Slip after surgery

Tagged: Aggravation of symptoms after a lumbar fusion

Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 8 total)

1 2 Next

Author

Posts
comike
Participant

April 7, 2018 at 7:50 pm

Post count: 6

#28036

Hi Dr. Corenman,

I am roughly 8 weeks post-op from a TLIF fusion at L5S1. My recovery has been great! I have been super strict with following the rules of “no BLT” and have been loving how great my progress has been so far.

After my 6 week follow-up I was told that walking would never hurt my fusion site, only anger my muscles if I pushed too hard. I have gradually progressed my distance and speed and have begun doing some light off-road walking on dirt paths.

Today, however, I had a setback. While walking downhill I had a slip on a rock which caused me to tense up my back and arch backward to catch myself from falling. I did not fall, but the motion definitely caused a sharp amount of pain (the most since surgery) and my lower back has felt extremely tight since. I am hoping that I haven’t caused any damage to the fusion site, or messed up the hardware placement.

Should I be worried? Does it sound like I could have messed up my chances for a fusion?

Thanks so much for your help!

Donald Corenman, MD, DC
Moderator

April 8, 2018 at 7:13 am

Post count: 8660

#28042

Walking will generally not hurt the fusion site but prolonged walking can cause a flair-up if “over-enthusiastic”. The repetitions of impact and rest found in every gait cycle can be tolerated but remember that until bone starts to become solid (or “set” using the concrete curing analogy), there will be micro-motion between the cage and the disc space walls. The constant “banging” between the cage and the endplate will cause some inflammation and therefore pain.

I would not worry too much. If the pedicle screws have been placed well and the cage is implanted in an appropriate position, you should be just fine.

Dr. Corenman

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.

Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.

comike
Participant

April 19, 2018 at 1:33 pm

Post count: 6

#28091

Hi Dr. Corenman,

So far, since the incident, my back continues to feel better so I think I’m in the clear! Low back pain continues to improve since the surgery.

2 weeks ago (7 weeks post op) I began my PT program. Last Friday I was stretching my hamstrings in the morning for the first time (typically was stretching in afternoon and before bed) and I noticed later that day a return of my nerve symptoms from before surgery. I am experiencing cold/hot and vibrating sensations up and down my legs on both sides. My right side is slightly worse. This morning it felt like my ankle and Achilles tendon were vibrating as though I was holding a vibrating cell-phone next to the skin.

This is the same return to symptoms I faced last year after my microdiscectomy that led to a more destabilized segment (causing foraminal stenosis) which led to the TLIF fusion this past February. This is why I am concerned.

Is it possible I injured the nerves from stretching? I really focused on being gentle and not pushing anything. Could the inflammation you described above from walking cause the nerve roots to become irritated?

I have discontinued stretching in hopes that the nerves would calm down and so far nothing has improved. Its been 7 days of only walking.

Everything was going very well until last Friday. I am now at ~10 weeks post op.

As always, thanks for your time!

Donald Corenman, MD, DC
Moderator

April 21, 2018 at 10:27 am

Post count: 8660

#28101

Hamstring stretches actually stretch the sciatic nerves. If there still is some inflammation of the nerves, this stretch will activate some symptoms. Discontinue the stretching for now and ask your surgeon if he/she would consider an oral steroid to reduce these symptoms.

Dr. Corenman

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.

Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.

comike
Participant

May 2, 2018 at 8:35 am

Post count: 6

#28211

My nerve issues increased over the last week making it difficult to fall asleep last night. The symptoms increased to a burning sensation in my glute down into my calf.

Would there be an adverse effect on the fusion site (or the bone healing process) by taking a steroid at 12 weeks post op? Is the steroid thought to decrease the inflammation long term or could the inflammation of the nerve return during PT/stretching after the steroid course is complete?

Donald Corenman, MD, DC
Moderator

May 3, 2018 at 6:28 am

Post count: 8660

#28212

After 12 weeks post fusion surgery, the inflammation portion of bone healing has passed and both steroids and non-steroidal are both safe to use. For patients with continued aches who can tolerate NSAIDs, I recommend them. I think an oral steroid would be helpful in your case.

Dr. Corenman

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.

Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.
Author

Posts

Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 8 total)

1 2 Next

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.

Donald Corenman, MD, DC

Average rating:

81 reviews

Eric S

Sep 26, 2021

by Eric S on Donald Corenman, MD, DC

Successful pars repair at 46 years old

Back in November of 2018 (at 46 years old) I came from Vancouver BC to have a pars repair done with Dr. Donald Corenman at the Steadman Clinic in Vail Colorado. I'm finally posting this review nearly three years later in late 2021. The reason I waited so long was I wanted to know the final result before I posted my review. Unfortunately in that time Dr. Corenman has retired. Nevertheless, I want to post this review of Dr. Corenman and his staff at the Steadman Clinic in their excellent treatment of my L5 pars interarticularis.

I fractured my pars at age 42 back in 2014 when rolling on the gym floor, and was denied treatment by the Canadian healthcare system, probably due to my age. First my GP told me there was no surgical option for a pars defect, which was quite incorrect! I tried to live with it, but the symptoms worsened (periodic random spine slippage and weeks of resultant pain after just bending over to tie my shoe, so I eventually learned to mostly squat and hardly bend). When I finally consulted with Canadian spine surgeons, I was told they believed my pars defect had been congenital (since birth). This was absurd, considering I had done extreme martial arts (including jiu jitsu) for years prior, as well as 5 years of reinforcing steel full time in my 20s, probably the hardest job on the back you can find. No pars defect like mine would possibly have allowed this--ergo it was impossible that I had had the defect since birth. I did however have an asymptomatic congenital spina bifida occulta that made me more susceptible to a pars fracture. In 2014 in one instant, I went from having the strongest back people I knew said they'd ever seen, to being unable to safely bend over and tie my shoe without a non-negligible risk of my spine slipping randomly (which would lead to weeks of pain after each occurrence). This was due to the unilateral L5 pars defect, otherwise known as spondylolysis. It was when lying in pain on the floor 4 years later after maybe the 6th spine slippage event post injury, that I had had enough, and resolved to have surgery. If Canada's "universal health care" said no, I would make lemonade from lemons, and find the very best surgeon in the world at pars repairs. That was Dr. Donald Corenman. Dr. Corenman back in 2018 ran a website https://neckandback.com/ that dedicated many pages to the science of every aspect of pars repairs, from eligibility (good discs on MRI), to best surgical techniques (minimal open compared to minimally invasive), best imaging to use (i.e., O-Arm with Stealth imaging vs. older fluoroscopy), the ideal amount of BMP to use and why not use too much or too little, and much more, all to do with pars repairs, pages upon pages of his site just on the pars, with scientific references and his own extensive expert opinion. As a health research statistician, I was very impressed with this. It was in stark contrast to the websites of other spine surgeons which barely gave the pars a word or two, focusing almost exclusively on fusions. I had found the best surgeon in the world for pars repairs, and so after Dr. Corenman personally screened my MRI to ensure my discs were healthy, I booked the surgery.

Being 46 years old at the time of surgery in 2018, with a 4-year-old pars fracture from 2014 combined with a congenital SBO meant my pars fragment was somewhat atrophied, but it was "very solid", said Dr. Corenman in the operative report. Nevertheless, it was challenging with two things to fix, the pars and SBO, and OR time was around 4 hours. Recovery over the following months was guided by a very clear "Spine binder" from the Steadman Clinic with strict rules of "no BLT" (no bending, lifting or twisting), and illustrated physiotherapy guidelines. They even warned patients to avoid fish oil supplements, which could excessively dampen inflammation and hence slow bone healing. They answered many questions I had during months of recovery, with responses coming from the very supportive Lori Fugate (then director of Dr. Corenman's practice), and Ehrich Bean (then physician's assistant at the practice), as well as a couple calls with Dr. Corenman himself after two of the CT scans. Ehrich Bean offered great advice for taking the spine binder conservatively due to the nature of pars repairs vs. fusions. The final post-op CT scan I had was a couple weeks ago at 34 months post-op, and Dr. Corenman had retired, but I got a very positive and informative call from Eric Strauch (current PA at the Steadman Clinic under Dr. Corenman's replacement there, and who had also worked with Dr. Corenman previously). The staff at the Steadman Clinic were extremely supportive all the way through the process. I should mention, the local Canadian spine surgeon did offer me very good post-operative support including antibiotics as needed to deal with a mild surface incision-site infection early on, booking numerous x-rays when I felt something was amiss, as well as booking all four of my post-op CT scans. I am very grateful for that support also.

My final result shows plenty of solid bone across the pars and a healed SBO, with my vertebral body now a solid bone ring instead of being broken at two places as it was pre-op. Does my spine hold up in the real world? You bet! I have recently dug and moved several yards of dirt and sand and gravel by myself (shovel and wheelbarrow!) to fix our water main, pulled roots from the yard, moved several "portable" (these are HUGE) air conditioners up several flights of stairs my myself, and lifted weights. I now run 2 miles (3.2 KM) several times weekly with a hard 100 meter dash in the middle. I bend deeply before each run I go on, with no spine slippage. My spine feels amazing. I can bend over to do exercise, or real word tasks, with no risk of spine slippage.

My sincere thanks to God, Dr. Donald Corenman, Lori Fugate, Ehrich Bean, Eric Strauch, and the Steadman Clinic, as well as the Canadian spine surgeon who offered me excellent post-operative care back in Canada. You have all given me a new lease on life.

Sincerely,
Eric S

Robert S

May 11, 2021

by Robert S on Donald Corenman, MD, DC

Back Fusion Surgery

I had my entire lumbar spine fused in November of 2018. I had scoliosis , with pinched nerves that were so painful I could hardly walk - and standing for more than a few minutes was impossible. Even sitting was painful.
The fusion surgery produced immediate relief! And the recovery was much easier than I expected.
To this day I can do all the activities I love from hiking, to standing in a stream fly fishing to riding my bike long distances - or just walking down the street with my wife.
Kudos to Dr. Corenman and his staff, (including the two Erics) for taking such good care of me!

Leslie R

Jul 9, 2020

by Leslie R on Donald Corenman, MD, DC

TLIF

I had my TLIF surgery on 6/24/2020 by Dr. Corenman, I can not say enough good things about the Dr or his staff. I was always treated with respect and explained everything throughly, that made it easy for everyone to understand. I highly recommend Dr. Corenman and the Steadman Clinic.

Submit your review
First Name, Last Initial:
Email:
Review Title:
Rating:	1 2 3 4 5
Review:

Check this box to confirm you are human.
Submit Cancel