I hate to ask such a personal question on a public forum, but I have no one else to ask. Next week I'm having my lumbar fusion and they're fusing my spine to my pelvis. (I believe that's S1) How badly is this going to hurt my range of motion? I'm not talking about the immediate recovery, I'm thinking more long term. I had my thoracic vertebrae fused about a decade ago, and frankly it's amazing how little this effected my day to day movements. But that had no effect on my pelvis or lower back, so I don't know how different life (mobility) will be after this one. My husband is a gem and I know he'll follow my lead, but I'm not sure what I'll be able to do. I guess I'm saying that I don't like the idea of just laying there without participating for the rest of my life.
Hello! It's been eight months since my L4-S1 fusion. I still feel pain in my lower back but it's tolerable. I am already back to work but with limitations. I can walk without a cane but not as fast as before surgery. It's still hard to climb the stairs. I also cannot sit or stand for long periods. I can say that life is no longer the same. I hope I will feel better as time goes by. In terms of sexual performance, there are already limitations. During foreplay, I do it in a sitting or standing position. Since it's difficult to lie prone, I do not perform superior position anymore, but instead missionary position. As to grinding, I do it very lightly due to fear of dislocating the screws and rods in my spine and to avoid pain. In short, the couple must perform sex as comfortably and pleasurable as it can be. I hope I was able to impart some ideas. Good luck! Life must go on.
@@maamrose809 You actually did help a lot! One follow up question: When you're trying to grind are you deliberately being cautious or does the fusion prevent movement? Is it that you can, but aren't ready or is it that you just can't and never will be able to again? (Seriously, thank you for talking to me about this. I tried to talk my pain management doc into getting therapy before the surgery so I could have a talk with someone who understands and he refused to send me to therapy until after the operation.) I will tell you that my thoracic fusion is now a dream. I promise that the fear of hurting the fusion will go away. I was scared for the first couple of years, but I gradually pushed it, the fusion was fine with it, and I began to take advantage of that. The bad thing I do is that when I'm sitting upright, I tend to 'hang' off my fusion. That's an absolute no-no, but don't always catch myself. I'm also not supposed to lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk for the rest of my life, but I do often and never had a problem. Once the fusion is totally fused the bone is as strong as any other bone in your body and it's cradled in titanium rods. It's not going anywhere with normal life stuff. The biggest thing is to not hurt the unfused parts of the spine. They're in much greater danger than they were. This is why I'm back in the OR ten years after the first one. For the thoracic fusion, the only way it limits me is when I'm trying to get the last sock out of our washing machine. I found myself balanced, straight as a rod, on the edge of the washer. Now I keep a 'grabber' by the washer to get those little things. My only concern is limited mobility, but that's a big concern. smh
@@vociferonheraldofthewinter2284 Hi there! Well, the fusion does not prevent me from grinding. It is my fear that prevents me from doing it intensely. Just find a comfortable position during sexual activity. Remember that pain or discomfort is our body's warning for a possible injury, so we should avoid any position that causes pain. And it is best that you discuss this matter with your physician and physical therapist.
Yes, I am still feeling some pain in the area of the spinal fusion, however, it is tolerable. My only issue is I can no longer walk fast because my back hurts if I do it.
@@hmp2085 I am confident that my spinal fusion worked. It's just that the nerve damage to my spine takes up to two years to heal. I was operated in November 2022. Now, the pain is already minimal although there is a limitation in my walking speed. I am optimistic that the pain will really vanish in time.
I hate to ask such a personal question on a public forum, but I have no one else to ask. Next week I'm having my lumbar fusion and they're fusing my spine to my pelvis. (I believe that's S1) How badly is this going to hurt my range of motion? I'm not talking about the immediate recovery, I'm thinking more long term.
I had my thoracic vertebrae fused about a decade ago, and frankly it's amazing how little this effected my day to day movements. But that had no effect on my pelvis or lower back, so I don't know how different life (mobility) will be after this one. My husband is a gem and I know he'll follow my lead, but I'm not sure what I'll be able to do. I guess I'm saying that I don't like the idea of just laying there without participating for the rest of my life.
Hello! It's been eight months since my L4-S1 fusion. I still feel pain in my lower back but it's tolerable. I am already back to work but with limitations. I can walk without a cane but not as fast as before surgery. It's still hard to climb the stairs. I also cannot sit or stand for long periods. I can say that life is no longer the same. I hope I will feel better as time goes by.
In terms of sexual performance, there are already limitations. During foreplay, I do it in a sitting or standing position. Since it's difficult to lie prone, I do not perform superior position anymore, but instead missionary position. As to grinding, I do it very lightly due to fear of dislocating the screws and rods in my spine and to avoid pain. In short, the couple must perform sex as comfortably and pleasurable as it can be. I hope I was able to impart some ideas. Good luck! Life must go on.
@@maamrose809 You actually did help a lot! One follow up question: When you're trying to grind are you deliberately being cautious or does the fusion prevent movement? Is it that you can, but aren't ready or is it that you just can't and never will be able to again? (Seriously, thank you for talking to me about this. I tried to talk my pain management doc into getting therapy before the surgery so I could have a talk with someone who understands and he refused to send me to therapy until after the operation.)
I will tell you that my thoracic fusion is now a dream. I promise that the fear of hurting the fusion will go away. I was scared for the first couple of years, but I gradually pushed it, the fusion was fine with it, and I began to take advantage of that. The bad thing I do is that when I'm sitting upright, I tend to 'hang' off my fusion. That's an absolute no-no, but don't always catch myself. I'm also not supposed to lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk for the rest of my life, but I do often and never had a problem. Once the fusion is totally fused the bone is as strong as any other bone in your body and it's cradled in titanium rods. It's not going anywhere with normal life stuff. The biggest thing is to not hurt the unfused parts of the spine. They're in much greater danger than they were. This is why I'm back in the OR ten years after the first one. For the thoracic fusion, the only way it limits me is when I'm trying to get the last sock out of our washing machine. I found myself balanced, straight as a rod, on the edge of the washer. Now I keep a 'grabber' by the washer to get those little things.
My only concern is limited mobility, but that's a big concern. smh
@@vociferonheraldofthewinter2284 Hi there! Well, the fusion does not prevent me from grinding. It is my fear that prevents me from doing it intensely. Just find a comfortable position during sexual activity. Remember that pain or discomfort is our body's warning for a possible injury, so we should avoid any position that causes pain. And it is best that you discuss this matter with your physician and physical therapist.
We all know full well that you are not having sex anymore
Follow your doctors advice.
Do you still have pain?
Yes, I am still feeling some pain in the area of the spinal fusion, however, it is tolerable. My only issue is I can no longer walk fast because my back hurts if I do it.
@@maamrose809 Do you think the spinal fusion did not work? Did you go to the doctor to check why you are still in pain?
@@hmp2085 I am confident that my spinal fusion worked. It's just that the nerve damage to my spine takes up to two years to heal. I was operated in November 2022. Now, the pain is already minimal although there is a limitation in my walking speed. I am optimistic that the pain will really vanish in time.