I had surgery StALIF L5/S1 Activ-L L4/L5 Zeegers, Alphaklinik

fuzzy · #1 (**permalink**) 11-21-2007, 06:51 PM

2 to 3 levels is a big surgery. I was not ready for any bigger outing until about day 9. Now at day 12 I can go for several hours, with breaks all day.

I stayed at Sheraton Grand. Don't know about english shows I only watched german and french ones (I am trilingual, so is Zeegers, more like quad lingual). But at least BBC, CNN and, I think, Comedy channel.

Don't know about the pains after surgery, I am sure it varies with everyone. A lady who had surgery the same day (single level) with me seemed to be in much better shape then me at day 4. I was pretty fit going in. Exercised till the day before. Seems the anaestethia meds really got to me, I was seriously dizzy for days.

Ibo's, Stopped the Alphakillers at 2 days. I got pretty high pain tolerance, right now the pain tells me when to be careful, slowdown or stop.

Maria · #2 (**permalink**) 11-22-2007, 03:11 PM

Hey Fuzzy,
Thanks for the report/update on your surgery and how you've been doing. I'm really interested in hearing about outcomes w/ the StALIF fusion and glad to hear you seem to be doing so well to date.

Please keep the updates if you're so inclined. You do have interested readers here! Loved hearing the glowing report for AlphaKlinik and Dr.Zeegers. He sounds like a great guy and wonderful surgeon~ as well as the facility and staff as well.

take good care and well wishes for continued good healing/recovery!

thanks, Maria

joemonfl · #3 (**permalink**) 11-29-2007, 05:52 PM

Just a quick hi fuzzy to see how you are feeling?

fuzzy · #4 (**permalink**) 11-29-2007, 06:50 PM

Tomorrow I am 3 weeks out from the surgery and I am continuesly improving

My back does not hurt at all when I am not pushing it. It only hurts after a 2 hour hike things start getting pretty darn sore, passing well past the iboprofen level. But breaks help as they take off the pain quickly, I think a lot of that is the muscles. I still have leg pain in left leg that comes and goes, particularly at night, lying "wrong" triggers this pain real strong. The darn bone donorsite is a real pain sometimes. I still have quite a bit of burning in my feet and my right foot is consistenly cold but contrary to before I can now feel the coldness more often then not. Lying down resolves these problems faster then before. Sitting endurance is improving. I would develop pain quick and now it takes a little longer. If there is any pain in my back then its right at the fusion level, it seems.

My body is still over coming the shock from surgery but i feel much better now an can't wait to go on some long walks, like the tiger in the cage.
Next week I will see Dr Zeegers for a 4 week checkup.

sharman · #5 (**permalink**) 11-30-2007, 01:23 AM

I'm so glad to hear that you're improving. Just three weeks after a hybrid surgery, that's very good news.

Can I ask a question? Why did Zeegers choose autologous bone graft?

fuzzy · #6 (**permalink**) 11-30-2007, 08:16 AM

I don't have an intelligent answer as this question didn't even come up. But I'd rather use my own bone then something else and will make it throught the discomfort. I try to remember to ask the question thought at the next visit.

mmglobal · #7 (**permalink**) 11-30-2007, 09:13 PM

Zeegers uses autologous bone because that's what he gets excellent results with. There is motiviation not to use BMP, growth factors and other fusion accelerators in hybrid procedures because you don't want to risk causing fusion at the ADR level.

The downside of using autologous bone is the potential serious pain at the donor site. Read AlanK's story on the GPN page... he did have substantial pain at the donor site, but at 10 months out, he was reporting functioning at 100% with zero pain, zero meds.

I've never gotten strange looks at the Sheraton Bogenhausen... I guess my beard is not quite as long as yours! Maybe I'll see you next week.

Mark

fuzzy · #8 (**permalink**) 12-01-2007, 08:24 AM

Yes, the bone site has some real pain potential. The first few days was very bad and literally stopped me from walking much. It felt like someone to a big hammer to my hip.

I stayed at the Grand but went over to the Bogenhausen a few times. the folks at the counter there allmost swallowed their own tongues, haha, I think they were wondering wheather I should really be there but on the other hand they must get to see many strange folk all the time.

Mark, will you be in Munich next weekend? If so stay in touch and lets meet up!

Pain update: 6 hours on my feet yesterday and the biggest pain genertor was... the bone graft site. Pain in the spinal area was nil and the other pains were a good general ache in my legs, sore feet and the usual minor tingely stuff in my feet but improving.