had not done that for years anyway. Also was told not to golf or ride a regular bike. I did get and am able to ride a recumbent bike. I walk an average of 2 miles a day, X-rays were taken at the 5 year follow-up and surgeon said everything was in place just like he put it. Arthritis had increased about three fold though, He said to keep doing what I had been doing. He was proud of me.

I am a Mayo patient waiting to have spine surgeries.
My surgeon did not want to operate on me until my bone density improves.
I am currently on Evenity, 2nd dose only.

Surgeon is proposing 3 surgeries in 1 week:
Monday, operate from back for Stenosis at L2-3 and L3-4.
Wednesday, operate from front with fusion of L4-5 and L5-S1.
Friday, operate again from back with additional decompression and instrumentation from T1 down to the pelvis.

I am reading this discussion group to see how people are doing, etc.
This is the first time I am sharing my situation, it seems still unreal to be facing this.

Oh, forgot to mention that surgeon did say, I won't be able to bend for the rest of my life.

I was originally told I might have two surgeries for fusing L3-S1. Part of it from the back and part from the front. I had multiple issues at the time. I was in so much pain I was ready for whatever they could do. I had a great team of doctors. They were able to do all the fusions from the back in one 7 1/2 hour surgery. I was in the hospital 4 days. In a rehab facility 10 days. And then 6 1/2 drive home. Have been good ever since. I have to have help sometimes getting socks and shoes on but have managed to work around all other bending issues by using grabbers etc. Generally only wear slip on shoes. Am able to garden due to building raised beds. Am very grateful, six years later, to be pain free..

Hello all,
My 61yo husband is preparing for a circumferential 360-degree spinal fusion from L2 to L5 to address severe spinal instability and stenosis. His case is under New York Workers' Compensation and it was difficult to find a competent surgeon for this complex 2-day surgery under Worker’s Comp, let alone a second opinion. Not to say we didn’t see other surgeons, but they were primarily orthopedic surgeons, whereas the doctor performing the surgeryis a neurosurgeon. So the only neurosurgeon we saw gave us a path forward and my husband decided to take it.
His surgeon is Dr. Arien Smith. Because of logistical gridlock with coordinating the vascular access surgeon at Mount Sinai's main campus, we are looking at pivoting the surgical location to Hudson Regional Hospital in Secaucus, NJ to streamline the scheduling.
I am reaching out to see if anyone in this community has:
1. Had a multi-level 360 fusion (anterior/lateral + posterior instrumentation) and can share what their early recovery timeline looked like?
2. Been treated by Dr. Arien Smith for complex reconstructions?
3. Had an inpatient stay at Hudson Regional Hospital? I am curious about the ability to handle emergent complications and the quality of the inpatient floor care and their experience there.
Any insights, tips on what to pack, or advice on navigating a location change with a work-injury claim would be incredibly appreciated.