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Spinal fusion: Hardware removal
Spine Health | Last Active: Mar 20 12:37pm | Replies (32)Comment receiving replies
Hi @jenatsky thanks for your comment. I was told that I would be recovered within 4 weeks by the surgeon - so in my view it is misleading communication by the medical professional - it was a significant understatement of how this would impact me and I did not have full information about the consequences. It is easy for the surgeon to say the surgery was successful - yes that part is true - but it is more involved than that - I needed to know how my life would change, apparently for years, due to the pain and spinal immobility which is not something one can ignore! To be clear I have been doing exercise, including PT, religiously and eating healthy - so it is not my behaviour, it is that my life has drastically changed and the surgeon left me unprepared and uninformed ex post facto. I am not ready to live with such major disability. I was very active pre-surgery and had no pain in my spine so the freedom I had with my body pre-surgery is not something I am willing to give up now and it was just glossed over by the surgeon who was only focussed on surgery being a "success" regardless of how patient feels after and what patient life priorities are.
Are you able to do whatever activities you want now despite fusion? I still want to be able to do gymnastics.
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It has been 9 1/2 years for me. I went in an was told they would put a cement gel between the bad discs. Never during the 8 hours surgery did anyone let my husband know why it was taking so long as we had been told 3 hours. When I woke up in recovery my pain was tremendous. I was told it would bet better. Not only did a nurse give me a shot in my IV for pain, but never did they ask why or what I wore the allergic red bracelet. Needless to say it made my heart react and they had to give me oxygen plus put me on a heart monitor. I went home after 3 days and did my exercises and everything just like my therapist did when she come every day. When I went in for my two week and 4 week appointments I told them how bad my pain was. I have a very high pain tolerance or did. At my six week checkup I was told my back had healed very well and they would see me after 6 months and re-evaluate my pain.
I continued too do my exercises. I only wish I had made contact with someone else who had back fusion before hand. My pain has got worse ever since. Now the 2 above and the two below have blown. My pain doctor has tried me on everything and I have a reaction and can't breathe, I have continued with my exercises at home, I decided I would use something natural for my pain. It had to be better than what I was doing. I have finally got my pain under control a little. My primary care provider sent me to physical therapy in the water 3 months ago. I am now out of therapy and do an aquasize class 4 days a week by putting on a wide waist floater and exercising in the water where my feet don't touch the bottom. I am so thankful for everyone that has encouraged me and my goal now is to just be able to continue to go to the inside pool at the YMCA and doing as much as I can to keep moving and my pain controlled. Both of my aquasize leaders know I am limited and can't twist so when they do those I just water walk till the next exercise. I have developed neuropathy really bad and if I don't take my meds right on time my spasms get so so bad it puts me in bed. I know I will never be able to work again but I do volunteer to help me get out and around other people. I wish you the best. Never give up. but you will have to decide what enough is. Before surgery I was walking 6 miles every other day and I will never be able to do that again but I am so thankful that I can go do aquasize and play with my grandkids. It is not what I thought I would have to live like but I will always stay happy and do whatever I can to tell people make sure and have someone who has had a procedure done explain the outcome they have had. Stay strong and face one day at a time.