Spinal Fusion patients- Glad you did or wish you didn't?
Before I receive a lot of answerrs recommending diet and exercise, please note that I injured my back in 1993 and have already done everything. I take the Omega 3 Fish Oils, Glucosamine, Multi’s, etc. Drink lots of water and am in my 3rd go round of Physical Therapy to keep my muscle tone. Already did chiropractor, decompression, massage therapy and even acupuncture and nerve ablasion 5 times. I am not a condidate for disk replacement because I have facet joint probs.
I really need to know if you had fusion and what you feel about it. Or if you know someone and what they feel about it. I am in pain now 24/7 and can only walk for 1 hour tops and that is after I take a pain pill. It sucks! I used to be so energetic but the last 4 months I have gone down hill. I don’t want to up my meds from the current vicodin (norco) and ibuprofen because I have been there and done that and it took me a year to get off (after I found out how horrible they are for you and my doctor told me that if I had surgery while on them; such as emergency surgery if the bad disc actually ruptures, he would be unable to control my pain).
What say all of you? Work or no?
Please add what you are doing for pain management– I take Norco and Ibuprofen. Do you do anything, non opiate, that seems to help? Other than what I have already mentioned?
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Tagged with: 4 months • acupuncture • chiropractor • decompression • drink lots of water • emergency surgery • facet • fusion • glucosamine • ibuprofen • massage therapy • meds • muscle tone • nerve • norco • omega 3 fish oils • opiate • pain management • physical therapy • vicodin
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If you are still able to walk an hour, I would say you are doing great!!!! I see many, many people who have a much higher level of disability. Being someone who works with patients with chronic pain and back problems, and having a father who went through spinal fusion surgery (he couldn’t walk 50 ft), I see the outcomes of this surgery on a daily basis.
…in the past 9 years, I can honestly say I can count on one hand the number of people who had "good" outcomes. My own dad was not one of them….wait, he can walk 100ft now, so I guess that’s better….but hardly worth it, in my opinion.
…In my professional opinion, surgeons have not been able to truely indentify who REALLY benefits from this procedure with any confidence.
i had a spinal fusion it did not work .at first i was pain free then the pain came back un bearable.i had a good dr .he managed my pain in the hospital great.my spinal column was shot before the surgery.im now disabled my dr said i would walk but could not be sure i would return to work.at least im not in a wheel chair
I just had a spinal fusion this past Friday, 2 days ago! First off… let me say…it gives a new definition to the most ungodly pain from hell when you wake up and it’s day three and I still can barely sit up on my own once I lay down. However…I had burning and pain down the Siatic Nerve going down my left thigh for YEARS…it was gone when I woke up from surgery. I think once I heal from the soreness that I am going to be alot better off than before I did the fusion. I did just have one fusion though…i’ve heard that makes a big difference. If you have to have several at once the outcome can not be as good. I’m at this point thrilled with the results. I used a guy that was supposed to be the very best in the area…make sure that you do your research on that before jumping in too. Hope this helps.
I would op for a massage therapist who is competent in what they do. I always recommend all other avenues before surgery, because back surgery has a long way to go, most often those who have had it, has to have more than one and the pain never leaves. Check the credentials of the therapist, as it is a must to get a good one.