[caperpp]

Hello DR peoples.

Today I'm sharing My fiance's recent spinal fusion(Lumbar fusion) of L5,L4 and L3 vertebrae. In 1997 he had a fusion of the L5 and S1. I'm showing you just the staples after the operation. I would've had more pictures if I was able to be in the operating room but I wasn't. I apologize for the poor quality of these photos, my camera was being fixed.

When the staples are taken out, I will post an update.

[ChristySD]

OOOHHHHHH!!!!!! I remember waking up after mine and seeing the wound drainage bag filled with blood and freaking out in my narcotic-hazed mind (morphine)!!! I have had 2 children (both C-Sections) and numerous other surgeries, but a spinal surgery takes the cake in pain. I had L5 and S1 replaced with donor discs from a cadaver and 2 rods placed, along with pedicle screws. I feel for him. Tell him he is in our thoughts

[caperpp]

Originally Posted by ChristySD ↗

OOOHHHHHH!!!!!! I remember waking up after mine and seeing the wound drainage bag filled with blood and freaking out in my narcotic-hazed mind (morphine)!!! I have had 2 children (both C-Sections) and numerous other surgeries, but a spinal surgery takes the cake in pain. I had L5 and S1 replaced with donor discs from a cadaver and 2 rods placed, along with pedicle screws. I feel for him. Tell him he is in our thoughts

LOL They had him on morphine and percocets. (hence his buzzed out facial expression in the pic)

[caperpp]

Originally Posted by ChristySD ↗

OOOHHHHHH!!!!!! I remember waking up after mine and seeing the wound drainage bag filled with blood and freaking out in my narcotic-hazed mind (morphine)!!! I have had 2 children (both C-Sections) and numerous other surgeries, but a spinal surgery takes the cake in pain. I had L5 and S1 replaced with donor discs from a cadaver and 2 rods placed, along with pedicle screws. I feel for him. Tell him he is in our thoughts

And he says thank you :) he's been in a lot of pain.

[Faline]

Thanks for sharing!

[ChristySD]

No problem! Yeah, I recognized that spacey look. He looks like he is in the same position I was in right after the surgery....slumped to one side. DO NOT let a nurse come in and say "oh, my, let me straighten to up dear"........murder came to mind when she jerked my sheet up and took me with it!! The best thing I found to do was slowly scoot, a little at a time. My PAC (self-administered morphine pump) let me hit it every 5 minutes....I times the scooting with each dose. Slowly, but surely, I righted myself. :) The pain goes away surprisingly fast. Mine only took two weeks for the worst of it. My TLIF was in 2007 and have been off from all painkillers for a few years. FANTASTIC!! Again, I hope he does well and you are a peach to be there with him.

[caperpp]

Originally Posted by ChristySD ↗

No problem! Yeah, I recognized that spacey look. He looks like he is in the same position I was in right after the surgery....slumped to one side. DO NOT let a nurse come in and say "oh, my, let me straighten to up dear"........murder came to mind when she jerked my sheet up and took me with it!! The best thing I found to do was slowly scoot, a little at a time. My PAC (self-administered morphine pump) let me hit it every 5 minutes....I times the scooting with each dose. Slowly, but surely, I righted myself. :) The pain goes away surprisingly fast. Mine only took two weeks for the worst of it. My TLIF was in 2007 and have been off from all painkillers for a few years. FANTASTIC!! Again, I hope he does well and you are a peach to be there with him.

Yup, he's at home with me right now. The surgery was on friday and he came home monday. My mum is a registered nurse, so I learned a lot from her to take care of him until he's better

[LadyCPlum]

Originally Posted by caperpp ↗

LOL They had him on morphine and percocets. (hence his buzzed out facial expression in the pic)

Wanna send me some of those if he doesn't need them anymore?

Seriously though, hope he has an easy recovery

[LadyCPlum]

By the by, I'm a complete medical idiot, what exactly is the procedure done *for*?

[caperpp]

Originally Posted by LadyCPlum ↗

By the by, I'm a complete medical idiot, what exactly is the procedure done *for*?

Straightening the spine, and to get rid of the pain. He had problems walking. He said it was like he was getting a knife jabbed into his lower back once in awhile.