Lumbar Fusion- frustrated

[can'tgetenufofwdw]

My husband had L3-5 fused three weeks ago. Ended up needing a 2nd surgery 2 days after the fusion due to fluid build up on his L5 nerve. Ended up in ICU for 4 days. He came out of surgery with foot drop in his right foot. Surgeon says it is a 50/50 chance he will regain use of his foot. Has anyone else been through this. The fusion was necessary as his back was a mess. He has had 2 prior surgeries and the fusion was the final fix. I'm not looking for any debates or wanting to bash the surgeon. He is a wonderful well respected specialist. Just hoping to hear other peoples experiences and recovery stories.

 

[Jennasis]

Foot drop is common with spinal issues/surgery. I had foot drop PRIOR to my discectomy in 2010. I regained full use of my foot within 6 months. Four years later the disc herniated again and I needed another discectomy. I woke up from surgery with foot drop due to the damage the nerve had experienced from the hernia and the decompression of surgery. I have regained SOME of the use, but still have permanent numbness in the foot that extends up my right calf. So, yes, it happens. Your DH may regain all or some of the normal function, or not. It delends on how he heals. To increase his chances of as full a recovery as possible he must follow his post surgical directions to the letter. If the doc says no bending lifting or twisting for 8 weeks...he MEANS it. Do not lift. Do not bend. Do not twist. Do all the PT, at the therapists and at home daily. Good luck!

 

[can'tgetenufofwdw]

Foot drop is common with spinal issues/surgery. I had foot drop PRIOR to my discectomy in 2010. I regained full use of my foot within 6 months. Four years later the disc herniated again and I needed another discectomy. I woke up from surgery with foot drop due to the damage the nerve had experienced from the hernia and the decompression of surgery. I have regained SOME of the use, but still have permanent numbness in the foot that extends up my right calf. So, yes, it happens. Your DH may regain all or some of the normal function, or not. It delends on how he heals. To increase his chances of as full a recovery as possible he must follow his post surgical directions to the letter. If the doc says no bending lifting or twisting for 8 weeks...he MEANS it. Do not lift. Do not bend. Do not twist. Do all the PT, at the therapists and at home daily. Good luck!

Thank you for the quick reply. He is doing everything the doctor says. He is not officially in PT yet but he is doing some things at home that the surgeon recommended for his foot. He is a very active busy guy so the "time and patience" thing is a real test for him but he is passing the test. You're story is encouraging.

 

[Jillpie]

This is all so famliar to me. I did not have your husband's surgery, but I did have a discectomy on L4 last Spring, with a prior severe foot drop. I did not take PT seriously post therapy, I then developed a second herniation, 5 mos later and the surgeon said I MUST take it very seriously, or I'll need another surgery. So I did, went twice a week. It did help tremendously. I am left with some numbness in my left foot still, so still not completely back to normal, but I can walk, thank God. Its been a heck of a year. So my advice to him, do the PT as ordered!! Don't skip it, do everything they ask.
I will add the three things that have helped me the most after surgery. First, you can get at the drug store, a sock "helper" with two string grabbers, to help put on your socks. Its been 9 mos since my surgery and I'm still using this thing, I love it. Second, also at the drug store, a device that picks things up off the floor. Invaluable! and it gave back my independence. Third, a lumbar pillow for driving. Its thin and light, but I LOVE this so much, its made a world of difference in the car. I still use it every day.

 

[Darcy03231]

Co-worker had a fusion done a couple of years ago. She was diligent about following doctor's orders and PT. She made a full recovery other than some numbness/tingling from her foot into her calf. Says it's kind of like a pins & needles feeling. She does have full function of both feet, but like PP it took about 6-8 months before it came back.