Fusion surgery over.....

[martyusa]

1st day back from the hospital and I must say, it's all a different pain. Dr. Gerald Foti did what appears to be a great job thus far. I was told it went flawless and better than expected. I was also told the MRI' did not do the damage justice and was glad we went with the fusion instead of the ADR. Dr. Foti told me if I had gone with the ADR, there was a very good chance we would have been doing the fusion not long down the road.

The leg pain is gone, nerve pain is gone and as far as that goes I feel great. I do have the surgery pain, but this is to be expected. The brace is nice and snug and doing it's job well. The days are definitely getting easier as they pass as long as I keep moving and doing as I am supposed to do.

Surgery date was August 1st, 2008. I was up and walking the next day with a walker, slow and gingerly. They took my walker away the following day and gave me crutches and they seemed to work better for me for the flow of walking. By Monday afternoon the crutches stayed against the wall and I was on my own power for a few strolls. I seem to be doing better than I could have ever expected and part of it was due to the prep before hand. I really focused on the core muscle groups as well as my legs, to the best of my ability considering my condition.

It's going to be a long recovery, but it would appear this was the best decision I could have made. Great support from family and neighbors with everyone giving a helping hand where they can.

I'd like to thank Mark for all of the indecisiveness in my decision making and tolerating an up and down attitude. He and the board have been very supportive and I thank you all.

The procedure used was the CD HORIZON® LEGACY™ PEEK Rod System. I am very pleased thus far.

Medtronic Sofamor Danek, Inc

[dshobbies]

Great news Marty! So glad your pain is gone. Making the right decision for you is difficult and something we've all been through. It sounds like you made the right one. Good for you.

Keep up the slow rehab and keep us posted.

Wishing you all the best, Dale

[Maria]

Thanks for updating us on what you did and how you're doing. Sounds like you are doing well to date & progressing nicely.

With respect to decision making and getting to the point where you actually choose a surgical option (if more than one is offered)~ it doesn't surprise me when people question/think about/sound out what path/option to take but rather when they don't.

Thanks as well for mentioning the name of the procedure, and type of system without having to ask.

Wishing you continued excellence in your recovery

[ans]

You sound great/articulate and have a realistic long-term idea of what to face. I guess your fusion was at L5-S1 - better this than an ADR lotsa people say. Heal well.

ans

[martyusa]

Originally Posted by ans

You sound great/articulate and have a realistic long-term idea of what to face. I guess your fusion was at L5-S1 - better this than an ADR lotsa people say. Heal well.

ans

Actually L4-S1 are the vertebrae that were fused. L5-S-1 was completely obliterated and L4-L5 was well on it's way to follow. As Tom Petty sings, "the waiting is the hardest part."

[mmglobal]

Marty... such great news. I love to hear, "the leg pain is gone... the nerve pain is gone... You know that the indications were correct and your pain generators are addressed. Please take care... heal well... and apprecate each minute you get without the pain that you knew too well.

You are very welcome for small part in your story... What I do is very rewarding and the best part of it is hearing about the restored lives.

All the best... please keep us up to date....

Mark

[martyusa]

Thanks everyone!

It is getting easier, physically. However the mental aspect is a different story. As some of you know I am a competitor and play sports year round. It's kind of a catch 22, LOL. In 1 case, I'm glad I have the Olympics to watch while I am down and out. And on the other hand, I can't wait to get back out there and at least have a catch with my son. So, we'll have to play this smart and conservative so recuperation is as perfect as it can be.

I have spoken to 1 of my M.A. instructors who had an older but similar procedure. She tells me the same thing everyone else tells me. That is I am not to screw around with anything for the first 6 months. Don't play, don't think that I am recovered yet and the most important thing is to let the fusion take and heal. She had had her titanium rods removed and is in constant pain because she pushed the envelope. She is setting up for corrective surgery just to ease the pain level.

I've started getting some numbness in my big toes and a few other, but nothing to crazy. I feel it could be from too much walking, or sitting a bit too long. However, it does ease up after I get a good rest. Sleeping is getting better as I am getting a good 6 hours now before I wake up for whatever reason. i.e pain, bathroom or my body is done sleeping for now.

I am really starting to feel my knee now. For over a year I have been putting most of my weight on my left side just because it was easier due to the simple fact most of my pain was on my right side. Ironic how the Hammy tear and radicular pain were both on the same side. We'll take a look at the on Monday to see what going on in there. Getting old really sucks......

[mmglobal]

Numbness in both big toes? Was that a pre-op symptom that you are feel again? You mentioned leg pain... was their numbness? Both sides?

[martyusa]

Originally Posted by mmglobal

Numbness in both big toes? Was that a pre-op symptom that you are feel again? You mentioned leg pain... was their numbness? Both sides?

No, just the right side for the pain. Which is the side I had most of the problems with. Pre-op symptoms on the right side was numbness in all the toes and even into my heal when I drove for long periods. The left side didn't come until about 1 month before surgery, but it is not giving me any problems as of yet. But it's different pain......I'll talk to Dr. Foti at my follow-up on Monday.

The last MRI showed L5-S1 disc pressing against the nerve on the right side, which is the same side the doc hit with the pin during the nerve root injection.

[mmglobal]

It's still so close to your surgery and your activity level is probably on the way up, so you may be flaring things. You are probably not on NSAIDs because of fusion. Stay cool... let yourself heal and increase your activities slowly. If you discover limits... dial it back a little.

I'd let the doc know anyway... onset of new symptoms is something you should let him know about. They may blow it off and may not want such detail... but err on the side of caution. When do you see her next?

Mark