ALIF SPINE FUSION & TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENTS - Life after major orthopedic surgery

I am 6 months after my last major orthopedic surgery (and hopefully last! lol). I just had a left total hip arthroplasty or replacement recently. I am here to provide any tips or share my experiences with our Bionic Living community.

[@fibromyalgiajourney-denisebowe]

Hey Chris, so glad you're doing great during your recovery!!!

[@bionic_living]

Thanks so much. How are you doing??

[@fibromyalgiajourney-denisebowe]

@@bionic_living Hey Chris, I am doing OK. Still using a cane but small improvements. Thanks for asking 🙂

[@stuomsen5094]

Congrats Kris glad you're doing well. You helped me so much prior to my lumbar fusion back in September. I'm doing great, Cheers

[@bionic_living]

So glad to hear!!! How’s your activity levels at this point in your recovery?

[@stuomsen5094]

lots of resistant band workouts, light weights, dip station, planks, pushups, walking and stairs!@@bionic_living

[@stuomsen5094]

@@bionic_living I need my right hip replaced now, what approach did you have ? Anterior? The left isn't great either and likely will need future replacement. I believe my bad lower back shifted a lot of force to my hips and vice versa. I'm not worried about the hip surgery after going through a 2 level lumbar fusion.

[@christinajamianjohnson5083]

Kris, I’m so happy to see your latest vid! You seem to be doing great now, thank God. You helped me a lot with my spinal fusion recovery. I was able to make my daughter’s wedding in Chicago at only 7.5 weeks post surg. It took a LOT of help from family. I’m now at 11 mos and getting stronger. Ditched the walker a couple months ago, after 7 mos of PT and use a cane. I wouldn’t even need that so much, except I slipped on wet mud on the driveway and bruised up my right side elbow to chest and hip/groin. So, it’s a bit of a setback,but I’ll get there. In fact, traveled to CA immediately after falling and did okay! Anybody traveling in my age range (75) , be sure and request wheelchair service at all airports. SO helpful! Kris, thank you for all your tips and encouragement to us and, stay strong!

[@bionic_living]

LOVE THIS!! how are you doing now??

[@christinajamianjohnson5083]

@@bionic_living Kris, hope you are doing great and making progress! I am at 15 mos . post 3 level lumbar fusion w decompression. Like most people, I have good days and not so great days. But, I keep up the walking 2X/day to avoid pain and stiffness from the surgery and arthritis. When it's not good weather (MI ), I do online KZbin fitness videos. I use a heating pad, as necessary on my back . The one thing that's taking the longest to go away and heal is the leg/feet neuropathy. Very annoying, but happy to be off Gabapentin! When I'm out and about, I bring my cane, but don't need it around the house...except if my large Lab puppy is about to jump on me...haha

[@brandie2964]

Hi there! I'm glad to have found you, albeit late. I'm scheduled to have an ALIF/PLIF with cages and a Laminectomy on 5/14/24. I've purchased all the items you've recommended, among other things, haha. Logistically I'm ready, emotionally I am not. I'm 50 years old and as I sit here, I feel like I have a gazillion questions, but not one is in my brain. 🙄🙂 Oh, do you have any emotional tips? I don't have any living family and none of my friends are local, but I do have a fiancé. Any tips by Chris or anyone else would be appreciated. 💚 Thank you!

[@bionic_living]

Hi back! And good luck to you and the procedure and the recovery. My advice is simple for emotion stress: find a good therapist and then weekly to help process the rollercoaster of post-op recovery. I got a therapist way late in the game only when it was over a year after surgery and I was still in pain. But she sure did give me the tools to manage my anxiety and depression. The style of therapy that worked for me was Behavioral Cognitive Therapy. I hope this helps.

[@brandie2964]

@bionic_living Thank you! I'm glad you're getting relief and the recovery from hip surgery was better this last go around.

[@GentleGiantPSP]

Hey Kris! I stumbled across one of your videos today when I was researching ALIF and got hooked on watching all of your videos and your journey and I truly admire that you have been willing to share your vulnerabilities. It's very helpful that you are so open about your personal ups and downs. Your video from your rooftop in Chicago was heartbreaking when you compared one of your down moments to a sinking ship. But its also inspiring to see your good days and seeing you with Tucker. My journey is at the beginning stages where I have been experiencing horrible episodes of sciatica and right hip pain concurrently and this situation has not improved with all the conservative treatments. I'm 57 now and used to workout like a warrior in the gym since my early 20s. All of my imaging has revealed that I have degenerative disc disease from L1-L4, with severe degeneration at L4-L5, and obliteration at L5-S1 with ugly bone spurs. I also have bulging discs at each level, which includes a herniated discs at L5-S1 that most likely is also compressing the S1 nerve root to the right which could be the cause of the right hip pain as well. I also have calcific tendinitis in my right hip, but per my most recent MRI, it doesnt appear I have any hip fractures or damaged tendons. I will be getting my 4th neurosurgeon opinion on Tuesday and hope he will be the one to help me. Just getting appts to see the neurosurgeons has taken forever which has been very frustrating when I've been in pain. But now that I know I have the collapsed L5-S1, I started researching ALIF and hence stumbled on your amazing channel. I haven't gotten a concrete plan of action to determine how my situation will be addressed but anticipate a microdisectomy for the disc herniation and maybe an ALIF for the L5-S1 collapse. I was curious what led you to discover that a fusion was required at your L5-S1? Do you also have degenerative disc disease, if you dont mind me asking? Did you ever have calcific tendinitis in your hips and if so, how was it treated? Did you get multiple doctor opinions on your situations, and if so, how did you know your surgeon was the best fit? Did you have to be off work a full 3 months after the ALIF, or is it possible to return sooner? Do you know what may have caused the wear and tear on your spine and hips? You look like you've spent alot of time in the gym and look amazing for someone who has gone through so much. Regretfully, I think my weight training since my 20s played a big role in my situation now. I'm 6'7" tall and about 275lbs and used to do heavy deadlifts and squats and now im paying the price. I also had both of my shoulders repaired due to tears and one recently retore so I haven't been able to swim which I used to love as part of my cardio routine. Im also a former runner but gave it up in my 30s due to tendinitis in my Achilles. So now im just a hot mess😂😂😂. By the way, I used to live in Chicago in the late 90s on Pinegrove and Waveland right around the corner from Quadz Gym on Broadway. To make a long story short, which is obviously hard for me to do based on the novel I have created in this post 😂😂, I returned to my home state of CA. I now live in Palm Springs 🌴. I wish I would have crossed paths with you when I lived in Chicago because I definitely would have asked you out on a date. You are too handsome to be going through all of your pain when there are good men out there willing to nurture you and provide you emotional support. If it's ok with you, I would love to stay in touch as I am about to begin a potential surgical journey. Your insight and videos are a great service to everyone, including a single and available guy like myself in CA who just might be willing to book a Chicago weekend😂. Take care Kris and I sincerely wish you peace and happiness. Sincerely, Skip Smith [e-mail] By the way, are you fluent in Spanish? Where in Europe will you be traveling? You should consider a stop in SoCal on your way home. I also love to travel and actually worked for Delta Air Lines when I was living in Chicago and was able to visit some phenomenal destinations.

[@bionic_living]

Hey skip! Thanks for sharing. I wish you well and how are feeling now? my diagnosis to the L5-S1 was easy because I had dropfoot on the right side and my hip doctor knew right away and got an MRI. my l5 was fractured and on top of the S1 completely severing the nerve. After the ALIF the nerve came back to life over 2 years. I hope this helps!

[@bionic_living]

Find my bionic_living account on instagram if you need more support!

[@GentleGiantPSP]

@bionic_living Hey Kris! I'm happy to hear that you had a positive outcome. To make a long story short since I've been known to ramble is that after seeing 5 different neurosurgeons and 2 orthopedic surgeons, it was discovered that the root of all my issues is an inflammatory arthritis called ankylosing spondylitis. So now I'm working with a Rheumatologist who has prescribed a biologic medication administered through an injection pin every 10 days. I have significant pain in the glutes, low back, and right hip that regretfully has gotten in the way of me being able to do the physical activities I like such as heavy weight training and hiking. But I'm doing my best to hang in there. I closed my Instagram account due to exhaustion so I'm no longer on there, but I wish you the best. Take care, Skip

[@verm404]

I was born with a condition called Morquio IVB, and so I always knew I would have to have hip replacement of both hips one day. Finally decided to pull the trigger at 27, and am 7 weeks out from my left hip replacement. Lemme tell you, this recovery has been slow, painful, miserable in some ways, mainly the fact that my right hip is weak, so I'm trying to heal one hip with an already messed up other hip, and I'm just now starting to see some real progress. I'm still using a walker, but hopefully in a month or two, I'll be able to move onto a cane, or no assistance, or whatever. But, orthopedic surgery is no joke. The main thing I've learned is that this takes time, and that everyone heals at their own rate.

[@bionic_living]

Thanks for sharing your story. It’s nice to know we are not alone with our experiences. I wish you the best on your journey please keep me posted on any milestones on your recovery. ❤️‍🩹 or reach out if you need any moral support. Stay strong 💪🏼

[@natelynch7393]

Great to hear you’re doing so well! Do you mind if I ask who your back surgeon was?

[@bionic_living]

Alpesh Patel. Northwestern memorial hospital in Chicago, IL, USA. Are you suffering from back pain or radiculopathy?

[@desgoulding7154]

Hi, you are excellent. I am in need of 4/5 S1 Fussion after bad fall. Now at 72 waiting for operation I had back operation some 50 years ago but now cant walk far over this cant sleep due to buttock and groin pain out of this world. Best wishes on your recovery just concern about age.

[@bionic_living]

Thanks for sharing. How are you doing now?

[@kaeschpi]

Thanks for the update - glad to hear you're doing so well! I'm a little over 4 months out after my L5S1 fusion and while the nerve pain has decreased somewhat, I still get quite a bit if I stand, sit, or walk too long. My nerve root was suffering quite a bit, and I had 3 prior discectomies at the L5S1 level before going for fusion. I was wondering whether your nerve pain in the leg decreased steadily over time or if there was a point when it suddenly dropped in intensity.

[@bionic_living]

My nerve pain was all over the place with never any rhyme nor reason. But two years after surgery, I finally noticed: IT WAS GONE! Or I just didn’t notice it as much. Good luck! Hopefully that nerve calms down sooner than later.

[@BiddyLamb]

So glad you’re feeling so much better! How’s the back pain?

[@bionic_living]

Back pain: gone! Nerve leg pain: gone! I feel like a have been given a second chance at life. So grateful and blessed. How are you doing?

[@BiddyLamb]

Better I guess, still sore every morning and have to take a tramadol, but no limitations! I get when you say I’m done! Two weeks ago I had a procedure done on my left shoulder, platelet injections for a small tendon tear and tendinitis! I’ve been told there has been great success with this procedure however, if after 3 months no success, we are looking at surgery! In 2020 I had a 70% labrum tear in the right shoulder and had to have surgery! Down for 3 1/2 months! I cut hair so I couldn’t work! Sure hope my back soreness goes away and that this procedure works! 🤞🤞🤞

[@bionic_living]

Wow. So you have been through alot too. Hope you find some resolve and peace soon. Thanks so much for always sharing and supporting friend.

[@orff1234]

I have my combined ALIF/PLIF spinal fusion happening in a few days! I’m so nervous!

[@bionic_living]

You got this! How is recovery??

[@rachelphelps6347]

Oh my goodness. I am 69 and I have spinal stenosis. I knew I had it and I've had it for years. It has gotten worse. My last job was driving and I had no problem driving and sitting, so that was fine. Sitting is no problem at all. Both feet stay numb/partly numb all the time. I cannot stand in one spot for more than a few minutes and then my back hurts so bad. I can not walk very far at all. I had an MRI done and to me it sounds pretty bad (L4 and L5, the most severe), but I see the neurosurgeon next week for the first time, so I am anxious about what he says it will take to fix it. I had a right knee replaced in 2021, and the left one needs it badly, since it is bone on bone and hurts. I fell back in October and broke a bone in my foot and had surgery on that and had a cast for a month. That healed fine and I had some PT after the cast came off. I had sudden pain back in January and was in the hospital for a week with a partial bowel obstruction, which thankfully finally started working on its own. Now with this, it is scary to hear how much you can't do after the surgery. You are young for having so much!! I have been watching a few videos to see what happens after the surgery. Yeah....a bit frightening I must say, especially when you are on your own! Thanks for sharing!

[@bionic_living]

You got this? How are you doing now?? We are truly bionic aren’t we? lol

[@tobywolter3584]

Hi Chris, how long after your last hip surgery before you were able to drive? thx!

[@bionic_living]

3 weeks! Did you recently have a hip replacement?

[@SandraRobins-p8u]

Did you use crutches to aid walking at all? 10:06

[@bionic_living]

I did not. They gave me a cane day of surgery but never used. How are you doing?

[@SandraRobins-p8u]

I'm 9 weeks into my recovery and still have soreness, not quite pain, across my lower back, I'm frightened to walk any distance without my aid. I know I'm probably being silly but I'm seeing my surgeon next week and hopefully he'll give me a bit more confidence and explain what's going on, (or he'll give me a kick in the butt for being such a wus) . Thank you for replying to my query.

[@hmp2085]

How old are you? Are you pain free with your spinal fusion?

[@suzanaharmicar8644]

Did spinal surgery or previus herniated disk leave you with any pain, numbness or discomfort in legs or feet caused by permanent nerves damage? I had MD surgery and have still those issues but still hoping to avoid fusion.

[@bionic_living]

It did not. I had nerve damage before the surgery and it took about two years for the majority of the nerve pain to go away. I possibly could still have nerve damage and pain BUT in comparison to before the surgery it must be way better because it’s either gone or I just don’t notice ir anymore. How are doing now?

[@suzanaharmicar8644]

@@bionic_living Neurologist gave me some pills clonazepam. So nerve pain is reduced or hidden by it. Neurosurgeon suggested ALIF to me but am still avoiding it as I fell much better due to these pills. It turned out that MD surgery was wrong type of surgery they did on me cause my herniated disk is caused by spondylolisthesis 1st grade.

[@bigkahona8444]

😮😮😮😮 oh my god

[@bionic_living]

Why the shock? lol. How are you??