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iSpine Discuss Anyone Had Anterior Interbody Fusion? in the Main forums forums; Hi, I think I am about to have a new surgery for me. An anterior approach to try to get ...

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Old 06-01-2013, 03:04 AM
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Default Anyone Had Anterior Interbody Fusion?

Hi,
I think I am about to have a new surgery for me. An anterior approach to try to get my lumbar spine to fuse . We will leave L5-S1 alone , i think. I have chronic fractures at L2 and L4 so my doc proposed L2 thru L4 where he will put in cages. I am ready for the lumbar pain to disappear . Last Augusts surgery left me with a difficult stance and lessened my ability to walk normally. My doc was honest and said as far as helping with walking i may get no improvement, 25%, 50% or 90% . I still have lumbar scoliosis and he said that may be the cause of my on going hip pain. I am just a mess.
Any info on this procedure would be very appreciated.
Judy
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2007 ACDF 4-7
2008 hip , knee scope, hip replacement
2009 thoracic T-5 thru T-11fusion
2009 VATS T7-8, posterior only T11-12. removal of thoracic hard wear
2010 lung surgery
2010 T2-L2 kyphosis correction
2010 Kyphoplasty T-3, T-4
2011 Cervical osteotomy ,revision C4-T5
2011 Foot surgery
2011 Revision fusion T7 thru L4/laminectomy
2012 Hammertoe correction left foot
2012 Revision fusion T-12 thru L5
2012 Revision fusion L4-L5
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Old 06-03-2013, 01:30 AM
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Judy, the ALIF is almost the same surgery as an ADR. The recovery is a bit more difficult because you'll have more restrictions, more bracing, etc... because you have to protect the fusion.

It can be slightly less invasive because they don't need to get a straight shot at the disc space like they do with most of the ADR's, so the exposure is a little easier.

Is there any discussion of XLIF instead of ALIF? Perhaps the difficulties of your case motivate the doctors to go for the anterior approach because they may be able to get a more solid construct than they can with XLIF... but I'd ask about it. (I'm not suggesting that this is a better option... just something to discuss.)

Remember... I'm not a doctor.. yada, yada, yada... take everything I say with a grain of salt.

Mark
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1997 MVA
2000 L4-5 Microdiscectomy/laminotomy
2001 L5-S1 Micro-d/lami
2002 L4-S1 Charite' ADR - SUCCESS!
2009 C3-C4, C5-C6-C7, T1-T2 ProDisc-C Nova
Summer 2009, more bad thoracic discs!
Life After Surgery Website
President: Global Patient Network, Inc.
Founder: www.iSpine.org
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Old 06-03-2013, 05:36 AM
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Hi Mark,
Thank you for replying. Is the recovery easier or harder than the posterior approach.? I know my doc said he would not do another posterior approach on me as i have been cut open too many times. Of course unless i do something like break my neck again. I am hoping i will get a little straighter with this surgery.
judy
__________________










2007 ACDF 4-7
2008 hip , knee scope, hip replacement
2009 thoracic T-5 thru T-11fusion
2009 VATS T7-8, posterior only T11-12. removal of thoracic hard wear
2010 lung surgery
2010 T2-L2 kyphosis correction
2010 Kyphoplasty T-3, T-4
2011 Cervical osteotomy ,revision C4-T5
2011 Foot surgery
2011 Revision fusion T7 thru L4/laminectomy
2012 Hammertoe correction left foot
2012 Revision fusion T-12 thru L5
2012 Revision fusion L4-L5
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Old 06-05-2013, 01:01 PM
mmglobal's Avatar
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Judy, I've seen so many types of recoveries... experiences are all over the place. Some people have an easy time with very invasive surgeries, while others have terrible times with less invasive surgeries.

You've got more experience with spine surgery than just about anyone I know and I think you are overdue for an easy time!!!

When do you get cut?

Mark

PS.... are you up for a dog beach run?
__________________
1997 MVA
2000 L4-5 Microdiscectomy/laminotomy
2001 L5-S1 Micro-d/lami
2002 L4-S1 Charite' ADR - SUCCESS!
2009 C3-C4, C5-C6-C7, T1-T2 ProDisc-C Nova
Summer 2009, more bad thoracic discs!
Life After Surgery Website
President: Global Patient Network, Inc.
Founder: www.iSpine.org
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Old 06-06-2013, 05:19 AM
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I am very up for a dog beach trip.
I agree that i must be up for an easy recovery. I only remember one from the kyphoplasty!! Possibly one other one with only my spine surgeon around to prescribe meds. I don't have a date yet , but i will let you know when i get to that point.
Let me know about the beach.
judy
__________________










2007 ACDF 4-7
2008 hip , knee scope, hip replacement
2009 thoracic T-5 thru T-11fusion
2009 VATS T7-8, posterior only T11-12. removal of thoracic hard wear
2010 lung surgery
2010 T2-L2 kyphosis correction
2010 Kyphoplasty T-3, T-4
2011 Cervical osteotomy ,revision C4-T5
2011 Foot surgery
2011 Revision fusion T7 thru L4/laminectomy
2012 Hammertoe correction left foot
2012 Revision fusion T-12 thru L5
2012 Revision fusion L4-L5
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Old 06-17-2013, 03:03 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Sierra Madre, California
Posts: 904
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I saw my hip surgeon to make sure my hip pain is coming from my spine and not my hips themselves. Well my pelvis has changed position do to all the spine surgeries, so my hips are in a different position, possibly causing some of my difficulty with walking. All in all he said the hip pain is all spine related. My body was cooperative and was hurting when i saw him!!
My surgery is still in the approval stage. so no date yet.

I am so ready for the beach though.
judy
__________________










2007 ACDF 4-7
2008 hip , knee scope, hip replacement
2009 thoracic T-5 thru T-11fusion
2009 VATS T7-8, posterior only T11-12. removal of thoracic hard wear
2010 lung surgery
2010 T2-L2 kyphosis correction
2010 Kyphoplasty T-3, T-4
2011 Cervical osteotomy ,revision C4-T5
2011 Foot surgery
2011 Revision fusion T7 thru L4/laminectomy
2012 Hammertoe correction left foot
2012 Revision fusion T-12 thru L5
2012 Revision fusion L4-L5
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Old 06-18-2013, 07:50 PM
mmglobal's Avatar
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Posts: 2,511
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Judy... can you coordinate a date for the dog beach with Maria?
__________________
1997 MVA
2000 L4-5 Microdiscectomy/laminotomy
2001 L5-S1 Micro-d/lami
2002 L4-S1 Charite' ADR - SUCCESS!
2009 C3-C4, C5-C6-C7, T1-T2 ProDisc-C Nova
Summer 2009, more bad thoracic discs!
Life After Surgery Website
President: Global Patient Network, Inc.
Founder: www.iSpine.org
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  #8 (permalink)  
Old 06-18-2013, 11:13 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Sierra Madre, California
Posts: 904
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will do
judy
__________________










2007 ACDF 4-7
2008 hip , knee scope, hip replacement
2009 thoracic T-5 thru T-11fusion
2009 VATS T7-8, posterior only T11-12. removal of thoracic hard wear
2010 lung surgery
2010 T2-L2 kyphosis correction
2010 Kyphoplasty T-3, T-4
2011 Cervical osteotomy ,revision C4-T5
2011 Foot surgery
2011 Revision fusion T7 thru L4/laminectomy
2012 Hammertoe correction left foot
2012 Revision fusion T-12 thru L5
2012 Revision fusion L4-L5
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