Anybody had spine surgery?

Has anyone had a L5S1 fusion with an anterior approach. What was your experience post-op. Did it relieve your sciatica, did you experience post-op nerve pain.

@ldpdrrx Hello, I had ALIF surgery at L5-S1 back in November, so almost 6 months post-op. I never had Sciatica issues, either before or after the surgery, so unfortunately I can't help you with that. But the post-op recovery went better for my spine than I expected.

The first 6 weeks they tell you no Bending, Lifting, or Twisting (BLT). This is the toughest part, to not twist or bend is so unnatural, you have to really pay attention to every movement. The lifting isn't as difficult, just do not lift anything more than a pound or so for the first few weeks.

I had lower right back pain that ended up spreading around my right flank/oblique area. My surgeon found the disc at L5-S1 had collapsed on the right side, so he performed the ALIF surgery. Even though my back is doing well, surprisingly little pain in the area of the surgery, I still have pain in my right flank/oblique muscles that my doctors are trying to figure out.

The ALIF surgery seems to have been successful for my spine, and the one thing I would recommend anyone considering this surgery to do is to have your physical therapy plan in place. When you will start it, and what type of rehab you will need should already be decided on before the surgery. Unfortunately, my surgeon did not do this for me, even after I asked him about starting physical therapy when we were still discussing the surgery to be done.

@ldpdrrx Hello, I had ALIF surgery at L5-S1 back in November, so almost 6 months post-op. I never had Sciatica issues, either before or after the surgery, so unfortunately I can't help you with that. But the post-op recovery went better for my spine than I expected.

The first 6 weeks they tell you no Bending, Lifting, or Twisting (BLT). This is the toughest part, to not twist or bend is so unnatural, you have to really pay attention to every movement. The lifting isn't as difficult, just do not lift anything more than a pound or so for the first few weeks.

I had lower right back pain that ended up spreading around my right flank/oblique area. My surgeon found the disc at L5-S1 had collapsed on the right side, so he performed the ALIF surgery. Even though my back is doing well, surprisingly little pain in the area of the surgery, I still have pain in my right flank/oblique muscles that my doctors are trying to figure out.

The ALIF surgery seems to have been successful for my spine, and the one thing I would recommend anyone considering this surgery to do is to have your physical therapy plan in place. When you will start it, and what type of rehab you will need should already be decided on before the surgery. Unfortunately, my surgeon did not do this for me, even after I asked him about starting physical therapy when we were still discussing the surgery to be done.

@marcd2k

Thanks, if you don’t mind me asking, who was your surgeon? Did you have surgery in PHX?

@ldpdrrx Hello, I had ALIF surgery at L5-S1 back in November, so almost 6 months post-op. I never had Sciatica issues, either before or after the surgery, so unfortunately I can't help you with that. But the post-op recovery went better for my spine than I expected.

The first 6 weeks they tell you no Bending, Lifting, or Twisting (BLT). This is the toughest part, to not twist or bend is so unnatural, you have to really pay attention to every movement. The lifting isn't as difficult, just do not lift anything more than a pound or so for the first few weeks.

I had lower right back pain that ended up spreading around my right flank/oblique area. My surgeon found the disc at L5-S1 had collapsed on the right side, so he performed the ALIF surgery. Even though my back is doing well, surprisingly little pain in the area of the surgery, I still have pain in my right flank/oblique muscles that my doctors are trying to figure out.

The ALIF surgery seems to have been successful for my spine, and the one thing I would recommend anyone considering this surgery to do is to have your physical therapy plan in place. When you will start it, and what type of rehab you will need should already be decided on before the surgery. Unfortunately, my surgeon did not do this for me, even after I asked him about starting physical therapy when we were still discussing the surgery to be done.

@marcd2k I'm about to have my first fusion surgery in about 2 months. I am terrified of the recovery and for the EXACT reasons you detailed in your earlier post. The whole BLT (I totally understand) but dang, how do you go to the restroom without bending and twisting? I went out this weekend and purchased a "lift recliner" in anticipation of my recovery but there is still somewhat bending getting in and out. I'm sure there is somewhat of an exception, but I haven't heard from anyone that really let's us in on the BLT compromise. Can you elaborate a little on the bending and twisting? I'm good on the lifting part. Thank you in advance!

@albertlc13 Good morning, I'll try to help as much as I can with what I went through. I am at about 6 months post-op now, and the one thing that has surprised me the most is how little pain I had at the surgery site, right from the first week after surgery until now.

For the BLT, it does seem impossible at first. I was asking, "How the heck do you live?" if you can't bend, lift, or twist. As for using the restroom, I have a walker that I set up at the toilet. It's one that the sides fold inward for storage, and with the sides locked out, I positioned the walker with the sides on each side of the toilet. I used the walker for sitting, and then standing back up, keeping from bending as much as I could. Actually sitting down was not bad at all, as I didn't have pain sitting on the toilet. Then it is being aware of how you position yourself to clean up, again, trying not to twist as you reach for things.

I did not sit in a chair (in the living room or bedroom) for the first few weeks. I have a standing desk for my computer in the bedroom, and I have a small step-stool next to the bed for getting in and out of bed. They should tell you about the "Log Roll" you will use to get yourself in and out of bed. There should be a video online for this, but I'll try to explain it here.

To get in bed, I stepped on the step-stool with my back towards the bed, then sat on the edge of the bed. I lowered my left shoulder towards the pillow, keeping everything as straight as I could, and you end up on your side (on my left side, but you should lay on the side that is the most comfortable for you). With your body straight, you roll from you side on to your back.

To get out of bed, you roll on to your side near the edge of the bed with your knees bent. Then you push up from the pillow with your top arm, and at the same time, you swing your legs off the edge of the bed. Now you will be sitting on the edge of the bed, and I used the stool to get out of bed, too. My bed is a little higher than average, so depending on the height of yours, you can possibly get in and out without a step-stool, but all of the movements are the same.

For washing up and shaving, I did that standing at the bathroom sink. There will be a bit of a mess with water splashing around, but you can do this without bending over the sink, just have a towel or two ready. As for showering, I could get in and out of the shower, but the first week and a half or so, my wife helped with me drying off and getting dressed. The main problem getting dressed is getting your socks on and off, ha ha! So simple normally, but with no BLT, not so simple.

Once I figured how to get my socks on with one hand, this let me be more independent with my showers. And I have a grabber that is designed for reaching things on a shelf, but I used it for picking up my clothes and the towel, and other things I dropped around the house. Picking things up off of the floor will take a little while to do without help.

It is not as difficult as it seems at first, especially if you have someone to assist at home for the first couple of weeks, until you can be more independent around the house. I just did a quick YouTube search for the Log Roll in and out of bed, and there are several videos that pop up right away. I hope this helps, and good luck with your surgery!