I am having a 2 level spinal fusion, L4-S1, can anyone tell me what to expect, I am so scared!?
Answers:
I didn't have a fusion but I had a herniated disc removed at L4-L5 twice.
I was apprehensive myself as I have never had surgery and I heard horrible stories about "back surgery" and the "do not's". However, I am SO glad I had the surgery.
First they prep you by having you put on a hospital gown and store your belongings. Then you have to go through the vitals of blood pressure, temperature, pulse, etc. The nurse will ask you a series of questions for paper work and have you sign a release form and living will information (what to do should you not be able to make your own medical decisions). Then the anesthesiologist comes in and asks pretty much the same questions as the nurse but also adds what you like or don't like and may be allergic too as far as meds go. I told him that I didn't want to wake up vomitting as I hate throwing up..so he assured me he would give me a med in my IV to prevent after surgery nausea.
Then, the nurse comes back and puts these support hose on you with air pumps to massage your legs and prevent blood clots from forming during surgery. She/he then sets you up with the IV system. The anesthesiologist returns and puts meds in your IV and within 5 minutes you don't remember anything. One of the meds is to help you forget trauma.
According to the Dr., they give you the memory loss med as they have to keep you awake in order to respitorize you meaning they put an air tube down your throat and into you lungs so they can monitor your breathing. This has to be done while you are awake. Thus the trauma. Once this is in place they give you the anesthesia to knock you out. Surgery is about 1-2 hours depending and it takes you about 4-6 hours to come out of it.
I was extremely sore after surgery and could hardly move but having the automatic morphine drip was a godsend. An hour after you wake up they have you in recovery and you are not allowed to move (you are on your back) for 1 hour...then they move you to your room.
About 4-6 hours after surgery they want you to start walking to regain the strength. For me, I was not allowed to sit at all as they didn't put an artifical disk in. I was allowed to lie down, stand or walk.
You are very weak the first few weeks and the first 2 days trying to get off the bed to go to the bathroom let alone get into a comfortable position is excrutiating, but they make sure you have enough meds to combat the pain.
I was sent home in 2 days with directions to walk 1-2 miles a day.
You should be ok and the time will fly before you know it. I remember how hard the first 24 hours was after surgery but I had family and friends there to keep me going.
My ex's mom had an artifical disk inserted last year and said she pretty much went through what I did except the Dr. gave her exercises to perform as well as the walking.
Good luck and I hope this information helps.
The information post by website user , Helpde.com not guarantee correctness.