Being patient after back fusion from T-10 to my pelvis

I had a T10-pelvic fusion almost a year ago. Prior to that, I bought an adjustable bed and was doing fairly well sleeping until about four months ago. Now I am waking with significant pain in my lumbar area that usually lasts for 1-11/2 hours. I have tried adjusting my head, my feet, putting a pillow underneath my knees and currently use a mattress topper. I am not a side sleeper because it increases hip and neck pain. I have spoken to my physical therapist and doctors with no improvements after trying their suggestions. I recognize it is very individualized, but I was wondering if anybody has tips or things you found worked to improve sleep. I don’t want to sleep in a recliner for the rest of my life. In advance, thank you for sharing your sleeping successes.

I had a T10-pelvic fusion almost a year ago. Prior to that, I bought an adjustable bed and was doing fairly well sleeping until about four months ago. Now I am waking with significant pain in my lumbar area that usually lasts for 1-11/2 hours. I have tried adjusting my head, my feet, putting a pillow underneath my knees and currently use a mattress topper. I am not a side sleeper because it increases hip and neck pain. I have spoken to my physical therapist and doctors with no improvements after trying their suggestions. I recognize it is very individualized, but I was wondering if anybody has tips or things you found worked to improve sleep. I don’t want to sleep in a recliner for the rest of my life. In advance, thank you for sharing your sleeping successes.

@luann505 I had T-10 to base of spine surgery in August. I have had numerous spine surgeries in my life, but this one really did help. Dr. Koski at Northwestern really took away my pain. At 73, I didn’t expect a miracle, but my surgery came close. This week Northwestern said my X-rays were good, but that I couldn’t bend or twist until I saw them at my 1 year anniversary in August.
I am tired of the restrictions but I will do it because I want to be better in whatever future I have.
As far as sleeping, I use an air mattress on an adjustable frame and it has helped me for quite a few years. I find a small pillow under my knees at night is helpful too. My only sleeping problem is dry mouth and coughing from bronchiectasis. Since my surgery it’s not lost sleep from my back pain.
Good luck to all of us on this journey!,

@luann505 I had T-10 to base of spine surgery in August. I have had numerous spine surgeries in my life, but this one really did help. Dr. Koski at Northwestern really took away my pain. At 73, I didn’t expect a miracle, but my surgery came close. This week Northwestern said my X-rays were good, but that I couldn’t bend or twist until I saw them at my 1 year anniversary in August.
I am tired of the restrictions but I will do it because I want to be better in whatever future I have.
As far as sleeping, I use an air mattress on an adjustable frame and it has helped me for quite a few years. I find a small pillow under my knees at night is helpful too. My only sleeping problem is dry mouth and coughing from bronchiectasis. Since my surgery it’s not lost sleep from my back pain.
Good luck to all of us on this journey!,

@htolan My internal medicine doctor mentioned Dr. Koski at Northwestern in Chicago to me only because he has another patient here in Florida whose wife had spinal surgery done by Dr. Koski and she is doing amazingly well, hiking trails, etc. I have been told my 2 neurosurgeons not to have the surgery unless the pain is so bad I would rather die, except for one neurosurgeon at Mayo Jax who is sure he can help me. I'm on the fence about it due to living alone, no real support system, and fear of trading current limitation for different limitations after fusion. But as my internal medicine doctor told me, at age 71, if you are going to do it, do it before some other medical condition prevents you from being able to.

@htolan I'm so glad to hear this surgery helped! I'll be having T-10 to pelvis at the end of June due to flatback and a high pelvic incidence. I know about the no blts rule but I sure hope it won't be for a year, lol! Thank you for sharing.

I had a T10-pelvic fusion almost a year ago. Prior to that, I bought an adjustable bed and was doing fairly well sleeping until about four months ago. Now I am waking with significant pain in my lumbar area that usually lasts for 1-11/2 hours. I have tried adjusting my head, my feet, putting a pillow underneath my knees and currently use a mattress topper. I am not a side sleeper because it increases hip and neck pain. I have spoken to my physical therapist and doctors with no improvements after trying their suggestions. I recognize it is very individualized, but I was wondering if anybody has tips or things you found worked to improve sleep. I don’t want to sleep in a recliner for the rest of my life. In advance, thank you for sharing your sleeping successes.

@htolan My internal medicine doctor mentioned Dr. Koski at Northwestern in Chicago to me only because he has another patient here in Florida whose wife had spinal surgery done by Dr. Koski and she is doing amazingly well, hiking trails, etc. I have been told my 2 neurosurgeons not to have the surgery unless the pain is so bad I would rather die, except for one neurosurgeon at Mayo Jax who is sure he can help me. I'm on the fence about it due to living alone, no real support system, and fear of trading current limitation for different limitations after fusion. But as my internal medicine doctor told me, at age 71, if you are going to do it, do it before some other medical condition prevents you from being able to.