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2nd rupture

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Posted 10/7/2011 1:35 PM (GMT -5)
Hey everyone, it's been a while since i've last posted, we've had sooo much going on I didn't have a chance to come see ya'll.  I have a question for anyone who's had a ruptured disc.  I had surgery in 2007 L3 and L4 they "shaved" the disc down and sent me home, now I have L5 and L6 ruptured and they are gonna go in and do the same thing.  My question is, I only have like 1/4 of an inch in L3 L4 and we are talking about puttin a spacer in.  If we do this, is the healing time longer, I can not be out of work for a long period of time.  Should I get the spacer put in? will it help with the pain? I think I've lost 1/2 inch since all this started LOL.. There are so many more questions I had, but now I can not remember them ... grrrrrrr

Hope everyone has a great day.. Soft hugs to everyone

Trouble smhair

Posted 10/7/2011 1:48 PM (GMT -5)
 

        Hello Trouble! wink

             Sorry to hear of your latest troubles, and this is just a guess, so make sure you ask your surgeon this question....but I'm thinking this is a spacer wedge type of device, and will be put in to keep the disk from collapsing further. Since it does not involve a fusion, I would think the recovery time would be minimal.

       I really don't know much about this type of device and it's purpose, so again, you will need to ask your Dr about it. Hopefully another member with this particular experience will leave a comment here for you.

     Glad you stopped by!

       Take care,

      SE wink

Posted 10/12/2011 8:35 AM (GMT -5)
Thank you!!!!!!! Thats what I was thinking tooo.... HOpe everyone has a great day!!!!!! soft hugs to everyone =P Trouble
Posted 10/13/2011 5:39 AM (GMT -5)
I think you need to get more info from your doctor. Not sure what he means by a spacer and how would they hold this spacer in place? If they are able to open the disc spacing this could minimize your pain by releasing any nerve which are being impinged but as we all know there are no guarantees with surgery. Let us know when you get more info.

Good Luck!
Posted 10/14/2011 8:27 PM (GMT -5)
Are they talking about a fusion? A discectomy is when they go in and shave off part of the disc which is over the rim of the vertebra. A fusion is done when they remove part of the disc, insert a "spacer" inbetween the two vertebre and then add bone that is ground up into the spacer to have new bone grow in between the vertebre where the disc used to be . The recovery for fusion takes considerably longer to recover fully from than a discectomy does.
I would talk to the surgeon again, find out specifically what they are going to do, and then ask them about the recovery times they expect for you.
We can help with other questions though and post op stuff if you have other questions......we'll be here.
Sandi
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