Two months post op after Spinal Fusion (TLIF) surgery in Dubai. Feeling amazing. Fusion Recovery!

Two months ago, on the morning of the surgery, I had a couple of fleeting thoughts on how I could cancel, or postpone my surgery later that morning. Today, if I were in that situation again, and I had the kind of back pain and discomfort that I ad, and with the kind of recovery that I have progressed on – I would do it again. And again.

Background

I had spondylosthesis in L4/L5, slipped disk, slipped vertebra at L4, and a severe pinching of the nerve. I had seen several doctors – orthopedic specialists, neurosurgeons, osteopaths, chiropractors, but it was Dr Patrick Choi at the Wooridul Spine Centre in Dubai, who was very clear – I needed surgical intervention, I needed it quickly, and the procedure was TLIF on my L4 and L5 vertebrae. At that point I had accepted the idea and we went through scheduling my surgery. Dr Shim, also at Wooridul, later confirmed that Dr Choi had the right prognosis, and I was really an imminent candidate for surgery.

Now...

Two months down the line, I do get occasional bits of pain – specifically around the actual incision site. Which may mean its at the fusion site where the doctors put in the titanium rods and screws, and replaced my disc with the hi tech PEEK artificial one. But it has been a life changing decision to have the surgery. I cannot thank the doctors enough for their wondeful work, their expertise, experience and of course their support. Both Dr Choi and Dr Shim from Wooridul conducted the surgery at the Saudi German Hospital in Barsha, Dubai (that's where all Wooridul Dubai surgeries are done, by the way).

Pain?

I just want to repeat what I posted last time. ALL MY PAIN is gone. I had lower back pain every day over the last few months, pain which radiated down my butt and thighs. I had loss of feeling in my left foot, and tingling sensations down my butt and legs once in a while. All of these symptoms have now just gone. I can stand straight, and no longer look like the hunchback of Notre Dame!

Restrictions and Recovery

Yes, I am not 100% back to normal, but honestly, I had forgotten normal with so much pain, pre-op. I still don;t bend, lift or twist. My flexibility is on mend, but I am not there yet, and I just do not expect it to be. Have a tough time wearing socks or tying shoe laces. I use a kitchen clamp mostly to pick things off the floor. Long drives (more than 1/2 hour to 45 minutes) start to hurt my back. Driving is still a problem – lane changes are difficult without turning to check, but one gets used to working the mirrors.

The protection braces hurt – they're quite uncomfortable to wear, and I am waiting for three months to be over, when I am told I will no longer need them. Hurrah!

I am just careful with myself. When one has surgery like I did, your spatial sense changes. You become more aware of the spaces around you, and the people and things that are in those spaces.

Not sure if it is the multiple sessions of physiotherapy that the doctors at Wooridul arranged for me is what has speeded up my recovery process, but I sure am happy with what I have today. My posture has improved, I have no pain, I feel confident, and I feel like a new person. Did I know that two months ago, on November 25th, 2015 before I was wheeled into the operation theater? 

No.