Home Sweet Home

[Jimbo]

You will get there Melissa and you will never look back.

[jrnyc]

Hey Jimbo
what great x rays..they should be on display..that is practically art! good job by the surgeon!!

what is the "temporary to L5" thing??...

i would need fusion to pelvis...so i am delaying & delaying...i really believe that people on forum who have had fusion to pelvis never talk the same way...they cant forget their surgery EVER...i dont think...cause they can never bend again!
and reading all the folks who "beg" their doctors not to go below L5 doesnt help me decide to do the surgery one little bit!!

best of luck to you... i hope your health gets better & better!

jess

[mbeckoff]

You will get there Melissa and you will never look back.

I know that and I am so ready to go now

Melissa

[JenniferG]

Jess, losing that bendability is a very small price to pay for no pain. And I was never in the pain you are. I wish you could come here for a day and see how easy it is for me to get through the day. I feel like a spring chicken. Please don't be afraid of losing the ability to bend at the waist. You will still be able to bend at the hip, remember.

[Jimbo]

what is the "temporary to L5" thing??...

Since they found a fracture and partially fused vertebrae at L5, it was unable to withstand the force of the other fused vertebrae. My surgeon, instead of fusing to the pelvis, chose to extend the rods down to L5 for one year to attempt to stabilise it. That is why I am in a post-op brace - to limit the movement of that vertebrae as it has been left unfused, just pushed into position with rods.

I hope hope hope that it works and if it does the surgeon will remove the extended rods in one year and leave the fusion level at L4.

A bit of a setback. I thought a big setback, but my surgeon thinks it is just a minor inconvenience that will most likely have a positive outcome. Fingers crossed

[Vali]

Dear Vali: you're the first one I've heard say it was not that bad. It was painful but not really that bad. I'm very glad to hear you say that. Of course, one of the things I've wondered about is just how bad it really is. Of course, with the amount of pain I have now going on, muscle spasms, hurts to talk, laugh or even sniffle, decreased lung capacity, and so on.....it may not be much worse than that. And, at least that you know will get back. Whereas this pain we fell all day everyday - day in and day out - we have to wonder will it ever end. Amy I close here?

Rita, i was quite comfortable after surgery, no extreme pain that i can recall. I was on a PCA but never used it much, so they removed it day 2 post-op. I think that i may have gotten used to the pain building up. My pain started in June 2006 and progressively got worse. I was having several kinds of spinal injections to keep the pain at bay - the facet joint ones worked the best for me. I used to cringe when i could feel a sneeze coming on. I didn't think the pain could get much worse but when the curve started deteriorating at the rate of one degree per month, it was getting excruciating. I was pretty much home bound, driving was hard, walking would give me like 'electric shocks', i couldn't take much more. When my surgeon said we need to take care of this within the next 12 months, I still took three weeks to make my decision, but it is one that i don't regret and as Pam said, ' i would do it over again. So....
yep Rita you're close. Best wishes.

[Vali]

Jess, losing that bendability is a very small price to pay for no pain. And I was never in the pain you are. I wish you could come here for a day and see how easy it is for me to get through the day. I feel like a spring chicken. Please don't be afraid of losing the ability to bend at the waist. You will still be able to bend at the hip, remember.

Ditto for me on this one... I was in a lot of pain

[jrnyc]

Dear JennG & Vali
you are both so sweet! i know you have told me that...& i thank you...i do believe you, cause you live it! it is just hard to imagine without being in your shoes! but what i really meant was....can you ever FORGET about your back...if you did, could you break the rods by accident, having them all the way down as you both do....if you bent down wrong...without thinking....??
i wish i could come visit...i really do!!

Jimbo
i will keep my fingers crossed for you absolutely...cause it would be great if you didnt need the fusion to L5 if they can prevent it!

thanks to all who write...i am having a hard time making my decision...but i know if i am meant to do this, i will...there are days when the pain is so bad, i am ready to have surgery...then, especially after injections, there are days it eases up somewhat....
i expect to visit my NYC surgeon this spring.....

jess

[loves to skate]

i would need fusion to pelvis...so i am delaying & delaying...i really believe that people on forum who have had fusion to pelvis never talk the same way...they cant forget their surgery EVER...i dont think...cause they can never bend again!
and reading all the folks who "beg" their doctors not to go below L5 doesnt help me decide to do the surgery one little bit!!

jess

Jess, That statement is so not true for me. I still have some pain issues, but I think part of that is because of my age and the fact that I wasn't diagnosed early enough and my spine was in such bad shape by the time I found a Doctor that had the confidence to operate on me. As to bending, I can still bend and almost touch my toes and can pick up a paper clip off of the floor just by bending my knees a little more than I used to. You have to realize that the longer you put surgery off, the more difficult your surgery could be and the older you are, the longer your recovery will probably be. Note that I said could and probably. Life is too short not to be able to do the things you love to do and you know what you have given up because of your pain. Maybe if you had the side effects that I have had with cortisone shots, you might be ready sooner to have surgery. I don't ever want another cortisone shot! Who on this forum is unhappy that their Doctor had to fuse them to S-1? I would have this surgery over again in a heartbeat, because I have my life back.

[megz]

Jess, That statement is so not true for me. I still have some pain issues, but I think part of that is because of my age and the fact that I wasn't diagnosed early enough and my spine was in such bad shape by the time I found a Doctor that had the confidence to operate on me. As to bending, I can still bend and almost touch my toes and can pick up a paper clip off of the floor just by bending my knees a little more than I used to. You have to realize that the longer you put surgery off, the more difficult your surgery could be and the older you are, the longer your recovery will probably be. Note that I said could and probably. Life is too short not to be able to do the things you love to do and you know what you have given up because of your pain. Maybe if you had the side effects that I have had with cortisone shots, you might be ready sooner to have surgery. I don't ever want another cortisone shot! Who on this forum is unhappy that their Doctor had to fuse them to S-1? I would have this surgery over again in a heartbeat, because I have my life back.

aww sally you truly are an inspiration to me =) I always love reading your posts<33 I really agree with what you have to say. I don't really feel any different being fused from t2-pelvis. I took a bath lastnight OMG I loved it hahaha it my first I had always been using the shower. and I was able to do everything myself. I could shave my legs just fine.. I found my body wanting to go backwards but I am assuming its just the mussels and stuff arent strong enough..You are truly an amazing woman sally and I love you for that!!

meg

[ADMoul]

Congratulations on getting home. I am about a week-10 days behind you so you are truly inspiring for me. We're here in NY but home, (4 hours south) in PA is covered with over 2 feet of snow with more predicted this week. Don't think I'll have to worry about heat rash with my brace. Will find out tomorrow if we're going to be able to do some rehab here in NY--depends on insurance. As much as I want to get out of this hospital, I (and my husband who will be my primary care-giver) want to feel comfortable and safe once we get there.
Keep those positive posts coming!!

[titaniumed]

Jimbo

Very nice looking x-rays! Straight as an arrow.

Glad to see you are doing well.
Ed

[jrnyc]

Thanks Sally...and everybody who posted about fusion to pelvis..i really do pay attention & think about everything you guys have to say...it makes me feel ALOT better about leaning () towards surgery ...it truly does!

expect to call the 2 patients Dr Anand's office gave me phone numbers for this week..will write the forum with what they have to say....i am sure it will be positive or i doubt i would have been given their phone numbers!

thanks again..
jess

[JenniferG]

It will be interesting to hear what they say, even if they are "good examples" Jess!