Post-Op Fusion advice needed!

[Guest guest]

Hi group -

I would really like anyone who has had the fusion surgery to share

some experience or advice with me!

I had the CCF in April 2007.....about 11 weeks ago. I was doing

really good for the first 7 weeks.....feeling much better than I have

in a long time!

Before the CCF I was having problems with episodes that made me feel

really weak, like I had no control over my limbs, short of

breath,dizzy, heart racing and pounding, and basically felt like I

was going to hit the floor (like a drop-attack, though I never

actually fell). It was really hard for me to function or communicate

with people during these episodes.

I am still having the episodes even after the fusion. I also had

decompression and tethered cord surgery in February 2007.

Is there anyone who has had symtpoms like this who also had the

fusion? Is there anyone who still had these symptoms after surgery -

and if so, did they ever go away with time?

I am just concerned that I am 11 weeks post-op and they are still

occuring. I would think they should be fading away since the fusion

has taken the pressure off of my brainstem (in theory).

I am praying that there is nothing wrong with my fusion - but I am

starting to have doubts!

Has anyone ever done really well after the fusion and then went

downhill again? Did you pull out of it with time?

I would really love to hear from anyone who can share with me. It is

hard to find people who have had the fusion to talk with :-)

Best wishes -

Kara

[Guest guest]

>

> Hi group -

> I would really like anyone who has had the fusion surgery to share

> some experience or advice with me!

> Kara

>

Hi Kara,

I had all the same surgeries last Aug. It sounds like

autonomic problems, do you have EDS? I know that some things that I

attributed to Chiari and instability were really EDS related and

weren't going anywhere. This was a bit of a disappointment, for sure.

Most of my dizziness did go away and I only get it with laying

down. The rapid beats are still here but not as frequent. One thing

for sure is that if I over-do AT ALL I will get those symptoms and

more. For some reason over-doing it is the worst thing you can do.

It does make me so mad, as before I could keep pushing through and

then collapse , now though there is NO pushing through, I just hit a

wall and am DONE.

Dr. B warned dabout this. I am 1 year post-op. I don't know if

it stops because I know of a couple of gals who are 2-3 years out and

still have the stamina issues.

It is just adjusting to a " new normal " .

[Guest guest]

Hi Kara and others like her,

I had decompression 5 years ago, fusion in 12/06 and detethering in 1/07. I

had all the same crazy symptoms everyone else has had so I won't go into that.

But here is the post-op synopsis.

It took me three months after the fusion to start to feel clear headed. I also

had to wean myself off the narcotic pain killers. Oxycontin, Vicodin, Percodan

and all those narcotics can cause a dopey feeling. It will be hard to tell if

you are getting past the confusion and dizziness until you can get off those

addictive drugs. As soon as I was off the narcotics, I started to realize the

best part of suffering through three major surgeries. My mind was finally

clear. I could hold a thought and a conversation. My memory has been improving

steadily.

I still have neck pain and headaches, but the truth is that I know have

hardware in my head and extensive scar tissue, I do not expect to be pain free.

I am finally starting to feel stronger. I've been back to work for 6 weeks and

it's been a struggle, but I'm managing well. I've been able to start walking

for an hour every other day. Before surgery, I couldn't walk for 15 minutes

without some kind of problem. My legs were always week (an embarrassment for a

former martial art practitioner).

I recommend physical therapy as soon as possible, especially Myofascial

Release. PT has helped me back on my feet and is helping me manage my pain with

over the counter pain meds ONLY.

I still have the annoying and painful neuropathy. But I can WALK! I'll take

my post-op self over the me I was just 7 months ago ANY DAY.

The most important thing to remember is to be PATIENT with your recovery. My

PT told me it can take up to a full year to feel better after these types of

surgeries.

Do the best you can for your body, feed it well, give it vitamins, physical

therapy and rest. Give it time to heal and give your psyche time to heal too.

Take care and have hope

Pam M

LI, NY

P.S. It can get better....very slowly, with baby steps, but it can get

better.

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