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T10 to Pelvis Fusion. Experience, Comments Appreciated
I would like to hear from others who had a, or something like a, T10 to ilium fusion with multiple interbody support. How long was the surgery? What is a brief description of the surgery? How long was the hospital stay? Were the results what you expected? How long before you were up and walking as much as you were before the procedure? Did the procedure improve the length of time you can walk? Were you offered any other possible procedures? Any other thoughts/comments?
I have been evaluated and found to have severe Degenerative Disk disease, progressive kyphotic deformity in my lumbar spine, and significant sagittal balance deformity due to a complete loss of lumbar lordosis. This results in my inability to maintain normal posture. In 2018 I had an L5-S1 ALIF for lumbar stenosis, sciatic pain, and a left-sided foot drop. This procedure improved my sciatic pain significantly; however, it did not improve my left-sided foot drop. I spent one day in the hospital. I wear an AFO on my left foot and ankle, an LSO brace, and use walking sticks. I do not have radicular or myelopathic symptoms at present.
I often must use my hands and available furniture when ambulating to keep from stumbling and/or to straighten up my posture. I cannot maintain an upright posture without assistance for more than a few moments. My most comfortable position is while pushing a grocery store cart. I am relatively asymptomatic at rest. I can lay flat without pain or difficulty. I have consulted with several spine surgeons who have discussed thoracolumbar corrective surgery that would include multiple interbody support and fusion from my thoracic spine down to my pelvis. However, one surgeon opines that the risks of the surgery would likely outweigh any potential benefit. Another surgeon recommends the surgery, which has a high probability of improving my quality of life.
Imaging and Findings
GENERAL: The patient is a male in no acute distress. He ambulates with the use of bilateral walking sticks.
BP 129/70 | Pulse 64 | Temp 36.4 °C (Temporal) | Ht 6' (1.829 m) | Wt 83.4 kg (183 lb 12.8 oz) | SpO2 100% | BMI 24.93 kg/m²
FINDINGS:
Alignment: Rightward lumbar spine curvature measuring 9 degrees from L2-L4. 4 degree leftward thoracolumbar spine curvature measured from T12-L2.
Coronal balance: C7 is 3.1 cm to the left of S1 (normal less than 3 cm).
Thoracic kyphosis angle: 10 degrees (normal range 20-50 degrees)
Lumbar lordosis angle: 19 degrees (normal range 20-60 degrees)
lumbar kyphosis 2 degrees
Sagittal vertical axis: 2.2 cm (normal range -2 - +2 cm)
Pelvic incidence: 64 degrees
Pelvic incidence - lumbar lordosis: 45 degrees (normal less than 10 degrees)
Pelvic tilt: 39 degrees (normal less than 20 degrees).
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@g113 Hey there, I just saw this post and want to see how you are doing.
Please do not feel bad for asking a surgeon to explain things to you again.
Ask your surgeon what degree your scoliosis is.
And you said you were scheduled for a fusion. When is that going to happen?
Best wishes, Sherry
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2 ReactionsI don't want to sugarcoat the recovery time for anyone looking for answer's. I am 7 months out now from surgery and I still cannot tie my own shoes or trim my toenails. I am looking for help from anyone who is further out to see if this will ever improve. The bottom anchor screws through the pelvic floor are the biggest of the 22 screws. Even at PT you won't run into anyone that has had this type of surgery, it is difficult finding answers, that is how I found this site, looking for others.
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5 Reactions@mydogbb14
I have a similar fusion presented for me, C2-T10, hopefully not needing to include L1. I am having a hard time deciding whether to get it done. I have a current fusion now developing kyphosis. Do you realize any gains from yours?
Kim
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1 Reaction@staab4 Hi, I’ve had disc problems for over 20 years now. I have cervical fusion’s at 4/5,5/6,6/7 and T1. C 5/6 didn’t fuse so I’ve had cervical radiculopathy for years. So I think I understand some of that pain. My current problems involve my lumbar spine after 4 previous surgeries including fusion and laminectomy. I’ve had pretty bad sciatica for 10 years so I know that pain. But in February I keeled over in the snow because I had something called saddle anesthesia, which I had never heard of. I work 20 hours a week at the hospital so I was admitted immediately. I started to freak out, something was really bad. The MRI came back total loss of kyphosis and buckled cauda equina. The big group of nerves at the base of the spine. I was totally numb in my whole torso, that is saddle anesthesia. I was scheduled for surgery the following morning. It became a big deal and I had never heard of any of this before in my life. I had no choice and so lucky I did. I lost a ton of mobility but the pain is finally gone. Gone.
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2 Reactions@mydogbb14
Your feedback is really good!! One thing I want to say is that putting your socks and shoes on and another activities depends on how flexible you are.
I do not have the level of fusion that you do, but I work very hard DAILY to bring my feet up to my hips and stretch my quads and hamstrings. This allows me the flexibility to put my socks and shoes on without assistance. My fusion is a T11 to L4
It’s a slow process to get there, but it is possible.
I also have a wonderful long handled shoehorn (that I only had to use the first couple months after surgery), and I still have shoes that I can put on that do not have laces. It really depends on my ability for the day.🤣
Wishing the best, Sherry
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5 ReactionsIs there anyone that is past the one year recovery period of a T10 to pelvis fusion surgery that can tell me how much mobility was lost. I want to be able to return to golf, kayaking, racquetball etc. Will that be possible? Did you get pain relief?
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2 ReactionsHi Jwgard,
I am 5 month post T10 to Pelvis fusion, but my back is a little different as I was previously fused from T2 to L2 due to idiopathic (childhood) scoliosis.
I was in chronic back pain prior to my May back surgery. Post-surgery, my chronic pain was gone. However, I did initially have pain at my surgical site, and also early on, I went through a weird 1-2 weeks of having hypersentivity nerve pain in my back.
With my being 67, it will take 1 1/2 to 2 years post surgery for my back to completely fuse so sports are not in the picture for awhile. I can see kayaking as a possibility, in the future, but not golf or racket ball for me. These are questions, I would ask your doctor.
Post-surgery, my quality of life has improved immensely. Now, I am looking forward to extensive traveling.
Best Wishes!
Nadine
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5 ReactionsHi Nadine,
I’m scheduled to get pelvis to T10 / fusion in January by Dr. Sebastian. I’m worried now that I read you’ll need 1.5-2 years to heal completely. I’m 62. I’m in good physical shape but have diabetes and CKD. I know I can’t keep living bent over, but I hate the thought of using 2 of my 5-8 years (?) of life healing. What more can you share? Your doctor’s name? Any more wore positive things to share, like your chronic pain is gone, that’s great!
Dr. Sebastian said I should be riding motorcycles and horses in a year.
I would like to hear all about your post surgery experience.
Thank you, Jack
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2 ReactionsI'm looking at T2 to L5 open surgery due to scoliosis curve. How bad is post surgery pain on a 1 to 10 scale ?
@rwdixon4
I imagine everyone is different.
While in the hospital (6 nights), I experienced pain but I don't remember it! Unfortunately, I had an ileus due to the pain medications and an electrolyte imbalance (due to 2 days of sugery --2 hours on day 1 and 11 hours on day 2). Because of the ileus, I had to go off the opioids for a few days, and was just on Tylenol, Baclofen, topical agents, ice, heat, and meditation. My husband said I was 10/10 pain levels--but I don't remember it!! Amazing how the mind works. Once my bowels started moving again, I was placed on low dose oxy along the other treatments described above and my pain was well managed.
During inpatient rehab ( 10 nights), I tapered off the oxy, and by the time I left, I was only taking Tylenol daily. I requested an Oxycodone refill for breakthrough, and only took 3 of the pills after my stay in the Impatient Rehab facility. Pain levels were very low at the time I was discharged-- probably a 1-3 at the surgical site, and that weird hypersentivity, in my back for 1 -2 weeks where I would have a flash of intense pain for a few seconds and it would disappear. Pain 8-10).This only happened when I was laying in bed and my husband either layed down causing the mattress to slightly move or he pulled the sheet. Thankfully, the hypersentivity disappeared as quickly as it came!
I have continued to take Tylenol and I do take other drugs to help with a residual radicular issue with my right leg. The nerves are no longer pinched and the hope is that, with time, the issue will disappear as it continues to improve.
As a side note, I highly recommend inpatient rehab as I had 3 hours of therapy every day-- split between physical therapy and occupational therapy.
Don't let any of this scare you. My chronic pain was immediate gone, The surgical pain did not last very long. I don't have pain now, but at times I feel like my back feels likes it needs to relax and I either use ice heat a few times a day and I still watch how long I sit.
Best Wishes!
Nadine
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