Anyone else pleased with their spinal fusion outcome?

Yes to all! THR is standard fare for PT’s, I think your therapist will have a multitude of ideas for you that do not compromise the restrictions and healing of your new hip! I can’t give specific advice to you - my college, liability… PT is highly regulated. I do certainly cheer you on and thank you for being inspiring! I am very glad you could have a closed reduction.

Only do it if absolutely necessary. My first Lumbar fusion had a great recovery. At my yearly checkup my surgeon said to of my screws didn't integrate so he wanted to replace all 6 with longer larger screws. After that surgery I could no longer stand up straight. Physical therapy was excruciating. After 4 years and multiple X-rays, he told me he was sorry but he had fused my back out of alignment and didn't know how to fix it. I live in NC and was referred to Duke. The surgery they suggested has 100 percent chance of complications and he didn't recommend it. I will never be able to stand up straight and having to use Rollator. Recommended Aquatic therapy and pain management. Please consider your decision carefully.

Thanks Nadia! Very kind reply!

I have a great personal trainer/PT and I see him for 45 minutes, twice a week. He is invaluable.

And I completely understand your restriction on offering advice in an informal setting. I last worked for Merrill Lynch and we had to really be careful. People would find out that I was a Financial Advisor, and ask for input on a stock or their portfolios. I had to politely refuse.

Thanks for your encouragement. That alone means a great deal to me.

Joe

I had scoliosis surgery in May of 22. This is one of the best things I have done to change my health future. I had 12% as a child then 30% when I was age 30. After that I was diagnosed with several auto-immune conditions and was very sick for years while working and also training six days a week until age 56. I kept complaining of back pain, seeing 11 doctors for different conditions. I believe taking steroids for 9 years started my journey where the condition became and being re-ended in four car accidents. I waited for several years and was afraid of the pain and the time away from work. When I was 72 I decided to have the surgery and get out of that body brace. By this time my three curves, leaning forward, leaning to the right and the curve in my low spine that pushed my waist forward were 60%, 74% and 74%. The surgery was to be a two day and it was decided that I would have two do the surgery , Dr. Darrell Hanson who is right-handed and a neurosurgeon that is left-handed to operate in one day. I have metal at every vertebrae, from the base of the spine to the part where the spine attaches to the neck. The surgery took 10.5 hours, and I was out of two hospitals in 14 days, with 24 one care for 7 days and 5 days of 12 hour care. I went back to work in 2.5 months. I can walk without any aids and about to take my first trip with my son and daughter in law to Greece, am 76 and just retired. My advice would be to have the surgery as soon as you are told.
I had been planning to have the surgery in the spring of 2020 but the hospitals all shut down and then they only offered emergency surgeries. Also, I was not clear on what I would use for a paint medication. The most important thing to learn from my experience is
1. Seek out two highly qualified scoliosis surgeons to visit. I would rotate visit one and then the other opting by year. We watched my spine continue to move from 55 to 74.
2. find several medications you are sure you can tolerate. However- I took Ketamine in the ICU for two days, and then was put on Fentanyl IV for the remainer of my stay. I did not have much pain- I took Tylenol a few times a day. I moved to the patch the day I was leaving and discovered that the patch works great, and the IV version does not last but 1.5 hours.
3. Find the right home help and then get home exercise to help you with your stability, but move back to using a trainer as soon as possible or a PT clinic. I did not find the home PT very helpful.
I have scoliosis in my neck now and was going to have the surgery, but I would have been completely fused with my head. I decided to get trainers that helped me strengthen my shoulders, back, abdominals and legs.
The last part: YOU must exercise every single day until you have surgery- I also stretched my spine each day and my 74% on the side moved back to a 34% curve. This surprised the doctors. Pilates, and using a Frankin Ball w PT at home on a PT low table helped me stretch my muscles that allowed this much movement to happen.
I don't know how to attach my spine images.

I would say do not have spinal surgery unless you have tried everything else - PT - core strengthening and injections and even then only after you have sought out multiple consultations and be sure one of them is with a qualified neurosurgeon. I had spinal fusion l4/l5 with a highly recommended orthopedic surgeon who incorrectly placed the cage and put a screw into my l4 nerve. This was a large orthopedic office, highly praised and very affluent. The damage done was unbelievable. I was in pain and unable to walk for months before a CT scan revealed the damage and even then the surgeon minimized the situation stating that "things must have shifted." I sought a second opinion through a neurosurgeon who had to tell me the truth. I have had revision surgery with 2 neurosurgeons that revealed extensive damage done by the 1st surgery. They did they best they could to fix the damage but unfortunately it has left me with considerable pain and inability to completely walk. Spinal surgery can go great or it can go very badly very quickly with little to no recourse. Either way it can be life changing. I just wouldn't recommend it unless you truly have no other option.

I am horrified by your experience....I just had a laminectomy at L4/L5 a week ago. It's hard to describe the level of pain because it is unrelenting and the pain meds and muscle relaxers address some degree of it. My surgeons office is completely unavailable, It took me three days to get a refill on my meds. No follow up call from his since I left the hospital, but I have received a letter and phone call from the hospital the day after 'I came home! I guess that's as good as it gets? I can't say I'm sorry that I had this surgery, because I was unable to walk the day prior,
hearing how your surgeon screwed up and then didn't even take responsibility is terrible! He probably golfs with my surgeon, I guess they are merely hired guns.... accountable to no one....

Call your surgeon and insist on being seen right away - don't take no for an answer - or seek a second opinion. You need care after your surgery and if the pain is not subsiding soon then maybe there is a problem. At least in my state this seems to be the way surgeons are doing business. I hope you are recovering soon. You have my sympathy.

I am not "new" to a spinal fusion - L-4 / L-5 fused 30 years ago - 4 screws and two rods // L-3 /L-4 three weeks ago. This time less invasive - side entry to the spine - with cage and bone graft/2 screws/plate . Recovering much faster with less pain (still had to use Oxicodone/Tylenol/muscle relaxants and most important - stool products. I believe the constipation is worse than the pain. So far I am extremely happy. I was a carpenter and I abused my back to the maximum - I have been told that all the disc spaces have deteriorated up to the thoracic but I chose this more moderate approach. Before this recent surgery I was unable to stand to brush my teeth/ help with the dishes and even walk to the mail box (Not far). I used to walk every day 2-3 miles. Three weeks into my recovery - walking a little every day / almost no pain but lying down often and wearing a "prescribed" back brace when up.
Keep the faith - things get better / I am almost 80 years old.

I just posted (RE: 80 year old Carpenter). I wanted to add: I had severe nerve pain into both legs at night - the medication I tried was "Gabapentin" but it made me crazy and angry / now taking "Lyrica" - working great - I take it at night with 1000mg Tylenol and I actually sleep. It does get better - don't give up - be Possitive.

Look for my comments under spinal fusion - 80 year old carpenter.