Back Fusion Fear

Hi all, sorry I haven't been so active in a while.

Basically, I am interested in finding others who have had back fusion surgery and learn more about it because I am so terrified, but the pain is so bad that I am willing to do anything at this point.

I had back surgery on the left side L4/L5 to remove part of a herniated disc. That was in November 2014. I was scared, but it worked for a while.

This new surgery is going to be major and a long recovery. It's a herniated disc on the L4/L5 on the right side. I have seen pictures of what it will look like, so that I understand.

Someone said something about wearing a brace for 2 months. What kind of brace is it? What types of physical limitations should I expect after surgery? I know I will need a walker and I bought one of those grabby things that you squeeze and pick up stuff with.

Any help or suggestions that I might want to think about?

How scared should I really be? I am literally terrified.

Thanks for any responses I might get!

wow, no one? Really? bummer!

I have just been told I need disc replacement surgery at C5, C6 as I have horrendous referred pain in my arms and numbness in my hands and fingers. However, I am not a candidate for surgery as my heart will not hold up under the anaesthetic.

For advice about spinal surgery, I would suggest trying our Sister Site, NeuroTalk. There is a specific Spinal Injuries Forum there and everyone is very welcoming.

Sorry I cannot be of help personally, when my Neurosurgeon was running through my proposed procedure, potential side effects and outlook, I was fighting back a Panic Attack.

Dave.

That sucks Dave! It's really too bad you can't get the surgery.

I had fusion in my cervical spine about a year ago.
I didn't need a brace but it was hard to do anything
for a couple of weeks then slowly got easier.
I also had two lumbar spine surgery but no hardware.
I don't think you should be to scared but just know it does take
a while to get comfortable and feel normal again.
I found having hardware put in was much less painful than having
parts of two discs removed. It's not much info but I hope it helps.
Best of luck with the surgery and recovery.

I had a cervical fusion with mixed results -- in retrospect, had I known then (almost 20 years ago) what I know now, I'd have advocated for them to use hardware (plate/screw), because the bone alone which they inserted did not heal into the right shape (it either was not inserted correctly or it turned somehow), and left me with a new set of problems that has caused me to need further surgeries that are only palliative in nature. No doubt your surgical team will be using better methods now, 2 decades later than when I had it done, but I would say this: do not be shy about taking up however much of their time as you feel you need understanding exactly what they'll be doing and exactly how they expect their methods to succeed.

I was in a brace and out of commission for what was about 3 months following in my case. For me the worst part of that, logistically, was having to get help bathing. I was theretofore unaccustomed to feeling quite so vulnerable in my adult life.

Had I gotten the plate and screw I don't think that the time in the brace would have been nearly so extensive; it was to keep the neck still so that movement didn't interrupt and alter the fusion process, whereas installed hardware does this on its own and more precisely.

Oh and one other thing.. don't let a rookie nurse try to take your stitches out. Nuff said.

I had fusion in the lumbar area

I tried everything else first, losing weight, PT, acupuncture, traction. Finally I said yes to the surgery.

I did have a brace, it was somewhat bulky and is worn over clothes but easy to take off and put on. They custom fitted it right before surgery and it has wide Velcro straps and then you tightened it with knobs.

I suggest either Velcro closer shoes or elastic shoe strings you don't need to tie

A long shoe horn

A couple grabber thingys so you can place them in different areas

Don't recall its name but it's a half tubal thing with ropes on each side to put socks and footies on with

Lots and lots of patience

And of course listen to what they say. Keep up the PT after surgery

I'm 35, and wanted to share my experience.

After ongoing issues with my lower back, I had two discectomies (L4/L5 and L5/S1) in March last year. Pain was immediately relieved and I was flying high. Within 5 weeks I reherniated both, so had to have the surgery a second time. It worked for the most part, aside from some minor flare ups.

5 weeks ago I had a major flare, and an MRI confirmed the worst, the disc had busted again, and I needed a fusion that day, so I had no notice.

It went well. 4 weeks since the fusion yesterday. Surgery was fine, they managed my pain amazingly in the hospital (was in from wednesday to sunday). After a week, I was walking around a bit (with the brace). Getting more and more mobile every day. The brace is just like a weightlifting belt. My one is on amazon (aspen back brace).

It's easy to put on, I only have to use it while I'm walking about, and it can't even be seen in you wear it under your clothes. The pain is not chronic anymore, but definitely feeling tired and limited mobility. I live alone, so had my parents come stay for 3 weeks after the surgery, and that was CRITICAL. Make sure you have the support. LMK if I can help in any way or if you have more questions.

I opted for total disc replacement instead of fusion. C5 and L4. I could have gone with fusion but I didn't want the limited range of motion.