Post Fusion Surgery

[Tassia]

I'm a 40 year women, in very good health and was in fairly good shape.   Suffered pack pain for 4 years and was told that it was my lower back, until I was sent to a neurologists because of my walking starting to wable, and a mri was done on the upper spine and the result was 5 badly hernated disc was seen on the mri.  Was then sent to a surgean, where he did further tests and found a mass on between my T7/8.   With further test found that the mass was very rare, apparently only 4 cases have been reported in Canada.  I was the fifth.  I was told i had no choise but to have surgery to remove the  mass.   The mass was calsiphied with sutogout (not sure on the spelling), in side that had opened and started to leak into my system, slicing my nerves.  I went under surgery on Nov 28th, not really being told much.   I was given the assumption that i would be back to work 6-8 weeks.  Well its been 3months now, and really having a hard time.  They apparently fused t5-10, worse then what they thought, be it that they were only going to fuse 2 discs.   I decided to use Coral for the bone crafing instead of my own.  Now my question, is there anybody out there that can relate to my surgery.  Who can give me some insite as to what to expect.   Nobody really seems to know much.   Get little information from surgean, phsyio therapists which i just started now, seems not able to answer my concerns either.   Is this so rare?...Please if there is anybody out there that i talk to please help.     I have gone from being very fit and always on the go women to feeling helpless.    I hate it.

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT]

First of all, I'm not quite sure if you meant that the pseudogout was the mass or there was something in addition to the pseudogout, so I'll assume that it's just pseudogout.

Pseudogout of the spine is an uncommon disorder that is characterized by deposition of calcium crystals (calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals CPPD) that can push on the spinal cord or nerves, producing symptoms of pain, weakness, and sensory loss depending on exactly where it is and what it's pushing on.  It sounds like it was quite an extensive surgery and depending on exactly what went on and if there were any complications, recovery may be prolonged. In general some patients do feel better right away after spine surgery, while others take weeks to months to get back to where they were before the symptoms began, while others have chronic pain at or around the site of surgery.  As your disorder is rare, there's not much literature out there regarding prognosis and outcome.  I did find one case of a patient with pseudogout in the lumbar region who did well after surgery and was pain free almost immediately, but she certainly did not have the extensive surgery that you did. What you can do in addition to seeing the physiotherapist is to start a pain management program which may help you deal with the symptoms. Also, if things get worse or you continue to plateau, followup closely with your surgeons and let them about the ongoing symptoms.  You may need followup imaging to make sure everything is ok back there.  Give it another month or two with physical therapy and pain management and see how things go. Good luck.

[tennan]

i also had a cervical disectomy with titatium plate and cadavier bone fusion in november stretched vagus nerve during surgery and ended with a paralyzed vocal cord had a thyroplasty done two weeks later with gortex implant. horrible recovery. and now have started again with right side numbness hand arm and foot with weird shooting pains and twitches  doctor says i have rotar cuff tear, not sleeping at night. is it possible something else could be pinched? 6 weeks recovery now going on 4 months.

[Tassia]

Was ur fusion done on the thurasic part of your spine?....I totally can relate on not being able to sleep.  I am just now being able to fall asleep without aids, but i still wake during the night with achieness in my legs and have to get up to walk around.  Still not able to sleep on my back.  Have breathing problems too.  Did they tell u on how long for full recovery?..Do you still no sensation on ur back?...

[OCD-also]

I'm a 57 year old female.  I had a lumbar fusion 9 months ago and I am still having pain and some tingling or numbness (at times)in the lower back, hips and legs.  I thought this surgery would eliminate my chronic pain which I have had for aproximately 9 years.  I had a lumbar laminectomy in 1999 with some relief for approximately 6 months.  I have degenerative disc disease and a curvature of the spine.  My fusion was done at two levels L3-L4 using pedicle screws along with lumbar lami and decompression at several levels.  I was in a jacket type brace for 7 months and also used a spinologic brace (to help the fusion)30 minutes daily.  After the brace, I went to p/t to strengthen my muscles----I still am doing my strengthen exercises at home.  I understand what you mean by being in constant pain. My neurosurgeons don't give me answers as to why I still have pain.  They seem to feel that it will take time for all this to heal.  The fusion will take approximately one year to totally fuse.  The x-ray films seem to indicate that the fusion is taking place.
Anyone who has experienced this and know of anything I can do to relieve this pain, please respond.
Thanks and God bless

[Tassia]

I know what u mean about the pain in the legs...Though my surgery was in the thurasic part of the back, i still get the pain down my legs...What i have found that helped is anti-inflamatories, like viox....and alot of stretching and swimming.  Its mild on the back and great excersise.   I know how it feels when no one can give u any answers.   Since my surgery was very rare no tract records, i have no option other then to try and help my own body through trials and tribulations.....Sometimes i want to give up, but I fight to find the strength to go on.....Its amazing how our bodies work with our minds.    All i can suggest is to take ur body in ur own hands and make it number one....I know its hard some days to even get out of bed....Believe i know....Sometimes i find hard to even sneeze.   But through support of family and great friends, i keep on fighting and telling myself i will beat this.....If i can be of any more support just ask.....I know we need it....

[elainemcg]

I recently went through a new type of spinal fusion with incredible results. It is call Laparoscpic Anterior Interbody and Posterior Lumbar Fusion. As many of you have stated I went through years of pain and 3 back operations to repair 2 herniated discs at levels L4-5 and L5-S1. This was not the end of my problems but my doctor said there was nothing else I could do. Well I could not accept that for I am a mother of four children who leads an active life and was not willing to continue with back and leg pain. I researched the subject of fusion. I was not interested in a regular fusion with the bone graft from the hip. I was able to find a wonderful surgeon who was highly trained and involved in the FDA Trials of this new surgery. Basically what it is by laprascopic incisions in your stomach the surgeon opens the disc spaces and inserts small titanium cages which are soaked in a human protein that promotes bone growth. After that is completed you need to have 2 small incisions in your back to place rods and screws to secure the area as it take six months for the bone fusion to take place.  This surgery has been proven to be very successful. I am about 3 weeks post op and feel wonderful! My leg pain and numbness is totaly gone. Occasionally I suffer slight discomfort in my back muscles which is due to the fact that they are adjusting to being streched out. Please research this type of fusion if you are considering a fusion. It can only be performed by Doctors who have been specificaly trained in the technique.  Good Luck. It was a successful experience for me after many years of pain and surgery

[Maria2003]

I am 33 years old and just had an Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion of L5-S1 on June 5th.  I felt really good, no pain in the legs or back up until nine days after surgery.  Now I have awful pain in my right leg that feels like hamstring pain.  I'm not sure if I've been walking too much or stretching too little.  I'm afraid and wondering if there is anyone that has experienced this type of pain before.  When do you know that it is serious enough to call the doctor?

[KPanthen]

I am a 50 year old overweight male. I had a laminectomy at L4-L5 10 years ago. 5 years later I had a re-do of the same level. One year later, I had a single fusion at the L4-5 level with titanium rods and screens. That was an anterior/posterior surguery. Two years later I had two additional evels fused at L3-4 and L5-S1. I fit in that category of "failed back syndrome" I am doing quite well but have experienced some incrased pain lately. I can't sit for very long with out the constant ache. Plane and car rides drive me crazy after two hours.I take ULTRAM for pain, have had many epidural and nerve block injections. I take wellbutrim for depression and AMBIEN to sleep. Does anyone have a similar situation. Am interested in trying to get off the drugs.
KEN PANTHEN, Albany, NY

[Melay]

Hello! I have recently had a fusion on L5S1 and L4. Less than a year ago, I had to have a laminectomy and diskectomy on L5S1. I have only been recovering for a month and I am wondering when this stiffness and sore pain starts to go away. It is at its absolute worse at night when I am trying to sleep. It is awful. I can tell I am very weak in my back just by doing certain things such as: going up on my tiptoes and down somewhat quick, that about killed me and I think my feet got a little ahead of my body and it was like my back couldn't balance me. I am just wondering if I should still be having surgery pain because it is so stiff and achy like. It still hurts pretty bad and I still have to take pain medication. I start PT soon so hopefully that is going to be beneficial. I can not see living like this for the rest of my life. I am only 27 years old and have a whole optimistic future ahead of me. I tell you NOBODY has any idea what going through back pain should I say severe back pain is like. It is the worst. When I hear people say, "I know how you feel I hurt my back the other day". I just want to thump them in the head and tell them "OH ya do huh yea I seriously doubt you're pain is even remotely close". I know they don't know though. Anyways someone please reassure me that this is typical of recovery and that it should soon pass. Doc thinks I am doing great!!
Thanks Melay