Guest guest Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 It's happening. Next Tuesday I go in for my 4-level, L2-S1 lumbar interbody fusion with instrumentation. I'm starting to have trouble sleeping because I keep envisioning going in to the hospital at 6 AM and just saying " Here I am " -- then waking up several hours later with light, genuine light at the end of the tunnel! I know there will be a lot of pain and difficulty, but I am so looking forward to the doctor completing his work so I can start mine. I was supposed to donate my own blood for this but since I had Hepatitis B about a zillion years ago the blood bank checked with the hospital, and the hospital won't let me use it. Both my surgeon and the charge nurse at my pre-op appointment said they'd never heard of such a thing. After all, I'm the one using the blood! But maybe the hospital is being very paranoid and envisioning my units getting into someone else by mistake. Anyway, I'll be using blood bank blood, which carries its own risks (though they are very remote). What's less remote, according to my surgeon, is a bad reaction to the removal of pelvic bone to do the bone grafts and the intervertebral cages. Apparently patients have been having worse pain with the pelvic part of the surgery than the spinal part, and some have developed lasting chronic hip pain. So the doctor will use the bone harvested from removal of the lamina and facets in the lumbar spine, and add cadaver bone if needed. I'll report back a couple of days after the surgery with an update if anyone is interested. Meanwhile, send a good thought my way next Tuesday and have a nice, relaxed, relatively low-pain weekend. Thanks! - in New Mexico Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 It's happening. Next Tuesday I go in for my 4-level, L2-S1 lumbar interbody fusion with instrumentation. I'm starting to have trouble sleeping because I keep envisioning going in to the hospital at 6 AM and just saying " Here I am " -- then waking up several hours later with light, genuine light at the end of the tunnel! I know there will be a lot of pain and difficulty, but I am so looking forward to the doctor completing his work so I can start mine. Hi I wish you a successful surgery. You're right you will have pain and work. Please be sure to stay ahead of the pain with your medication, and not over do it. Please let us know how you are getting along. Kaylene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 --- McGuire wrote: > > It's happening. Next Tuesday I go in for my 4-level, L2-S1 lumbar interbody fusion with instrumentation. - I'm sending my best wishes and good thoughts your way for a successful procedure and a speedy recovery! Keep us updated on your progress as you feel able. Cheryl in AZ Moderator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 15, 2010 Report Share Posted July 15, 2010 Congrats.I will light a candle & pray you have the best surgeon with the best results.Blessed be my sweet sister Blessed be, Ms.Katurah --- McGuire wrote: > > It's happening. Next Tuesday I go in for my 4-level, L2-S1 lumbar interbody >fusion with instrumentation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 16, 2010 Report Share Posted July 16, 2010 It's not really any of my business, but what you are describing is an extremely long section of spine to fuse. The more levels involved, the less likely the long-term success of the procedure. Also, surgeons define successful outcomes differently than we do. To them, success is if your bones technically fuse. But to most of us, a successful outcome means relief of pain. Have you checked to see if he really believes this will solve your pain problem, and what the long term success rate is? And have you gotten second and third opinions? Once you start removing bone and disc from your spine, it is gone for ever - with no do-overs. I always joke that of all the things I have lost in life, I miss my spine the most. Anyway, I could be more subtle and tactful if I had the time, but my first reaction to your post was YIKES! That's a lot of levels to fuse! Please examine this carefully if you haven't already. I was told to wait for fusion until I could no longer lift my legs; that it would not change my pain; it might only provide stability to prevent further collapse. But also, that the fusion surgery would put torque on the discs above and below the fusion, and that they would eventually end up herniating those levels as well. I'm assuming you haven't had the time to do all this research - if you already have and have decided to proceed, I'm sure you must know what you are willing to risk in order to try to treat your spine. However, when my two lamina were removed by error, the level above the herniated discs blew also. So I chose the pump instead of a three level fusion. Four doctors agreed that at my age, (44) each fusion might only last ten years and then need to redone and expanded. Worst case, if I do all these fusion surgeries, I might end up wheel-chair bound anyway. Right now I can still lift my legs, so I'll be waiting a long time for my fusion. Sincerely, Anne in TX > > > It's happening. Next Tuesday I go in for my 4-level, L2-S1 lumbar interbody fusion with instrumentation. I'm starting to have trouble sleeping because I keep envisioning going in to the hospital at 6 AM and just saying " Here I am " -- then waking up several hours later with light, genuine light at the end of the tunnel! I know there will be a lot of pain and difficulty, but I am so looking forward to the doctor completing his work so I can start mine. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2010 Report Share Posted July 17, 2010 Yes, I've done hours and hours of research (including asking for advice from this group) and have seen three spinal surgeons and my own doctor. We have explored all the options. I'm now at the point where I can scarcely walk and the incontinence is ghastly. A pump won't give me back leg, bladder or bowel control. I know that my other discs will be under more strain and I may need more surgery down the road (this one will be my third spinal surgery). I have been told I should be able to control my legs much better and might get some bladder/bowel control back, and that the pain level should go down, so I am working on reaching those goals. If I could cut down on my pain meds by half I could maybe get some brain power back, too - Thank you for your concern! All your points are well-taken. I know there are failures (in fact, I expect that I won't ever get full bone fusion because I have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome) but at this point I do believe the surgery, drastic as it is, will be my best shot. It will be up to me to get the best result from it that I can. Please continue to warn others about the risks of fusion so that they do all their " homework " before just waltzing into the surgery and expecting a miracle cure. Your voice of caution is valuable! Thanks! - in New Mexico --- Anne in TX wrote: > > --what you are describing is an extremely long section of spine to fuse. The more levels involved, the less likely the long-term success of the procedure. > > Also, surgeons define successful outcomes differently than we do. To them, success is if your bones technically fuse. > > But to most of us, a successful outcome means relief of pain. Have you checked to see if he really believes this will solve your pain problem, and what the long term success rate is? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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