Time Lost

Wow Joni! You've been through the ringer lately. I always figured that hip replacement is a bear because of the invasive nature, major "remodeling" being done, and the rehab on all the related soft tissues. I've had a surgery every year for the past five years but not that close together. What kind of spinal fusion are you having? Is it minimally invasive? How many vertebral levels are they fusing? My latest surgery last May was cervical fusion in C5-C7. It took me a good 2-3 months to get back to some level of normalcy. But my surgery was from the front of the neck where there is little impact of muscle tissue helping in the recovery. Spinal surgery is always from the back/posterior. I always feel like some of the recovery process is just the shock of the process on your body and emotions.

Hope everything goes well for you and it's your last surgery!
Andrew

Hi Dr. Lumpe,

I noticed you had had a spinal fusion and I wanted to know a little more. I was diagnosed with RA and several back "problems" that cause me great discomfort!! The main issue is a herniated disc in my neck. My pcp said I would need to see a neurologist b:c I have neuropathy and nerve impingement (most likely causing neuropathy!!??). My injured area is c6&7. Any info you could give me would be greatly appreciated!!

Sincerely,

Jennifer wines

Hi Jennifer, sorry you've been having neck problems. A neurologist can run a series of nerve conduction and muscle tests to check for the source of your problems. Have you had an MRI of your neck? That can give a lot of information about what's going on. For most people with nerve impingement, conservative treatments like PT and steroid injections can provide relief.

Oh my, this is a personal topic for me and the time lost issue is so rarely referenced. Until 3 yrs ago, post retirement, I was living a dream retirement plan, one I actively trained for 6 years, traveling all over the country with Red Cross disaster Services, and as a new EMT, volunteering with the Rescue Squad. I've had RA for 25 years, but I occasionally went in remission and could do EMS AND RED CROSS deployments during good years. I hoped to go on to paramedic. It all came crashing down when returning from a month in Minot ND 3 years ago, helping with their floods. I was 2 inches shorter in a month and could barely walk through the Minot airport. I had "out of the blue" dislocated my left hip getting into a car with some other disaster workers. I had to immediately drop off the Rescue Squad and Red Cross deployments. I learned my toes had all dislocated and I was walking on bone, and I had degenerative disk disease as a result of progressive RA bone deterioration and long term effects of prednisone et al. So now I lose my life's time. I've had within the past 3 years to right foot reconstructions, the 2nd this past April. 18 months ago a spinal fusion with a nice titanium cage with L4, L5, and S1. Tomorrow I see my wonderful surgeon who I just love, to schedule my right shoulder rotator cuff repair for a tear and hole in the muscle and a right shoulder replacement. I have lost 3 complete years since stepping off the plane from Minot. We are keeping an eye on the left hip which is next on the list. My husband who has been a saint through 25 years of RA, my close wonderful girlfriend, 3 fantastic sisters, and my 4 fantastic adult kids, although never complaining, I know are getting exhausted. I would have never guessed that I would acquire a plethora of splints, shower chairs, 4 different walkers, wheelchairs, crutches, and 6 canes.