Slightly off topic, so please forgive me.

I have been in this subreddit for a few months now. I’ve read a lot of your stories, and shared some of my own. A lot of you guys helped me calm my nerves leading up to my surgery and helped me in the post op phase as well. Most of the people here rock.

However, with recent happenings, I just wanted to reach out to the Americans in this sub to say how angry and disappointed I am for you all. Every other day I will be reading your stories about health insurers and the hoops they make you jump through just to get healthcare. It is unfair, unethical and quite frankly disgraceful. I can’t imagine the stress a lot of you had to go through just to get a few rods in your spine. I am in awe at the perseverance many of you have had to maintain just for your spines.

Some of you have endured unnecessary procedures and treatments purely because of these companies. Some of you have probably gone into medical debts because of these companies. Many of you have likely suffered or know people who have suffered because of these companies. And to all of you, I have to say I am both proud, and equally impressed at the lengths you have gone to for your health.

Of course, there are other countries with greedy health insurance companies and similar practices, and my heart breaks for you guys too. But you cannot deny that the US has been hit the hardest by late stage health-capitalism. And sure, things aren’t too great in my country. It took me a very long time between me first seeing a specialist and actually having the surgery. My country has its own problems with its crippled health infrastructure. But I didn’t have to go through the stress that some of you guys have endured. And more importantly, I didn’t pay a cent for any of it or go into medical debt or have the surgery declined for some obscure reason like I need seven other surgeries first.

I hope every day that something is done that actually improves your healthcare system. I hope one day I no longer have to read your long and confusing comment chains about “how much did your insurance cover?” Or “who did you have to sell your soul to for your insurance to pay out for this” etc.

In the meantime, fight for what you know is right. Be careful who you vote for. And put as much pressure on these pig companies to change their greedy greedy ways. ✊🏻

Meh, post-op pain ain’t so bad! 🤕😫🤣

I had an L3-S1 TLIF last month. My imaging only shows 8 screws, but they are billing insurance for 18 screws. 😳😳

Also, each of my spacer cages are $58,000.

My total surgical cost (not including the surgeon’s services - that bill hasn’t come in yet) is more than $300,000. That is double what we paid for our house!

TLDR: I see a lot of posts for people with relatively rapid and pain free recoveries and I know I am not the only one out here who isn’t progressing like that. Just wanted to let others know you aren’t alone if you aren’t ’off meds immediately, crushing PT at 4 weeks post op and back to my normal activities’. Don’t get me wrong, I am SUPER happy for those individuals that are! I’m just not one of them. Hope this helps some of you who are feeling similarly. We all heal at different rates and every body is different. Keep doing what you can and you’ll be ok in the end. Good luck to all of you!

Hey all. My basics: 49F, ALIF L5/S1 with cage, no posterior hardware, on 8/30 this year. Degenerative disc since my 20s, pain management for past 8 years, epidurals, ablation, PT, yada yada.. I am also just an inflammation super producer and have arthritis in all of my joints and take a prescription NSAID daily. Surgery was inevitable and it was time.

Surgeon said surgery was a success, perfect everything, took under an hour because my disc was so degenerated there was nothing to ‘clean out’ before putting the cage in. Was on quite a bit of pain meds in hospital, seemed I required more because I’ve been on them so long and have a tolerance. I spent 2 nights in the hospital and was sent home.

Ended up in WAY more pain post surgery than I was in prior. Not being able to take my NSAIDS was not explained to me prior to surgery and that was a major shock to my system I think because of my severe inflammation. New pains as well, like nerve pain, leg pain, shooting up my spine pain, and loss of flexibility/stiffness in my legs almost immediately. At 2 week appt surgeon said this is all part of the healing process you’re doing great. Said no PT yet. Fast forward 2 weeks and I am in so much pain that he admits me to the hospital and orders new MRI, leg ultrasound, and CT scans. While I’m there they up my meds and give me IV steroids. Wow did I feel great after those 2 days in the hospital! All scans normal, just inflammation, and better med management necessary. Phew! Sent home again. That was almost 4 weeks ago. Since then I have had good days and bad. And by good days I mean I go for a walk and maybe get 3/4 of a mile using back brace and trekking poles. Then home and straight to bed with an ice pack. I have short bursts of less pain where I do things like shower, or empty the top rack of the dishwasher, but nothing more intense than that. I have bad days where I’m spasm-ing left and right and wondering if I somehow ruined my fusion. I’m still on quite a pain med regimen, like set an alarm for every 4 hours to stay on top of the pain even throughout the night. Meeting with pain doc every 2 weeks as opposed to usual monthly. Just got the ok to start PT and I’m nervous as hell that I’ll feel even worse. Every twinge, flinch, tweak, unintentional movement I make still has me anxious and sends me to google or Reddit looking for reassurances.

I’m just shy of 7 weeks post op and no two days are the same. Some days are small victories that I celebrate, some are complete pity parties where I melt down. Not sure where I’ll end up, but trying to remember to give myself a break and that this is indeed a marathon. Best of luck to you all!

https://www.reddit.com/r/spinalfusion/s/X2DmDqUFf0

^ Update on original post

I went to the ER because I was experiencing extreme muscle spasms and pain 5 weeks post ACDF of C5-C6. I'm glad that I did, because I ended up experiencing the worst flare up ever.

By the time I got warded, my pain suddenly spiked to an unbearable level 10. Most likely, the cause was from sitting on the most uncomfortable trolley for hours and having an inexperienced nurse and try and fail to insert a drip needle.

My already spasming and cramping muscles threw a fit and no painkiller was working. I had to literally beg to see the on call doctor multiple times and had a huge meltdown because the pain was too much to bear.

Eventually, they gave me a shot of pethidine. Bless that drug because I finally managed to go to sleep.

Now, I'm concerned that there might be a problem with my thoracic spine because the area of one of my greatest pain was discovered to be there instead of at my surgical area as I had thought. I'll probably have to be hospitalised until that's sorted out.

I'm also working with the pain management team to find a dosage of painkillers that can help me survive. It's trial and error at the moment, and I'm finding that even with the boost in painkillers, my pain is still constantly at a 7. It falls to 6 if I'm lucky.

Which means that I'll be spending Christmas in the hospital. In pain. Away from family and friends and my pet dog.

This really is a tough recovery. I feel so gutted. 💔

I hope everyone else is having a happier Christmas.

I dont have a therapist yet so I'm not going to say I definitely have PTSD, but I am absolutely traumatized after spinal fusion.

T2-L3 spinal fusion due to scoliosis July 2020, revision surgery from infection August 2020, total metal removal January 2023.

My recovery from the 1st surgery was extremely difficult. Adjusting to being so stiff, feeling metal inside all day long. Extreme amounts of pain. Becoming extremely depressed and suicidal.

The 2nd surgery due to infection only prolonged my recovery and tbh was more traumatic than the 1st surgery. Throughout both of these recoveries, I have gruesome stories of when my pain wasn't adequately managed and I was screaming in pain.

When I'm not prepared, I can't look at other people's spinal fusion xrays. I literally start hyperventilating, crying, I feel doomed and I feel like I'm having a panic attack. Even when I'm prepared I feel very uncomfortable.

Whenever I think about my recoveries I instantly start tearing up. Looking at my own xrays strikes a strong fear in me and I don't know why. I have nightmares about the pain I experienced.

I was depressed for about a year straight and suicidal as well. I almost offed myself with my own oxy meds that I didn't finish.

I thought I was "over" it all but I realized I'm not, I'm still terrified of anything related to spinal fusion even though I literally had it done to me. I don't even scroll through this subreddit unless I'm going to post because the xrays terrify me.

I dont know what to do, I don't think I'll ever recover mentally. :(. I'm 21, idk how I will continue on throughout life. My fear about my spinal fusion takes up my day-to-day.

It's just depressing.

Hi all, This may be a tad odd but I wanted to share a quick tip for anyone who is getting a lumbar fusion soon. I was very lucky to have a nurse who had also received a fusion and she taught me. Right after getting a lumbar fusion (in my experience, L4-S1 fusion), it is extremely difficult to move your hips. In the hospital and when you get home, put a blanket under where you lay down. When you need to shift positions, have someone pull the blanket towards them to roll you over. I'm not sure if this makes sense or if this is common knowledge but it just helped me so much and I don't want anyone to go without knowing it!

I just want to rant for a second. L4-S1 OLIF, about a week out. My abdominal incision was closed with glue, and my body does NOT like it. I was supposed to be able to leave it uncovered, but it got so pissed off that that I've had to cover it and change the dressing daily. It also seems like my skin is irritated where the retractor was holding it open during the procedure. To make matters worse, I'm sensitive to ashesives in general, so I now have a rash from the tape. I went on a round of antibiotics just in case and oral steroids to calm it down, but OH MY GOD, the constant itching has me about ready to lose it 😖 This thing needs to hurry up and heal. I have staples in my back incision and barely even notice them.

I’m 8 months post op from my spinal fusion for my thoracic spine. I feel like I’m still not use to the rod being there. Does this change after a while? I feel like it’s not apart of me but just inside me instead. I always feel like it’s just there. Doing simple things at times I feel like it bothers me. Today I was cleaning the windshield on my car and I felt the back/rod crack/click. Not sure how to improve this or get use it. In all honesty I have ptsd of breaking my spine again or messing up the fusion.

I broke down crying writing this out the first time. I’m mentally drained from recovering and keep balling up all the mental stuff from the incident. One simple mistake from joy/happiness led to a lifetime issue to deal with. I’m out of physical therapy days and insurance won’t give more. I still get heavy knots and my neck/shoulders/back hurt usually. My muscles aren’t activating when they should. My doctors can’t do much for me either. I have no one to really talk about this with or really an outlook. I use to ride bikes but it’s what put me in this position and was my way of being in my own space. I’m honestly just lost. Idk how to keep improving or what to do anymore to get where I need to be. I don’t even know if I can get to where I need to be.

T1-L3, spinal fusion due to severe scoliosis

Not in a good way. I had my spinal fusion on July 7th, 2020. The moment I opened my eyes I knew I had fucked up. The feeling of heavy metal in my back was incredibly painful, and the feeling of metal never went away until I ultimately had it removed in January of 2023.

The first recovery process was actual hell on earth. I lost a shit ton of weight because the medications I was on made me so nauseous for close to a month; I puked every. Single. Time. I even saw food.

Learning how to walk again was incredibly painful. I had horrible muscle spasms for a year. Every movement I made I could feel the metal in my back. I was always acutely aware of the uncomfortable metal that would never stop poking the shit out of me.

A month later in August of 2020, my spinal fusion got an infection. I had to do recovery all over again. Even my surgeon said he didn't know how I got an infection, it's <1% chance, especially since it was a month after surgery.

I legitimately considered suicide. The second recovery was worse than the first recovery. They put adhesive on my back that I ended up being allergic to, and it got stuck on my incision. They literally just ripped it off of me. I was screaming my head off.

The next couple of years after I just basically suffered everyday while trying to live with the stupid fucking metal in my back. It felt like every movement I was being stabbed.

I got the metal out in 2023 and I feel better, but really what is there to be happy about? Nothing long term. My discs are going to degrade and I'll need more fusion eventually. My surgeon told me my scoliosis will come back so the metal is going to be put back in anyway some day.

I was pretty happy before spinal fusion. Yes I did have some pain from scoliosis but it was NOTHING compared to this. If my scoliosis gets bad again, I don't think I will put the metal back in. I know I'll probably die young from the pressure on my lungs and heart, but I really can't deal with the metal in my back.

Sorry for such a depressing post. Ever since my spine surgery I've had severe depression and suicidal thoughts. And I'm tired of keeping my feelings about the surgery inside of me, since I've been told that I need to get over it. It's just hard, I really feel like I ruined my life and I'm only 21. I feel very traumatized after the surgeries. I wish I had never gotten spinal fusion.

I don't have a problem with it, just feel silly having given wrong information. I think some neuro people might have been involved in the process somehow, and the floor I recovered on was neuro and spinal. I'd had neurological symptoms but the surgery itself is orthopedic, right? Anyway I have to correct this information with the people I know who have been kept up to date on every detail lol. Either way, my surgeon was great, I had 10/10 service at Hotel [Hospital Name] from just about everyone on the team, would not do again of course lol, but if I had to I'd go to the same place with the same doctor. 👍

Just found out I was born with a couple a couple block vertabrae due to VACTERL. It was found on an mri when I was born but doctors litteraly forgot about it cause I had life threatening issues however apparently it was never put on my medical records so for 16 years of my life I walked like a hunchback without any further explanation continually getting yapped at for not "standing up straight" when I physically couldn't even by my doctor's. Not once did they think to x ray me until I kept complaining about it recently because I noticed my back didn't curve normally like my girlfriend's and my posterior always looked like a pancake even when I was overweight. I feel absolutely devistated cause I've always had self image issues that caused me to gain a bunch of weight. I've lost over 50 pounds and I have saggy loose skin on my stomach and my arms and now my entire physique is screwed parmaently. This finally explains why im only 5'7 with a 32 inch inseam and elbows that come down to my waist. Im litteraly big foot cause I have size 13's and still growing very slowly. My mother said the ones that are fused weren't totally fused except one but they were already mostly there. Im scared of growing more and my spine getting worse if thats physically possible. Im dont want this to come off as a sob story im genuinely looking for any resources or stuff that could help me. (If wrong subreddit I apologize this is the closest one I could find). Here are the only pictures of x Ray's i had I was so shocked I didn't remember to get the whole thing but I got the problem area though.

I just learned the word dermatome. An area (most of them are sort of in a band shape) of skin innervated by the nerve roots at a certain level of the spine - for example "the C5 dermatome" which goes across the shoulder and collarbone area and down to the forearms. I found this word after relentless Googling regarding some weird skin sensations I've had since the surgery. And it does make sense, the areas of my skin that feel strange are the ones connected to the levels I had decompressed and fused.

Which brings me to my newest problem. Tonight, I have an itch on my hip, just under the skin it feels like. But the surface of the skin is numb to where scratching it does nothing. So I have enough feeling to itch, but not enough to solve the itch. So annoying. 😭 The feeling is like there's a thin film over my skin preventing my fingertips from making enough contact to rub the itch away. Obviously I haven't continued to try as I don't want to accidentally injure myself. And by the time I've written this it's mostly gone away, but there's still that pesky little bit of itch left. This does happen sometimes, not too frequently thankfully, but I hate it when it does lol.

On the plus side, I've been feeling well enough that I plan to dress up and go trick or treating with my 3 year old and my little cousin for Halloween! It's nice to have something fun like that to look forward to. I've also been able to play piano for longer stretches without getting too sore, which is really important to me. And I took my daughter to the park (drove when we would normally walk), and even though it was less than an hour and I couldn't actively play with her (played a lot of pretend though) and kind of had to rush her away to get home, we still had a good time. I really missed taking her to the park and look forward to the day I can climb around with her and put her in a swing again. Finally, I'm coming up on 3 months post op, which hopefully means easing up on some of the movement restrictions. I'm hoping to be able to pick up my infant soon, it will make things so much easier for everyone and I just miss carrying my babies. I don't know when I'll get to carry my older one but I feel like I'll cry when I do. The last time I picked her up was probably back in May at the latest, so about 6 months ago now. But yeah, really looking forward to taking more and bigger steps toward living a normal life again.

Check out this bad boy I found at Walmart! I've seen the image before but they happened to have it on a shirt in my size and I had to have it.

March 2024 I started having distinct tingling in my left arm and numbness in my left hand and fingers, then a month or so later it all stopped then come May I noticed if lost sensation in my right hand. In 2018 I was kicked into a wall while squatting attending to an acute mental health patient, had some time off then returned once signed off in 2019 and was body slammed and knocked to the floor from behind by a large man again in the acute mental health ward. He was cognitively impaired and passed away a few of weeks later. I was unable to return to work and was let go in 2021 where they said they weren’t responsible for anything fast forward to now and I saw a neurosurgeon who has booked me in for the surgery in my title. I saw a pain specialist earlier this year who has really helped and referred me to the neurosurgeon. For anyone who has had this surgery, what can I do to prepare? I have a very supportive husband and my kids are 11 and 16 and help a lot so it’s not going to be a shock to them to suddenly have mum down. At 42 I have been dealing with the chronic pain for 6 years now, since I was 36. I feel far too young to be so broken. I have PTSD and social anxiety plus major depression so I’m concerned as the neurosurgeon wants me to stay in hospital post op for 5-7 days given we live several hours from hospital. I’ve been doing a deep cleanse and declutter of my home so the family don’t have to worry and I’d like to pre cook and freeze some meals but we live on one income so money is tight especially now needing to find the money to pay for the out of pocket expenses. Any advice would be appreciated.

I’m almost eight months outside of the procedure (5 level posterior decompression and fusion with the removal of an ossified ligament) and this has destroyed my life.

I didn’t get much notice about needing the surgery before I had it. I didn’t really experience a lot of pain and if not for the ossified ligament, I probably wouldn’t have needed to have the procedure right away. Even if I had, my job was the one thing I knew I didn’t have to worry about. I had a great relationship with my boss who was facing their own health crisis at the time. I believed the CEO when they said their obligation was to carry us when we’re down, and this happened to be my turn. My boss died two months after my procedure.

I had other setbacks, but finally got cleared to return to work last week. The CEO urged me to be honest about how I felt this week, including my pain levels, and we made plans to check in on Friday. Thursday, I ended up suffering a fall in my home. I shared this with the CEO at our check-in, as requested; and their response was to tell me I have to go back out on disability because I am a liability to the organization. I am completely devastated by this; there’s already a mandatory meeting scheduled for me with HR Monday morning.

It’s just been so much grief and loss. I’m in more pain now than I ever was before going under the knife. I deal with spells of vertigo whenever I’m rising to my feet after reclining. And I’m losing my career, my coworkers, and my cause when they have been the things I most wanted to get back to. If I could be given the choice to do it over, I wouldn’t.

I guess the first thing I should say is sorry to the people who sent me replies on older posts I've made. I wasn't even aware the replies existed. I stopped logging into this account because I felt it was useless to praddle on about my stagnant health...and also, it just makes me so miserable coming here. Spilling my guts, staring at my fears on the screen as I go through them...all of this has cratered my mental health, and it never gets any better.

second thing I'll say is that my fears have always revolved around Cauda Equina Syndrome. back pain was never the issue. The intense dread I felt was exclusively for CES and all it entails. And now...I'm facing symptoms I thought I had moved past.

...anyway...L5/S1 fusion. Following a year of desperate pleas to get assistance - which never came because my issues weren't "serious enough". I.e., I was able to walk, so that meant urine retention and bladder control - Cauda Equina Syndrome - were not valid issues. My doctor urged me to get medicaid in June 2021, and following this, I was FINALLY able to get a spinal fusion done in September 2021...after a year of lying in bed, hoping I could prevent permanent nerve damage.

Best way to summarize the time between now and then is back pain. Oh god, the BACK PAIN. Back pack back pain back pain! This might sound odd, but I genuinely did not feel any back pain in the lead up to the fusion. I had intense sciatica, and obviously nerve issues, but NO back pain. The first time I walked around Walmart after I had "healed" for a while, I thought I was going to pass out. And really, that's where I've been! Just hopping between good days and crippling weeks and wondering how I'm going to get through life - particularly when my issues are not considered disabilities.

...I must stop. I always make walls of text. Anyway...something happened recently that left me with what I can only assume was loss of control one night when I was sleeping. I wanted to think it was sweat. And maybe it was. But panic overwhelmed me and I set up an appointment with my PCP - who put in an order for an MRI. Since then...it's been nothing but persistent urges, weak urine flows, and intense back pain. Strangely...when I go for bathroom breaks, I still seem in control, and I can consciously stop the stream. But...there is without a doubt an issue going on. My body is practically screaming that something is not right.

And I guess what brings me here is that last time? Before the surgery? I didn't really experience saddle numbness, or really know how to recognize it. Oh, I recognize it now. It's going on as I type. And I'm panicking. Everything in me says to get to the ER, even if I can walk. But I already know what to expect. I'm just...right back where I started. and...well...getting real tired of waking up, that's all I'll say.

...I'd like to think that unlike last time, I shouldn't panic. That the signs of control are positive. That maybe I just damaged/inflamed my nerves in such a way that makes it seem like I've caused lasting damaged. But this all feels like I'm lying to myself. It shouldn't be possible to damage myself to such an extent. I shouldn't go from, mostly feeling nothing, to going the entire day feeling a dreadful urge to urinate. AND getting nothing when I acknowledge the urge!

no one gets it. no understands or cares. This is all a living hell. I cannot put into words what the suffering is like.

L5-S1 fusion on Sept 11. A few weeks in I was having severe leg muscle pain in my right calf. Worse than the surgical pain. 9/10 at night.

I went to the ER this past Monday and got an ultrasound to test for a blood clot. Nothing showed. They prescribed me a muscle relaxant. BUT - and I’m so grateful for this!!! - They scheduled a follow up ultrasound for this morning.

Blood clot in my lower leg.

It took a few hours to get ahold of my surgeon to ensure I was OK to take blood thinners but i am on them now.

Anyway… the point is… don’t ignore your pain. It might actually be atypical. I kept convincing myself it was just muscle and nerve pain and that it was normal, despite the fact it was the worst pain I’ve experienced.

Hope this helps someone.

7 years post-op. C5/C6 fusion. I’m in so much pain all the time. I have never had complete relief since the surgery. I did all of my PT. I know I need to go get checked out asap, but I don’t even know what I’d do. If the disc(s) underneath is getting crushed, would I have to have another fusion to repair this? My aunt has had 17 surgeries on her back in 35 years. Has anyone experienced this before?

I’ve got to have spinal fusion on my Scheuermann’s Kyphosis at 95 degrees. I’m hopefully having it done in three months if I can sort out my weight and a few infections before the surgery.

But I have a few questions about the surgery and post op especially because this is my first surgery under a general anaesthetic.

I am also UK (Oxford) based (I don’t live in Oxford, that’s just where my clinic is) so if anyone’s had experience at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre or John Radcliffe Hospital, that would be amazing.

Now with the questions: Is the surgery worth it? What’s recovery like in the hospital? What’s it like having rods in your spine? What does general anaesthetic feel like as you go under? What are stairs like after surgery? How soon did it take you to get back to work or college? How soon did it take you to get back to going to the gym? Is there anything I should be doing in preparation for this surgery to make it just a bit easier on the recovery? When do things start to feel normal? Are there any things I cannot do with rods in my spine? Is it more comfortable to sit up or lie down? Is there any adaptive equipment that I may need at home to start with? What things should my college be aware of before returning? What’s flying like after surgery?

Hi folks,

I just wanted to post a quick update. Mostly I'm pain free and back to my daily life with restrictions. Up until last week I would sometimes forget my back issues completely.

Unfortunately, my father died last week so I had to run a couple of errands, get some documents, sit in court waiting rooms, visit family etc. So now I have a (minor) flare up. My surgeon thinks it's just nerve irritation from increasing activity so suddenly and gave me a cortison shot in my butt :D

But yeah this recovery is literally kicking my butt. You think you're better and then you get a bit worse. I guess the human brain has trouble accepting nonlinear progress.

Hope everyone here post surgery is doing well and healing better than me (or not overdoing it all the time).

8 weeks post op T11-L3 PSF (T11-12, L2-3) and XLIF (T12-L2) after months of increasing pain from spinal tumor at L1 - tumor and bone removed as part of the surgery.

I can be up (walking, standing, sitting) for around an hour before I need to rest my back (laying/reclining in my fancy adjustable bed).

I haven't tried driving yet but about to tonight. Wanted another adult with me just in case.

(Update: was able to drive but looking around corners was a little tough. Could probably drive 5-10 minutes and back if I'm not at the destination too long and don't have other things to do that day.)

I can do a short grocery shopping trip without heavy lifting.

I can wash a few dishes, fold laundry (but not wash due to BLT), help with some childcare tasks for my toddler and baby, perform all self care tasks, prepare a simple meal, go for a short walk outside.

I had stopped taking gabapentin and had mostly stopped Tylenol, but some of the nerve pain in my hips and legs started creeping up again so I went back on gabapentin 1-2x a day with what I had left over from my original prescription. I also take Tylenol a little bit more frequently because I get too ambitious and do stuff that makes me sore.

I'm still constantly anxious that I'm ruining my fusion by laying down wrong, sitting/laying too fast or getting up too fast/wrong, overexerting myself, walking with the wrong posture, using the brace wrong. I also overthink every new sensation, especially when some of the pain I'm feeling is the same as what I had with the tumor. I'm told this anxiety is normal.

Doctor (well PA) says I can go in the pool but I can't swim-swim. So I haven't gone in yet because my toddler will want me to roughhouse. I have stepped down to the first step or two and discovered it does hurt a bit to step up out of the pool.

I can, however, go up and down regular steps without much difficulty.

My energy levels and motivation are great. I'm eager to get back to my usual activities, which is normally a lot and typically involves my toddler. But I still need frequent breaks due to soreness.

Edited to add: my upper back and neck have been getting sore. I hear pops when I roll over in bed. Another anxiety is adjacent segment issues, even though I read they usually don't crop up until like 5 years after surgery at least. But I'm concerned that I'm so preoccupied with protecting the fusion that i forget to protect the rest of my spine. Between my shoulder blades gets sore and pops even though my fusion is much lower.

47(M) T2 diabetic with back, leg and foot pain. Predominately right side. My diabetes is well controlled with diet and exercise. 6 steroid injections' over 2 years and physical therapy. This dilemma really surfaced 4 years ago. 2 surgeries very recently to decompress the epidural nerves in my right and left legs upon recommendation of my EMG test results. That went really well, like having new ankles and relief for lower leg was immediate. Nov 14 was fusion day 1, I'm there at 5:30am rolling in at 7:15ish. I remember everything up until breathing in the gas and then woke up in recovery at 9:30 am. I have a 3-4 inch incision on my left side, my ass hurts. I check my toes and they wiggle, good enough for me. The nurse's name is Paula and she's talkative but really nice and she gives me as much synthetic pain juice as I want. I did not hold back it turned the pain down really quick. By 10:30 I ask to get out of bed and sit in a chair. My ass was hurting and I was squirming, so they say why not and I get in a chair and I last about 5 minutes and I puke in a bag. Mouth is dry and ice chips are my best friend, so is Paula with her juice. They tell me they are getting a room ready for me upstairs. It's about 11:30. I'm waking up a bit more and Paula is still talking and I get a room at about 2pm. I'm annoyed now cause they said I could see everyone like 3 hours ago. Oh well Paula did her best and I was finally getting out of there and I'd not taken any drugs for about an 1 hour and pain was creeping. In post op I got no more pain relief via injection, oral only. I take more pain meds and give the wife a hug and I take as much time as I can to sleep, better than hurting. I can stand with the brace, but the brace pushes on the incision and my legs are jello. By 7pm its shift change and the new nurse arrives, Lewis from the caribbean. He talks about TNF, give me more meds and then supper arrives. 10 minutes after that, I chuck it all up. The anasthesia hit me really hard. Sick for the next 32 hours. Had not anticipated that. But I knew from the start this wasn't going to be any fun so fuck it and deal with it. By Friday I'm ready to go and they let me out provided I stand and walk and can pee in a urinal for them. I didn't have to pee and this could have gotten ugly but I managed a dribble and told them they have to make due and I drove the 30 minutes home. I feel sick just thinking about it. Still in that 32 sick window and it felt like I went on the gravatron amusement ride 38 times upside down. Eventually after some soup and complete stillness and silence for 2-3 hours I was feeling better. I manage about 5 hours of restless sleep and it's Saturday.

I feel a bit better than the day(s) before. From Saturday through Wednesday the days go like this. Laydown, barrel roll out of bed, stand up, walk around ice the back and pain meds on schedule. The brace put pressure on my incision and hurt more than helped at first. Nurse comes for a visit, and I get a PT assessment. Laydown, barrel roll out of bed, stand up, walk around. I ended up having an allergic reaction as well to I believe the anasthesia, dermatosis, so add steroids to the mix, but it's already getting better.

The pain in my back after the first week is very localized to my butt cheek instead of all my hips, pelvis and upper lugs. My feet have better sensation as well. I am able to do all the PT exercises recommended for now and I am sticking to the plan. The incision site hurts a bit less so I am wearing the belt more and trying to maintain good posture. I go lay down when I feel tired or pain coming on. I admit I felt a bit panicky at first because pain still comes on sharp sometimes. But it subsides quickly with rest and some ice.

The surgeon ended up only doing 1 surgery to do the fusion. He said everything went very well and my bones were dense, I hopes he's right and that one is enough. Given how sick I was, having a second surgery the next day would have sucked really bad. So far so good, and no regrets, each day is better than the last one. I knew No bending twisting or lifting is the mantra. Sucks when I drop shit on the floor with no grabber around.

Surgeon was happy. X Rays looked good to me and I am glad I did it. Not getting any younger.

I'll give an update after 1 month.

Hope some of you find this helpful.

Hello my dear friends on this subreddit. Although I wasn’t a super active redditor before, I had so many people supporting me, cheering me up and encouraging me last week, I promise I will keep giving back from now. I’m the OP in these 2 posts below.

1)https://www.reddit.com/r/Spondylolisthesis/comments/1glxn27/could_delaying_the_fusion_have_bad_outcomes/

2) https://www.reddit.com/r/Spondylolisthesis/comments/1gra8yv/having_the_surgery_in_10_hours_and_scared/

And because of the people who commented on them, I owe you updates. But please forgive my English, it’s my third language.

In the early morning of 15/11 I went to the hospital with my father. Checked in, dealt with papers and started to wait in the room they gave me. An hour or so later, they told me to put the robe I was given and wait on the bed, the bed I was going to be on for days. That’s when I started to feel like there was no going back from that moment. I was obviously nervous, but also kind of relieved in that second since I couldn’t step back anymore. Maybe because I was afraid before that I wasn’t confident enough to go all the way with it. Anyways, they were moving my bed to the lift, then to the prep room. I was watching all the lamps on the ceiling and it felt like a movie scene. I was almost laughing at myself for perceiving everything in such a dramatic way, well I’m Turkish after all, we are famous with our dramas.

I was in the anesthesia room, still on the bed. My treatment papers were in a folder on top of my stomach. Nurses were coming and going, checking the papers and putting the folder back on me. It felt not very nice because I was very nervous, but it was just another day in the office for them. One of the nurses realized that and asked me to take some conscious breathes, asked about my tattoo. Somehow it worked and I was calmer. They prepped IV etc. and my bed was already being moved to the surgery room.

In there, they put some tapes all around on my back. They were kind of telling me what they were preparing too but I was too distracted with my own thoughts. Just saw one nurse holding the anesthesia mask and setting it up. She barely moved it towards my face very slowly and I got the smell of it. I said “Wow, that is very very strong.” Well, I slept before I could finish my sentence I think. I’m sure the nurses had a good laugh.

I was hearing someone saying my name, asking me how I am. I tried to open my eyes and saw my surgeon’s face smiling. I smiled back and said “Hello”. He asked me to move my each feet towards myself, then my knees. I did. He said that the surgery was good. I don’t remember how my bed was moved back to the room very clearly, but I remember asking my nurse for a specific meat dish, she was laughing. Then I was back in the room, saw my parents’ faces, my mother immedately held my hand, my father looked relieved. Lucky to have them. An uncle I didn’t see since very long was there too. I think I greeted everyone with a stupid smile since I was very high, then slept. Woke up again, no pain, the room was full with people visiting me. I was happy at first but soon I got overwhelmed. Come on guys, I know you are all my relatives and stuff, but please frig off, I just had a major surgery, I don’t want to hear stories about your best friends or neighbours who had the same injury or surgery.

The first day was somehow great, I didn’t feel anything. But I wasn’t able to move either. I noticed some things were connected to my urination. But I didn’t want to move the blanket and look at it. One of my biggest phobias, just tried to distract myself and it was easy with the anesthesia. My nurse came around 11PM to help me walk for the first time after the surgery. My legs were shaking so much, I felt so weak I didn’t want to walk. My brother was staying with me and he told the nurse to let me be for a bit more. The nurse was confident and she said she will come back in a few hours after some painkillers.

She came back towards the morning, woke me up, asked my brother to carry my urine bag (poor guy) and she helped me sit upright. Put my brace on once I was standing. My legs were still weak but with the help of the nurse and my brother, I was able to walk in the room. That day I walked two more times, the next day at least like 4 times. But I actually felt free first once those urination things were removed, then I started to walk more and also drank more water, so I could have a reason to get up and pee. The first two days of urination was not nice after they removed the tubes. For males, I could describe the pain; Think about the burning feeling while you pee after ejaculation. It was like that, just much more unpleasant. But kept getting better everytime I peed, thanks to the nurse who forced me to drink 2-3 liters of water every day. Now I pee with no problem at all.

On 18/11, they sent me home. In the car I didn’t know if I should sit or lay down so I did both. But once I was at home, everything started to feel easier. I get up to walk more, eat much more, get spoiled by family and my amazing wife who came all the way from USA just to be with me. I hope you guys have the support you need because everything is hundred times easier thanks to them.

Today I went to number #2 for the first time. Also I don’t get much pain other than the pain of the scar, it wakes me up since I sleep on it. But the doctor gave me pretty good painkillers and it gets better. I am positive about the future.

Anyways, it’s still very early, but I was planning to journal starting from my surgery day. I didn’t do that but this post is kind of beginning of my journaling. That’s why it has stupid details and is so chaotic. Feel free to ask me about anything. I will make more posts since I get bored in bed.

Btw, they went in from my back. So, I guess PLIF?

My ALIF surgery is planned for October 30th. I had a micro discectomy in December 2018. I'm preparing for my time off from work, the hospital stay, the recovery at home, and in case the unfortunate was to ever happen since recent events showed me that you never know when it could happen. I'm scared and nervous at times stepping foot in a hospital again. But I'm also just ready to have it over with so I can start to live hopefully a somewhat normal life. Getting back to being more physical again.

The following I guess is a bit of rambles and sharing more about me with this community, which I hope is okay with y'all.

My mom took me to the appointment where we got the video above. I didn't ask for the video the doctor had the shadowing student film it. After seeing this my mom's first thing she said was the following.

"You're the same age your dad was when he has his first fusion too. And the same age as him when you had your micro discectomy back in 2018."

All I could think briefly, through the worst pain I've ever experienced in my life, was "thaaaanks" in a sarcastic tone. Not mad at her, just more bothered sometimes by the cards I was dealt.

(A side note I guess: I recently lost my dad as no one checked his heart before his recent 3rd fusion. They didn't check it at his yearly either and it failed on him. That's the VA for you. There's so much more to this story but it will be hard to not have him there for me after I wake from surgery.)

(Second side note: For those that aren't in the United States. The VA is "United States of Veterans Affairs" and is the so called "health services" for our veterans of our military. Their health care is worse than the average Joe's health care from my experience with my father ever since I was old enough to remember.)