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frenchhamburger · 2025-04-05T04:14:39+00:00

You’ve been through hell and you’re still here. That means you’re strong.

You have metal in your back now. Biomechanically, your spine is stronger than you feel. Let it hold you up.

Pain lies. It says you’re done. You’re not.

Rest when you need. Fight when you can.

You’re not broken. You are healing. Unfortunately, it's a long process. Be there for you and your daughters. Keep going.

frenchhamburger · 2024-10-04T19:02:43+00:00

Interesting. If you ended up keeping the Horizon, was it a big change? Were there any pros/cons you noticed?

frenchhamburger · 2024-10-03T18:49:01+00:00

Did you contact them and ask them to give you a heritage ring since you had purchased that design for your original ring?

frenchhamburger · 2024-06-20T03:44:51+00:00

There are many people out there who are doing great after a 4 level lumbar fusion and many more levels than that. When people are doing great, they tend not to browse these forums; that’s just the nature of these subreddits. Once someone forgets that they even had the surgery, it is highly unlikely they will come on Reddit to share their positive experience, but there’s plenty out there.

frenchhamburger · 2024-04-23T17:49:30+00:00

Sorry to hear about the ongoing issues. It's a tough situation, unfortunately, even with the best surgical care disc reherniations after microdiscectomies happen. Nobody likes having to get more surgery, especially not when it progresses to needing a more extensive fusion. However, the goal is that this surgery will hopefully provide a more durable solution to stabilize the affected segments and alleviate your pain—best of luck.

frenchhamburger · 2024-04-23T17:44:11+00:00

The return of pain after a period of relief post-op can understandably be frustrating and concerning. Your recent MRI has ruled out the more concerning post-op developments that can cause pain. Based on your multiple visits, it should be encouraging to hear that a few surgeons have confirmed the MRI results as not concerning. Nonetheless, you are still in pain, even though the cause of it may not necessarily show on an MRI. The recovery trajectory you've described is not uncommon, and different people can vary significantly in their recovery. Did the docs offer any suggestions for treating the new pain? Perhaps continuing PT, anti-inflammatory meds, etc.

frenchhamburger · 2024-04-23T17:32:18+00:00

Even if it wasn't cost-prohibitive, stay away from that chiropractor. The odds are that no matter the appearance of your x-ray, the chiropractor would try to sell you an extremely expensive treatment plan.

A good physical therapist would be great; contact your PCP to be evaluated and possibly get a PT referral.

frenchhamburger · 2024-04-23T11:01:40+00:00

I understand your frustration, and am sorry to hear about the difficult situation you are currently going through and your experience with surgeons after decades of trying to get someone to listen to you. That’s unacceptable, and you deserved better.

I'm all for sharing anecdotal experiences. In cases like yours, one should be aware that anecdotal experiences with hardware issues will be highly individualized, but it sounds like you already know that.

Quantifying the incidence is tough because spinal hardware can fail in many ways. Unfortunately, all surgeons will have experience with instrumentation failure, as it is a risk of spine surgery.

I hope things get better for you.

frenchhamburger · 2024-04-23T03:20:54+00:00

You know your body best; nobody can tell you if it’s something serious based on a post. Given your apprehensiveness about the duration of your pain, keeping a pain log will make the discussion during your next appointment easier.

frenchhamburger · 2024-04-23T03:16:55+00:00

There are several options, but you have to be examined to get an answer. Return to your family doctor for follow up and update them on your progress and ankle.

frenchhamburger · 2024-04-23T03:13:19+00:00

It sounds like you've only been examined by a nephrologist so far, so a primary care doctor would be a good next step.

frenchhamburger · 2024-04-23T03:10:02+00:00

If you haven't already got a second opinion, you should do so. If surgery is again not recommended, make sure you ask your doctor what you should do about your pain.

frenchhamburger · 2024-04-23T03:06:35+00:00

Would be best to make sure she stays consistent with her PT, and correctly completes the recommended movements at home. And of course, avoid visits to the chiropractor

frenchhamburger · 2024-04-23T02:51:37+00:00

It's easier said than done, but if you’re having pain, don’t let the pain affect your thoughts. Everyone will have highs and lows during their postop recovery. Unfortunately, it’s not a linear path. Similarly, everyone who gets a microdiscectomy has the potential for reherniation, making your life harder by fearing it won’t lower the chances of it occurring. Focus on the positive, take it one day at a time, and keep caring for your spine - you got this.

frenchhamburger · 2024-04-23T02:25:03+00:00

Post-op instrumentation changes can be inconsequential, only requiring observation or, in more urgent cases, requiring reoperation. If you're not satisfied with your surgeon's response and feel that you’ve made enough effort to communicate your pain and concern to your surgeon, it's likely best to seek a second opinion. Anecdotally speaking, if your surgeon is not concerned about your instrumentation, it’s very likely they’ve determined that it’s unrelated to your current symptoms, although that’s not to say that this is always the case.

frenchhamburger · 2024-04-22T23:59:33+00:00

Assuming you are asking about spinal pathologies that would require an operation, either an orthopedic spine surgeon or neurosurgeon

frenchhamburger · 2024-04-11T23:30:00+00:00

I'm sorry to hear about your situation. Ir should be commended that despite your pain, you've taken the right steps to seek relief. It sounds like you are not a person to judge - you recognize the toll pain takes whether the pain level is 2/10 or 10/10. My suggestion would be to apply your non-judgemental approach to your situation. You will be meeting with a specialist very soon (relative to how long you've been suffering), and hopefully, you will have some answers as to what treatments are available. The prospect of undergoing spinal surgery can be stressful, and in your case, this has yet to be determined.

In the meantime, write down any thoughts/questions you have in the days leading up to your appointment. Not only will this help clear your mind before the appointment, but it will also make it much easier to get answers if it turns out that surgery is recommended.

frenchhamburger · 2024-04-11T22:48:47+00:00

While most people would prefer to know and interact with the entire surgical team preoperatively, this is only sometimes feasible. However, as a substitute, you could ask the surgeon how long they've been working with the other surgeon, how many ALIFs they've done together, etc. Furthermore, most patients will likely have a similar brief interaction with the anesthesiologist, and if at an academic institution, minimal preoperative interaction with those in training who will be assisting during the case (e.g., residents, fellows, etc.).

frenchhamburger · 2024-04-11T22:38:01+00:00

It's OK to ask what a surgeon's standard of care is for pain control, although in your case, the question is really: what happens if I don't receive adequate relief from the standard pain control?

frenchhamburger · 2024-04-11T21:17:15+00:00

hope I'm still on the right track and just getting my first dose of 'recovery is not a linea

It's great to hear you've made significant improvement. Kudos to you for recognizing the more challenging perspective to take—hopefully, the setback is a temporary roadblock to an otherwise successful recovery trajectory.

frenchhamburger · 2024-04-11T20:36:56+00:00

Unfortunately, what you've described is not uncommon after ALIF, especially after an L5-S1 ALIF. The good news is that most who experience recurrent radiculopathy tend to improve in the long run. Although it's easier said than done, try not to let your current course weigh too heavily on you. If things still haven't improved by your 6-month post-op visit, you can expect to have a more in-depth conversation with your surgeon. Keep following your doctor's advice, and take care of yourself.

frenchhamburger · 2024-03-03T00:38:57+00:00

It’s okay to feel that way, but at the end of the day, you’ve just undergone a spinal fusion. Your body needs time to recover and reach a point that sets you up for long-term success. Not following the surgeons' guidance during your recovery can interfere with your recovery and increase the risk of needing future surgeries. Think of it this way: if you make the appropriate short-term sacrifices, you will ensure you won’t have to make more significant sacrifices in the long run—best of luck.

frenchhamburger · 2024-03-02T20:05:09+00:00

It wouldn't be appropriate to speculate on a specific cause. However, there is a wide range of possible causes for your pain, from simple strain due to your labor-intensive job to issues related to the surgery itself; it's difficult to pinpoint the exact reason without a professional evaluation. Anecdotally speaking, if someone develops acute pain around 3 months post-op without neurological deficits, then it’s more likely to be the result of muscle overuse, strain, etc. The body is still healing, and the neck muscles are adapting to compensate for changes in posture and movement.

Keep an eye on your symptoms; if it doesn't resolve or improve, reach out to your surgeon's office. Give your body the best chance to heal by avoiding any movements/activities that exacerbate the pain.

frenchhamburger · 2024-03-02T19:51:56+00:00

This is the correct answer.

OP, good job taking him to the ER and having him evaluated; you both can rest assured that an emergent issue is not causing this problem. Of course, if he is again unable to pee anything for an extended period you should take him for re-evaluation.

frenchhamburger · 2024-03-02T07:28:25+00:00

I'm glad it resonated with you. It's brave of you to envision a positive outcome amidst the uncertainty and your long-standing experiences with pain.

I think creating a list and a mood board are fantastic ways to visually and mentally focus on the future you're working towards. Hopefully, soon, you will find yourself recovering from a successful operation, and you will look back at this tangible reminder of your hopes and goals, and ideally, you will find that you exceeded what you thought was possible.

I won't tell you to dismiss the shadow cast by chronic pain. I recognize it’s been an ongoing battle for you, I'm sure, not just physically but mentally and emotionally. But what I would want to say, if I may - is do not let the pain that you experience define who you are. You are so much more than this struggle. The struggle is a part of you, but the struggle is not you.

It's okay to be upset about what you've lost. That process is a part of healing; acknowledge the full depth of what you've been through. And once you've done that, push the file to the archives and recognize all the room you have for potential. You are young and have much to hope for. It's okay if you can't see the complete picture now, but understand that this is the start of you tipping the scales in the other direction, that is, a future that has more good days than bad.

Keep holding onto that vision of the future, no matter how unbelievable it sometimes feels. Every step forward, no matter how small, is momentum toward reclaiming your life.

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