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

joemonfl · #1 (**permalink**) 11-29-2007, 05:52 PM

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

fuzzy · #2 (**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 · #3 (**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 · #4 (**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 · #5 (**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 · #6 (**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.

Tim · #7 (**permalink**) 12-01-2007, 01:50 PM

Fuzzy
Great to hear your doing so well!
Apologies for hijacking your thread but I just want to pick up on Marks comments regarding autologous bone graft vs BMP.

Mark
I know we spoke briefly about this recently but I just want to ask a quick question following on from your comment that "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".
Do you feel then that the use of BMP is positively contraindicated in any hybrid surgery be that a combined ADR + fusion primary surgery or a later secondary fusion surgery above or below an existing adjacent ADR? As you know this is an issue I am currently very much trying to understand.

Again Fuzzy apologies for utilizing your thread. In my humble opinion a combined procedure with fusion at L5/S1 and ADR at the more mobile L4/5 sounds like a great combination which should give you years of hopefully pain free activity. I look forward to hearing of your recovery going from strength to strength.

All the best
Tim