Lumbar Fusion

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EarthAngel - 04 Apr 2006 17:31 GMT

Hello I am new to this group I came across this group while looking up
information about Lumbar Fusion. I had my surgery 1 month ago and went
to for my checkup yesterday 4/3/06 and the doctors gave me a very good
report and said that I am doing very well.

I was just wondering if there was others that have had this surgery and
can give me any tips on after the surgery. I had a fusion done on L4
and L5 and had six screws put into my spine.
I am feeling very good at this time and getting around very well but
still do get tired easily. I am still unable to do any bending or
twisting and no lifting more than 10 lbs. Also I am still trying to
quit smoking because I know the doctor said it is not good for a
healing fusion so any hints please let me know!

Thanks,
EarthAngel

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GARY Z - 05 Apr 2006 12:05 GMT

> Hello I am new to this group I came across this group while looking up
> information about Lumbar Fusion. I had my surgery 1 month ago and went
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> Thanks,
> EarthAngel

Hi EarthAngel,
Welcome to our little piece of the world.
My hints would be: Don't smoke, no bending or twisting, and don't lift
anything over 10 lbs. LOL
Sorry, couldn't resist myself. Not very good at self control. lol
I had cervical fusion done back in 2000, God has it been that long
already?!!
Smoking really delays healing by many months I was told by the docs. They
actually said it could cause the fusion to fail. Not a good thing. I know
how tough it is, I had to do it myself.
I suspect you will not be doing much bending or twisting from now on. You
have a steel plate preventing you from doing exactly that. It will limit
your range of motion. Be careful with this because now the spine will not
bend normally and the vertebrate above and below the fusion are going to
take a lot more stress.
You sound like you are doing very well so soon after a major surgery. I am
glad to hear this. I have moderately severe ddd on that same area and
eventually will need the same procedure as you. Not everyone fares so well.
I'm sure you will hear from others who have had lumbar fusion who hang
around here.
Take it easy and give yourself time to heal.
Stick around, it's the best group of people on the web. We have a nut or two
who comes and goes, but the core group I would change for the world.
GaryZ

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EarthAngel - 05 Apr 2006 16:33 GMT

Hi Gary! Thanks so much for your reply to my post that I posted on
here! And thanks for the great tips that you put on here for me too!
I am really trying to quit smoking but it is hard! So then I take it
that you did quit smoking after you had your surgery? I had my surgery
done on March 7th and did not do too much the rest of the month of
March but at least this month I am up and around a lot more. I am
hoping to go back to work at the end of May and hopefully things will
just keep getting better and better for me as each day goes by. I am
still having some pain in my low back area which the doctors said that
it is normal but at least the pain is not as severe as it was before I
had my surgery. Thanks for replying to my post! Have a great day!

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GARY Z - 06 Apr 2006 11:02 GMT

> Hi Gary! Thanks so much for your reply to my post that I posted on
> here! And thanks for the great tips that you put on here for me too!
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> it is normal but at least the pain is not as severe as it was before I
> had my surgery. Thanks for replying to my post! Have a great day!

Hi again,
I quit smoking before I had my surgery with the help of patches and alot of
real-time online support.
I spent my eves online typing which kept my mind and fingers/hands very
busy. I does get easier with time.
GaryZ

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Nann Bell - 06 Apr 2006 12:52 GMT

> Hi again,
> I quit smoking before I had my surgery with the help of patches and alot of
> real-time online support.
> I spent my eves online typing which kept my mind and fingers/hands very
> busy. I does get easier with time.
> GaryZ

I didn't know that or had forgotten it, Gary. Congratulations to you! After
my thumb surgery, I heard my ortho telling another pt. that the bones of
smokers heal up to 5x as slowly as those of non-smokers. Made me glad I'd
stayed free of that addiction.

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Nann
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Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare

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KJ - 05 Apr 2006 19:00 GMT

I had L5 S1 fused a couple years ago. No great recovery hints, just
don't over do it for awhile. I still have some back pain but it's very
minor in comparison to before surgery!

~KJ

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ladylove77 - 05 Apr 2006 21:32 GMT

Hey Tina! Glad to see your post. Seems years since you've been around.
How about coming back for a while, please! Bring us up to date on yourself
and the family.
Gwen

>I had L5 S1 fused a couple years ago. No great recovery hints, just
> don't over do it for awhile. I still have some back pain but it's very
> minor in comparison to before surgery!
>
> ~KJ

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