I would like a poll

[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