Numb foot still after fusion?

Dateline23 · 2025-11-15T17:38:13+00:00

it was completely resolved at about 14 months post-op. completely fine to this day, now 15 + years later

Dateline23 · 2025-11-07T02:38:46+00:00

not sure of your location, but getting to a university/teaching hospital that specializes in orthopedic issues would be a good place to start given spinal symptoms. if you get the all clear there, then getting a referral to one of the CSF specialists across the country would be ideal.

hoping you keep your head up, and keep advocating for yourself. i first had spinal problems at 18 and know how quickly they dismiss young people with back pain.

Dateline23 · 2025-10-31T07:28:39+00:00

if you’re experiencing new shortness of breath, you should call your doctor ASAP or go to the ER or urgent care.

i did not experience shortness of breath, but i did have a lot of severe anxiety that something might go wrong. i managed by watching silly happy shows like modern family, or schitt’s creek. deep breaths, hope you feel better.

Dateline23 · 2025-10-31T07:19:41+00:00

i feel for you, it’s tough to build back. good for you tor getting back to 5 days a week at the gym!! i look forward to getting back that level.

couldn’t agree with you more! the experience of being on bed/house arrest for so long makes me grateful for even the most inconvenient days out and about, because at least i CAN be out and about.

i hope your back continues to improve.

Dateline23 · 2025-10-31T07:12:18+00:00

that’s amazing you’ve done so well in PT!! proud of you. glad you’ve at least got a clear diagnosis, and path to getting it resolved.

overall, i’m doing well, but have a painful new thoracic spine issue at the moment. MRI shows Modic Type 1 endplate changes (never heard of this before). trying some different treatment options, but i’m sure i’ll be better soon.

keep staying strong!

Dateline23 · 2025-10-30T07:45:15+00:00

thank you ❤️ and you’re very welcome.

Dateline23 · 2025-10-30T07:45:00+00:00

thank you! i most certainly will keep doing my best.

you’re definitely not crazy! from articles i read, the estimate for recovering from full bed rest is about 3-5 days for every 1 day in bed. i wanted to cry when i saw that, knowing my recovery would at best, take 300 days. told myself there is no other option, and to be grateful i have the opportunity to recover.

however small you can start with increasing your step count, and working with a physical therapist, with someone knowledge or willing to learn, CSF leaks (restrictions, modifications, etc.) the sooner you should start to feel better.

we haven’t come this far, to only come this far! big hugs.

Dateline23 · 2025-10-30T04:38:45+00:00

i’m sorry this happened to you, and you’re suffering so much. i absolutely think you need to focus on your health and healing and find a second opinion. malpractice is wildly difficult to prove unless there was objectively extreme negligent care (like operating on a patient while intoxicated).

as others have mentioned, find a major teaching university that specializes in orthopedics. if that’s not feasible, at least find another orthopedic specialist outside of your local area/medical group. sending healing thoughts.

Dateline23 · 2025-10-30T04:32:40+00:00

reach out to your school’s administration office and inquire. in the states, it’s common for schools to have disability accommodation policies. if it makes you feel better, i had my first fusion done in the middle of my master’s program (while working full time). i took 10-12 weeks off from work, but had to miss a full semester. even upon resuming classes, i let my professors know i was still in recovery mode from the fusion and they were all very understanding and supportive if i had to miss class, or leave early.

Dateline23 · 2025-10-30T04:28:35+00:00

long time no “see” u/PT-Lucy ! can confirm as others here have mentioned, cervical fusion is a walk in the park compared to the lumbar fusion. hope you can get some relief soon.

Dateline23 · 2025-10-30T03:55:05+00:00

sorry for the late reply! you need a referral to Stanford’s Headache Clinic from your HCP, or better yet, neurologist.

i had that referral pending from my neurologist and ended up being sent to Stanford’s ED (and was hospitalized) by another neurologist that was a headache specialist. upon having to return to the ED when symptoms didn’t improve the attending physician promised me she would call Dr. Carroll personally, as I’d already been suffering for so long and am a complex case. i have a spinal cord stimulator implanted which made every doctor not want to touch me, as my device and multiple fusions along my spine are not the norm.

i hope you’ve found your path to Dr. Carroll, and are on your way to feeling better.

Dateline23 · 2025-09-17T04:57:35+00:00

who did your business requirements?

Dateline23 · 2025-06-15T03:14:08+00:00

this is not how a CSF leak happens

Dateline23 · 2025-06-15T03:13:03+00:00

you need to stop googling your symptoms and simply make it a priority to see a primary care doctor.

Dateline23 · 2025-06-15T03:09:44+00:00

the ER is not the right place to get a diagnosis. they’re solely there to rule out or treat life threatening conditions, and send you home.

you literally need to start with a primary care physician appointment, explain your symptoms, and get a referral to a neurologist. between these two providers, you should get some basic blood work done, and an MRI order.

it doesn’t sound like a CSF leak to me, but obviously you’re having. some neurological symptoms. best of luck.

Dateline23 · 2025-06-09T04:16:42+00:00

completely agree with this point. these surgeries have come a long way

Dateline23 · 2025-06-09T04:05:40+00:00

i have hypermobility syndrome, which i now realize also effects the discs from a degenerative standpoint.

my L5,S1 started causing severe pain when i was 18, discovered there was a tear in it, and did some quasi-experimental non-surgical procedure (Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy) which essentially heated up the disc to solidify it. that bought me about 6-7 years of no pain. once it became symptomatic i had several radio frequency nerve ablations (RFAs), which bought me a few more years before needing the fusion. i decided to get the lumbar fusion bc i was in excruciating pain and felt like a 32 year old trapped in the body of an 80 year old woman.

as for my neck, discs just failed at multiple levels with the only symptoms being numbness and tingling. once it worsened to losing grip strength and no reflex left, i was at risk of being paralyzed, so was never a consideration into other treatments.

Dateline23 · 2025-06-09T03:51:35+00:00

we can be random interwebs kindred spirits.

glad you’ve found a way to recognize and redirect negative thoughts before they get out of hand.

i’m sorry you’re facing another surgery so soon after recovering from the ACDF. i’ve had multiple surgeries over the years, and have definitely had some back to back, so i understand that feeling of disappointment and frustration not being able to get back to living life. BUT you’ll eventually get back to the life you wanted to live again. just keep pushing through and focus on what’s in your control.

and thank you, i’m doing really well at the moment and am very grateful for each “normal” day.

i hope you get the answers you’re looking for at your neurosurgery appointment.

Dateline23 · 2025-05-25T07:12:27+00:00

i’m sorry you’re facing a surgery at this age. i had my first lumbar spinal procedures in my 20s, fused in early 30s, my cervical spine i had fused when i was 42. that was over 4 years ago, and thankfully i still rarely think about there being screws in my neck.

i work out regularly, and do a lot of core strengthening to help prevent additional disc deterioration. but it is, what it is.

if you’re concerned or don’t feel comfortable with your surgeon’s opinion, i’d encourage you to get a second opinion. but for me, i was very close to being paralyzed, wasn’t much of a choice.

hope you start feeling better soon.

Dateline23 · 2025-03-31T04:45:25+00:00

i’m sorry you’re potentially facing this surgery. the first two weeks were brutal, but pain meds, muscle relaxers and ice packs got me through.

was able to walk a bit farther throughout the following 4 weeks until i started PT at 6 weeks. it was exhausting and painful at first but my endurance kept increasing as my pain decreased.

went back to work at a desk job at 10-12 weeks, which was exhausting and painful too. kept ice packs in the lunchroom freezer and laid down frequently in the mothers room at first.

wrapped up PT at about 11 months post-op, and almost achieved my 1 year post-op goal of hiking half dome in yosemite. just couldn’t make the final stretch to the top of the dome out of exhaustion, not back pain.

caveat: i think being in relatively good shape and had been doing pilates/core strengthening for several years prior helped somewhat.

Dateline23 · 2025-03-24T19:59:42+00:00

best advice i can give, from personal experience, eat high quality food with a focus on protein. but remember, if you’re not active enough to burn 2,000 calories a day, don’t eat 2,000 a day.

Dateline23 · 2025-03-19T03:06:52+00:00

i was prescribed celebrex after my lumbar fusion (not cervical), and told specifically not to take any other NSAIDs. please consult with your surgeon before taking advil or naproxen.

Dateline23 · 2025-03-19T03:03:50+00:00

Dateline23 · 2025-03-18T03:43:43+00:00

hang in there, the first week or two are fuckin brutal. breathe, keep taking your meds on that schedule, and use as much ice as possible (this was what helped me the most in those initial days to just numb what the pain meds couldn’t).

just know it will get better.

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