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fusion of the whole lumbar
i am 53 yrs old.i had a fusion/laminectomy of L2/L3 AND L3/L4 - 4 1/2 yrs ago.i was in pain about 1 mo.after surgery but had a dr.with a bad attitude.i had a pain dr.prior to surgery so i asked him if it was normal because i felt great for a whole mo.after surgery.he said that i was prolly gonna be in pain for the rest of my life.i have always had a high tolerance for pain so i just dealt with it until i just couldn't anymore and my pain dr.just thought i was becoming addicted to the pain meds.i had been dubbed disabled 2mo.after surgery.this yr.i went to a new dr.,had a milo/ct scan and it showed that the fusion never took,bolts are loose,the bolt ends are separated from the bolts,one of the bolts is embedded into 1 of my bones.i am scheduled for a 2nd opinion because the 1st dr.i have seen(not the previous surgeon)said i need a whole/complete lumbar fusion.i was also told that i will not have any bend in my back if i have it done.i also have scoliosis,stenosis,sciatica and ddd. i am wondering how complicate a lifestyle i have to look forward to. i live alone other than my 2 dogs.is there anyone here that can share their experiences with me? how complicate certain situations are for you? i'm even worried that i won't be able to wipe my butt !! sorry but truth..... thank you any/all that can share. :)
This discussion is related to back fusion complete lower lumbar.
This discussion is related to back fusion complete lower lumbar.
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thank you so much for the info dr.mathur. now i am just trying to decide which surgery i should get done first. my back is giving me severe pains throughout day/night but i will have to use my shoulder and hand more during the healing process of my spine. i have limited use of the hand and shoulder now as well as my back. i know the shoulder/hand will take appr.5 mo.to heal for the most part because i have had them done 3 times already. soooo,wait for the shoulder to heal before spine surgery? or, try to get through the healing of my spine with limited use of the shoulder/hand ? i need to get the spine done a.s.a.p. and also,would like to try and get off all these meds. not sure how long it will take to heal from whole lumbar fusion........ what to do........
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I am sorry to hear about your medical problems. Well, if the fusion has not taken place and the hardware was loose it can cause immense pain. If you undergo complete fusion L1-4, you will be able to twist your waist to some extent. Yes, forward and backward bending will be restricted, but you can do most things by adopting a different style (eg. pick thing up from floor by bending down on knees). A physiotherapist and occupational therapist will help you learn ways to do things you normally do day to day. Take care!
The medical advice given should not be considered a substitute for medical care provided by a doctor who can examine you. The advice may not be completely correct for you as the doctor cannot examine you and does not know your complete medical history. Hence this reply to your post should only be considered as a guiding line and you must consult your doctor at the earliest for your medical problem.