Darn back.....

[Carol]

I've strengthened, stretched, relaxed, deep-breathed.....for 7 yrs. now.  I've gotten pretty good abs. and the gluts are coming along, but my last 3 vertebrae still don't want to stay put.  The boat rides this weekend, even though hubby went really easy, rotated my whole lower spine AGAIN!!  Lots of uncomfortable stuff ....today I'm back to laying low and will have to gradually build back up again.  It seems to be such a black hole.  I overstretched all the ligaments that hold the low spine together.  The hope was that lots of strengthening would provide support from the muscles, but it's still pretty unstable.  Fusing the last 2 vertebrae may give me the stability I need, but it may also cost me permenant agony.  Does any one have any experience with having a fusion....know someone who does.  Do they have full range of motion with the fusion...muscle spasms, etc.....Could really use some input from someone who's been there personally.  I know medical ppl but I don't want the anatomical facts, I want the personal profiles.  Thanks for reading the rant guys!!

[JoeF]

Sorry 'bout your back.  No spinal fusions in this family

[BEAU]

Shoot Carol, sorry to hear about your back. I was so hoping that it was fixed for good!
You gotta watch that bumping around stuff though!
I don't know anyone with spinal fusion... wish I did, so I could ask them for you.
Let us know what you find out and keep us updated.

[donna]

Back in 1996 I noticed numbness and tingling down my right arm, it gradually increased to where if I turned my neck the wrong way my whole arm would go numb. Finally saw my doctor, besides the numbness I had lost a lot of the strength in my hand and arm. Had an MRI, was referred to a neurosurgeon, who advised surgery because I had two discs pressing on my spinal cord, it was so bad when I looked at the films I could see it very easily. Got another opinion from a second neurosurgeon, one who I had previous surgery with and I really trusted him. Saw him on a Wednesday, after examining me and looking at the films, told me I had to have surgery, said that if I was in a wreck and had whiplash could end up paralyzed, so the following Monday had a cervical diskectomy with a three level fusion of C 3, 4 and 5. Immediately after the surgery the numbness disappeared, took a while for the strength to come back, I think up to a year or so. I really haven't noticed any loss of movement in my neck, I can't sleep on my stomach anymore and sometimes get headaches from tension I am sure comes from my neck. Several years ago I did have a period when I had some numbness down my left arm, the doctor told me that sometimes with fusions the discs either above or below the fusion can bulge out and cause some problems. That numbness disappeared but once in a while if I turn my neck I get a little tingling. I guess you could say my surgery was a success, my neck is stable and the strength has come back, when told you run the risk of being paralyzed if you don't have the surgery you really don't have a choice. The doctor who did the surgery is a very well respected neurosurgeon at Loyola in Maywood and I really trusted him so I don't regret having the surgery. Recovery afterwards for a cervical fusion is kind of icky, you have to wear a neck brace, I was supposed to wear it for at least three or four weeks, saw the doctor on the 17th day, it had rubbed on my neck and caused some sore places, he told me I was doing so well I only had to wear it for a couple of more weeks and only while riding in a car, otherwise could leave it off. Anyway, that is my story on my fusion. Next time ask me about either my brain surgery or my knee surgeries. I got a lot of stories to tell. Hope this helps you Carol, it is never easy to make the decision to have back surgery, you hear so many horror stories about bad results. I do think they have refined the procedures so well now that it is much less risky and it also depends on what the problem is and what it takes to fix it. And I also think that your attitude going in has a lot to do with your recovery. I have a friend who had back surgery back in April and is still having problems, but I think her slow recovery is due partly to her willingness to get better. Anyway, good luck in whatever you decide to do. And I hope you feel better really soon.

Donna

[Carol]

Thanks Donna....it is very helpful to know that you have full range of motion even after the recovery.  AFter you took the neck brace off, how did you get your neck to move appropriately.  I mean, after being kept still for 2-3 weeks, muscles would shrink....that's a fear I have cuz initially they put me in a sacral belt which wouldn't allow my low back to move and my muscles locked up all the way up the back....it took a LOT of PT to get them moving again, but then again my back was not stable, perhaps stabilization would help that.
Holy cow, you are a great resource for neuro sugery.  Maybe I should just let your doc do the surgery!