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| Long Fusion L2 -S1; Progress | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: 2 Jun 2010, 04:09 PM (1,231 Views) | |
| dillie | 2 Jun 2010, 04:09 PM Post #1 |
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2nd attempt at posting my progress report..... took me ages to type my first one and after clicking preview post it all disappeared!!Here we go..... Am 5 weeks post op, on April 29th Mr Lam did a major spinal revision for me involving removing the Dynesys construct at L3/4 as it wasn't doing anything, decompressing L2/3 as the stenosis was responsible for the leg weakness and knee problems and then tidying up all sorts of other half finished jobs and botches. After that he put in a rod and 8 screws from L2 - S1 to stabilise my spine. I am over the moon to now be able to walk normally again, the first time in 4 years. Although I'm only able to potter around the house for short spells I think it's incredible that after such a huge surgery I'm not suffering from bad back/leg nerve pains. Only post-op soreness etc which of course I expected. My post-op problems haven't been my back, it's been abdominal due to being on my front for the all day procedure plus the anaesthetic of course, but things are gradually getting better. Still having visits from the nurse for dressings as there's a tiny bit of unhealed wound at the bottom plus blood tests as my temperature's been up and down a bit but overall everything's now heading in the right direction. 'Slow and steady wins the race' certainly applies to me as I'm still too weak to do much else but I can see why a 6-9 month recovery was predicted. My GP is amazed at how well I can now walk (once around the living room!) and said my journey (that he's been on with me for the last 4 years) has been a learning curve for him. That's quite something?! So it'sa big big thankyou to Khai Lam and his colleagues at Guy's hospital and another big thankyou to my ADR pals especially Lynda for telling me to see Mr Lam in the first place. Fingers crossed all will continue to go well, my follow up is on June 18th when I hope to see Mr Lam and I also have to have EMG tests. Will post again after those appointments. Once again, many many thanks to all my friends on ADR for all their support and good wishes. I wish everybody else all the very best in return, Lynette |
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| ajj1001 | 2 Jun 2010, 04:19 PM Post #2 |
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!!!!Yay!!!! Such lovely news, proper cheered me up. Sometimes when you are stuck in a situation without knowing a way out of it seeing someone else find a way can give incredible hope. Just keep it up with being sensible and taking time to recover. |
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Std Meds Gabapentin, MR Tramadol, Paracetemol, Laxatives 2011 Sept PLIF L4 - S1 2010 May Discogram L2/L3 & L3/L4 both looking ok. 2009 May PLG Fusion L5/S1 Charite in situ April Dismissed 2008 Caudal Epidural failed to work 2007 Deterioration L5/S1 Facet arthritis, Loss of disc height. 2004 Returned to Work 2002 Aug - physio March 2 level ADR Charite L4/5, L5/S1 2000 Broadbased disc prolapses L4/5, L5/S1 | |
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| Alastair | 2 Jun 2010, 05:57 PM Post #3 |
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I love it when a surgery is so successful, it makes all work that I have put in here worthwhile, and I'm having a little dance around the room in a few moments THANK you for keeping us updated with your progressvery best wishes, Alastair
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Founder of this board 24th February 2007 Slow and Steady Wins This Race Over 23 Years experience and research into spine surgery and over 2500 surgeries discussed and recorded ADR L5/S1 Surgery with Dr Zeegers 26th July 2002 in Munich 8 facet joint ablations 28 – 8 – 12 with Dr Baranidharan and Jake Timothy in Leeds Diagnosed Forestiers disease Your Best Asset Is Your Health I live in West Yorkshire aged 81 now Knowledge is power | |
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| dalhousie | 2 Jun 2010, 08:03 PM Post #4 |
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Really pleased that things are going so well. Wishing you all the best. Take care. |
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2005 Anterior fusion L1/2 with BMP & floating rib removed. 2009 ADR (activ L) L4/5. 2010 Chronic pain from Facet Joints T10-L2 with lots of muscle pain 2013 Attended Walton PM Programme: not much help. 2014 Chronic Pain - Facet Joints L4-S1 2017 Nevro SCS for thoraco-lumbar & lower lumbar facet joint pain | |
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| Lynda | 2 Jun 2010, 09:35 PM Post #5 |
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I am really delighted you have had such a successful outcome, it's been a looong time coming and taken perseverance and determination on your part Lynette. (The surgery I mean, not your update ). You are an inspiration to others not to give up hope of finding a solution to their failed back surgery.Well done Lynette. Wishing you continued steady progress in your recovery. Much love Lynda xxx |
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May 2008 onwards - Lumbar facet injections - First post-op ones four years post surgery, have lost count of the number I've had since then but they do help. Pre-op they didn't make much difference- Mr Shackleford, Warrington Feb 2008 - Cervical TDR, (Activ C's) C5/6 & C6/7- Mr Shackleford, Warrington May 2006 - Craniotomy and resection frontal lobe brain tumour - The Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery Feb 2004 - Lumbar TDR, (ProDisc's) L4/5 & L5/S1 - Mr Shackleford, Warrington | |
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| Gilly | 3 Jun 2010, 08:44 PM Post #6 |
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Such wonderful news Lynette You deserve a medal for all your efforts and for getting through such huge surgery but will have to make do with a well deserved rest and plenty of cyber cheers :rolleyes: Hope all continues to go well for you - the wonders of medical science never fail to amaze. Love Gilly xxxxx
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1990 MRI - disc protrusions levels 4/5 - fusion offered but declined due to poor prognosis. 2007 MRI - disc protrusions Level 4/5 level5/S1 2010 2 level lumbar ADR Mr Ian Shackleford Warrington General 2010 MRI - disc protrusions at levels C4/5 C5/6 2011 27 June 2 level Cervical ADR Mr S at Spire (on NHS) | |
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| dillie | 4 Jun 2010, 09:23 AM Post #7 |
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Thankyou ajj, Alastair (or is it Fred Astaire?) Ruth Lynda and Gilly! I promise to do my best and (this sounds like my old Guides Promise....?!) behave and not do anything to spoil my new back. Actually its quite nice not doing much and getting my cleaning cooking and ironing done for me ..... Think I'll go and sit by my new pond and look for the frogs.....such a hard life! Be back soon! Lynette |
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| Lynda | 7 Jun 2010, 09:34 AM Post #8 |
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You make me smile. ![]() Ribbit. Ribbit. |
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May 2008 onwards - Lumbar facet injections - First post-op ones four years post surgery, have lost count of the number I've had since then but they do help. Pre-op they didn't make much difference- Mr Shackleford, Warrington Feb 2008 - Cervical TDR, (Activ C's) C5/6 & C6/7- Mr Shackleford, Warrington May 2006 - Craniotomy and resection frontal lobe brain tumour - The Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery Feb 2004 - Lumbar TDR, (ProDisc's) L4/5 & L5/S1 - Mr Shackleford, Warrington | |
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| alyssa.star | 13 Jun 2010, 01:27 PM Post #9 |
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I'm so pleased you're doing so well. It put a smile on my face :-) Mr Lam truly is amazing, he did the perfect "job" on my spine straightening it so i too have a long rod but only 5 screws I am t11-l3. Hats off to Mr Lam and his team! I hope things carry on steadily improving for you. Keep us update. Lyssie xxx |
| Lyssie, 24 y/o! Had two spinal fusions, first aged 17 by Mr Lam and second aged 22 by Mr Tucker. I am now fused T2-L4 with three long rods. 31/12/12 injections into both SIJ's... Dx at 10 y/o with Scoliosis. Co-codamol, baclofen, pregabalin, versatis plasters. Planned Mitrofanoff urinary diversion June 2013 X | |
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| dillie | 13 Jun 2010, 07:04 PM Post #10 |
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Thankyou Lyssie, so nice to hear from Mr Lam's patients. I have my follow-up this Friday 18th June at Guy's so I'm looking forward to seeing Mr Lam. Have to go to St Thomas's afterwards for EMG tests so it's going to be a very exhausting day what with the journey to London from Canterbury but it's nothing I can't handle...... Frogs have done a bunk by the way............... |
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| dillie | 19 Jun 2010, 09:49 AM Post #11 |
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Had my follow up yesterday at Guys but didn't see Mr Lam, saw Mr Adnan Meyer instead who was very nice and let me ask lots of questions and take pictures of my X-rays with my mobile. Mr Meyer wasn't present at my operation but remembered speaking to me post-op and also recalled my case from the teams pre-op discussions. Like to have been a fly on the wall....... :ph43r: Mr Meyer said everything looks fine, I told him I have some low rightsided back muscle spasm which concerns me but he says it's too early to worry about it. Ok!! I have to go back in 6 weeks and hopefully I'll see Mr Lam this time. After Guys I had to have EMG tests on my arms and legs at St Thomas's, results of which will be back at Guys for my next appointment. Am going to try and add my X-ray pics to this post which may not be very clear but it's all I've got at the moment, Here goes... :wacko: This is the lateral (side) view:- The unfused fibreglass blocks (AWGC) at L4/S1 which were put in 1995 can be seen along with the migrated staples. They can never be removed due to their proximity to the great veins. |
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| dillie | 19 Jun 2010, 10:25 AM Post #12 |
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Here's the AP ( Anterior - Posterior/Front to Back) View of my L2 to S1 fusion:- Lynette |
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| Lynda | 19 Jun 2010, 10:56 AM Post #13 |
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WOW Lynette, thanks for posting your images, very impressive indeed. That's a lot of metalwork you have there my friend. I'm sure they will be of interest to others contemplating fusion surgery. What an amazing surgery you have had. Well done to you.Take care as you continue to recover and very best wishes Lynda xxx |
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May 2008 onwards - Lumbar facet injections - First post-op ones four years post surgery, have lost count of the number I've had since then but they do help. Pre-op they didn't make much difference- Mr Shackleford, Warrington Feb 2008 - Cervical TDR, (Activ C's) C5/6 & C6/7- Mr Shackleford, Warrington May 2006 - Craniotomy and resection frontal lobe brain tumour - The Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery Feb 2004 - Lumbar TDR, (ProDisc's) L4/5 & L5/S1 - Mr Shackleford, Warrington | |
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| dillie | 19 Jun 2010, 12:40 PM Post #14 |
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Glad you found the photos interesting Lynda! These are the 3D Cat scans taken last November at London Bridge, the detail is amazing and I still can't understand why so many consultants couldn't see what caused my problems but Khai Lam could. |
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| dillie | 19 Jun 2010, 01:12 PM Post #15 |
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Here's another one..... |
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took me ages to type my first one and after clicking preview post it all disappeared!!



). You are an inspiration to others not to give up hope of finding a solution to their failed back surgery.
Lynette_June_2010_Photo_0720.jpg (24.78 KB)
WOW Lynette, thanks for posting your images, very impressive indeed. That's a lot of metalwork you have there my friend. I'm sure they will be of interest to others contemplating fusion surgery. What an amazing surgery you have had. Well done to you.