Re: Has Anyone Had Back Surgery?

SilleeMee · ‎05-22-2016

@Sage04 wrote:
@SilleeMee wrote:
My entire neck, from the base of my skull to the top of my shoulders, is all fake bones and held together with screws. It was an all-day surgery but I was up and doing normal things in a few days. Not really any 'recovery time' at all and certainly no rehab either.
@SilleeMee did they use cadaver bones? That scared me a little. Friends would say I would set off the alarms at the airport but of course everything is titanium.

With the first fusion C3-C4 I had to wear a neck brace (looked like a helmet) 24/7 couldn't move my head. I was given two and even had to shower with it on. I never went to rehab or physical therapy. The second C6-C7 I wore just a regular brace but only when I was walking around.

@Sage04

No cadaver bone but some kind of sea coral made into powder, then made into a moldable 'clay' where they form each vertebrae into the proper shape and piece them all together into what is now called my neck 'bones'. Sixteen-hours is how long I was in surgery with eight doctors in the room plus the rest of the team.

Sage04 · ‎07-10-2011

@SilleeMee wrote:
@Sage04 wrote:
@SilleeMee wrote:
My entire neck, from the base of my skull to the top of my shoulders, is all fake bones and held together with screws. It was an all-day surgery but I was up and doing normal things in a few days. Not really any 'recovery time' at all and certainly no rehab either.
@SilleeMee did they use cadaver bones? That scared me a little. Friends would say I would set off the alarms at the airport but of course everything is titanium.

With the first fusion C3-C4 I had to wear a neck brace (looked like a helmet) 24/7 couldn't move my head. I was given two and even had to shower with it on. I never went to rehab or physical therapy. The second C6-C7 I wore just a regular brace but only when I was walking around.

@Sage04
No cadaver bone but some kind of sea coral made into powder, then made into a moldable 'clay' where they form each vertebrae into the proper shape and piece them all together into what is now called my neck 'bones'. Sixteen-hours is how long I was in surgery with eight doctors in the room plus the rest of the team.

@SilleeMee that is really something. The are so brilliant. I was told by the first surgeon that long time ago they would take the bone from the thigh and that took longer to heal and was more painful.

I've never heard of this before. I think I would prefer this than the cadaver bones. My niece said if i ever got caught doing anything wrong, I could blame them on the bones.

Sixteen hours? I could imagine what the waiting did to your family. I don't remember how long mine took but I was back home the following morning. I have no regrets whatsoever.

SilleeMee · ‎05-22-2016

@Sage04

It might have been 13 hours, not 16 but long enough nonetheless!

Goldengate8361 · ‎01-27-2014

@SilleeMee @Wow! You are one brave woman! So glad you and others in this thread are better.

SaveTheTurtles · ‎10-09-2023

My neck is fused and I had a neurosurgeon do it. No issues. My husband used to work in surgery and always said that back surgery should be avoided if at all possible. We have a friend who just had back surgery a few weeks ago at Mayo and he ended up with Covid, a blood infection, oozing incision and high fever. Wound up in ICU and has since gone to rehab and is recovering. With that being said, anything can happen good or bad when you have surgery.

msgb · ‎08-30-2010

While not me it was my mother who had 2 vertebroplasties and a spinal surgery (I am unsure what for and where). My mother was a strong woman who had two aortic dissections as well. I remember that the vertebroplasties were about10 yrs apart. One of them was after she had had the aortic aneurysms. The rehab was a bit hard on her but I remember she was glad she went thru these as she was not in as much pain as before.

There were times that she did wear a back waist brace (kind of like the Tommie Copper ones shown on QVC) but that was when she knew she would have to stand and or do a lot of stuff thru the day.

I wish I could tell you more but my mother passed three yrs ago tomorrow.

ECBG · ‎01-08-2011

@TrustintheLord wrote:
I have had 3 spinal fusions. I live in dire pain every day.dont fo it

@TrustintheLord

I am so sorry. Keeping you in prayer.

JeanLouiseFinch · ‎10-03-2011

@ECBG - one thing I neglected to mention. I'm not sure what kind of procedure you're contemplating, but with ACDF it's very common, expected even, to wake up from surgery with significant upper back and shoulder pain. You can get meds for that.

sandy53 · ‎03-12-2010

My DH has had two laminectomies. They were several years apart and both helped for a few years. One was done by a neurosurgeon and one by an ortho. Both were highly recommended. Good luck. Pain changes a person; it changes who you are.

ECBG · ‎01-08-2011

@JeanLouiseFinch wrote:
@ECBG - one thing I neglected to mention. I'm not sure what kind of procedure you're contemplating, but with ACDF it's very common, expected even, to wake up from surgery with significant upper back and shoulder pain. You can get meds for that.

@JeanLouiseFinch

ACDF?

My back is like a country road.