9 Months Post XLIF fusion of L4-L5 - MAGIC!

[grantwb1]

I am really happy to hear your news. I am having a slow recovery form fusion and nothing is more encouraging than hearing someone else describe good recovery. I never thought I could be so happy for someone I do not even know, but after my spine problems I know different. Great news and thanks for posting!

G

[Katie]

Ben, could you give us more information about your surgery?

I had the XLIF at the L 4/5 and ALIF at L5/S1 because of complications once the surgeon was in there, plus a Nuvasive Neodisc at C5/6. This was all just over four weeks ago and I am doing wonderfully...the only side effect really is that my body has taken over and is in sleep mode for now. I guess it is just plain healing and making up for several years of little sleep because of so much pain

I can't recommend the XLIF enough...I can barely feel that incision compared to the ALIF, and even that one isn't very bad. If I only had the XLIF, it would be like it almost never happened! I am following all the proper protocol of course for proper healing and exercising, but expect a full recovery.

I went to see Dr. Luiz Pimenta in Sao Paulo, Brazil in mid-March and have nothing but great things to say about the trip. He was able to find and use non-metal devices where no one else could, which was a life saver for me. I discovered last fall that I was allergic to every metal that was possibly used in ADR and fusion surgery in North America and Germany. All the stalling and disappointments were well worth it in the end, as I ended up getting the devices that were exactly right for me.

I am so glad that your surgery has gone well, and you have your life back again. Congratulations!!!!

[iikingli]

Good Morning all,

I had a quick Question, I had my XLIF in December on the L4-L5 Level, Im 28 and was in a vehicle roll over while in the military back in 2001, My disc was almost complete gone at which point i was forced to have the Spine Surgery.

I had a lot of Sciatic pain before as well as general pain in the back in my legs and my buttocks.

My question is how long after surgery do you start to feel better, I have an extremely hard time bending over (more so now then before) and my back is always in pain almost like an arthritic type of feeling, I am very hopeful that in time it will go away, and get better.

I try to stretch as much as i can with the limitations and pain but my back just gives out at times and I was looking for some friendly advice and a positive outlook.

Thanks

[Katie]

Since I last posted, my recovery has been on a bit of a roller-coaster. There are days of very little pain, like today, almost one tenth of what the pain had been.

But yesterday and the night before I suffered almost as much as before surgery, but I had really overdone things by sitting too long in a bad position, bending when I shouldn't have...just trying to live a normal life when my back still isn't ready for it.

iikingli, have you paid attention to your activities and how the pain relates to them? I've chatted with a number of fusion patients and all have reassured me that the pain can take months to go away, and then all of a sudden...nothing. Or, it gradually goes away over a year. There is no set pattern and from what I can learn, everything is 'normal'.

Have you checked with your surgeon to see what his opinion is on your pain levels? After surgery, mine said it may be possible that I would have 'phantom pain', from the nerves being irritated for so long.

My back is starting to 'stiffen', from the two levels of fusion of course, but I'm hoping that some physiotherapy in the future will release a bit of that.

Good luck and feel free to contact me if you'd like to chat more.