Spinal fusion 9/24 - I fell today!

[yasmina]

I can't believe it!

I'm ok, nothing too terrible, fortunately. I tripped over the dog's bone (!) and lost my balance. Went down on my left knee, hip and elbow, with emphasis on holding up my upper body to keep from hitting my temple on the corner of the coffee table (right where I was headed).

Good grief I am SO sore - feel like I've been hit by a truck, but otherwise am unhurt. I have to have an xray tomorrow or Tues. before my appt. w/ my surgeon on Wed., so at least I'll know for sure if anything got screwed up, which I don't think.

 

[powellrj]

I hope you are doing OK and nothing was damaged.

I had my knees replaced this year and have tried so hard not to fall. On thursday night I fell on some black ice. Luckily I landed on my ample rear, but still had a hard time getting back up.

I think the harder you try NOT to fall, the more you do fall.

 

[MushyMushy]

Oh my, that's so scary! I hope you didn't re-injure your back.

Take good care of yourself.

 

[smilie]

My goodness, you poor thing. Take it easy for awhile and take care.

 

[karynnix]

Aww...bless your heart! My dad had both knees replaced and my brother had spinal fusion, so I feel your pain. I'm sure that everything is okay. My dad fell only a few months after his knee replacement and was fine. Sore, but fine.

 

[LJC1861]

Yasmina,

You poor thing! Having had 2 spinal fusions myself, I know exactly how scary it can be to fall. You are almost 3 months post surgery, so your fusion should be almost completely healed. Still, the x-ray will help ease your mind.

Hang in there!

Linda

 

[LindaR]

Yasmina,

Try not to worry. You've had checkups along the way and by now, know whether your fusion is healing properly or not. Even though it may FEEL like you've undone everything, it would take a very very bad incident to mess things up.

I started going back to work (for about 2 hours) 3 weeks after my fusion. On the second morning, I was dropping my poodle off at the groomer. I went to step up on to the sidewalk and used the "wrong" leg. The leg with nerve damage. In slow motion (really seemed that way) the leg gave out. I fell backwards flat on my back onto the parking lot. I was holding my poodle under my left arm and got her totally in front of me so that I wouldn't land on her (she landed on my chest). I was unable (and too frozen with dread) to try to break my fall.

It hurt. I lay there and took a mental run thru of damage. There were about 3 senior citizens who wanted to help me up but I needed to be helped a certain way.

Anyway......I went to my doctor, was examined and x-rayed. He said that it would take tremendous force to shift those screws in my spine. I was ok. Had a few scrapes, bruises and was VERY sore.......but ok.

 

[yasmina]

Yasmina,

Try not to worry. You've had checkups along the way and by now, know whether your fusion is healing properly or not. Even though it may FEEL like you've undone everything, it would take a very very bad incident to mess things up.

I started going back to work (for about 2 hours) 3 weeks after my fusion. On the second morning, I was dropping my poodle off at the groomer. I went to step up on to the sidewalk and used the "wrong" leg. The leg with nerve damage. In slow motion (really seemed that way) the leg gave out. I fell backwards flat on my back onto the parking lot. I was holding my poodle under my left arm and got her totally in front of me so that I wouldn't land on her (she landed on my chest). I was unable (and too frozen with dread) to try to break my fall.

It hurt. I lay there and took a mental run thru of damage. There were about 3 senior citizens who wanted to help me up but I needed to be helped a certain way.

Anyway......I went to my doctor, was examined and x-rayed. He said that it would take tremendous force to shift those screws in my spine. I was ok. Had a few scrapes, bruises and was VERY sore.......but ok.

Thanks Linda and everyone who has offered their reassurances.

I don't think I damaged anything, as I really am ok. No significant pains or other unexpected problems. Actually, I haven't had a dr.'s appt. since Oct., and no xray since 1 week post-op, so I don't know yet if it's even started to fuse. I had a 2-level fusion, L3-5.

My gosh Linda, just reading your story made my back hurt . Glad it all worked out well for you. I can't believe you went back to work after only 3 weeks, even if it was part-time. I'll be 11 weeks post-op tomorrow, and I'll find out on Wed. when I can go back. My surgeon originally told me 12 weeks, but I'm going to push for at least after the 1st of the yr., if possible the end of Jan. I am a teacher, and our break starts the 21st. The end of the semester, which is a natural transition time, is at the end of Jan. We'll see what he says though, and I'm sure it will depend alot on whether or not I'm fusing.

Some general ?'s for those of you who have had fusion:

How long did it take your fusions to heal?
Did you have any residual pain? For how long, or was it permanent?
Have you had any additional issues since your surgeries?

TIA!

 

[mommasita]

Take it easy, and if you feel anything further, perhaps you should be seen by a Dr..

 

[snicklette]

Thanks Linda and everyone who has offered their reassurances.

I don't think I damaged anything, as I really am ok. No significant pains or other unexpected problems. Actually, I haven't had a dr.'s appt. since Oct., and no xray since 1 week post-op, so I don't know yet if it's even started to fuse. I had a 2-level fusion, L3-5.

My gosh Linda, just reading your story made my back hurt . Glad it all worked out well for you. I can't believe you went back to work after only 3 weeks, even if it was part-time. I'll be 11 weeks post-op tomorrow, and I'll find out on Wed. when I can go back. My surgeon originally told me 12 weeks, but I'm going to push for at least after the 1st of the yr., if possible the end of Jan. I am a teacher, and our break starts the 21st. The end of the semester, which is a natural transition time, is at the end of Jan. We'll see what he says though, and I'm sure it will depend alot on whether or not I'm fusing.

Some general ?'s for those of you who have had fusion:

How long did it take your fusions to heal?
Did you have any residual pain? For how long, or was it permanent?
Have you had any additional issues since your surgeries?

TIA!

I had a 360 fusion 2 levels L4- S1. It was just 2 years. It was a good 16 weeks before I was feeling healed and a good year before I considered myself back to normal. I had nerve issues that resolved that I didn't think would and that took the longest. Muscle recovery and strength took a while too. I take nothing now but Advil on bad days. My fusion was a huge success! I have thigh numbness that gradually lessened but is still there. My only issue that doesn't seem to get better is when I get my period monthly I hurt and ache and my hardware seems more prominent. Very cold days brings some aches too but nothing compared to the agony I lived with prior to the fusion.

Scary story - when I was recovering in the hospital I fell in the bathroom and thought I wrecked my whole surgery. I slammed into the wall so hard. Needless to say I didn't undo anything. I'm sorry you took a spill and hope you are feeling better now.

As anyone that has had more than one level fused knows we worry about the other levels weakening but so far so good! I would say my only limitation is heavy lifting, I just say NO!

I wish you less pain with each passing day and a rapid steady recovery. Good luck too at your doc appointment this week!

 

[LindaR]

It's been 5 years since I had my fusion. I returned to work (doc said limited hours if I felt like it) because I was bored out of my skull at home, I am the only employee and needed to make sure the business was still functioning (i.e. bills being paid), and I just needed to start resuming normal fuctions!

This was actually my second spinal surgery on this spot. I have permanent nerve damage because my spinal cord was so compressed on my right side. I do still have pain. Probably always will. It's better than how I was BEFORE the surgery but I am not free from pain. Because we took bone from my own hip (which I will NEVER do again), I have just as much "problem" in that area as the actual spine. I have arthritis now in my back AND my right hip.

I have degenerative disc disease which means I can/may herniate all the way up my spine. I already have a problem in the area above my fusion.

I absolutely do not lift ANYTHING over 10 pounds. Taught my poodle to jump up into my arms on command (she weighs 7 pounds). My first and actually second trips to WDW post surgery were learning experiences for me. I know which attractions I can do. I know which attractions I cannot do. I know which attractions I can only do if I am having a "good" day. I find that things kinda "freeze up" if I stand in one position (like standing in a long line) and then I have a difficult time making my legs move! I explain it like trying to open a gate with rusty hinges.

I never took anything stronger than Advil. Never will. I have a major phobia of narcotics. In the hospital, whatever they gave me during surgery was the only narcotics I had. I refused to use the morphine self-dosing button when I woke up. My incisions hurt (small understatement!) but even without drugs, I felt better after surgery than I had for months prior!!

You may never be the "same" as you were. The surgery creates issues that you have to learn to deal with. Gotta make some lifestyle changes.

Best wishes to you. This is an interesting journey. You will find new ways to do some things....and you will learn to give up doing some others.

 

[C.Ann]

Ouch!!! I'll be praying the x-ray doesn't show any damage..

Hope you feel a little better today..

 

[AZ hillbilly]

Linda, your accident with your poodle touched me in multiple ways. After googling, this forum has been the best I’ve found. All the comments are encouraging.
I had no idea my back needed surgery until it took an hour to get out of bed.
Had 2tiered fusion, back to driving as well and about 5 weeks into recovery fell backwards down spiral staircase with walker.
Ended up with 3tiered fusion and screws fell on nerve causing 2 synovial cysts. Which resulted in dropped foot.
5 ½ months into this recovery stubbed my foot on chair leg and it rolled. In slow motion as I was falling towards hitting patio bench I thought “there goes my teeth and face” but I remembered what my pastor told me “tuck and roll”. So I did. Felt ok until 2 days later. Feels like I twisted too much. Since x-ray is needed soon maybe I will have dr scoot it up.
As far as poodle, during this time up until the day we put her down my beloved light of my life toy poodle comforted m greatly. She was 2 months shy of 19 years. She never ever had pain or illness until that last day.
Recovery hasn’t been smooth as I used to be upstairs and now live downstairs. My husband is a hoarder and trying to maneuver has been extremely challenging. Why he has a living room chair and patio bench in my new downstairs office is beyond me. Thus the recent fall. I’m not old just fragile now. He is moving at sloths pace to move them.
Thanks to all for the encouragement.

 

[kyton]

AZ, hope your recovery goes well but boy, this thread is from 2007!

 

[lynxstch]

Welcome to the DIS @AZ hillbilly! When someone posts a very old thread..like this one,,that is almost 15 years old..it's called a zombie thread. I saw C.Ann's name and did a double take, that's when I realized it was very old. I hope the OP has healed up since then!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Welcome to the dis, hillbilly.

Hope you recover well, fully and in not too long a period of time. And get your hubby to clear a better path for you.

 

[_19disnA]

The OP was last here in 2011 (shows in her profile).