Spinal Fusion

Author
Discussion

dreamer75

Original Poster:

1,401 posts

227 months

Saturday 31st December 2011
quotequote all
Hi

Is there anybody on here who has had an anterior cage fusion in the lumbar spine?

I am booked in for surgery in mid Jan - surgeon is hoping to do an Artificial Disc Replacement, but certain complications are now making a fusion more likely - we won't know until he opens me up and gets an actual look at the situation.

Thanks!

anonymous-user

53 months

Saturday 31st December 2011
quotequote all
I have had both - the fusion is not surprisingly the bigger op, but I was up the next day, home in two and back at work the next week (albeit against my surgeons advice).

The fusion sorted my initial problem, but a year later having several discs replaced was actually more effective in curing my lower back pain. All of this was n 2008 & 2009 and everything has been fine since.

In short, although quite major procedures, nothing to worry about and definately worth doing.

dreamer75

Original Poster:

1,401 posts

227 months

Saturday 31st December 2011
quotequote all
Thanks smile

I'm still hoping for the ADR, but there are big cavitation holes in the vertebra, only 1mm of disc space, and a missing facet on the left, which is why he's erring towards fusion right now.

What was your recovery time like after the fusion - do you do a lot of sport?

dreamer75

Original Poster:

1,401 posts

227 months

Saturday 31st December 2011
quotequote all
PS - you say the ADR was more successful in curing the pain - didn't the fusion help with the pain?

anonymous-user

53 months

Saturday 31st December 2011
quotequote all
The fusion was for stage three Spondylothesis which manifested itself as severe Sciatica leaving me on 250ml of liquid morphine a day. Proceedure was to drag my L5 vertebrae back to where it should have been. As per my first post I was back a work within a week (I couldn't drive, but got a lift to/from), but this was against my surgeons wishes.

However I still suffered from very bad lumber back pain, for which the same surgeon fitted new discs (I've no idea what they are called) to my L4, 3 & 2 - from memory it was 5 synthetic discs in total, again, home next day and back to work the day after (not driving for two weeks this time)

As the fusion "simply" fixed the terrible Sciatic pain but left the lower back pain, it was the disc replacement which changed my daily life most, I don't do any sport at all, in fact I lead a distinctly unhealthy life but I'm not overweight if that helps.

Feel free to PM me if you would like more details.

Craphouserat

1,494 posts

200 months

Sunday 1st January 2012
quotequote all
I think we may have spoken before - before i had my second spinal surgery. Anyway - I haven't had what you are going to have - but I just wanted to wish you all the best and i hope it goes well. You had some good words for me and I wish you all the best.

As for me Ive been back to work over a year - reduced hours and although a disc is fecked in my neck everything else is going well.

All the best - keep us informed of progress.

Barry

dreamer75

Original Poster:

1,401 posts

227 months

Monday 2nd January 2012
quotequote all
Thanks guyssmile

Sounds like a very different problem to yours MercScot, glad to hear your treatment has helped smile
Craphouserat - thank you smile I'm getting quite nervous now - possibly the worst (for me as a control freak!) is not knowing what he's going to do til I wake up and he's done it.


davhill

5,263 posts

183 months

Tuesday 3rd January 2012
quotequote all
Still having trouble, dreamer75? These back problems are a pain, aren't they?

Whether it's ADR or cage fighting, I hope it goes well and turns out 100% after your little sleep.

Keep us other vertebrates informed.

All the best.

dreamer75

Original Poster:

1,401 posts

227 months

Wednesday 4th January 2012
quotequote all
Thanks smile I just hate the waiting and want to get on with it - I can't quite comprehend that the pain will be gone (hopefully).

FWIW this is what it looks like at the moment:






anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 4th January 2012
quotequote all
And this is I am guessing similar to how it will look soon! (This is my one by the way)

davhill

5,263 posts

183 months

Thursday 5th January 2012
quotequote all
dreamer75 said:
Thanks smile I just hate the waiting and want to get on with it - I can't quite comprehend that the pain will be gone (hopefully).

FWIW this is what it looks like at the moment:





Ouch! It's very clear that needs fixing. It'll be a big task either way but the outcome should work wonders. Best of luck with it, eveyone wishes you well.

dreamer75

Original Poster:

1,401 posts

227 months

Friday 6th January 2012
quotequote all
Thanks smile

Mercscot - I couldn't see a pic? Interested to see it smile

ArsE92

21,007 posts

186 months

Friday 6th January 2012
quotequote all
Good luck Dreamer! We've spoken in the past on a thread I started. I'm still in the same boat, have tried facet joint injections which haven't helped but I'm having an epidural and some physio this/next month.

It's been 3 years now and I'm just about sick of it. Although I appreciate it's nowhere near as bad as others.

dreamer75

Original Poster:

1,401 posts

227 months

Saturday 7th January 2012
quotequote all
Gets to you doesn't it! At the moment I thhink I'm most scared of this not fixing the pain, because there aren't really any mroe options after this (as far as I know).

Good luck with your treatment smile

davhill

5,263 posts

183 months

Sunday 8th January 2012
quotequote all
I don't think you need worry on that score. I may be wrong but couldn't an ADR be.followed by an anterior fusion, should that become.necessary? Both big tasks I know but each could.take.you out of the pain management loop.


dreamer75

Original Poster:

1,401 posts

227 months

Sunday 8th January 2012
quotequote all
Theoretically yes, but my health cover stops after this op (well 6 months after) and my surgeon doesn't work on the NHS frown

Plus this one might be a fusion (60% chance of fusion) not an ADR due to all the complications - if it is fusion then that's the end of the road I suppose.....

davhill

5,263 posts

183 months

Sunday 8th January 2012
quotequote all
Maybe, but can't we hazard a guess - if it can't move, it won't hurt any more? Research required, methinks, but the best wishes stand.

dreamer75

Original Poster:

1,401 posts

227 months

Monday 9th January 2012
quotequote all
smile

How did you get on with your SCS?

davhill

5,263 posts

183 months

Thursday 12th January 2012
quotequote all
I'm a bit like MercScot, in that it helps with the sciatica but doesn't touch the lower back pain at all. Thing is, I still have a lot of pain, and a heavy limp, but I can largely avoid painkillers.

dreamer75

Original Poster:

1,401 posts

227 months

Wednesday 18th January 2012
quotequote all
Well all done and I'm home following Anterior fusion of L4/5.

The first couple of days are extremely hazy - lots of morphine etc., but things started to pick up on Sunday. They carried on with various morphine type drugs + tramadol and paracetomol til they discharged me and now I'm on the tramadol + paracetomol + codeine as and when. The back pain itself is almost completely gone now, but I've got a fair bit of nerve pain in my left leg - it's a familiar pain and I'm not surprised. Hopefully that will die down with time as inflammation goes down, muscles unspasm etc.

I've grown nearly 1.5 cms (the amount they increased the disc space by, from 1-2mm to 1.5cm)and weirdly I do feel taller at home! I'm nto sure you'd notice that much but I'm sure I do !

The incision site is really clean and almost pain free - I can just about laugh (gently) and cough (very gently) now after a week.

Incredible when you think what they've done!!!!