Ok so now how do you feel years later? Please be honest ..

I’m having l4/l5 fusion in three days. This has helped very much. Thank you!👍

Thank you I’m trying too go through the same . I’m hoping for the same outcome if my surgeon agree.

I've dealt with bad back pain for years, since I helped get a patient up off the floor at a hospital I was working at. It got really bad around 5 months ago so I decided to see a Neuro Surgeon. He looked at my MRI and CT's and explained where my problem was... and offered to schedule surgery in a couple of weeks. He does surgery with Robotics, so I let them schedule it. It's been 10 weeks now and the pain in my lower back and down my left leg is just as bad as it was before surgery. He says now that he may have to go back in. The thought of having it again makes me want to vomit! I wish so badly that my outcome had been more like the people I read about here!!

Damn Will! Bummer to hear. Seems like you and I are both made of glass haha. Back and shoulder for me. Looks like you’re adding another one to the list. The bright side of this is that you’ve been there before, you know what it takes to get through the recovery process. Good luck, god bless, and hope you’re healthy soon.

Thank you for your videos on this. I watched your other one where you were a year after surgery and it really gave me peace of mind. Im 6wks after surgery and i am concerned with some of the hardware pain i can feel at times and still some sensations down my legs. I agree though it can really affect your head. You were doing very well with the walking so soon after it.God im not near that. I have the hand grabber which is great. If I have over done it in anyway my body doesn't be long telling me. I just hope I fully recover. Thank you for all your videos. Its helped me a lot. ❤

70 yr. old assault survivor with 4 herniated discs and Cauda Equina Syndrome. Psychologically, I am a mess. I appreciate your positive and realistic perspectives. Surgical consultation tomorrow.

Thank you so much for your video. I am 7 weeks out of 4 levels of lumbar spine surgery and doing well. Remembering not to bend, loft or twist is my biggest problem as I'm very independent. Your video is very encouraging for me that I WIL get my independence back if I'm patient. Thank you so much for that.

Big Papa Port

I’m now at 2.5 months post lateral lumbar intervertebral fusion at L4,5. I could not agree with you more. I love my surgeon, he helped me get my life back.

Thnx dude I have a two level ALIF L4-S1, on the schedule. You give me hope.

Real Southern home cooking. Really cant beat it. Thanks for sharing stuff like this WIll.

Let Pa show you how it’s done!

Im so happy for you brother. I just went through a L5-S1 fusion with laminectomy. I had over 3 fractures in my back, severe arthritis, nerve pain down my left leg. Pretty much the exact same thing you were experiencing. 2 cages, rods, screws. Woke up in excruciating pain. Was getting 10mg percocet every 4 hours and 1 oxycontin 10mg every 12 hours. Worst pain ive ever experienced. I complained of the pain because i thought something may be wrong. They took away the oxycontin after i complained about pain.I was completely respectful even though i was hurting. I was sent home with 20 hydrocodone 7.5 to take for 2 days because i had been taking hydrocodone 10 mg every 8 hours at home before surgery and it never scratched the surface before the surgery. They broke me. I was in a very dark area with pain. I truly wanted to die. Im 2 weeks in today and im doing better but hurt alot but my faith is what i feed off of. I take that pain and anger i feel and turn it around to something positive. Im writing this because it helps me to get it out and to tell people to do their due diligence on making sure before you go into this that you have a concrete plan with your Dr about how your pain will be managed post op. Dont be scared to ask questions and dont think every Dr has your best interest in mind. Pain management is part of your recovery. I couldn't eat or sleep. Lost 10 pounds in my first week. I was exhausted. Im 50 by the way and i was in good shape going in. I went to my PCP on a chance expecting nothing yesterday and by grace he gave me some gabapentin and a few ambien to help me sleep which got my head above water. I KNOW i will make it through it. Im ready to get after it. And you are absolutely right. Your mind, attitude can be your driving force. Thanks for the video.

Oh man did I need to see this! I'm having 345 fused on Oct 8th and I'm terrified. Like you say, so many horror stories out there. I'm going at this the best I can, I cut down my weight to 155 and been building my core as much as I can. I just walked 3 miles. Im ready to put this back issue behind me. Thank you for the breath of fresh air. Wish me luck, I'll need it! Thanks

Hello, after 7 year of having the fusion, how do you feel? Is it still intact and pain free? Or had an impact on the disks around the fusion?

Great info ! Thank you 😊

Hemingway I am from Kingstree ❤❤❤

Thank you

Thank you my leg has been killing me and wanted to cut off too Going for 2 surgery soon

update?

Very good on you for recording this. Too many stories and connections to the past are lost.

Awesome.... 8/17 was our gotcha day for our 2nd cat that we took in after he was abandoned and homeless. Best decision we ever made

Somebody get back to that hard to kill status I see 💪

Why am I just finding this/your channel? -WR

Pa and I were talking and he was telling me about how Mr. Miller, even with one arm could plow the straightest lines with his mules and I finally had the good sense to start recording. Hear a couple of good stories with Pa!

Started watching you when my back went out. Great channel!

You're doing a great job & always have. Keep up the good work & thanks for sharing. It's inspiring & enjoy following along. Stay sharp brother!

Hi Big Poppa Port, what happened to all your videos? They are a great source of inspiration for me after my fusion surgery. Did you take them down on purpose or did something go awry within KZbin?

I had lumbar lumbar laminectomy was not bad just took Tylenol 😊

Thanks, you gave me hope, hang in 😮 there, brother

You at ft Benning I had lumbar. Made worse now getting fusion same as you L 5 S1 retired electrician for NYC fire my job did me in pain every day same pills as you hurts

I am scheduled for fusion L3/L4/L5 in one hours now . I found your video that help me going so stress out and worry /scare how it will going to be after surgery. Thank your for making this video . Because a lot video out there is freaking me out .

Hello from Australia Thank you so much for your video I had the the same fusión on my S1-L5 last week . You gave me so much light and understanding how my journey is going to be. I was praying to find something that gave me the clear understanding of my journey ahead . Thank you again for what you are doing , God is using you in an amazing way . Blessings Pastor Cesar Sarmiento

Thank God you're one of the lucky ones that the surgery worked

I took pain pills for 4 days after ALIF/PLIF L5S1, 6 months post now and still have pain

I needed that encouragement, thanks.

Hi from South Africa 10 days after l3 L4 fusion. Had leg pain before surgery nurve was pinched. Now the nerve is loose I have extreme nerve pain in my leg, hope it will clear soon.

Thanks for this video I go in on 7/2/23 for my back surgery .Good to see your positive outlook.

I don’t know if you’ll see this since it’s 5 years after you posted, but I wanted to let you know I found your youtubes tonight and I’m going to watch every one. You’re very positive and inspiring. Even though the only thing I really know so far is that you’ve had a spinal fusion, I think your positivity is just what I need right now. I’m 3 weeks post-op today from my 4th lower back surgery, and this recovery has been really difficult. I had minimal pain after the others, but this - well let’s just say it’s 5 a.m., I couldn’t sleep and had to take a pain pill. I’ve been getting really discouraged and you’ve already made me feel better! Oh, my surgeon is also at the Hughston Clinic - small world. Hope you’re continuing to do well.

Thanks for sharing very encouraging video. I'm week 2 of recovery from L5 S1 spinal fusion and I'm doing great. I can relate with the cigars however nothing beats not having nerve pain. Hope you have a successful recovery. From Trinidad &Tobago Bye!!

I'm looking to have this lower back fusion operation in a few months and your videos have been very informative and helpful .....

Thank you for the inspiration. I am on my 2nd lumbar fusion in 6 months and am now 3 weeks post op. I also had a Total Knee Revision 9 weeks ago. I am not giving up and have an incredible wife and older kids and great friends to support along the way. I just turned 55. I am normally healthy and have play 3 sports, ran marathons after college and did crowd cycling but the spinal fusion recovery has been hard to be patient and has limited me in many ways. I have gained 40 lbs and don’t know what to do to get back on track. Any suggestions? Thank you and God bless! Thank you for your service!

I swear listening to you and it's my story. Same pre surgery experience, same surgical fusion, etc. When you talk about the difference in nerve pain and hardware pain....yes, I get it! I remember when I was in recovery, just coming around from anesthesia and my first words were the pain shooting down my leg was gone. For the first time in 4 yrs, gone. There was pain but, I knew it would subside as I healed. Finally light at the end of the tunnel. I too got my life back and the release of built up stress by hearing your story is immeasurable. Someone who gets it! And your beautiful wife gets all my respect for supporting you. Hope all the best for your future endeavors. We both got this!

Hey there Poppa Port. Even though it has been 3 yrs since your surgery. You are the only person via video worth watching. There are 3 to 4 other spinal fusion patients posting video's that are very painful to watch due to their attitude while posting their video's. Ughhhhhh !!! Yours I will watch because you are straight up, no BS. I am in my 7th week post op. Just started outpatient PT, along with Water therapy. Been in those rough weeks of "did I make the right choice on going through with surgery", along with a bit of some self inflicted depression. You are inspiring and honest. Allows me to believe there is a light at the end of all this..... Thank you, take care. Keep those video's of encouragement coming. Donna

Inescapable pain is the worst. Two L5S1 lamanectomies saved my life

I took half an Oxy for three week .

I'm now 8 weeks post L5-S1 TLIF surgery in the UK. I've had a rough time. The physical pain is one thing, the mental pain is something else. You are so right. The feeling of letting your family down. I had expectations of a miracle recovery. I had read and watched others telling a different story but i felt i would be different. I'm lucky that i have been off of meds for 2 weeks now. I'm not pain free, not by a long shot. My advice, for anyone reading, keep walking. It is the one thing that has saved me. When you get up in the morning and feel like your going to snap when you get out of bed and try to stand, go for a walk. It will hurt at first. Your stride will be greatly reduced but the further you walk, the better you will feel. All of a sudden you will change. You will start moving naturally without the hesitation that you will damage yourself. Lastly, dropping the meds will make you feel like shit. You will probably have withdrawls just like an addict. This will lower your mental health. Keep strong. It does pass and it does get better. God bless you Poppa for sharing your experience. jason

I am getting ready to have surgery in just under two weeks. Would love some advice for coming home from the hospital, what to expect when I get home, etc. HELP

Mine is in two weeks...exact same surgery. Thank you for something positive, my friend...I am freaking out. Thanks for your service BTW...Navy brat here,