spinal fusion after effects

It sounds as if you've had a rough go, following your surgery! I admire your attitude of dealing with the now, not rushing things. If you look at my earlier post, you'll see that we have similar issues. You mentioned the nerve pain, which has been my biggest obstacle. What meds are you using? Has your doctor mentioned the use of a neurostimulator implant? Psychologically, how do you handle the unremitting discomfort? Like you, my surgery was successful, but the collateral nerve damage is so debilitating and 2 1/2 year post op, I know there will be no more improvement. I just need some tips in dealing.

Ash wrote:

I had a spinal fusion and ever since have had headaches. Now, I am having a feeling like bubbles in my head, sometimes on the sides, and other times on the top of my head. I had a MRI on my head a while ago, and there isn't anything wrong there. I wonder if it is related to my back, because I am really starting to get nervous at this feeling. Does anyone experience the same thing or have any idea what could be going on?

I have headaches also since my lumbar fusion and I have found medication called GABAPENTIN that has helped. I also had an MRI and everything is fine also. I have been in the hospital 3 times in a month (2 because my blood pressure was extremely low and the 3rd because my heart rate was nearly nil). The funny part is: I take meds for high blood pressure. Now I'm having problems with becoming dizzy and falling. I think everything is due to this procedure and I regret ever having it.

You are so not alone, mine is the same. Mine was done at L5S1, i was a paramedic and was told I would be back to work in 6 months that was 5 years ago. Now I can't go to my childrens football games, my daughters dance recitals. I do have to take pain medication because I can't handle it. the pain is down my left leg cant feel my first two toes, nor can i feel my buttocks. My husband is convinced i hate him cause we aren't close sexually but maybe once a month and that is pushing it. Its horrible I have been labeled failed back sydrome. I am in search of a doctor that will fix this problem. In the meantime, Best of luck.

failed back surgery wrote:

i had a spinal fusion and discectomy at L3 just over a year ago. i no longer have the severe pain down my left leg but my lower back muscles are killing me 24/7. the pains shoots in my butt as if i'm being jabbed with a knife. i was an extremely advid weight lifter but now i'm limited to doing the meakest workouts (if any). when i push on my lower back muscles i see stars. it almost feels as if there is fluid on both sides of my lower back muscles. i refuse to take meds so i'm dealing with it naturally. my moods are always changing with the pain. I can't stand much, have a horrible time driving, can't bend much, can't get out of bed normally and have to throw my feet up to put socks/shoes on. my life has gotten so much worse since my surgery. depression because i use to be pretty active. can't really hold my newborn or play sports with my older son. the sad thing is my doctor said there's nothing else he can do. i was also told it was "failed back syndrome". i'm looking for a new doctor to try and find the problem and fix it (without meds). good to hear i'm not alone. it sucks!

I'm 24 n recently went to a nurosurgeon thinking I had an extruding disc and torn disc.. After an MRI n Catscan he told me I have degenerating bone disease. The first thing he said is that I need to get a test done where they put the needles in my lower 3 or 4 disc n inflate them to see if it is my lower 3 or 4 lumbars, then he wants me to get a fusion done. I asked him if I could try something like physical therapy since my pain is still tolerable n I have 3 young children n don't really wana jump into surgery until absolutly necessary! After reading all of your posts I'm even more scared to get it no then ever! I'm only 24 n my dads friend usto be a nurosurgeon assistant n she says its very rare for my age and also very rare that it is my lower 3 or 4 disks! She says its usually one or two disks. I'm afraid that if I get this surgery I may never be able to actually be better again, I've only been having mild pain for a little over a year now! If anyone can give me any advice I would greatly apprecitate it!!! THANK YOU!!

Christina, whatever else you decide, you must get a second...and third opinion! With the minor discomfort you're experiencing, I can't believe a neurosurgeon would recommend an extensive surgical procedure without exhausting all other treatment options. Weight loss, PT, yoga, injections, EMG (painful, but an excellent diagnostic tool) mind-body connection approach, a TENS unit...just a few avenues to pursue. It is troublesome when a physician immediately goes to the invasive treatment choice. Are you sure you didn't hear him speculate about the worst scenario and, in your distress, block out the less serious conditions? I lived with episodes of varying severity from my teens through my mid-sixties. Only when the spinal compression created a serious weakness in my legs did I have surgery...and it has been no where near a positive experience! You are the boss of your body and you mustn't give over that responsibility to someone else until you have educated yourself enough to ask the right questions...and demand the right answers!

I went through years of increasing pain and only resorted to surgery when it go to be to much for to long. I tried everything except the tens unit. A myelogram is where the basically try to reproduce the pain. I was fine with L-3 and 4. but when they hit L-5 I screamed. It is not a pleasant test to go through. It will however tell you of one of the disc is the problem. If it is I would ask why they could not do a disc replacement rather then fusion. If surgery is really called for A fusion is a very hard recovery. They went in through the front on me which caused severe digestive problems from the moving things around. The intestines are very sensitive and it lasted for me about 8 months. I like many others got a different diagnosis from different Dr's. fibromyalgia, degenerative disc disease etc.

I agree with Classy lady exhaust all other forms of non invasive treatments.

Thank you very much for your advice! I've been talking to alot of people n another opinion is definitely in my future! I also am goin to wait until the pain is just to much to take, I don't want somethingto go wrong n have to deal with it forever! So thank you sooooo much! Greatly appreciated!!!

But I should add it is your decision and your body, so make the choice that you feel is best for you. I regretted then getting surgery but I do not regret it now. After 18 months I am doing pretty well. Surgery is not a cure all and I still have some pain sometimes. But not like before the surgery. I would consult other Dr's or someone you trust. Talk to others who have been though it. Not everyone has the same experience. Some actually quite well with it.

You have botched surgery! These doctors have a neuro person monitoring you during the procedure. I think they fall asleep! A good spinal surgeon will tell you that you should not be in pain after three weeks and if you are still in pain after three months, something is wrong. What the surgeon likes to do is 'tap dance' until the Statute of Limitations runs out. Get a good spinal surgeon to give you a second opinion. Getting a neurosurgeon is even better. I went through the same thing!!

backpain4life wrote:

I had my L5 S1 fusion nearly 4 years ago and I have never been the same since. I am unable to hold my children. I cannot walk throughout the mall without severe pain and numbness in my toes. I was wondering if anyone else has had these same side effects or any others. I am starting to think it was a botched surgery but I would like feedback to see if this is actually "normal". Thank you

Just because there is continuing pain following surgery does not mean that the surgery went wrong. The initial problems requiring my L1-L5 fusion were resolved. My subsequent pain is from the nerve damage which can not be avoided when the operation itself requires severing the nerves. Since I had three surgeries within one month due to complications...infection and broken surgical drains...my nerves were assaulted several times! I keep hoping that someone will respond with a report of their experience with a neurostimulator implant, which is being recommended. Naturally, another surgical procedure creeps me out...especially one which interrupts signals to my brain! Three years of unresolved and unimproved pain conditions have worn down my opposition. Does anyone have an experience...good or bad...to share?

backpain4life wrote:

I had my L5 S1 fusion nearly 4 years ago and I have never been the same since. I am unable to hold my children. I cannot walk throughout the mall without severe pain and numbness in my toes. I was wondering if anyone else has had these same side effects or any others. I am starting to think it was a botched surgery but I would like feedback to see if this is actually "normal". Thank you

I cannot walk around the block without severe pain and o just had a lamenectomy.I have stenosis and was told I would have to have a fusion within six years.this surgery was so painful I will wait till I can't take the pain any longer.I wonder if anyone has had relieve from a fusion

I had a s1 l5 fusion in 2004 . I didn't listen to my surgeon who said I wouldnt get much better. I followed my physio advice and a personal trainer. Strengthen your core muscles and stretch stretch stretch every day your quads hamstrings and hip flexor muscles . I get out of bed and stretch I never sit for long keep my weight down and stay active . I am pain free if I follow these rules if I don't I suffer if I do I'm good. It's something I live with but if I do my core I'm good . Also watch your posture as I also have probs between my shoulder blades

Karen green wrote:

I had a s1 l5 fusion in 2004 . I didn't listen to my surgeon who said I wouldnt get much better. I followed my physio advice and a personal trainer. Strengthen your core muscles and stretch stretch stretch every day your quads hamstrings and hip flexor muscles . I get out of bed and stretch I never sit for long keep my weight down and stay active . I am pain free if I follow these rules if I don't I suffer if I do I'm good. It's something I live with but if I do my core I'm good . Also watch your posture as I also have probs between my shoulder blades

Karen, u are truly blessed then. I was physically unable to stretch any part of my body for the first few weeks after surgery (feb 2009)... Every limb hurt, toes and ankles were numb, digestive system was shocked (the toilet was my bff, which was in terms more painful for my lower back).... It took months for me to simply bend down & I'm still having issues when I go to the gym... I was only 23 years old, my doctor said I was young enough and would heal fast therefore didnt need PT... I'm still on disability and my life is the most painful ever...

My point is, some people aren't as strong and able to make through the crucial pain, I wish I would've pushed myself to strengthen my muscles like u did, that way I wouldn't be with back pain, migraine, digestive problems, numb toes, and depressed for the past 5 years ='(

You need to pass your story forward so others can be inspired & possibly heal:)

My husband had L1L5 fusion 4 time throw the back and the 5th was throw hes abdominal area. He is a very active fun loving person we have 6 boys 1 girl. However, all of these surgery's have made things worse his back hurts 24/7, stomach and abdominal, intestines, buttocks, legs, with sharp stabbing pain, burning, numbness, headaches..... all of that hes done everything they have asked of him. he wont take the pain meds because after 2nd surgery he was badly addicted. He said that it is worse to have the surgery's done if he had it all to do all over again he would have delt with his back broke. it has changed wh he is he barley does thing with kids, and me. depressed, anxity, feels less of a man its really hard so if you think you can live with out the fusion do it cuz it has wrecked millions of familys and the person themself's. But thats my opinion

I had a spinal fusion done in 2006 with the rods and instrumentation and also the graft material to act as bone .At first I was feeling great the pain down my leg had stopped and I was walking everyday. Now I am in great pain everyday I can't shop in stores without leaning on a shopping cart and when I do walk on my own in order to make it I am now leaning forward to take some of the pressure off my spine. I had been taking so much aleve,tylenol.motrin and ver the pain meds that I ended up having an intestinal bledd tryin to avoid being depenent on drugs that could be addictive and with taking them they did not agree with me because I would have nightmares and the shakes.I also can't sleep at night and sleep propped up or have to put pillows under my buttucks legs or use heating pad for relief. I hate to go to work to think about the long day of walking but I can't retire although I am counting the days before I am 62, I am 59. I am concerned that I may have the same symptoms my mom had when she needed surgery on her upper back around the cervical part of her spine but she refused and ultimately ended partially paralzed with a host of other problems resulting in having emergency surgery for internal bleeding and eventually died.

Joan, it seems that we have had a similar experience. The kyphosis (bending forward) that you're seeing is possibly the result of the contracture of your trunk ligaments and tendons, as well as a tightening of the quadriceps in your thighs. I'm not sure, but I suspect this happens because we have such limited mobility in the spine, as a result of the fusion. In order to find any kind of balance, we adjust our posture, and that causes those trunk muscles to contract. I've been practicing a very gentle form of adaptive yoga (though a hospital program), which is in an attempt to strengthen the core and stretch those quads. Since it's a non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical approach, you may want to give it a try. Just make sure your yoga instructor doesn't push you to the point where you have pain. Your body tells you how far to go and a good teacher can always give you adaptations to the yoga positions.

Ashley wrote:

I'm 23, had spinal fusion at 18 for scoliosis (was in NO pain)
Now I get pain under my shoulder blade, everything feels out of place there
But the worst part is the headaches and neck aches I get that no one can help with.
And there's NOTHING online about spinal fusions causing headaches :(

hi
I have spinal fusion at 17 since surgery i have headaches that wont go away. I cant do math i cant do any type of thinking anymore. since i am an engineering student it is affecting my studies badly . please tell me if you have same thinking problems and what did you do about your headaches.

This is quite a serious case so I suggest you go consult a doctor. http://www.fosamaxfemurfracturelawsuit.com/fo...

backpain4life wrote:

I had my L5 S1 fusion nearly 4 years ago and I have never been the same since. I am unable to hold my children. I cannot walk throughout the mall without severe pain and numbness in my toes. I was wondering if anyone else has had these same side effects or any others. I am starting to think it was a botched surgery but I would like feedback to see if this is actually "normal". Thank you

.
Not even a full week out of surgery although under low doses of medication I am better then before the surgery, in which I had waited 6yrs to go ahead with, I have walked the supermarket and stand and sit up straighter then before my injuries had occurred, I do understand that everyone is different, and I do also have another 7 discs that are effected, I do hope that you end up with some release if you are in the new York area look into contacting the surgeon who performed my fusion Dr. Daniel Brandenstein with north shore LIJ hospitals in bay shore NY. MY injuries where a ruptured L5-S1, which was completely removed titanium rods plates, and screws were inserted, and then bone graphs were applied. And now a week later I wait for the first follow up. I had been to many different doctors and surgeons prior to Brandenstein, over a six year period, and I would trust my back to his hands. The whole pins and needles in the feet thing are sometime expected just because of possible nerve damage caused possibly before the surgery , or from the surgery too, I'm still dealing with it myself and it's 6yrs. later. Good luck and I hope if possible you are able to get better,no one knows what it is like until you actually go through it.

Hello, I was in a car accident back in Apirl of 2011. Dumb pople need to learn to drive and not text while driving, any ways I just had L5-S1 fusion surgery on my back. I was feeling better for about two weeks. Now I'm in content pain. It feels like someone is stabed in the lower left side of my back. When I walk I can hear and feel something In my back popping like if you pop your fingers, but it is a sharp stabing pain. Also both of my hips hurt a lot. Last but not least today I noticed that my left leg is getting harder to move. DOES ANYONE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM??? OR HAVE ANY AVICE. sorry cant spell that good on pain pills

Thank you, and hope everyone gets better