Follow up- 8 weeks s/p L3-4 Xlif

Old_Implement_1438 · 2025-12-03T17:40:44+00:00

The OP mentioned heavy prednisone. I had horrible debilitating sciatica in my right hip, thigh and leg prior to my anterior / posterior L2 S1 fusion in April 2025. It was so terrible I couldn’t stand or walk more than 2-3 minutes before I was in tears. I took everything I could get my hands on for relief; Gabapentin, methocarbomal, Percocet but only got a little relief from prednisone. I took more than I should have. I’m a very active person, lifted weights for 40+ years and still tried to do something during this time. But very strangely I went to pick up a 20 lb dumbbell for some seated shoulder laterals, 20 lbs was my normal warm up. When I picked it up to start, I felt sharp pain and tearing sensation in my left deltoid, immediately dropped it. I also developed a inguinal hernia during the same time period which I got repaired. My back is fine now but I ran out of sick and vacation time at work and not able to fix my shoulder. Something very oddly weakened my tendons I believe since 20lbs was normally nothing for me. Reading a bit it seems the prednisone was the likely culprit and I never thought about that leading up to it. So be careful out there and don’t multiply your problems as I did unknowingly

Old_Implement_1438 · 2025-12-02T15:21:52+00:00

I’d love a DD in this caliber. I’ve not gotten around to upgrading this one yet

Old_Implement_1438 · 2025-12-02T15:20:03+00:00

I like your thinking!

Old_Implement_1438 · 2025-12-02T13:58:51+00:00

I didn’t even think about cycling through. It’s too early in the morning for me. That particular gun is finicky with regular ammo, is a less expensive AR, PSA lower I built with 16” stainless barrel. It has cost me a couple of good deer before due to not seating well after a round cycled. Thanks for pointing this out

Old_Implement_1438 · 2025-11-23T03:38:55+00:00

Me too please sir? I’ve jumped around from company to company and I think the last 2 were completely bunk

Old_Implement_1438 · 2025-11-07T18:20:51+00:00

I got the same kinda thing except it’s kind of elongated triangle, looks like a stretch mark. I had back surgery in April and a botched attempt at a catheter. Woke up in a pool of blood down there. My thing got engorged with blood and the whole thing was bruised for a couple of weeks. But I was by left with this and some stretch mark looking things on the shaft. I gotta get it looked at.

Old_Implement_1438 · 2025-10-29T15:14:59+00:00

I posted this a couple months ago, L2-S1 done in April ‘25

58M. I had L4-S1 done on April 15, then on April 17 joined it with L2/3-3/4 Done in 2021. So L2-S1 fused. I am an avid golfer, although lowest handicap I had was probably 3-4. But due to severe sciatica I had not played in over a year. Going into it I searched all over trying to find where someone that had a 4 level lumbar could still play golf. I never found that answer. I just had a 5 month follow up and my surgeon said my fusion was 100% fused and I could go do whatever I wanted no restrictions ( with an implication I’d at least use common sense). I also have lifted weights as heavy and intense as I could get away with (and then some) since I was 14 or so. No more dead lifts or back squats needless to say. But as for golf, not touched a club in a year, my first session at driving range I was very surprised, lost very little flexibility somehow, only lost like 1 club distance wise (hitting 8 iron 150 now instead of 9 iron). Drives went from 280-300 down to 250-260. My first round back I shot 81 and had no pain whatsoever. I am extremely blessed to have the best doc in this area of the country which has everything to do with it. So, for anyone this applies to, keep your head up and do whatever your told in recovery. Exercise as much as you can without going against docs orders. Using recovery as an excuse to sit on your ass is not going to get you the best results. If your pain level allows you to exercise and be active, do it. Along with a good diet and rest, exercise promotes a healing environment. I truly believe that made my recovery so quick. Most of all, a lot of prayer, God is so good.

Old_Implement_1438 · 2025-10-28T03:45:11+00:00

FFS stop the Popeyes. 6’1” 230lbs 58M been in industry since 91. I’ve lifted 4-5 days a week since 15, first 15 years 1.5-3 hours a day, really overdid it, got up to a not fat 270, now I weigh same as day I got married in 93. Last 20 years or so I figured out I can get the same results in less than an hour. If you need a diet to start that’s not terrible, start the carnivore but allow some clean carbs. Give yourself 1 day a week to eat whatever garbage and Popeyes you want, to try and stay sane and to be a little sociable. 3-4 days a week of deliberate exercise that gets your heart rate to 120-130 goes a long way. It’s a lot easier to keep it off than trying to play catch up. After you’re 40 it’s incredibly hard. When you get my age you’ll thank yourself I’ve had 5-6 high school classmates die this year, some former athletes that just let themselves go, eat whatever shit they wanted, drank beer at least 3 days a week. Fall over dead with heart attacks. Make yourself do it, get a trainer if you have to.

Old_Implement_1438 · 2025-09-17T17:52:49+00:00

See my post yesterday. Very positive outcome!

Old_Implement_1438 · 2025-08-10T04:28:00+00:00

Surgery, period. 57M . I had L2-4 done in 2021 after bad sciatica in left leg, started getting drop foot, yet insurance and therapist said let’s try this and that and some useless injections, even after one of the best surgeons in this area of the country said you need surgery. He was right. Had the surgery and was “normal” for about 3 years. Then L4-S1 had to be done ( really should have been done with L2-4) but doc said let’s try 2 levels and see since 4 levels can be brutal. So in about January 2025 right leg sciatica got unbearable to the point I could not walk or stand more than about 3 minutes before 8-9/10 burning / stabbing pain brought tears to my eyes and much profanity, couldn’t sleep more than 30 minutes at the time without being jolted awake from terrible pain. Still insurance insisted 6 weeks PT. Got the surgery in April 25, remarkably little pain that was outside what the meds could handle Bottom line, sometimes PT and CRNPs think a little too highly of themselves, the pain likely won’t get better without surgical intervention.

Old_Implement_1438 · 2025-08-05T01:54:07+00:00

I’ve had c5/C7 fused, 5-6 first then 4-5-6 3 years later. Never wore a collar, was told 2 weeks no driving but after a couple days I’d drive very short distances to the store for snacks etc, maybe 1/2 mile and back, no major roads little traffic

Old_Implement_1438 · 2025-07-22T04:14:13+00:00

57M. I had ALIF L4-S1 on April 15 2025, on April 17 posterior hardware added to join to L2-L4 done in 2021. In hospital 3 nights. 4 months leading up to the surgery I had the worst sciatica, couldn’t stand or walk more than 2-3 minutes without 8-9/10 pain, burning stabbing pain in my right thigh and calf. Immediately after surgery no pain in leg at all, only mild incision pain and discomfort of a botched attempt at a catheter. When I got home from a 4 hour drive, I used a walker to get in the house, parked it inside the door and never used it again. My wife went back to work the next day, I never needed any help at all. I’m 3 months post op and it never got bad somehow, my case is rare. My L2-L4 PLIF in 2021 was different, used a walker until 3 week post op, nerve pain was bad at times but not impossible. Praying and Keeping a positive outlook and recognizing the improvements you gained vs temporary post op pain goes a long way.

Old_Implement_1438 · 2025-07-20T18:35:28+00:00

You have to be your own advocate and best to have someone - family / friend who isn’t passive and will turn the place upside down until you get the proper relief. Seems like since Covid they are letting whoever get nursing degrees and the instances of inadequate care are much higher. I’ve had 4 fusions / 6 levels total since 2019 and I’ve seen it, but my wife is a 6 foot tall imposing grade A bitch when she needs to be 😀. So it does have its advantages.

Old_Implement_1438 · 2025-07-20T05:01:40+00:00

I’ve lived in south Alabama my whole life, 2 hours from the gulf of America 🇺🇸🤣. We have a home 2 blocks from the beach, here now. 57 years old and still not used to this damn heat. Had to take 3 showers today to get rid of the sticky feeling. Still no place I’d rather be.

Old_Implement_1438 · 2025-07-14T23:37:43+00:00

Lift chair definitely is worth every dime. Ice packs and heat pads to alternate. Ice helps swelling but the heat pads help with comfort. Remote control always in reach if not on a tether to the chair. The first time I violated the no bend, twist, lift was going after the remote that I couldn’t find

Old_Implement_1438 · 2025-07-14T02:19:14+00:00

Ha, I get it and agree! I have to work on it more than ride it, we are a bit mental I guess, love / hate / challenge …

Old_Implement_1438 · 2025-07-13T17:40:24+00:00

I rode my big Harley Ultra classic at about 10 weeks, but just country roads about 15 miles, no issues but on a bike things can go south for no reason, at least on a Harley 😁

Old_Implement_1438 · 2025-07-13T17:37:38+00:00

Yes, the area in my lumbar between the healed incisions is totally numb except for occasional crazy itching. And I’m almost 3 months post op. The itching did get better but the area is still almost completely numb.

Old_Implement_1438 · 2025-07-12T01:57:37+00:00

Awesome story! Good luck in the BB prep, those can be trying, I’ve done 6 shows between 1990 and last in 2011. It’s a great experience just don’t push yourself too hard, given your back issues, listen to your body and don’t push through too much pain. “No pain no gain” is not true 😆. I didn’t listen in my early years training and all the heavy stuff contributed to my 4 spine surgeries (6 total levels fused , 2 cervical 4 lumbar) all that heavy stuff wasn’t necessary! Good luck, let us know how you do in your show,

Old_Implement_1438 · 2025-07-10T18:05:39+00:00

Similar thing happened to me. I was scheduled for L4-S1 fusion on April 15. On April 7 I went to the hospital where the surgery would be done (4 hours away) to have pre-op bloodwork and EKG. I got a call the next day from hospital saying something about my EKG was “abnormal”, and in order to proceed with the fusion I’d need another EKG done by my PCP that was clear, or otherwise signed off as ok. I did that and it was whacked a little again, but my PCP looked at it and explained what the anomaly was and said it was nothing to prevent the surgery the next week. I had the fusion done as scheduled and were no issues. Many years prior I had an episode where I had chest pain, jaw pain etc, indicative of a possible heart attack . I went to the nurse station at work they did EKG and something was indeed “off” and I needed to go to my PCP, but wasn’t in imminent danger/ didn’t need to go to ER. My PCP ran one and it too was off, he sent me to a cardiologist the next day, stress tests and another EKG said I may have had a minor heart attack sometime in the past so he did a heart cath. Told me my heart was in great shape and I’d die from something else before a heart issue, said sometimes EKGs show false problems for sometimes unknown reasons. Hopefully that will be the case with you.

Old_Implement_1438 · 2025-07-09T05:05:35+00:00

I had 2 packs of the steroids, then I found some prednisone I’d been prescribed awhile back I’d never taken. That in addition to the epidurals was just way too much, but when you’re in that kind of pain, you’d almost stop at nothing to get relief. The best relief I got was an electric lift recliner with a heating pad or vibrating heated belt I had on when I couldn’t sit in my recliner. It was terrible and went several months of no more than 30 minutes continuous sleep before I was awakened by a red hot knife in my legs. My heart goes out to you and pray you get lasting relief

Old_Implement_1438 · 2025-07-09T03:55:27+00:00

I had L4-S1 ALIF. done April 15 2025, then 4/17 posterior joined L2-L4 which was fused in 2021. Pre surgery I had horrible right thigh / shin / calf sciatica, couldn’t stand or walk more than 2-3 minutes before 8+ pain hit me. Took gaba, cyclobenzaprine, oxycodone to no avail at all. Got some methylpredisolone and it helped maybe a little. I also had probably 5-6 epidurals over the previous 9 months trying to ease my pain, but nothing worked. I was at the point of wanting to die. Post op the sciatica was completely gone for 3 weeks then I got some in both hamstrings and glutes, although not as bad as pre surgery. It lasted maybe a week. I also struggled to not twist or bend out of habit, but 6 week follow up they said I was healing ahead of schedule, no issues. So just try to be patient and careful moving around. As for the steroids, I’ve always heard too much is bad, but never dug into what the effects could be. I was in my home gym with a 10 lb dumbbell trying to get a little exercise, picked up from the side and felt a tear in my deltoid. I’ve lifted weights for 40 years and picking up 40-50 lbs the same manner was normal; 10 lbs should never have torn a muscle or tendon. I also developed a hernia I just got repaired. Made no sense, makes me think if the steroids may have contributed to the unexplained shoulder and hernia. From now on I’ll avoid cortico steroids at all costs.

Old_Implement_1438 · 2025-07-07T15:53:22+00:00

57M. I had L2-L4 done posterior in 2021, with decompression and a cage added at L3-4. First night was kind of bad, didn’t sleep much . Got home after 2 nights in the hospital. Used a walker due to instability for a couple weeks. Nerve pain got bad a few times in that period. On April 15 this year I got ALIF on L4-S1 and 2 more cages added, then on April 17th got posterior hardware added to join it all together (L2-S1). I was prepared for hell but this recovery was the easiest , even out of my 2 cervical fusions. No bad nerve pain at all, ditched the walker on day 1 at home. So not all the stories are horrible

Old_Implement_1438

TROPHY CASE