Spinal fusion?

[tat2bass 10+ year member]

Anyone on here ever have one?

Long story short, I broke one of my vertebrae last year while I was deployed. Medical care ***** and they just give pain killers and tell you to drive on. Well one year later of it getting worse and going through numerous appointments I have finally been given my prognosis. My broken bone fragment has migrated into the nerve canal for my left leg pinching it off and it was still attached to the disc and tore it beyond repair.

So I will be having surgery soon to have the bone fragment removed and a fusion performed on my L4/L5.

I'm wanting to see who else has had one and some tips on what to expect and for a better recovery. I'm wanting to stay in the army still after this so I will need to be able to ruck again with full battle load. I also want to be able to play basketball again. I used to play for some of the all army teams and want to get back to some level of competition. Thanks in advance for any advice

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[shauncox26]

Sorry to hear that man. My father had to have that done but he isn't around to ask about it. I know he didn't have to much trouble getting around but he is old school hard knock. I saw him break his leg and three fingers at the same time. He set all them back by his self and never took pain killers so it could be different for u.

 

[tat2bass 10+ year member]

My mom has had two fusions but they have been on her upper neck so completely different process. She also isn't nearly as active as I was prior to the injury.

Sorry to hear about your dad. That's how my dad is. Old school tough as nails. Actually broke his leg two weeks ago and has been walking on it because it didn't show in the X-rays the first time. Didn't see the break till he went for a follow up

 

[Buck 5,000+ posts]

I didn't have a fusion (yet). Ruptured L5 (S1) disk. Most of my disk is gone (removed), leg balance is terrible. I'll fall backwards sometimes or miss a step because of my back. I took over a month after surgery for me to regain feeling in my left foot. Whole leg goes numb sometimes. I can still run and do whatever I want though, except for sit for long periods of time.

I took me about 2 weeks after surgery before I was up and about. 4 weeks and I was helping build a 4 15's bandpass, but being very careful.

 

[shauncox26]

Yeah they don't make them like they used to. People these days don't really know what tough is. Hope u come out ok man always hate to see the men and women who serve this country crippled. Goodluck and godspeed man. Lol hope I worded that right.

 

[tat2bass 10+ year member]

I didn't have a fusion (yet). Ruptured L5 (S1) disk. Most of my disk is gone (removed), leg balance is terrible. I'll fall backwards sometimes or miss a step because of my back. I took over a month after surgery for me to regain feeling in my left foot. Whole leg goes numb sometimes. I can still run and do whatever I want though, except for sit for long periods of time.
I took me about 2 weeks after surgery before I was up and about. 4 weeks and I was helping build a 4 15's bandpass, but being very careful.

Sounds like me. I'm constantly alternating standing and sitting. Can only do either one for about 15 min at a time. If I want to stay in I don't have a choice but to have the surgery either. I get the really bad weakness on my left side when walking down stairs or steep declines. Looks like I'm doing the stanky leg trying to keep from falling!

 

[Buck 5,000+ posts]

Dude I was doing the same thing. You need to have surgery before you do nerve damage that can't be undone. Like it sounds like you really need it, go get it man.

 

[legendndisguise 10+ year member]

I had back surgery in 2010 after breaking my back in a motorcycle accident. I did some severe damage to L1 and was told that they need to fuse T12, L1 and L2. Of course I though fusion meant I couldn't move as much or have the same movement as before. I have full mobility and no problems except every once in a while my back gets a little stiff If i don't move around. I have x-rays and photos of the type of hardware in my back if you want I can send them or post them if you're curious. The hardware is screwed into the vertebrae and how they're are connected seems like heim joints.

 

[tat2bass 10+ year member]

I had back surgery in 2010 after breaking my back in a motorcycle accident. I did some severe damage to L1 and was told that they need to fuse T12, L1 and L2. Of course I though fusion meant I couldn't move as much or have the same movement as before. I have full mobility and no problems except every once in a while my back gets a little stiff If i don't move around. I have x-rays and photos of the type of hardware in my back if you want I can send them or post them if you're curious. The hardware is screwed into the vertebrae and how they're are connected seems like heim joints.

Ok. I'm just wondering what kind of things you do to expedite your recovery and build back your strength. How long after surgery before you could drive and start working out?

 

[legendndisguise 10+ year member]

Unfortunately with the damage I had, I was in a medical brace for almost 3 months. I also broke my neck at the same time and was very immobile. My advice is as soon as you can get into physical therapy, do it. The more disciplined you are with physical therapy and following the therapist/doctors orders the faster things will move along.

I'm assuming your issue is not or will not be as bad as mine, so I would guess that you should be able to hit therapy very shortly after if needed.

 

[tat2bass 10+ year member]

Unfortunately with the damage I had, I was in a medical brace for almost 3 months. I also broke my neck at the same time and was very immobile. My advice is as soon as you can get into physical therapy, do it. The more disciplined you are with physical therapy and following the therapist/doctors orders the faster things will move along.
I'm assuming your issue is not or will not be as bad as mine, so I would guess that you should be able to hit therapy very shortly after if needed.

The biggest problem with mine is the location of the fragment. To get to it, the doc has to cut out a portion of the vertebrae above to go through and come around to grab it. So it'll be fusing two vertebrae and then putting a rod to secure that one

 

[legendndisguise 10+ year member]

The biggest problem with mine is the location of the fragment. To get to it, the doc has to cut out a portion of the vertebrae above to go through and come around to grab it. So it'll be fusing two vertebrae and then putting a rod to secure that one

Ask as many questions as possible to the surgeon doing the work. Everyone's body is different and will take different amounts of time to recover. My old man had fusion done back in the 90's and a plate put in between 2 vertebrae and was in therapy the next week and up walking the next day after surgery.