Has anyone had spinal fusion and/or artificial disc replacement?

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LucyDT

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At the end of November I had an instrumented spinal fusion at the L5/S1 level and an artficial disc replacement at the L4/5 level, with incisions through my stomach and my back.

I wondered if anyone else had experience of this surgery? Before the operation my surgeon said that I would be riding again in 6 months, but after my latest x-rays he's said that it could be anything from 9-12 months, depending on how long the vertebrae take to fuse..

The thought of not being allowed on a horse for a year is just awful, has anyone got any (good or bad!) experiences of the same or similar operations? Thank you!
 
My OH- dad_io on here had spinal fusion of L1- 3 following a fall which resulted in a nasty displaced fracture of L2. That was 29th May 2009. He got on a horse for the first time on Sunday
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The surgeon doesnt want him to do more than a gentle hack walk/trot until they can reoperate this May. I will get him to reply/PM.
 
Spooky, I was just talking about this op with one of the ladies (non-riding) that I work with! She had the op in Feb last year and is still recovering! It's a long old process but she's on the mend. From what I can gather, the recovery time is very dependant on how long your back has been bad for. Stands to reason I suppose but not what you want to hear when you want to get back riding. Hope you go on ok.
 
Can I ask how old you are? I am wondering if it is maybe dependant on age a little as to how quickly things fuse! I had epidural injections for 4 collapsed discs on 30th December. Hideous headaches for over a month and now they have decided they have punctured my spine and also there was air in the needle which is now in my head and I keep falling over. Back no better at all just no balance either now. Awaiting head and lumbar MRI which is going to be Valentines Day! I know that when I go they will thinking about doing what you have had done, so really interested to read posts. I wish you all the very best and hope the pain they will have eased is worth the wait. Good luck. Riding down from 5/6 times a week to 1/2. I am 56
 
Thanks for the replies! I'm 27 and have had 4 previous operations due to prolapsed dics (the same ones that have just been operated on). My problems started when I was 14, they think it's a hereditary/degenerative problem but they're really not sure.

I also tried the epidural injections (twice) without success, but they made no difference - although at least they didn't make it worse - harrytom I hope they manage to sort you out. I was also down to riding 1/2 week in the months before this surgery, and often ended up getting off in tears because it was so painful. Then for about 6 weeks before the surgery I couldn't get on at all, that's when I made the decision to go ahead with the operation.

The big positive is that it has relieved the awful sciatic pain straight away, which I hadn't been free of for over 13 years, so the long recovery will definitely be worth it if things stay that way!

Thanks again and good luck to other 'sufferers' too!
 
I have been asked to consider this surgery by the surgeon (specifically spinal fusion L4/L5) but he said only 80% actually fuse, and of those 80% there are many that still don't get any relief from their back pain despite the surgery being considered a 'success'. I viewed it for me absolutely last option as I don't like those odds much! Were you told different?

I was told this was about 4 years ago, maybe things have moved on?
 
I'm not sure if this will work or not.. but these are x-rays taken in Jan, 6 weeks post-op.

SallyS - it is/was the last option for me too, but they did use Bone Morphogenic Protein encased in a carbon-fibre frame, rather than my own bone, for the fusion part. I think that's quite a new way of doing it and it is 'supposed' to result in greater chances of fusion - although mine hasn't started to fuse yet. My next scan and x-ray is 1st March so hopefully it will have started to by then!



 
Hi - i cant offer you any words of wisdom i'm afraid but just wishing you all the best.

I am recovering from a discetomy that i had at the beginning of December 09. I am just hoping that its the end of my back problems.

Its a horrible pain and i know how much it can get you down. Just take it steady and dont go over doing it. A year out of you life a 27 is not a long time in the grand scheme of things.

Good luck
 
My mum had a fusion done about 4 years ago now (lower back but don't know which vertebra exactly) due to ankylospondylosis. She still has very little proprioception in her left foot, but to be fair she was virtually in a wheel chair before the operation.
she was told never to ride, but this summer she has been able to hack in walk about 2 miles (sounds like nothing, but it was a big step forwards for her)
 
A friend of mine had this done last year. She posted on BD Forum about recovery and had a lovely reply from Nicky Barrett who had had the same op. Might be worth searching that forum for the thread.
 
I have had back problems and had prolapsed discs and really bad sciatic pain, I could not ride for about 7 months and couldnt even walk ten steps with out being in terrible pain. I was offerd the op on the nhs but someone said I should try a Dr in Harley street, I had an injection (not the same as you get on nhs) and in a few minutes felt better, it was the best thing ever, I was told in a few weeks I would prob need another injection and I did. this fixed me and I was riding a week after the second injection, this lasted 5 years and I had to go back to harley st for another injection but that fixed me again, its expensive but well worth it.
I still get some back pain but no sciatic pain.
 
I had a L4/L5 L5/S1 fusion, laminectomy (they cut away the back section of your spine to allow the nerve more room) and decompression of those discs in July 2008. This followed an unsuccessful spinal stabilisation op in May 2007 and I also had a discektomy L5/S1 in Aug 2002. I did get back riding after my 2002 op until my discs bulged again in Dec 2006 causing severe sciatica/back pain.
My mare weaned her foal last October and I was back in the saddle Nov 2009. My Consultant had told me not to ride for 12 months after my fusion op to have the best chance of recovery so I put my mare in foal to keep me out of the saddle. I've been getting myself and my mare fitter over the past couple of months and am really enjoying riding again. I've also backed my rising 4yrs RID filly last week (she's homebred and very laid back!) I am an experienced rider but have strict instructions from my OH to wear a back protector at all times whilst riding. I hope to continue to be able to ride for many years to come but have limited myself to hacking and flatwork now.
I was discharged from the hospital last month and have been told to get on with life! I am restricted in what I can lift and carry and can't bend that far. I do still have back pain but I've learnt to manage that. My horses live out all year so I don't have to muck out in winter.
Please feel free to PM me if you want to as it's good to have others to talk to who've been through the same thing. Friends (non horsey) think I'm mad to want to ride after having major spinal surgery but I'd go mad if I didn't.
Hope your recovery goes well for you and you get back riding.
 
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