{"id":121672,"date":"2022-10-13T04:37:52","date_gmt":"2022-10-13T10:37:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/?p=121672"},"modified":"2022-10-13T04:45:50","modified_gmt":"2022-10-13T10:45:50","slug":"now-i-better-understand-why-spinal-fusion-recovery-is-so-painful","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2022\/10\/13\/now-i-better-understand-why-spinal-fusion-recovery-is-so-painful\/","title":{"rendered":"Now I Better Understand Why Spinal Fusion Recovery Is So Painful"},"content":{"rendered":"

An eye opener.<\/p>\n

I’m sure at least some readers are as tired of hearing about my recent surgery as I am of thinking about it. But others have been asking a lot of questions about it and many of my family and friends rely on my blog for updates on how I’m doing. Thus, today’s post.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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Yesterday morning I had my first post-op appointment with my orthopedic surgeon after having 4-level spinal fusion surgery 17 days ago. The PA ordered two x-rays so immediately after they were taken I asked the technician to use my phone to photograph both of them. They aren’t the best photos (especially the second one) but they’re good enough to make the cause of my continuing pain and discomfort perfectly obvious.<\/p>\n

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This is a frontal view of the metal rods and screws used to anchor my L1 – L5 vertebrae into more normal positions relative to each other. The natural discs between those vertebrae are virtually gone, so before the hardware was installed the vertebrae were tipped at angles that impinged on the spinal nerves coming out of them, resulting in unfortunate symptoms in my feet, legs, hips and lower back.<\/p>\n

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This is a side view, taken while I was laying on my left side. As a result of the surgery, the disc spaces are now much closer to level relative to each other so, theoretically at least, there should eventually (after inflammation has subsided and healing has occurred) be significantly less pressure on my spinal nerves.<\/p>\n

But the other issue was my almost nonexistent discs that are supposed to pad the spaces between my vertebrae. So during the procedure my surgeon dug out the remnants of my natural discs and replaced them with grafting material. In the coming months, if everything goes according to plan, the grafts will grow and heal and eventually help the rods and screws keep my vertebrae at angles relative to each other that will mitigate my previous spinal nerve impingement.<\/p>\n

But in spinal fusions everything doesn’t always go according to plan. Sometimes the grafts don’t “take”, resulting in failed fusions.<\/p>\n

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So, besides my handy-dandy ice machine, my back brace, my cane, my ‘picker-upper’ and my ‘rope-a-dope’,<\/a><\/span><\/span> this infernal contraption is a new gadget I’ll be wearing for two hours each day for months. It’s called a SpinalStim and its function is spinal fusion therapy. When used as intended, its electrical stimulation increases both the rate and the amount of spinal graft growth (fusion) by 20%, thus reducing the chances of failed fusions.<\/p>\n

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So that’s where I am at the moment. As disconcerting as it is for me to look at these x-rays and realize that I have all of that hardware in me, I also find them to be reassuring. The pain and discomfort in the lower half of my body are significant enough that until I saw the x-rays I couldn’t help but worry that something went wrong, or was going wrong, with the surgery.<\/p>\n

But seeing all that hardware, in my spine no less, gave me a more realistic view of the trauma my body has endured and continues to endure. It’s no wonder I feel like crap. My surgeon and his PA have both assured me that I’ll feel better down the road.<\/p>\n

It’s just gonna take time.<\/p>\n

Ron<\/p>\n

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Notes: <\/em><\/p>\n