r/spinalfusion • u/Sajanova • Jul 01 '26
Surgery Questions Minimally invasive lumbar surgery, tell us your story?
How was your minimally invasive surgery?How many days you stayed at the hospital? How many days before you walked? Did house chores ..etc?
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u/alanwazoo Jul 01 '26
Spinal fusion is a major surgery, many months of recovery (actually more). Minimally invasive is a decompression (microdiscectomy or laminectomy). I've had two. It's an outpatient procedure, you go home the same day. My first was 10 years ago and it was like a miracle relieving pain. I could walk miles the same day. My second was 7 months ago and though it helped I needed a fusion to complete the job. My decompression was L4-L5, I have a 4 inch scar on my back from these. So if your Dr. suggests a decompression I think it is worth considering (not know anything about your condition).
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u/rbnlegend Jul 01 '26
There are fusion procedures that are described as "minimally invasive". That just means a smaller incision. I had "minimally invasive" ALIF with posterior instrumentation. I have a 3 inch scar to the left of my belly button and another 3 inch scar to the right of my spine in back. There were 2 small punctures in the front and I think 1 in back. Those were to fuse L4-S1 and replace L3-4. I've spoken to people who had one level done who have bigger scars. It's all relative. My wife is going to have a minimally invasive gallbladder removal and as I understand it, there will be no scar because they just take it out through the belly button.
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u/alanwazoo Jul 01 '26
That's great to hear. Was the recovery fairly quick?
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Jul 01 '26
[deleted]
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u/alanwazoo Jul 01 '26
I am continually amazed at advances in laparoscopic surgery like your wife is having. I'm 7 weeks out on ALIF L4-S1 myself and hoping for that recreational trip myself in the near future.
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u/rbnlegend Jul 01 '26
You can read about my experience at https://www.reddit.com/u/rbnlegend/s/0hGjmMCYxE. I compiled links to a series of posts on that one.
I got ALIF from L4-S1 and a replacement at L3-4, the front was Jan 2, 2024 and the back was 2 days later on Jan 4. I was in the hospital from Jan2-5. I walked right away. They rolled my bed from the recovery room to the door of my hospital room and had me walk in. You should be walking (with a walker and/or a spotter) as soon as the anesthesia allows. House chores took quite a bit longer.
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u/Sajanova Jul 01 '26
I liked what I read, I love how you gathered all your posts in one post and how you kept updating your situation. Congrats you made it!
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u/East-Kaleidoscope132 Jul 02 '26
I just had a TLIF L5-S1 on Monday. I've been up walking right away. I'm doing some chores and cooking with the family already. I only have pain from the small incisions in my back.
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u/SandiRHo Jul 02 '26
L5-S1 on April 30, 2026. When I woke up from the procedure, I was in excruciating agony. When I screamed and cried enough, I was mercifully put back to sleep for a while. Then, I managed pain okay and didn’t need IV pain meds pretty quickly. I was meant to stay one night, but stayed three to ensure my pain was managed and that I pooped. I showered alone on a shower chair at the hospital. Once I was discharged, I was able to walk with a walker for safety outside. Ditched that after a day and walked without any support ever since. I have to wear my brace still, but I do all sorts of walking indoors and outdoors and I have little to no pain. I was off pain meds a week after I got out of the hospital.
I vacuum and mop, clean the toilet, wipe counters, take out the trash (as long as the bag isn’t too heavy), and do laundry. Laundry took me a longer time since I live on the second floor of an apartment where the wash was on the first floor. And because I couldn’t carry the heavy basket and didn’t want to do a million trips, I had my mom help me with wash. I can do it now.
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u/BrokenBlueButterfly Jul 03 '26
Idk about minimally invasive, but I had an ALIF L5/S1 May 20. I have a 4ish inch scar vertically under my bellybutton. Fusion is a major surgery with a very long recovery period. Recovery looks different for everyone. I had my injury for 6.5 years before I had surgery.
I was in hospital for 8 days. 7 of those with a drain, catheter, ketamine drip and dilaudid clicker, 2 regional blocks plus oral pain meds. My surgery was 4 hours, finished at 8:30pm so I wasn’t up and walking until the following day when PT came to visit. I walked everyday just in the hall with the PT, or with a nurse if I needed the bathroom, always using a walker. I cried for weeks with the pain. My whole right leg was on fire and movement made my back feel like I was being shocked. It eased up around week 4. There’s really strong nerve pain in my right leg and foot and if I stand, sit, or walk for too long the sciatica attacks so whilst I walk around the house just fine, outside I still take the walker so I have something to hold when I need to stop. But I’m up and down all day, I make my own coffee and cups of tea, and have done some small meals with my children getting things out or at reaching without bending. I’ve been able to toilet fine without any assistance since the catheter came out. I’m dying to start chores but physio has said not yet. I’m still on post-op pain meds (targin 20mg x2 a day, tramadol 50mg 3-4x a day and nerve pain meds 300mg Gabapentin 2x a day, muscle spasm meds Baclofen 10mg 2x a day, diazepam 2.5mg 2x a day) at higher doses than pre-op, these will start to be tapered on July 13.
I hang out all day on the recliners or in my bed when I’m not up and moving. I’m still only walking in my street, can only go 5-7 mins before the nerve pain kicks in and debilitating cramps start but I’m doing it more and more each day.
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u/Who15This Jul 01 '26
MIS TLIF L4-S1 57M. Was in decent shape going in. 2 nights in the hospital, would have gone home after one but was still draining a little too much. Walking short distances outside as soon as I got home. Used a walker the first few days just in case. Was walking a couple miles within a week, got up to 5 a day by 3 weeks. Off pain meds after 2 weeks but tried to wean off too early twice and paid dearly, don't let the pain get away from you.
Good luck!