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Lumbar Fusion & Laminectomy, Need Positives, Comments, Tips

Posted by ladyaceintx1 @ladyaceintx1, May 18, 2025

I'm scheduled on May 29th 2025 for both an anterior and posterior L4 Spinal Fusion with laminectomy and an allograft with artificial bone. I really need to hear positive results or comments, any additional equipment besides what I've already ordered that was helpful to you, any special precautions besides no BLT, any thoughts on what to discuss during my pre-op this week besides my 20 medication allergies and history of cellulitis, and any other tips you may have on how to deal with the post operative pain. Thank you so much.

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Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | 1 day ago
In reply to @pnwviv "I'm a 65-year-old woman dealing with spinal issues. 16 months post-op T11-S1 Lumbar Laminectomy. Followed 14..." + (show)
Profile picture for inthepnw @pnwviv

I'm a 65-year-old woman dealing with spinal issues.
16 months post-op T11-S1 Lumbar Laminectomy. Followed 14 days later by an emergency infection washout. Soon after a seroma developed and the pain began again.
16 week post-op L2-L3 discectomy. And the seroma was back again.
Now I am 5 days post-op L2-L3 spinal fusion surgery. This was a minimally invasive procedure. I am home now and dealing with post-op muscle and nerve pain.
The past 2 plus years has been crazy with pain, tests, travel for medical appointments. I know there is an end insite, but I am having a hard time focusing on the positives.

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@pnwviv - also hoping that @ladyaceintx1 and @grayhairs will have some input for you, as well.

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ladyaceintx1 | @ladyaceintx1 | 1 day ago
In reply to @pnwviv "I'm a 65-year-old woman dealing with spinal issues. 16 months post-op T11-S1 Lumbar Laminectomy. Followed 14..." + (show)
Profile picture for inthepnw @pnwviv

I'm a 65-year-old woman dealing with spinal issues.
16 months post-op T11-S1 Lumbar Laminectomy. Followed 14 days later by an emergency infection washout. Soon after a seroma developed and the pain began again.
16 week post-op L2-L3 discectomy. And the seroma was back again.
Now I am 5 days post-op L2-L3 spinal fusion surgery. This was a minimally invasive procedure. I am home now and dealing with post-op muscle and nerve pain.
The past 2 plus years has been crazy with pain, tests, travel for medical appointments. I know there is an end insite, but I am having a hard time focusing on the positives.

Jump to this post

@pnwviv I'm so sorry to hear that you've had so many medical complications along with pain. Your complications are delaying the healing process which does take about 6 months on average. My surgery was both an anterior (meaning a horizontal incision below the belly button) and a posterior/vertical incision (on my back) approach to place an allograft and cage around the vertebrae L3-4. My complication 2 weeks afterwards, was developing a chain of Nickel sized blood clots from my right knee to my groin and having to undergo a Thrombectomy to remove them. Soon after, I learned that I actually had a blood clotting disease called APS (Antiphospholipid Syndrome) and was placed on Warfarin for life. After my spinal surgery, i had regular follow up visits with xrays, and didn't lie around in bed. I made myself walk thru the house at least twice a day and feel that this helped me recover faster. I have 21 allergies to medication so taking pain medication wasn't an option for me, but there are many types of nerve blocking drugs that may help you. Ask to see a Pain Management physician for help. Wishing you good health in your journey.

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inthepnw | @pnwviv | 1 day ago

Last night was good and I was able to get some sleep.
Today was better and I sat outside for a bit.

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