Spinal Fusion

[yankee87]

Hi everyone, looking for some advice. I just had a spinal fusion surgery and now home. Doing good, wondering if anyone else went through this and what they did for exercises, stretching, medicine, etc? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[ebbie15644]

1. hopefully the put you on a PT program

follow it and take care of yourself. I have spina bifida and have had numerous surgeries. the important thing is to follow medical advise

[Fla Dem]

2. No advice, just good wishes. All the best in your recovery.

[nature-lover]

3. PT exercises helped. Aleve works if you can take NSAIDs and there is a must have device.....

...for putting on socks. It is the DSC Sock Aid Slider Kit. Costs about $35 and worth every penny. Also, look for a foot scrubber for the shower floor. You won't be able to bend and touch your toes for a while. Best wishes!

[cilla4progress]

4. My husband just had an emergency neck fusion

last week after a bad ski wreck.

What part of your spine?

[yankee87]

6. L2 L5

My L2 -L6 fused, and I am now a bionic man

[redstatebluegirl]

5. I had L5 S1 fusion 10 years ago.

I had a really good outcome, the doctors told me I did well, because I did what they told me. I did all of the PT they ordered, did not stop early, and have followed the instructions about lifting and other things.

The best advice I can give you is do what your doctors and PT people tell you to do. Do not overdo it just because you think you can, you have rods and screws in your back, you will never be "like you were before".

I am now facing a second surgery above the fusion, this is not uncommon and my doctors thought I would need it long before now so what I did kept that at bay for quite a while.

Good luck, take care of yourself!

[lark]

7. I had a discectomy & fusion of 2 levels of cervical spine.

I had a bone healing device which I used for 20 minutes a day and had PT after about 30 days, I think it was. I developed an intolerance to meds within 4 days of being home, so couldn't take any of my pain meds, couldn't take the stomach meds or muscle relaxers so I was screwed. I couldn't eat or sleep. I got on medical marijuana, acetaminophen and pt and recovered movement in my neck and arm fine after that. As long as I had to wear the brace, I had trouble sleeping, but soon as I could sleep without it, I did so much better and the pot also helped my eating difficulties. A lot of elderly people develop intolerances this way, and sad to say it hit me hard.