Healing time with Alif/360

Posted by annie1 @annie1, 4 days ago

I have a consultation with a spinal rehab physical therapists who has been working with people after spine surgery for 40 years almost. I'm 74 and have extremely complex issues including stenosis, degenerative disc and other things. She thought the healing time would be shorter then with a large posterior fusion. Who out there has had ALIF 360? Can u share your experience?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Spine Health Support Group.

marcd2k | @marcd2k | 3 days ago

Good morning, Annie,
I did not have ALIF / 360, as I did not have the screws inserted in the back of my spine. I did have ALIF surgery last November, it was a fusion of the L5-S1 area that is performed through an incision below your naval (about 3 inches long).

I had the 6 weeks of no bending, lifting, or twisting (BLT), then I had to start looking into physical therapy on my own because my surgeon did not have any follow-up visits or physical therapy scheduled. This still seems crazy to me that a world renowned spine surgeon does not do anything for his patients after surgery.

Most people are told a full recovery from ALIF surgery is 1 year (which I was told), and right now I am at about 9 months post-op, so it is getting close to the 1 year point for me. Unfortunately, I do not have any guidance at this point to know what any restrictions still are at 9 months after surgery.

I have been left on my own out here, and my advice is always the same after my experience. Insist on discussing physical therapy, what you will need and when you will need it. Ask for a time-line for when you should be doing certain things (bending, lifting, twisting that you will do in physical therapy), and where you should be in your recovery at 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year.

Good luck, Annie!