Discussion
Hi
Is there anybody on here who has had an anterior cage fusion in the lumbar spine?
I am booked in for surgery in mid Jan - surgeon is hoping to do an Artificial Disc Replacement, but certain complications are now making a fusion more likely - we won't know until he opens me up and gets an actual look at the situation.
Thanks!
Is there anybody on here who has had an anterior cage fusion in the lumbar spine?
I am booked in for surgery in mid Jan - surgeon is hoping to do an Artificial Disc Replacement, but certain complications are now making a fusion more likely - we won't know until he opens me up and gets an actual look at the situation.
Thanks!
I have had both - the fusion is not surprisingly the bigger op, but I was up the next day, home in two and back at work the next week (albeit against my surgeons advice).
The fusion sorted my initial problem, but a year later having several discs replaced was actually more effective in curing my lower back pain. All of this was n 2008 & 2009 and everything has been fine since.
In short, although quite major procedures, nothing to worry about and definately worth doing.
The fusion sorted my initial problem, but a year later having several discs replaced was actually more effective in curing my lower back pain. All of this was n 2008 & 2009 and everything has been fine since.
In short, although quite major procedures, nothing to worry about and definately worth doing.
The fusion was for stage three Spondylothesis which manifested itself as severe Sciatica leaving me on 250ml of liquid morphine a day. Proceedure was to drag my L5 vertebrae back to where it should have been. As per my first post I was back a work within a week (I couldn't drive, but got a lift to/from), but this was against my surgeons wishes.
However I still suffered from very bad lumber back pain, for which the same surgeon fitted new discs (I've no idea what they are called) to my L4, 3 & 2 - from memory it was 5 synthetic discs in total, again, home next day and back to work the day after (not driving for two weeks this time)
As the fusion "simply" fixed the terrible Sciatic pain but left the lower back pain, it was the disc replacement which changed my daily life most, I don't do any sport at all, in fact I lead a distinctly unhealthy life but I'm not overweight if that helps.
Feel free to PM me if you would like more details.
However I still suffered from very bad lumber back pain, for which the same surgeon fitted new discs (I've no idea what they are called) to my L4, 3 & 2 - from memory it was 5 synthetic discs in total, again, home next day and back to work the day after (not driving for two weeks this time)
As the fusion "simply" fixed the terrible Sciatic pain but left the lower back pain, it was the disc replacement which changed my daily life most, I don't do any sport at all, in fact I lead a distinctly unhealthy life but I'm not overweight if that helps.
Feel free to PM me if you would like more details.
I think we may have spoken before - before i had my second spinal surgery. Anyway - I haven't had what you are going to have - but I just wanted to wish you all the best and i hope it goes well. You had some good words for me and I wish you all the best.
As for me Ive been back to work over a year - reduced hours and although a disc is fecked in my neck everything else is going well.
All the best - keep us informed of progress.
Barry
As for me Ive been back to work over a year - reduced hours and although a disc is fecked in my neck everything else is going well.
All the best - keep us informed of progress.
Barry
dreamer75 said:
Thanks 
I just hate the waiting and want to get on with it - I can't quite comprehend that the pain will be gone (hopefully).
FWIW this is what it looks like at the moment:
Ouch! It's very clear that needs fixing. It'll be a big task either way but the outcome should work wonders. Best of luck with it, eveyone wishes you well. I just hate the waiting and want to get on with it - I can't quite comprehend that the pain will be gone (hopefully). FWIW this is what it looks like at the moment:
Good luck Dreamer! We've spoken in the past on a thread I started. I'm still in the same boat, have tried facet joint injections which haven't helped but I'm having an epidural and some physio this/next month.
It's been 3 years now and I'm just about sick of it. Although I appreciate it's nowhere near as bad as others.
It's been 3 years now and I'm just about sick of it. Although I appreciate it's nowhere near as bad as others.
Well all done and I'm home following Anterior fusion of L4/5.
The first couple of days are extremely hazy - lots of morphine etc., but things started to pick up on Sunday. They carried on with various morphine type drugs + tramadol and paracetomol til they discharged me and now I'm on the tramadol + paracetomol + codeine as and when. The back pain itself is almost completely gone now, but I've got a fair bit of nerve pain in my left leg - it's a familiar pain and I'm not surprised. Hopefully that will die down with time as inflammation goes down, muscles unspasm etc.
I've grown nearly 1.5 cms (the amount they increased the disc space by, from 1-2mm to 1.5cm)and weirdly I do feel taller at home! I'm nto sure you'd notice that much but I'm sure I do !
The incision site is really clean and almost pain free - I can just about laugh (gently) and cough (very gently) now after a week.
Incredible when you think what they've done!!!!
The first couple of days are extremely hazy - lots of morphine etc., but things started to pick up on Sunday. They carried on with various morphine type drugs + tramadol and paracetomol til they discharged me and now I'm on the tramadol + paracetomol + codeine as and when. The back pain itself is almost completely gone now, but I've got a fair bit of nerve pain in my left leg - it's a familiar pain and I'm not surprised. Hopefully that will die down with time as inflammation goes down, muscles unspasm etc.
I've grown nearly 1.5 cms (the amount they increased the disc space by, from 1-2mm to 1.5cm)and weirdly I do feel taller at home! I'm nto sure you'd notice that much but I'm sure I do !
The incision site is really clean and almost pain free - I can just about laugh (gently) and cough (very gently) now after a week.
Incredible when you think what they've done!!!!
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff