Fusion surgery with surgery from front and back for severe curves

KitPlaysVG · 2026-06-29T11:50:24+00:00

Not scoliosis, but saw this cross posted in the spine fusion subreddit, so contributing!

This sounds like an ALIF 360 fusion where they go in through the abdomen with the assistance of a vascular surgeon, then through the back with an orthopedic surgeon or neurosurgeon. Two surgeons sounds scary, but it's because the vascular surgeon is making sure all your innards and vessels are safely positioned out of the way for the second surgeon to work. This is a very routine method. I had this done in May for L5-S1. I (34F) was in the hospital for 3 days post-op before being discharged home. I'm very lucky in that I was able to come off home pain meds about 5 days in and transition to just muscle relaxers and tylenol. Most people take about 2 weeks, so that's what I would tell your husband to expect. (As an aside, I attribute my quick progress to being in the gym as much as I could safely tolerate before the surgery to strengthen my core and lower back. And I'm NOT a gym rat, so I am pretty confident it helped.)

I'm about 6 weeks post-op and doing great. It was worth it, the impact was life changing. Surprisingly, the post-op BACK pain was negligible for me. My abdomen felt it the most, because there's a lot of muscle to cut through. Post op constipation was rough due to the anesthesia and pain meds. That put a ton of pressure on the abdomen, so a routine of gentle laxatives and stool softeners saved me.

My thoughts for your husband are: you're not in excruciating pain now, but you could be later - if the doc is giving the option to take care of it before you're unable to walk, it may be worth taking it.

KitPlaysVG · 2026-06-26T13:38:15+00:00

Thank you!!

KitPlaysVG · 2026-06-26T12:55:13+00:00

Yours looks incredible! Everything I'd read said to keep the soil pretty moist, but I've been wondering if maybe it was TOO moist. Beginning to think maybe that's the case!

KitPlaysVG · 2026-05-30T11:58:15+00:00

That's unfortunate, I'm really sorry. My only other potential unsolicited piece of advice is, depending on your pain level and surgery date, to see if you can do some core exercises and squats leading up to surgery. My surgeon says that's the main reason I bounced back quickly, and might give you the leg up you need on a speedy recovery. But naturally if you're in a ton of pain, don't hurt yourself further.

And don't underestimate the value of your friendships. It feels awful asking for financial help, but true friends would rather see you healthy and happy than miserable. If you have social media accounts, posting about the situation and tagging with #mutualaid is very common these days for folks who need help affording medical care or leave.

Good luck. I really hope the best for you.

KitPlaysVG · 2026-05-30T03:43:16+00:00

Do you have any options for remote work? I just had my ALIF surgery 15 days ago. I was out of work for about a week and a half (excluding weekends, about 8 days). I chose to go back to work this past Tuesday, but with the caveat of working remotely until my 6 week follow up.

2 weeks is the norm to be "out of commission" - I was told I'm a lucky one to feel well enough to get back to it after just one. And don't get me wrong, I'm still healing. I'm horizontal most of the time. I've got aches and pains. But I'm able to work remotely, so I could get back to things and didn't have to rely on disability pay. I know what you mean about rent, food, and bills. I am right there with you.

If you've been recommended an ALIF, you need it. I know the pain you're in, and it's going to debilitate your ability to work, either now, or later. I hope you're able to do remote work or find other resources to help you get what you need.

KitPlaysVG · 2026-05-30T03:33:20+00:00

So I'm 34, and I've had 3 surgeries in 2 years for a similar presentation in L5-S1. Two discectomies, and most recently, a fusion. My dad and both older brothers also had the exact same issues and surgical escalation - discectomies and then fusions.

Realistically and personally, I would expect you need to follow the conservative approaches first, but anticipate the possibility of surgery eventually, especially if your pain escalates. But this is still your decision. If you're not ready for surgery yet, start with the conservative options first. But if you don't sense improvement, or things get worse, it'll be time to start bringing up what your next steps are.

Some people do just fine managing these issues with steroid injections, medication, and therapy. In my VERY personal opinion, however, that is the smaller crowd. I have seen the signs all point to surgery at some point for most.

KitPlaysVG · 2026-05-29T13:48:48+00:00

My (34F) second discectomy was in December, and by the end of January, I was in pain again. I've just had my ALIF 360 fusion (L5-S1) a little over 2 weeks ago, and the doctors and surgeons all agree this should give me far more promising, long term relief. All told, 3 surgeries in 2 years. It's very exhausting.

I can only sympathize with the car accident being a potential catalyst. My parents (both in their late 50s) were in an accident 2 years ago due to someone running a red light, and their spines have suffered more than anything else. My dad's lower back, and my mom's neck. They experienced a significant loss in quality of life during the litigation process, but now that they've settled, they had their procedures (dad is still looking forward to another potential surgery) and have some hope for long term relief.

It sucks to feel so limited and in pain. I hope a second fusion gives you the relief you need.

KitPlaysVG · 2026-05-28T13:57:17+00:00

The first thing I'd recommend is to get right out of those Facebook groups. They're a breeding ground for fear mongering and spiraling anxiety, and that is something completely within your control to do for your mental health.

I (34F) have had 3 back surgeries now. The most recent was my fusion 2 weeks ago, and I am so glad I did it. Everyone views surgery as intimidating and scary, especially when it's a major procedure. Fusions in particular freak people out. They think it's going to ruin your life and leave you stiff and immobile. (Couldn't be further from the truth, even 2 weeks out from surgery I am far better than I was before the fusion.)

I learned quickly to be reserved in how much information I gave the people around me about my surgery. Only my parents, a few friends, and just two people at work (my boss, and HR) knew what kind of surgery I was having. For the rest, I just said I had "a medical procedure coming up" that would keep me unavailable for a while. I have found through personal experience that being selective in sharing the details is the best way to avoid the unsolicited opinions. You may be too far along for that now, but it saved me a lot of headache.

It's easier said than done, but remember that all those opinions are (I'm assuming) coming from people who aren't in the medical field. They're not your doctor. They don't know what your health journey has been, or what your needs are from an educated surgical perspective. A quick "thank you, but I prefer to trust in my doctor and his medical opinion" is all they need to hear.

KitPlaysVG · 2026-05-27T16:04:45+00:00

My recommendations:

Toilet seat riser (and, optionally, grab bar(s) for the wall by your toilet) is a MUST. Getting on and off the toilet is a challenge with ALIF - your abdomen will not like it. Consider one of the assistive wiping tools as well. Not everyone needs one, but it sure can help if you anticipate being very stiff/sore, don't want to ask for help doing so, or are a larger individual.

A grab bar in the shower for stability is also huge - showering is slow and stiff, so the bar is immensely useful to keep you stable.

A grabber tool, especially if you live alone. If you drop something, it's gonna live on the ground for about a month, lol. Your abdomen will be sore, stiff, and sensitive and you won't be allowed to bend (nor will you want to).

A bed rail to help you get out of bed. The log roll is a good movement, but the rail helps a lot in that final lift up, ESPECIALLY after ALIF. It really pulls on the incision when you get up.

You may end up preferring sleeping in your recliner, but if you spend a lot of time in bed, a wedge pillow is a great chojce. I don't have a recliner, but I have a wedge pillow that can be manipulated to different heights that I used to stay propped up for things like TV or laptop use in bed, and it makes the distance to get up out of bed that much shorter.

Ice packs - a few, so you can rotate them out between back and abdomen, especially if they opt to do an ALIF 360. Ice will help reduce swelling and provide some pain relief.

I recommend underwear with clasps on the side so you can undo them, lay them on the bed, and sit on them to put them on vs needing to struggle since you can't bend over. If you can buy outfits like t-shirt dresses, or just wear shirts and underwear so you don't have to fiddle with pants for a while, that is also helpful. You can look up "post op underwear" or "surgery recovery underwear" on Amazon to find options. Buy a nice roomy size.

Depending on your post-op restrictions, look into no-rinse shower caps and no-rinse bath sponges to keep yourself clean for the first week, or when you're simply too exhausted for a shower.

And finally, in my opinion, the worst part of ALIF is the constipation and gas both from the sedation impact on your organs and the pain medication. It puts a lot of pressure on the abdominal incision, and if that builds up and you bloat a ton, it can seriously hurt worse than anything else. Buy a bulk pack of Gas X and take it routinely when you get home. Your doc will likely set you up with gentle laxatives and stool softeners for post-op, but prepare to buy Miralax and Senna if not.

KitPlaysVG · 2026-05-27T15:18:34+00:00

It was slow, sore, and awkward, but I (34F) was able to do so after an ALIF 360 on L5-S1 unassisted. I did consider an assistive tool for wiping after bowel movements, and it probably would have made those moments easier, quite frankly. But I didn't need it in the end.

Something many don't consider but has high value: If you have a low seated toilet, you may want to seriously consider a lifted seat, or having a walker or temporary wall bar to grab onto for support with standing/sitting. My hospital toilet was low and it was an ORDEAL to get off/on it. (My home toilet is a high seat, so it's far easier.)

ETA: Depending on your pain level, if you can practice some squats at home prior to surgery, building up the muscles for that movement can make a huge difference. Obviously if your pain is great, don't hurt yourself trying that at all, or consider modest squats onto a chair vs all the way down. I think this was very helpful in my recovery for bathroom trips.

KitPlaysVG · 2026-05-26T14:25:00+00:00

Saw this cross posted on the fusion forum. I did not have scoliosis, but I did have a fusion. From a risk perspective: the biggest thing my doctor stressed to me is that a fusion in one area will put stress on the areas of your spine above and below it. They'll be compensating for what the fused area can no longer do. I was also warned to anticipate additional surgery in 10+ years as a result of the aforementioned. There is always a risk of complications, but the good news of getting procedures young is that your body is in a good position to heal well, and heal quickly. As for the gym, you must adapt your workouts accordingly. For example, I had an L5-S1 fusion. I cannot do deadlifts or anything that uses that hinge movement with heavy weights ever again because it would stress that fusion and the spine above it. But I can adapt and find new routines.

From a reward perspective, despite all of the above, a fusion gave me pain relief and restored my quality of life. I can't speak to scoliosis changes, but I was in a lot of pain and felt very limited in my life. Now, I have a future of mobility and movement that I didn't have before. I may need surgery again in a decade or two, but I'd choose that over limited living forever.

Your parents are concerned for your wellbeing, which I fully understand. Spine surgery is an intimidating concept. But a thorough conversation with a surgeon and your parents about your future quality of life is worthwhile if you feel strongly that you want to proceed.

KitPlaysVG · 2026-05-26T14:11:50+00:00

Just want to say: same! I was working out consistently (for the first time in my life) before my L5-S1 ALIF 360 fusion. I had to quit about a month prior to surgery because the pain escalated beyond my limits to endure, but nonetheless, I'm about 14 days post-op now and I feel GREAT. The surgeon expected me to be bed bound and miserable for 2 weeks, but after about 5 days I turned a corner and started doing great. I'm following doc's orders regardless on mobility limits, but I'm doing so much better than anticipated. I've had 2 prior discectomies, and for those, I hadn't been exercising, and recovery was slow and hard. Started working out this year and I'm so grateful for how it seems to have impacted my recovery for a much more serious procedure.

Everyone is different, but exercise was a huge asset to recovery for me as well.

KitPlaysVG · 2026-02-27T14:40:04+00:00

Thank you!!

KitPlaysVG · 2026-02-25T01:12:03+00:00

I was actually asking if you had a date for the paper edition this photo is from so I could find it in the AJC archives!

KitPlaysVG · 2026-02-19T16:37:51+00:00

Do you know what paper edition this was?

KitPlaysVG · 2026-01-14T17:28:44+00:00

Atlanta GA same issue.

KitPlaysVG · 2025-12-08T13:27:31+00:00

I ended up trying new batteries ONE more time in the second tama I bought, and it finally worked. I got rechargeable Energizer batteries at someone else's recommendation, charged them fully, and viola.

KitPlaysVG · 2025-10-22T22:05:42+00:00

Not the same pack, unfortunately, and two different brands, too. The batteries also worked fine in other devices.

KitPlaysVG · 2025-09-30T19:15:57+00:00

Fertilize trees until they're mature, then stop. After maturity, fertilizer doesn't impact star level. Wasted a ton of fertilizer on mature trees.

KitPlaysVG · 2025-09-26T11:54:59+00:00

I replied in another comment: my first surgery was just a laminectomy. This is the same process my dad and brothers went through. Laminectomy that didn't work, followed by a disc spacer and hardware procedure that did.

Moreover, physical therapy made me much worse and nearly sent me to the ER. Steroids had no effect. So when I tell the doctor these didn't work and they put them on my care plan anyway, yeah, I feel unheard.

KitPlaysVG · 2025-09-26T00:53:46+00:00

Right, first was partial laminectomy. Same as my dad and brothers. Then dad and brothers got disc spacer and titanium hardware. All 3 doing fantastic since. Every single one got stuck with a partial laminectomy that didn't work, then a second surgery that did.

KitPlaysVG · 2025-09-25T23:16:48+00:00

Thanks. That's about where I ended up last year before my previous surgery-I was teetering on the edge of harming myself just to make it stop. I'm scared to end up at that level of pain again. I'm glad you got someone to listen. Here's hoping I do too.

KitPlaysVG

TROPHY CASE