Spinal Fusion Surgery...

[Spooled-up]

Well, the day has arrived. I go in on the Monday the 17th of April for my fusion surgery. It's kind of freaking me out thinking about being on the operating table cut wide open. I've got one of the area's best doctors to do my surgery. That makes me feel a little better.



My rear part of my lowest vertebrae broke off and it has slipped forward about 25% off of the sacral bone. This could have been caused at birth, playing football, lifting weights, or a number of other ways. Can't be sure. It causes the nerve that runs down my leg to be pinched and causes leg pain and low back pain. They're going to fuse L5 to S1 from the rear with titanium rods and screws and place cadaver bone on each side of the vertebrae and between where the lowest disc used to be. I'll be in a body brace for 2 months while the bones heal.



I'll have my laptop in the recovery room and should be able to keep in touch if I feel up to it.



-Dave

 

[TomGolden]

Best of luck to you. This should be a straight forward operation and recovery.



My sister was born with spinal scoliosis and by the time she was 10 years old, she had undergone multiple spinal fusion surgeries. She now has complete fusion, and metal rods all the from tailbone up to cervical vertebrae.



These operations were all done in the early 1970's, and she is alive and doing very well this very day

 

[Spooled-up]

Thanks Tom. That's good to know.



I just got a call from the doctor's assistant and the doc is in trauma surgery tonight and won't be able to do my surgery tomorrow. Maybe wednesday. I find out tomorrow.

 

[Dual EE]

Good luck to to you and here's to a speedy recovery.

 

[The patriot]

Good luck and a speedy recovery.

I have some lower back problems. The Dr's want to screw and fuse my L-4,L-5. Sounds simple compared to your problem. I'm a bit freaked out about it. :{

The Dr made it sound like a simple outpatient thing.

I just keep praying about it. It hasnt been too painful latley, but that can change at any time. Dont really matter, the dialaudud dont work as good as it used to. I'm as straight as a preacher on 1/2 bottle anymore. :{

I get the pain going down the legs... tingling feelings etc... ..... well guess you know about all that.

Were pullin for ya man.

Eric

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Good luck with your surgery. I had a cervical fusion done 2 years ago and am very glad I had it done. You can read my saga if you want:





Ugly trip to the orthopedic surgeon today - going under the knife again



Surgery postponed



I swear these doctors are trying to kill me!



Surgery 8:00 am Friday morning - will be out of touch for a few days



UPDATE: Steve "surgery" St. Laurent... .

 

[RandyHamilton]

I'm in the area

Dave,



I live in Moores Hill and work in Blue Ash so whatever hospital you are going to be in I am in the vicinity every day. I also drive through Lawrenceburg every day. If you need something, while in the hospital or afterwards,, give me a holler.



Randy

 

[fox]

I bet that with-in a week of surgery you have less pain.

I've had a fusion at L5-S1 and it is 5 years old, and doing fine.

I also have had a fusion at C3-C4 8 years ago, with no problems.



NOW on the 20th ( this thursday) I go in for one more fusion. This one will be at C6-C7.

I hope it will be the last for many years.



We believe these are all caused by an accident in 1969. Just finally wearing out the damaged parts.

Each surgery has been a one night stay. This one will have a plate and recovery will be with a soft collar and last 10-12 weeks.

All three were(will be ) anterior surgeries. ( from the front).

I hope I didn't steal you post. Just wanted to reinforce some confidence in you.



Good luck.

 

[Spooled-up]

Thanks guys. I really appreciate the support.



Dual EE, Thanks for the kind words.



Patriot, I know these things seem routine to the doctors, but I can't sleep at night thinking about all the things that "might" happen. The doctor offers nothing in terms of support, and I had to stop him from leaving the room to ask all my questions! He's the busiest spine doctor in the region and one of the best I'm told, which has turned out to be both good and bad. Good luck with your surgery too.



Steve, I read all about your saga when I first got into all this. Seems like it was hard, but worth it in the end. Glad it worked out for you and thanks for the helpful info.



Randy, I really appreciate the offer, and the generosity of TDR members never ceases to amaze me. I'll let you know if I need anything and then I'll get meet you! I wonder if the TDRR badges can only be given out for helping with a downed truck???



fox, this must be old hat to you by now. Just another day at the office! My hospital stay will be 3-5 days. Good luck and let us know how your fusion goes.



The latest is that the doc's assistant was supposed to call me on Tuesday morning to let me know when it had been rescheduled. I ended up calling her around noon and she said she hadn't gotten in touch with the doc yet. She never called me back that day. I'm calling today to try and get an appointment out of her. If I ran my business like most doctors offices, I'd be out of business!

 

[The patriot]

Patriot, I know these things seem routine to the doctors, but I can't sleep at night thinking about all the things that "might" happen. The doctor offers nothing in terms of support, and I had to stop him from leaving the room to ask all my questions! He's the busiest spine doctor in the region and one of the best I'm told, which has turned out to be both good and bad. Good luck with your surgery too.





QUOTE]



Yea, he said they'd go in the front to take out the remaining disc, then do a small hole and use a scope to fuse/screw the bones.

He was in and out of the exam room so fast I still have a lot of questions for him. My Dr is the head of the spine ctr in university of Pennsylvania hospital.

My wife keeps asking "is he good" Who is going to say he sucks. He's the head of the dept. :-laf

Good luck to you. I'm not commited to this operation quite yet. Need more info.

Eric

 

[Radshooter]

While I've never had the surgery (yet) I have x-rayed a lot of folks that have for their post-op visits. The one common comment they all seem to have is "I wish I had done this a long time ago. " I also hear "I would do it again for even half the pain relief. "

Good luck and don't skimp on the physical therapy after your operation.

Steve

 

[Alan Reagan]

My wife had that surgery at Emory in Atlanta over three years ago. They will have you up and walking probably within a day or two. Her pain disappeared and she has done really well. The technology is really good now. I wish you the best.

 

[Spooled-up]

Steve and Alan,



I'm glad to hear that. I've heard from a couple of people that the pain never really goes away, but from others, that they get complete relief. At this point, I don't really have a choice but to do the surgery. Months of physical therapy didn't help and I can't do anything I used to really. My dog must think I'm the laziest owner out there because I used to walk him every day I was home. My wife takes care of it now.



On top of all this, we just found out that the wife is pregnant! When it rains it pours. I've got to get back to work so the wife can get some time off for the baby.

 

[RandyHamilton]

Steve and Alan,



I'm glad to hear that. I've heard from a couple of people that the pain never really goes away, but from others, that they get complete relief. At this point, I don't really have a choice but to do the surgery. Months of physical therapy didn't help and I can't do anything I used to really. My dog must think I'm the laziest owner out there because I used to walk him every day I was home. My wife takes care of it now.



On top of all this, we just found out that the wife is pregnant! When it rains it pours. I've got to get back to work so the wife can get some time off for the baby.

That back must not be in too bad a shape!!!!

I tried, but I just could NOT RESIST!!!

 

[Spooled-up]

Sometimes you just have to work smart and not hard

 

[loncray]

Strange - I was under the impression that making babies required one to work hard, not smart! :-laf

 

[Spooled-up]

Sometimes, it's all about your position on the matter.

 

[fox]

I'm home from surgery!!

It was just 28 hours ago. I have some pain ( of course I expect it ), and am just using a soft collar. The Doc, said I don't have to wear it all the time. I gives me a warning before I twist too far.

John

 

[Spooled-up]

fox,



Congratulations. Hopefully the pain will subside and you'll be pain free. Found out my new surgery date is next Thursday the 27th of April.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Congrats - I wish I could have had a soft collar just after surgery. I was wearing a hard collar for a month and then a soft collar for another month after that. That was after wearing a hard collar for a month before I had the surgery.