3 weeks post op from Unique Spinal Fusion

Hello everyone!

If anyone remembers me, I posted in Jan. asking for advice. I was scheduled to have a L5-S1 fusion due to a congenital defect in L5.

Well my surgery was scheduled for Feb 2nd but got postponed to Feb 23rd. My Dr. went over to Haiti to help out for a couple weeks. So it was rescheduled for Feb 23rd. And now here I am 3 weeks post op and doing great (In my opinion)!

The first week was hell, I stayed in the hospital for two days after and then they sent me home. I think the biggest issue was my bowl. They did my surgery through my abdomen and it took a while for my bowls to refocus and get back in the swing of things! It took 6 days before I finally had relief! I can not stress stool softeners or laxitives enough if your having a fusion done anterior!

Once the staples came out it made things alot more comfortable. I had 7 of them from just below my belly botton to my pubis. It still feels very odd there (scar tissue). Though I do recommend having the surgery done anterior by far! I had a previous done posterior and the difference is unbelievable. They did not have to cut or move any muscle to get to my spine so there was no pain from that.

So now here I am in week 4. I've started weaning myself off of the pain meds. I get around just fine now. Even started drivin last week. Aside from not bending,lifting or twisting Id say I'm about back to normal. I have a little of my original symptoms left (nerve pain/numbness in my leg) but I've been told that that will lessin in time. I've called my Dr. office just this morning in fact to see if I can start physical therapy early.

The point of this post is to thank everyone for thier support and advice. I had read so my negative postings about spinal fusion and its recovery that I was starting to second guess my decision of having it done. Well I went ahead and did it and I'm happy so far with the outcome. To anyone waiting to have thiers done: LISTEN to your doctor and the guidelines they set for you!, try to stay positive. Keep busy- read, write letters, watch movies, talk on the phone. DO your stretches and exercises!

Thank you

Angie