As many of you know, I had surgery on June 20th, to remove to the disc between my L5 and S1 vertebrae. After the procedure, I felt amazing. Sadly, the joy was short lived.
By June 30th, I had to have my first epidural to help ease the pain. The pain was so bad, they completed a series of MRIs to verify that I didn't a hematoma in my spine. I didn't. The epidural had no effect. I had two additional epidurals on July 14th, and again on August 4th. Again, no results.
I had a chance to see my surgeon last Friday, the 19th. Normally when an MRI is completed so soon following a discectomy, the films are typically very difficult to read. There are numerous air pockets, shadows and open spaces that can be misinterpreted by the radiologist. When it came to my images, however, the radiologist made it very clear: The partial disc remaining in L5/S1 had re-herniated in the space left open by the removed disc. It was now pressing up against my spinal cord.
My doctor said he always go in and remove the rest of disc, and end it at that. The problem with that option, is that there is the likelihood that in three months I would be back in surgery. Also, the two discs above my L5/S1 are having problems. Considering my weight and frame, my spine could eventually tumble like dominoes.
The route we decided to go was a two-part surgery. I am having a graft implanted, and then a fusion between my L5 and S1. I am scheduled for the implant on the morning of September 19th. The fusion is scheduled for scheduled for September 20th.
In case you were wondering about the process involved, I brought pictured and diagrams. Pour yourself a drink. Take a seat. This may take a moment.
Everything takes place over the course of two surgeries. During the first one, an incision is made along my "bikini area", (I look amazing in a bikini, BTW) and my intestines are gently set aside. My surgeon will make an incision at what would be the front of my spine, and scoop out the remaining pieces of disc that are currently in there. He will then insert a plastic graft, sort of like a fake disc. It looks like this:
The photo above is one that I took of a model at my surgeon's office. The graft that you see is much like the one that will be implanted in my spine. It's hollow and will be filled with bone fragments, that, from what I think I understand, will eventually turn into bone? There are a couple of major differences between the one in the pic and the type that they'll use on me. In the model, the graft is in the L4/L5 slot. My herniation is in L5/S1, so imagine the graft one place lower. Also, since L5/S1 is the lowest disc on the spine, and the one closest to the hip bone, the long/rectangular graft that you see would bump into the hip bone if inserted. I will need a thicker graft, with more of a square shape.
By June 30th, I had to have my first epidural to help ease the pain. The pain was so bad, they completed a series of MRIs to verify that I didn't a hematoma in my spine. I didn't. The epidural had no effect. I had two additional epidurals on July 14th, and again on August 4th. Again, no results.
I had a chance to see my surgeon last Friday, the 19th. Normally when an MRI is completed so soon following a discectomy, the films are typically very difficult to read. There are numerous air pockets, shadows and open spaces that can be misinterpreted by the radiologist. When it came to my images, however, the radiologist made it very clear: The partial disc remaining in L5/S1 had re-herniated in the space left open by the removed disc. It was now pressing up against my spinal cord.
My doctor said he always go in and remove the rest of disc, and end it at that. The problem with that option, is that there is the likelihood that in three months I would be back in surgery. Also, the two discs above my L5/S1 are having problems. Considering my weight and frame, my spine could eventually tumble like dominoes.
The route we decided to go was a two-part surgery. I am having a graft implanted, and then a fusion between my L5 and S1. I am scheduled for the implant on the morning of September 19th. The fusion is scheduled for scheduled for September 20th.
In case you were wondering about the process involved, I brought pictured and diagrams. Pour yourself a drink. Take a seat. This may take a moment.
Everything takes place over the course of two surgeries. During the first one, an incision is made along my "bikini area", (I look amazing in a bikini, BTW) and my intestines are gently set aside. My surgeon will make an incision at what would be the front of my spine, and scoop out the remaining pieces of disc that are currently in there. He will then insert a plastic graft, sort of like a fake disc. It looks like this:
 |
| Model of graft in L4/L5 disc |
Since my surgery isn't scheduled until 11:30AM, they won't have enough time to complete both procedures on the same day. The next morning is when the magic happens.
An incision is made - this time on my back (cue suspenseful music). A set of four screws are set into my vertebrae, two on each side to secure, what is essentially a titanium brace, to my spine. My first two questions, as I'm sure are yours: Will I set off airport metal detectors? And, Is the fusion magnetic? Can I still get an MRI? Fortunately, the answer to both are No. I can still get an MRI. Titanium is not magnetic. From what I have been told the placement of the "anchors" should not be painful since bone does not have any nerve.
Keep in mind, the placement of my fusion will be one slot lower than that of the picture, since the model has a fusion of L4/L5, and I need a fusion of L5/S1.
So, what's in store after that? A lot of lying down. I'm required to wear a back brace for the next four months, as well as those really tight thigh highs that keep you from getting blood clots (I forget what they're called).
For the first four months after surgery, I'm not allowed to bend over, lift anything over 5 pounds or sit for more than ten minutes at a time. To put it simply....
- Sleeping
- Netflix
- Video Games
- ...and a metric shitload of blogging.
I'm not going to enjoy it anymore than you will, believe me.
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