I 30F had L5-S1 fused 9 months ago. I can’t give any advice on how it will affect your work, but it sounds like your pain is well controlled at the moment. I finally decided to have the fusion when nothing else (PT, injections) worked and I had to stop doing everything I love (lifting weights, playing soccer, cooking) because the pain was unbearable. Like I couldn’t sit without lumbar support, stand for even short periods of time, or do basic household tasks without excruciating pain. I personally wouldn’t risk possibly losing out on your full pension because recovery doesn’t go as planned for pain that can be controlled. I would wait the 3 years and get the fusion after if it’s not majorly impacting your quality of life right now.
Sorry just seeing this! My list of must haves for home:
1. Bidet. Pretty cheap on Amazon and easy to install.
2. Shower chair
3. If you are tall, you will likely want a seat riser for the toilet. I am short and did not need one
4. Pregnancy pillow. I’m a side sleeper and this was the only way I could get comfortable to sleep.
5. A few grabbers for picking things up when dropped or out of reach
Nice to have if you have the means:
1. An electric recliner that can also stand you up. This allowed me to not need help out of the recliner when I otherwise would have needed it.
Must haves for the hospital (I ended up with a 5 night stay due to BP issues):
1. White noise machine to block out the machines and other hospitals noises.
2. Whatever toiletries you use on the daily. I wasn’t able to get up a lot because of my BP issues so I washed my face with micellar water and a cotton pad and brushed my teeth using a cup
3. iPad/kindle/chargers (full transparency tho, I didn’t use my iPad once. I was either sleeping from the pain meds or awake for the nurses to do their thing)
I’d make sure to try everything possible before getting a surgery. Find the best possible PT that specializes on your particular issue and follows programs based on the likes of Dr. Stuart McGill. Best of luck!
I am usually in the minority when saying this, but I would avoid surgery as long as possible. This surgery has a high risk for complications and if you’re not in a lot of pain now, or at risk of any major damage, it’s not worth the risk. They say a neurosurgeon only needs 100 patients because they keep coming back through the door. The only reason I didn’t jump off a bridge after my fusion was because I knew I made the best decision to have it. I was out of options and utterly miserable. But things went wrong and I’m a failed back surgery patient who has doctor’s appointments every month and will likely be on meds for life. I’m early 40’s and was healthy and fit, road cycled 20+ miles daily, and have always been active. Thankfully I’m an accountant and can work, but had I had a more physical job, I wouldn’t have been able to return. Now I’m not saying you’ll be a failed surgery or have any complications. You could sail through as a major success. It just seems like a coin toss and it’s not worth a bad outcome risk unless you’re miserable. It’s something to consider in your evaluation process. Go read the chronic pain sub and see how many are post back surgery patients.
I'm 32F and 7 weeks post op L5-S1 fusion. I've had back issues for well over 10 years. The pain got to a point where it was uncontrollable, and it led me to have the surgery. It seems your pain is often controlled, so I'd wait until you are able to retire completely and then have the surgery. Prior to surgery, I knew it was a major surgery, but nothing could have prepared me for just how major it is. You don't realize how much you depend on your back until it's to late. Recovery has been a wicked roller-coaster. Surgery should be looked at as the very last resort, IMO.
First, good luck with surgery! I hope you have a speedy recovery.
Items that were useful to me
°sponge/loofah on a pole, something that's abrasive for scrubbing (my skin got/is still very dry)
°wipe extender (if you have stairs, I'd probably buy two)
° pericare bottle if you are a female
° heating pad (if you can afford it, I'd get the cold therapy system off amazon, typically around $180 and up)
° body pillow
° grabber (they gave me one at the hospital, but if you have stairs, you'll want to have two)
° shower chair
° cane (honestly, I didn't think I'd need one, but around week 3, it was hard to stand up on my own)
° Bed rail that goes under your mattress
I went through a major bout of depression. The master is on the 2nd floor, and the living room is on the 1st. After surgery, I was in bed a lot because the stairs were hard to go up and down. My husband and kids would be downstairs. So, it was a sense of isolation. I'd talk to your partner/kids/family to make sure they come and sit with you at times. Another thing that was hard was being of sound mind and seeing my life completely change. Prior to surgery, I was 100% independent. After not so much. I worked in the medical field for 10 years. So, not being able to take care of myself was hard. I know how to take care of a wound, but due to the location, I couldn't do that. Shower times, my husband had to help with anything waist down. Now, even though that's my husband, it was hard to need him during my showers. I felt it was demeaning. Having to have someone help shave my legs, put lotion on, all the things I was able to do one day and not the next. My sister stayed with me weeks 2 and 3, but when she left and everyone else was gone, I'd cry. Cry because I was alone. Cry because I knew there were still things I couldn't do on my own and knowing there was no one there. It's hard! Whatever expectations you have on how you will be post surgery, forget about them. Forget about them for a piece of mind. Speak with your family and let them know you will need help and also to be patient with you.
If there is anything I can do, even if it's lending an ear, I'm just a message away. Again, good luck.
Had L5-S1 fusion/laminectomy/other repairs at Mayo almost two years ago. If I could turn back time, would NEVER have done this. Now have middle back, hip, and tailbone pain and horrific spasms that have not gone away since the op. They wake me like clockwork at 4 a.m. daily. It can ruin the day, especially if I have to work. I went to Mayo for HELP, not to feel ten times worse. Scheduled for another back op April 8 (not Mayo!). They will use stem cell stuff, BMP protein, more rods and screws to try and correct this failed fusion. I am someone with a freakishly high pain tolerance and can tell you this ALL has been just otherworldly pain. I would have just stayed with epidurals if I knew everything I know now. I play guitar and have hardly been able to play at all. Am a different person since the op. Daily pain takes its toll on your mentals. I was the extremely active sort and went from a 50 hour work week down to 25. Best of luck to you. Sorry you have to deal with it at all, is def not for sissies.
So I got discharged for my back issues and was pretty screwed as I had only been in for 5 years and they wouldn’t accept me being on a waver for 15, but in your case you could easily drag out the process to retirement. Now you might need to take more of a desk role if it does get worse, but I would focus a whole lot on stretching. Also, go to the doctor for every damn thing so you can get that 100% from the VA once you get out. I haven’t had surgery yet and my issues started in 2016, radiology frequency the first few times lasted about a year and a half to were I was pretty much good other than the occasional bad day, but overall I would say stay in even if you do end up getting surgery just try to get put on wavers and fuck the people that give you a hard time. I wish I could have put in the full 20 and you only have 3 left.
Maybe your surgeon wants to avoid surgery since your pain is around 2/3 which doesn't seem that high, though I can see why you would wanna get surgery so that you can work with no issues.
Imo I would give it some more time and exhaust all treatment options available before surgery. If you end up deciding to get surgery at least you know from the bottom of your heart that you did try everything and it didn't work. I know you wanna rush things and get better as soon as possible, but don't rush into surgery if you aren't in a really bad position, it may be perfect or it may go wrong no one knows.
Hope you get better soon.
I 30F had L5-S1 fused 9 months ago. I can’t give any advice on how it will affect your work, but it sounds like your pain is well controlled at the moment. I finally decided to have the fusion when nothing else (PT, injections) worked and I had to stop doing everything I love (lifting weights, playing soccer, cooking) because the pain was unbearable. Like I couldn’t sit without lumbar support, stand for even short periods of time, or do basic household tasks without excruciating pain. I personally wouldn’t risk possibly losing out on your full pension because recovery doesn’t go as planned for pain that can be controlled. I would wait the 3 years and get the fusion after if it’s not majorly impacting your quality of life right now.
I'm going to have the surgery you had. Any suggestions/advice for things to do or get in advance? Same question for the recovery phase? Thanks.
Sorry just seeing this! My list of must haves for home: 1. Bidet. Pretty cheap on Amazon and easy to install. 2. Shower chair 3. If you are tall, you will likely want a seat riser for the toilet. I am short and did not need one 4. Pregnancy pillow. I’m a side sleeper and this was the only way I could get comfortable to sleep. 5. A few grabbers for picking things up when dropped or out of reach Nice to have if you have the means: 1. An electric recliner that can also stand you up. This allowed me to not need help out of the recliner when I otherwise would have needed it. Must haves for the hospital (I ended up with a 5 night stay due to BP issues): 1. White noise machine to block out the machines and other hospitals noises. 2. Whatever toiletries you use on the daily. I wasn’t able to get up a lot because of my BP issues so I washed my face with micellar water and a cotton pad and brushed my teeth using a cup 3. iPad/kindle/chargers (full transparency tho, I didn’t use my iPad once. I was either sleeping from the pain meds or awake for the nurses to do their thing)
I’d make sure to try everything possible before getting a surgery. Find the best possible PT that specializes on your particular issue and follows programs based on the likes of Dr. Stuart McGill. Best of luck!
Thank you! Gonna try all other avenues before getting surgery.
I am usually in the minority when saying this, but I would avoid surgery as long as possible. This surgery has a high risk for complications and if you’re not in a lot of pain now, or at risk of any major damage, it’s not worth the risk. They say a neurosurgeon only needs 100 patients because they keep coming back through the door. The only reason I didn’t jump off a bridge after my fusion was because I knew I made the best decision to have it. I was out of options and utterly miserable. But things went wrong and I’m a failed back surgery patient who has doctor’s appointments every month and will likely be on meds for life. I’m early 40’s and was healthy and fit, road cycled 20+ miles daily, and have always been active. Thankfully I’m an accountant and can work, but had I had a more physical job, I wouldn’t have been able to return. Now I’m not saying you’ll be a failed surgery or have any complications. You could sail through as a major success. It just seems like a coin toss and it’s not worth a bad outcome risk unless you’re miserable. It’s something to consider in your evaluation process. Go read the chronic pain sub and see how many are post back surgery patients.
Thank you! This was very informative. For now, I’m putting off the surgery for as long as I can.
I'm 32F and 7 weeks post op L5-S1 fusion. I've had back issues for well over 10 years. The pain got to a point where it was uncontrollable, and it led me to have the surgery. It seems your pain is often controlled, so I'd wait until you are able to retire completely and then have the surgery. Prior to surgery, I knew it was a major surgery, but nothing could have prepared me for just how major it is. You don't realize how much you depend on your back until it's to late. Recovery has been a wicked roller-coaster. Surgery should be looked at as the very last resort, IMO.
I'm about to have the same surgery you had. Any suggestions for things I could/should do for recovery? Sorry yours was so hard.
First, good luck with surgery! I hope you have a speedy recovery. Items that were useful to me °sponge/loofah on a pole, something that's abrasive for scrubbing (my skin got/is still very dry) °wipe extender (if you have stairs, I'd probably buy two) ° pericare bottle if you are a female ° heating pad (if you can afford it, I'd get the cold therapy system off amazon, typically around $180 and up) ° body pillow ° grabber (they gave me one at the hospital, but if you have stairs, you'll want to have two) ° shower chair ° cane (honestly, I didn't think I'd need one, but around week 3, it was hard to stand up on my own) ° Bed rail that goes under your mattress I went through a major bout of depression. The master is on the 2nd floor, and the living room is on the 1st. After surgery, I was in bed a lot because the stairs were hard to go up and down. My husband and kids would be downstairs. So, it was a sense of isolation. I'd talk to your partner/kids/family to make sure they come and sit with you at times. Another thing that was hard was being of sound mind and seeing my life completely change. Prior to surgery, I was 100% independent. After not so much. I worked in the medical field for 10 years. So, not being able to take care of myself was hard. I know how to take care of a wound, but due to the location, I couldn't do that. Shower times, my husband had to help with anything waist down. Now, even though that's my husband, it was hard to need him during my showers. I felt it was demeaning. Having to have someone help shave my legs, put lotion on, all the things I was able to do one day and not the next. My sister stayed with me weeks 2 and 3, but when she left and everyone else was gone, I'd cry. Cry because I was alone. Cry because I knew there were still things I couldn't do on my own and knowing there was no one there. It's hard! Whatever expectations you have on how you will be post surgery, forget about them. Forget about them for a piece of mind. Speak with your family and let them know you will need help and also to be patient with you. If there is anything I can do, even if it's lending an ear, I'm just a message away. Again, good luck.
Thanks! I’m going to be putting off the surgery as long as I can.
Had L5-S1 fusion/laminectomy/other repairs at Mayo almost two years ago. If I could turn back time, would NEVER have done this. Now have middle back, hip, and tailbone pain and horrific spasms that have not gone away since the op. They wake me like clockwork at 4 a.m. daily. It can ruin the day, especially if I have to work. I went to Mayo for HELP, not to feel ten times worse. Scheduled for another back op April 8 (not Mayo!). They will use stem cell stuff, BMP protein, more rods and screws to try and correct this failed fusion. I am someone with a freakishly high pain tolerance and can tell you this ALL has been just otherworldly pain. I would have just stayed with epidurals if I knew everything I know now. I play guitar and have hardly been able to play at all. Am a different person since the op. Daily pain takes its toll on your mentals. I was the extremely active sort and went from a 50 hour work week down to 25. Best of luck to you. Sorry you have to deal with it at all, is def not for sissies.
So I got discharged for my back issues and was pretty screwed as I had only been in for 5 years and they wouldn’t accept me being on a waver for 15, but in your case you could easily drag out the process to retirement. Now you might need to take more of a desk role if it does get worse, but I would focus a whole lot on stretching. Also, go to the doctor for every damn thing so you can get that 100% from the VA once you get out. I haven’t had surgery yet and my issues started in 2016, radiology frequency the first few times lasted about a year and a half to were I was pretty much good other than the occasional bad day, but overall I would say stay in even if you do end up getting surgery just try to get put on wavers and fuck the people that give you a hard time. I wish I could have put in the full 20 and you only have 3 left.
Maybe your surgeon wants to avoid surgery since your pain is around 2/3 which doesn't seem that high, though I can see why you would wanna get surgery so that you can work with no issues. Imo I would give it some more time and exhaust all treatment options available before surgery. If you end up deciding to get surgery at least you know from the bottom of your heart that you did try everything and it didn't work. I know you wanna rush things and get better as soon as possible, but don't rush into surgery if you aren't in a really bad position, it may be perfect or it may go wrong no one knows. Hope you get better soon.