Calling all Spinal Fusion TW members

I’m good my back feels good. It’s a little stiff in the morning but so it my other appendage I had the carpal tunnel surgery 15 years ago. My right hand is good. My left is starting the tingle numb crap but goes away when I work out. I think one of the keys is to stay active. But my neurosurgeon asked me to cool it my cardiologist asked me to cool it as I was on blood thinners and racing mx. Not a good combo. Now I’m just on the 1 baby aspirin a day plus my special vitamins. The CBDMD product has helped I also take PQQ 10mg and NAC 600 2a day, 500mg of magnesium at bedtime plus the super omegas that has cleared up my arteries. I’m on my elliptical for a hour a day 6000 strides keeps me in tip top shape. Stay strong my friends !

 

Exercise as simple as walking does wonders for the mind and body. I'm so glad to be able to do my daily 3 miles.

 

TLDR version: yes, exercise helps. Dont overdo it. Follow doctor's advice unless doctor tells you it's just old age.


I used to get sore hips, knees, and lower back if i sat more than about an hour. Hated road trips hobbling out at gas station stops. Even sitting through a movie sometimes made my hip stiff. Almost couldn't stand up straight at times. Doc said it was just part of getting older (in mid 30s?).

I started making an effort to drink more water and walk or jog regularly in Feb this year. With work from home requirements i've had more time to get out in the neighborhood. I now run at least 3 miles a day at least 5 days a week and stay well hydrated (and stretch out well after each run).

On recent 8 hr road trip, hips, knees, and back didn't bother me at all. Hiked up a mountain with the kids then drove 1.5 hour, still no stiffness.

Read some articles that said how regular activity and good hydration can keep moving parts better lubed.

Note that i am accustomed to gardening and yard work already and i was a runner in my younger days so i know good pain from "not right" pains. I didn't go straight from total couch potato to jogger but i do spend the work day sitting at a computer. Compared to 6 months ago, i have only lost about 10 lb but i generally feel a whole lot better.

My dad had physical therapy after a spinal fusion. My wife did PT yoga for sciatica after having a baby. Both of them said the PT and following the at home exercise plans relieved pain but it may take time.

 

yes it does, took me 6 months to work my way up to a 3 mile walk

 

Just took 2 cyclobenzaprine tablets . Never had them before . They are my wife’s for arthritis hurt my back over a week ago again . About every other day I aggravate it by doing something . Lower right kidney area into ass cheek and now front right groin is getting uncomfortable. I’m going with pulled muscle this time . Makes me yell out in pain sometimes . Usually when I go to the Dr for back pain they do nothing so I will give it some time and see what happens.

 

Tell me of these super omegas and how they cleaned your arteries? Have you had multiple cardiac calcium tests done ?

 

I tweaked my back last week. always scares the shit out of me when it happens. I have a slight buzzing feeling going on,but it's
not all the time.

 

I think it’s all the vitamins that are keeping me clear. Yes im calcium tested once a year. Every other year nuke med, every 6 months blood tested. Taking 500mg magnesium at bed time really lowered my numbers. As that goes directly after the calcium. It’s been 7 years since my widow Maker. They said I might last 3 years after that and then they would give me a Bypass at 46. We’ll ill be 50 in December. I’m running 4-6 miles a day. No more surgeries planed here. And I’m working the graveyard shift. What else would it be ? Healthy lifestyle? Exercise? Vitamins? And my total cholesterol is under 90. I just had heart surgery in December for Afib. Training for AMA motocross Racing this December. I’m in the best shape of my life!

 

whatever it is, I'm impressed. I had to stop walking for a couple of weeks because of my hand surgery. walked 2 miles last sunday
and it kicked my ass.

 

That’s great your doing well ! My first ever calcium score was last year 352 . I’m on Livalo my cholesterol is 177 but LDL is always higher than HDL . Sugar is borderline but never used to be . I’m 58 and active . Lots of walking too . I take fish oil and 81 mg aspirin,CoQ10 , garlic , Zinc ,and a good multi vitamin. More pictures of my heart to be done every December now because last year Dr discovered I have a slightly enlarged aorta . I started taking vitamin K2 with mk-7 and D3 also .

 

This is supposed to help take calcium build up in your body and put it where it belongs we will see when I get another cardiac calcium score done .

 

Hum that looks like some good stuff. I have a key to the Harvard library, so I’ll read some peer studies on the ingredients. When I want to take something I always read up on all the validated published study’s. That way I’m never taking snake oil...

 

then you should keep the rest of us regular folk up to date,actually that's really cool

 

Has anyone here had a bilateral SI fusion?

 

I had too google that one, I do have some 4 inch screws that anchor S1 into my pelvic bone

 

Anyone here get a Coflex implant? My new surgeon wants to do a multilevel bilateral decompression and put in a Coflex at L4-L5.

 

I deleted my previous post. mistaken on the device you asked about. that looks like some serious support for the spine. If your surgeon is suggesting this vs spinal fusion, I say give it a go. spinal fusion sucks big time.

 

I'm scheduled for Nov 20 to get it done. Didn't know if maybe someone here had gotten one with unsatisfactory results and ended up getting a fusion.
For those who don't know what it is, here's a picture.

 

Some god studies on this. I typed in coflex studies. When it should/should not be used. Failure rates etc. I hate to say and not to discourage, but the the failure rate I found would be too high for me. And I suffer from chronic back pain so I’ve been studying all types of implant devices since I know I’ll need it done sooner than later. Just do some reading and at least be informed or be able to ask good questions to be answered. Good luck !! Make sure to read more than one study and that the study is paid for by the manufacturer of the device. I have also very quickly found a study that showed better outcomes, so it’s just about reading and feeling comfortable. Also imo I would only see a neurosurgeon for any back surgery not an orthopedic.