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Please share ALIF patient experiences, including recovery
I’m scheduled for ALIF surgery in a couple of weeks for severe L4-5 spondylolisthesis. This surgical approach not only involves the orthopedic surgeon- but a vascular surgeon as well ( that essentially moves your guts/protect your vessels while the orthopedic surgeon cages the L4-5..). I’m interested in others that have had this - and what to anticipate recovery wise.
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So.... I had this same surgery, and I an now disabled. Can barely walk around Walmart or pick up a gallon of milk. And I do push myself as to I am not ready to quit. I am also not sure if i had a good dr. 1.. I am a smaller person and fileted me like a deer. And pulled my hips apart as to where I couldn't lift my legs and still have issues for 2 weeks, I needed some one to do it for me. And then to have it fail.
Just be under the understanding that if they can't get the cage in your spine they will break your hips to do it with out telling you.
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1 ReactionHi all. I am hoping the members of this group can weigh in on their successful strategies and medications used for nerve pain, mostly in my foot, and lower back pain after the healing of the fusion has taken place. I had an MTR at 6 months post-op, which showed a "successful" fusion, but still some mils canal stenosis. I did not have a laminectomy with my ALIF. I also had an EMG, and they did not see any major nerve compression. Some meds like Duloxetine produced terrible nausea as a side effect, so I'm not able to take that. I continue to take the Lyrica at night to help with the nerve pain, but it makes me too foggy if I take during the day. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.
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1 Reactionsorry for the typo I didn't catch…it should read MRI - not MRT.