I would like a poll

[Jakea222]

I am reading a lot because I want to make sure these surgeons - and I worked for a medical school before becoming a chef - those guys want to cut cut cut. I actually had a surgeon that I know that quit practicing medicine due to hit lower back and did not want the surgery - so I may be reading TOO much - but I think my expectations are too high too. I kind of had the mind set that it was a fix and it certainly is not...being a chef is not the food network - hells kitchen and iron chef combined but I make food for money thoses guys are on a show...Honestly - I left my white collar job to got to the CIA the best culinary school in the world to follow a passion for food...not working for a month or even longer at the high level I have is killing me emotionally - so I am getting the opinions of the people here to add to my - where am I going - Kathy I like your posts as well...I can't imagine kids with my back - and the "leg" comment - well - that is what it was for me the last time - but we were happy - if you know what I mean - HA

[Nairek]

I am 3 months out from having anterior/posterior fusion at L5/S1. I was forced to have fusion since my husband's healthplan refused to cover ADR & I felt that I didn't have the time to wait for appealing their decision. I was waking up with pins & needles going down both of my legs when I was laying flat on my back & was just spiraling downward with my condition.

I spent 6 days in the hospital but I believe that was due to my bowels taking forever to wake up & having tachycardia. I'm not exactly the "picture" of fitness so I'm sure that had something to do with it as well.

The first 2 days after surgery were pretty craptastic until they could get my pain under control. Then when the bowels started waking up & distending, that wasn't much fun either. I can't stress enough the importance of taking "softener" & eating as much fiber as possible. It makes "passing" a lot less painful.

A month after surgery I took a 2 1/2 flight to Florida. I was still in some pain but was able to manage it with the pain meds.

Two months after surgery, I took another 2 1/2 hour flight to Florida & went house hunting for a few days. There was a lot of getting in & out of the car & I expected to be bedridden. I was pleasantly surprised that it didn't happen. I wasn't taking as many pain meds either.

Two & 1/2 months after surgery, I went back to work to both of my jobs. I work an 8 hour day & both are mostly sedentary jobs. The 1st week I was a bit sore but it got a little easier as each week passed.

I noticed that when it's cold & damp I tend to be more uncomfortable & in pain. I am for the most part free from taking pain meds. I am dealing with a stabbing pain in the lower back since the surgery that my OS feels is from the muscle catching on the pedicle screw. He's hoping that it eases up in a few months. The only other option is for him to go back in & take it out. At this point, I'm not ready to go back under the knife & there's no way I can put my husband thru that Hell again.

On a lighter note, I see that you went to the CIA. If I tried really hard, I can throw a rock & hit the CIA from where I currently live

Be well & keep us informed!

Karin

[Jakea222]

I lived in COld Spring and we loved the Hudson Valley - The CIA was a great start of my journey to the "Culinary Side" and this with my back is scaring me if you can tell by my post...thanks for the info

[ImpOssibleOne]

I had an ALIF on Feb 10th. The surgery and hospital stay of two days wasn't too horrible and the pain was kept in check. It's taking a long time to recover, mainly because of nerve issues, but I'm much less pain than I was before surgery.

I used very little pain medication, maybe two Vicodin/day, not because I'm stoic but because I never found one that agreed with me. After the first 3 weeks, I quit using it altogether. For the first six weeks, I pretty much stuck around the house but I've recently taken a trip to Seattle (painful but do-able) and then one to Hawaii which was better. I didn't really do anything there, just walked to my lounge chair and back, but still had a good time.

At two months, the Xrays say I'm half fused and have been given the OK to take Advil but I don't take much of it..maybe 2 or 3/day. I just want to get this sucker fused ASAP. I take no meds other than a 2mg Valium for sleep. I can sit through a movie, restaurant, etc. I can stand up for hours but probably couldn't work as a chef yet because of the bending and lifting. I still feel 'tender'. Walking two miles/day. I'm in some pain and still have some leg numbness when I walk but it's subsiding. I don't ever feel like they're going to 'give' on me anymore.

Good luck, hope this helps.
Adrienne

[Justin]

Jake,

Good luck with everything. It sounds like you've been dealing with a lot while working a ton of hours each week.

Have you seen a physician / scheduled an appointment for your increased gait issues?

Keep us posted.

[Jakea222]

I take off my waist support and my entire belly feel like it is swishing around like a boat in a hurricane...put it back on and a lot better....I have a couple weeks to decide and am reading a lot - thanks to many of you already...guy

[Cindylou]

Jake, what is a "waist support?" Like a pelvic stabilizing belt? Just curious. Say, I have 3 lumbar adr's, a L6-S1 fusion, and then my right SI Joint fusion, of which I am 6 weeks post op. I am 10 months post-op from my L6-S1 fusion, and unlike everyone else, I really didn't have much nerve issue from the surgery. Like Mark said, you may not be contra-indicated for motion preservation, so I would certainly look into that. On the other hand, if there is no disc space left for ADR, I don't think a fusion is the end of the world, by any means. I honestly hardly notice any restriction in my movements, and I have had two fusions. Now, I don't have a cage, just screws, but......doc still had to go in both front and back. You are doing the right thing by researching, asking lots of questions, but I would recommend acting sooner rather than later, since you are experiencing gait issues. You certainly want to prevent any permanent nerve damage. Just my humble opinion. Hang in there, and I wish you the best in your decision making, and a future of pain free living once again!

God bless,

Cindylou