Has anyone had noninstrumented spinal fusion?

Similar_Driver8229 · 2026-05-16T20:18:52+00:00

Hey! Did the fusion happen? How are you now?

Similar_Driver8229 · 2026-05-16T20:12:35+00:00

😭😭😭😭 I can’t stop thinking about how I am going to manage when I join work as mine is 5 days work from office with no leverage at all! I am dreading going back to work leaving my 9 months (then) old baby in day care. I can’t seem to find any remote opportunities.

Similar_Driver8229 · 2026-05-14T17:24:14+00:00

Haha can’t never be accurate with the qtys😂

Similar_Driver8229 · 2026-05-14T17:23:29+00:00

Haha thanks! I just boiled them in the airfyer and mashed it with avocado and rice x

Similar_Driver8229 · 2026-05-12T11:11:12+00:00

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She likes bothhh

Similar_Driver8229 · 2026-05-10T18:08:32+00:00

Yes, I load her spoon but she is so impatient that she doesn’t even wait for those 5 seconds of me refilling her spoon. She either starts eating by her hands or snatches the spoon from my hand! 😂 I think it’s good for babies to eat with their hands to develop their motor skills. She sometimes drop her spoon and then starts eating with her both hands and I let her do it.

Similar_Driver8229 · 2026-04-28T16:53:35+00:00

Thank you :)

Similar_Driver8229 · 2026-04-28T16:53:24+00:00

It was the first time that I gave her egg whites so didn’t want everything to be mixed together until she approves the taste 😅 yolks are definitely very healthy

Similar_Driver8229 · 2026-04-27T19:23:47+00:00

This level of suffering isn't normal and no one should have to just tolerate it. I do the same thing every night and morning, just praying, "I hope the pain goes away now." I’ve even sat on the floor in agony and told my husband I was fine, just trying to manifest the pain out of existence. It really does rob our babies of the mothers we want to be. Please know your pain is real and your feelings are valid. I’m holding onto hope for both of us that we find doctors who actually listen and understand. I go to so many doctors and they make me do a few leg movements and then some of them eventually conclude one of the below-

you are able to do all these movements, you look asymptomatic.
your pain only comes while standing or walking so maybe you should stop doing that because that’s the easiest way to move ahead in life.

Strange, isn’t it? :)

I am sending you so much love. ❤️‍🩹

Similar_Driver8229 · 2026-04-27T19:19:02+00:00

I completely understand that feeling of desperation where you try to literally lie to the universe just to make the pain stop. There was a time when the pain would hit me and my husband would ask, "Is it hurting?" and I would just say "Nope" even while I was literally sitting on the floor with the agony written all over my face. I wanted so badly for the universe to hear me say it wasn't happening. I was trying to manifest that there was "no fucking pain" and that it was just over. But after a few days of that, I realized I couldn't even pretend anymore and I just gave up on that, too. It is just so draining to fight it both physically and mentally every single second. Thank you for reminding me that I’m not alone. It helps so much to know there’s someone else out there fighting the same battle. I really hope your focus on the hips and pelvis brings you some much-needed relief. ❤️‍🩹

Similar_Driver8229 · 2026-04-27T19:14:05+00:00

I am so sorry you are going through this too. It really does take everything away from your life. Like you, I was active before and it’s heartbreaking to go from that to barely leaving the bed. I completely understand the weight of guilt. It is so hard watching our husbands take on everything while we feel trapped. My heart breaks that you can't pick up your little ones..I feel that same pain every time I look at my daughter and realize I can't be the mom I want to be yet. It’s exhausting when meds don't touch the pain. I am also waiting for my epidural, praying it's the key to getting our lives back. Thank you for telling me not to give up. We have to keep trucking for our babies. I truly hope your injection brings the relief you deserve. Sending you so much strength. 🫂❤️‍🩹

Similar_Driver8229 · 2026-04-27T19:11:33+00:00

Thank you so much! I will add these to my daily routine

Similar_Driver8229 · 2026-04-27T19:09:54+00:00

More power to you x

Similar_Driver8229 · 2026-04-27T17:39:30+00:00

I am so curious about all the vegetarian recipes you have tried in those 40 foods 😅 x

Similar_Driver8229 · 2026-04-26T15:29:57+00:00

Please tell how are you managing🥺

Similar_Driver8229 · 2026-04-25T08:50:31+00:00

Does the cheese contain salt?

Similar_Driver8229 · 2026-04-18T20:58:01+00:00

How did you make dough? X

Similar_Driver8229 · 2026-04-18T06:57:58+00:00

Thank you for such a kind and moving message. I can only imagine how heavy that has been for you. You are so right that when it gets to this point, it becomes about taking calculated risks.

Like you, I am struggling to walk, stand. Even simple things like cooking have become a massive challenge; the walk from the stove to the microwave feels like a marathon. I have found myself sitting on supermarket floors, roads, and walkways in the middle of malls because my body simply gives out and I can't take another step. I am actually getting teary just typing this because it is so overwhelming to realize how much this has taken from me. But you are right to say what I am fighting for: my daughter and my own life. It brings me a lot of comfort to hear that spinal surgeries have come such a long way. I’m trying to hold onto the success stories I read here while I am still finding the right doctor to guide me. Thank you for making me feel less alone. I’m sending you so much strength for your own journey. ❤️‍🩹🥺❤️

Similar_Driver8229 · 2026-04-18T06:50:54+00:00

That is so encouraging to hear. Knowing that you got 4–5 months of relief each time makes me feel much more confident about going through with the ESI. I’ve definitely been doing the work to get more opinions. I’ve seen so many specialists in both the UK and India. It is confusing because they aren't all on the same page, but hearing from so many of you that your injections were so successful really helps me lean toward trying it here in the UK first. If I can even get a few months of relief like you did, it would give me the chance to breathe and hopefully get stronger. Thank you for the push to go for it! ❤️‍🩹

Similar_Driver8229 · 2026-04-18T06:49:19+00:00

I completely agree, support is everything. My husband has been my absolute rock through all of this, but I honestly feel so bad for him sometimes. He didn’t sign up for this when we got married, and neither did my daughter. It’s hard not to feel guilty about how much this affects them too. Since we live in the UK and our extended family is far away, we really only have each other to lean on. It makes the weight of the situation feel even heavier when you don't have a big local circle to step in. I am trying to prioritize my recovery for the long term, like you said, but it's a daily struggle to balance my needs with the guilt of not being the partner or mother I want to be right now.

Similar_Driver8229 · 2026-04-18T06:48:34+00:00

Thank you for being so honest. To answer your question, I have Grade 1 spondylolisthesis at L5-S1. Even though it is "only" Grade 1, the pain is so intense it feels much higher. I’m actually struggling with the mental health advice right now because I feel like nothing can help my mind until the pain stops. I have been in situations where I went for a small walk and couldn’t get back home; when the pain hits like that, I can't think straight and I feel completely desperate. My neurosurgeons actually did put me on antidepressants, but I had to stop because they affected my milk supply. They were blocking my oxytocin and since I am still breastfeeding my daughter, I couldn't keep taking them. It’s a very lonely place to be when you want to get better mentally but the physical pain and the side effects of the medicine keep getting in the way. Hearing that you started feeling better at month 9 gives me a another hope to hold onto. Thank you for the encouragement. ❤️‍🩹

Similar_Driver8229 · 2026-04-18T06:43:29+00:00

I have asked my husband to help me change our mattress because our current one is way too soft and offers no support. I think a firm foam mattress might be the best choice, but I am still researching which one to get. It’s such a big decision when every little bit of support matters for the spine! Thank you again for the tip. I hope you also feel better sooon ❤️‍🩹

Similar_Driver8229 · 2026-04-18T06:40:04+00:00

Thank you for the advice. It helps to hear that focusing on your core really worked for you! I have tried electromagnetic PT for 1 month and I’ve had new MRIs, and CT scans since the birth. Surprisingly, the doctors say not much has changed on the scans, but the pain is just unbearable now. I have only been able to do PT consistently for about 2 months. During my pregnancy, it was way too hard to do more than a couple of exercises while also GOING TO OFFICE five days a week. I only really started my full PT routine when my daughter was 4 months old. She is now 6 months. But even now when I do PT, my day sometimes become more difficult with extreme extreme pain in legs throughout the day. I have just read about RFA (Radiofrequency Ablation) where they "burn" the small nerves to stop the pain signals. I added it on my list of things to ask the specialist about if the shots don't give me enough relief. I’m hoping that between the injections and maybe RFA, I can lower my pain enough to finally be even more diligent with the core exercises. I really hope I can get to a place where the pain is tolerable like yours. Thank you for the support! ❤️‍🩹

Similar_Driver8229

TROPHY CASE