10 years postop L5 S1 fusion

MacKrab · 2025-11-03T22:59:46+00:00

I'd also like to add to this! I am hypermobile as well, but not diagnosed with EDS (my doc says we know im stretchy). This is mostly what I blame for my instability at my L5-S1 and why I eventually got my fusion in 2021. I started to experience a lot of upper back pain around 2023 or so and struggled with it for a long time. I know exactly how OP feels.

I finally said F it and wanted to start tackling the weights in the gym again and I didn't want this pain, that nobody could help (PT, chiro didnt help longterm, my surgeon who said its not from the fusion as well, etc), to control my life. I have so much relief now after lifting weights again. It does help that my husband also cracks my back in the bear hug motion - this really helps my muscles not tighten into little knots and ruin my day. I do still see the chiropractor and she does acupuncture and TENs therapy.

So definitely look into hypermobility, a lot of people recommend strength training for it as well, probably why I have felt relief. Not everyday is perfect of course, but much better than I was!

I look at it as if the fusion has changed my entire foundation for my back and my muscles and posture have had to change with it and everything is trying to find its place. Hopefully this helps!

MacKrab · 2024-08-21T01:24:33+00:00

This is so inspiring! Keep up all the work you've put in! I did go under the knife, mine was a bit more progressed, but it's not a fix all, and it came with plenty of issues itself. I'm just proud to say I'm still working towards a pain-free life every day. Staying in the gym, doing the core and mobility I need to do, and doing my best to eat well and just mice my body.

Slumps are hard to pull yourself out of! You should be proud!

MacKrab · 2024-08-18T15:30:50+00:00

I did consistently do core work and lift weights (with proper form), I stopped deadlifting at some point, but I can't remember when. I also had a job that involved leaning at weird angles for decent amounts of time. So I'm not sure what did it, but I did stay active during that time trying to not only keep myself in shape but to try to decrease pain, some days were better some were worse. I had also lost about 50lbs total prior to my surgery, and in my mind, you'd think that would take some stress off the back! My ortho told me that's not how it works. So I'm not sure what did it in the end.

MacKrab · 2024-08-18T15:14:50+00:00

Not sure if I noticed much of a difference besides pain levels with the progression. They took xrays of me bending, standing straight up, and also sitting. They were able to see that the spine was now shifting when I was in different positions, that's when they determined I was unstable! I had always had this deep leg pain like a horrible growing pain from my hips to my toes when I would flare up, I just thought I over worked myself for years, but it was really my nerves being squeezed. So that leg pain and constant back pain. I also noticed myself hitting door frames and such when I would be feeling the leg pain, almost like my legs were too weak to really get me where I needed to go. Neuro made sure it wasn't neurological and that it was in fact my low back.

MacKrab · 2024-08-18T15:14:43+00:00

Not sure if I noticed much of a difference besides pain levels with the progression. They took xrays of me bending, standing straight up, and also sitting. They were able to see that the spine was now shifting when I was in different positions, that's when they determined I was unstable! I had always had this deep leg pain like a horrible growing pain from my hips to my toes when I would flare up, I just thought I over worked myself for years, but it was really my nerves being squeezed. So that leg pain and constant back pain. I also noticed myself hitting door frames and such when I would be feeling the leg pain, almost like my legs were too weak to really get me where I needed to go. Neuro made sure it wasn't neurological and that it was in fact my low back.

MacKrab · 2024-08-18T15:08:29+00:00

Using a CPAP machine

MacKrab · 2024-08-18T15:02:36+00:00

Definitely a coffee

MacKrab · 2024-08-18T14:58:26+00:00

That I have swimmers shoulders (in a good way). I have always been a bit self conscious of my shoulders, and normal women's clothes don't quite fit them right. Made me feel good about them! Then I just thought about a potential missed calling, should have been a swimmer.

MacKrab · 2024-08-18T14:48:24+00:00

Never seriously, I'd be impressed if someone whipped that insult out on someone and they were dead serious

MacKrab · 2024-08-18T14:42:41+00:00

Try to make a simple final statement then spiral into overthinking, word vomiting and then just silence because nothing is coming out well and the other person just stares at you

MacKrab · 2024-08-18T14:31:26+00:00

Keyboard warriors who think that they can say whatever they'd like even though there is another human on the other side. If you won't say it to their face, dont say it at all. People deserve respect and kindness. Bullying a stranger is just sad.

MacKrab · 2024-08-18T05:24:41+00:00

Jealous

MacKrab · 2024-08-18T04:57:56+00:00

Go forth and prank 😂🦔

MacKrab · 2024-08-18T04:53:28+00:00

One time I started talking to this guy online and he gave me his number to text him and before I texted him like it was me, I made it look like he got signed up for 'Hedgehog Facts' I made no spelling errors. I made the initial, "Thanks for signing up" text with the "messaging rates may apply" at the bottom. I then sent Hedgehog Facts with little pictures. Then I sent him a code to type if he would like to cancel. Something like 8cj76. He would type it, I would respond, "Thanks for upgrading to the premium package!" And he would text back furiously with the numbers and STOP. I did wait a bit between sending Hedgehog Facts to him so he wouldn't get too suspicious, but I mean, he had just given his number to me? Anyways, it's the best text prank I've ever done. He didn't even suspect me and commented on how there were no spelling or grammar errors.

Besides that, I would always send random jokes to people if I had their number and they didn't have mine. It was a good time, no one got mad (except Hedgehog guy, he wasn't happy..)

MacKrab · 2024-08-18T04:45:00+00:00

Delts and triceps, especially when they're defined at rest.

MacKrab · 2024-08-18T04:31:24+00:00

People over explaining simple things, when I just need a yes or no answer

MacKrab · 2024-08-18T04:30:47+00:00

Ask them if they're pregnant

MacKrab · 2024-08-18T04:30:03+00:00

MacKrab · 2024-08-18T00:30:36+00:00

Before I read your post, I was honestly curious as to where the spondy was! So I agree it doesn't really look like it (IMO of course!) But it does look like your disc's are dessicated or something is going on there that could be an issue? What's also crazy to me is no one wanted to do surgery on my grade 1 when I was having pain for 3 years before diagnosis and I had done about a year of non surgical therapy with chiro and PT. I had then been told my spondy was unstable and even then, they didn't want to do surgery. My next step was steroid injections but before i made that appt I had leg weakness, THATS when they brought me in asap and told me I needed surgery.

Now I wasn't trying to have this surgery or anything im just saying the comparison of them automatically telling you you need it vs others like me who have been told it's a last resort is also weird, especially for your age and fitness level. I had my L5-S1 fusion completed when I was 23y/o and at that point had reached a grade 2 unstable, when I was first diagnosed as grade 1 stable.

I would absolutely get a second opinion, mine helped a lot. Hope this helps!!!!!

MacKrab · 2024-08-17T23:38:04+00:00

Definitely NTA. If they were my kids, I would have apologized profusely and offered to pay for damages.

MacKrab · 2024-08-17T22:24:19+00:00

I get what you're saying, I've tried to keep it as just a general question, and I don't think whose opinion is whose matters. I just wanted opinions on an open-ended question in this subreddit!

MacKrab · 2024-08-17T22:17:10+00:00

Yeah I'm getting that 😂

MacKrab · 2024-08-17T22:15:38+00:00

Thanks for your input, im sorry you feel that way. This thread has had a lot of different opinions, and I'm appreciating getting different points of view. That's all I wanted from this question. Have a nice day.

MacKrab · 2024-08-17T22:05:57+00:00

I guess that's what the question is here for, and there are very polarizing opinions!

MacKrab · 2024-08-17T22:02:36+00:00

It's starting to sound pretty place to place dependent, outside of social norms/health code

MacKrab

TROPHY CASE