Low Grade Fever Three Weeks Post ALIF (l5/s1)
Jul 4, 2014
I had surgery exactly three weeks ago. I developed a fever (99.9-101.8) in the hospital two or three days post op. They gave me antibacterial iv and oral meds from the surgery on. As I developed the fever, they gave me antiviral medication to treat a huge and painful fever blister I developed just two days after surgery thinking that this sore was the culprit. The fever had gone down to low grade but now i'm concerned because it does not want to go away. Im taking Norco and the tylenol in it keeps the fever below low grade but when I don't take Norco ( which i take less and less) the fever and chills/ night sweats keep returning. It is generally starting at noon or afternoon, almost always present in the evenings. Usually 99.5-100.5.
Im very worried that it can be some kind of a stubborn infection. I'm three weeks after surgery, i should not have a temp at all. Plus I'm not fever prone, i hardly ever had a fever in my life, flu or any other illness i pull thru with no temps.
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Had this op performed by Mr Reece at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow just over 3 weeks ago. I have 8 screws and two cages in my disc space packed with synthetic bone grafts and injected with bone marrow taken from my vertebrae.
I was up walking the same day, baby steps buy nonetheless, walking. I was in hospital for 4 days (I would have been out earlier if my bowels had moved sooner).
The first 2 weeks were pretty uncomfortable. Very sore to move as the front stomach wound was very swollen and tight. Once this initial period passed things became easier.
I can now get up from lying in bed or on the couch without much pain, it's still there in the background but not all controlling.
I'm walking everyday, not far but doing this a number of times.
I'm taking this recovery very slowly as this is last go at resolving my back pain after having two previous surgeries on the same site (S1-L4).
Only sitting for very brief spells, not driving yet due to wound, plus sitting does bring on the pain. I have had some nerve pain down my left leg, probably every few days or so but it settles after some meds.
I am still on my nerve pain meds as the damage from previous surgeries won't be fixed by the op. Also still on Dihydrocodeine 60mg X 4 daily but I'll try and reduce these over the coming months.
Would I say that it's been successful? Yes! I have greatly reduced back pain which was my dominant pain source.
It is a major decision to have this op but I had been through all conservative methods previously which didn't assist at all.
Hopefully things will continue to improve over the coming weeks and months. I'll report back over this timescale.
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I am 4 weeks post op from ALIF at L5-S1. I've had discectomy done twice (2002 and 2012) The last one didn't help any so we did injections and that offered no relief so it was on to the fusion. So far I haven't reached that point where I'm feeling any relief. My surgeon acted like I should have felt relief immediately. I'm still having lower back, butt, and all the way down my leg into my ankle and foot pain (all of this on the LEFT side) I've read and been told it could be quite a while before I get any relief. I was told I would only be in the hospital for 24 hours and was in there for 4 days. I used a walker for the first week and a half or so. I can now move around without it, I'm just very careful. I mostly lay flat in bed with ice. I do get up quite often to walk around the house and have started sitting up in a chair that my Home PT set up for me when he came to visit immediately after surgery. I also do the exercises my PT gave me.
About 4 days ago, I was laying on my side and I reached back to turn my heating pad on. I guess I wasn't thinking and twisted too much. I felt a sharp pain in my back that shot down my leg. Every since then, I have had the worst pain in my back. (I still had the same amount of pain in my back/butt/leg/foot as I did before this surgery 6/10. This new pain has been added to a new place in my back, and when I move it goes up to about a 8/10) I was giving it a few days before I called my surgeon because I don't want to be one of those people who constantly call the dr with small issues that go away after only a few days. This definitely is showing no signs of letting up) The worst part is, they just moved my meds down from hydrocodone 10-325 every 4 hours to Hydrocodone 7.5-325 every 6-8 hours. (Previously to surgery I had been on percocet 10-325/6 hours since June of last year. My surgeon prescribed that for one week after surgery then refilled me with hydrocodone 10-325/4 hours the last 2 weeks. These really didn't do the job, but at least I was somewhat comfortable so I dealt with it.) Now that they changed me down again, I'm getting no relief. Especially with this new pain. Over the weekend I was taking more than I was suppose to and now I'm worried I won't be able to get a refill when I need it. I've been taking pain meds for a little over 2 years now. I look forward to the day I no longer have to rely on them just to be able to get up out of bed in the morning. That day just doesn't seem to be anytime soon. I feel that at the age of 36, I am too young to be in this kind of physical condition.
When I walk, I am bent over to my right side like a little old lady. I can't stand up straight. And each time I take a step with my left leg, it feels like someone is stabbing me in the lower back on my left side. Hopefully I can get some answers tomorrow when I call. I knew this surgery was going to be a long recovery, and I was prepared for that. This new pain really has me worried and I really hope I haven't done something to mess it up. I just don't feel like this pain is something I should be having
Has anyone else injured themselves while recovering from a fusion like this? If so, what was your results? Did it heal on it's own or what? I know everyone is different, it's just good to not feel quite so all alone thru this. No one understands unless they have been thru it. Especially doctors they seem to think that everything goes exactly like the "book" says it should. That's just not always the case.
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I am 4 weeks post op and have started getting a fever again. I dont have the shivers and I don't feel sick or have the discharge (which I did when I got an infection 2 weeks post op). And I have had 2 heavy periods since I left hospital so can't be menopause.
I had an infection 2 weeks post op but I had all the symptoms then not just one ( although the fever feels the same) I have felt very tired today as well. I'm just deciding if j should go to the GP again and get checked. Wondered if anyone else has had this. I'm thinking it's the Fibroid dying cos I am seeing a reduction in my stomach today that I never expected to see this quick. So maybe it will just pass.
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I am now 5 weeks post op. The tiredness is annoying. Completely wiped out. Also keep getting fever. Booked in with the GP on Monday but don't expect them to do much. Probably just get anti biotics again.In the up side though my tummy is shrinking. And I have yet to get my 3rd period so not all bad. Hope everyone is doing good.
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I feel really down. Terrible sore throat & low grade fever. I am trying hot honey and I tried gargling salt water but it made me sick.
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I recently had outpatient gynecological surgery, following which I had frequent urination, burning, stinging when urinating and side and back pain on the right side. Went back to my doctor, and she diagnosed a UTI and put me on doxy and Cipro. Took them a few days, but the side and back pain persisted, on and off, in waves. I also became debilitated with extreme fatigue and weakness--i went back to the doctor, and couldn't even fill out a simple form in the office, simply couldn't think or have the energy to write. She sent me to the ER, saying she thought I had a kidney stone. They did a CT scan and said I have stone in my kidney, but that normally when it's in the kidney it doesn't cause pain. They couldn't explain my other symptoms (included also sweating, fairly frequent urination, low grade fever, confusion). They gave me 2 rounds of pain meds (& fluids) in the ER and I felt better for a couple hours. The next day I felt so rotten and weak I could barely sit up, i couldn't talk, check email or texts, read, move, shower, etc. over the past 3 days it has gotten slightly better. The pain has virtually subsided since the ER, but the fatigue is debilitating. Two friends described their experiences with kidney stones as similar--has anyone experienced the same? Does anything help?
I have heard water and beer help a kidney stone pass, but is that only once it's descended? I'm not really in pain, so my doctor thinks it may have shifted around in the kidney (she thinks my symptoms are something else). Anyway. I don't know if it would do any good to try to flush it out at this point or just wait and see. I simply can't go on for much longer feeling this extreme weakness and cloudy head, feeling rotten, etc. I continue to have a low grade fever, but my labs came back after the antibiotics clean. I do have similar symptoms when I get bad sinus infections, but that's clearly not the case now. Thanks!
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Surgery was 'success' they were originally planning on putting a bracket on the posterior side but said my bone structure wouldn't allow it or something.
So it was mainly an ALIF but they did go through the back to do some bone grafting, so I have incisions on both sides.
So far so good on recovery, obviously very ginger but have been up and moving since 24 hours after and was in hospital for 2 1/2 days.
Have used painkillers when needed but I plan to take it very easy and not push anything. Doing my regular exercises / walking each day has worn me out pretty good but overall so far so good. ANy questions let me know and I will keep updating this thread over the next couple weeks.
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I am interested in how you have recovered and how your nerve pain is.
i just had an alif L5=S1 on oct 22 and i think things are going ok. I only have slight discomfort around my spine, have slight nerve aches in my left leg but my feet ache like i have been standing all day. My surgeon told me to expect nerve pain for up to 4 months but i cant help worrying when i get pain where i never had it before I don't get pain walking or sitting, only the foot pain when standing and nerve pains when lying down.
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I think I am going insane... I have been suffering from episodes of hot flashes followed by cold chills with 99.1 to 99.7 degrees fever for about 4 years now.. I have had Blood tested for almost everything- Lupus, Thyroid.-Aids, Sed rates.. etc... and nothing comes back... The dr's can not find anything.. This last episode is lasting 31 days and counting.. I am starting to get a lot of anxiety, my body aches and I have headaches that come and go..
I am 45 years old and feel like I am90! I have been in relatively good health.. Is is possible that this is perimeno? I just started hormone replacement therapy and My obgyn has me on a very low dose of progesterone - pills and testosterone..I am hoping this helps.. I am so sad and scared, I don't know what to do.
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I am going to be scheduled for an L5/S1 (ALIF) fusion surgery. While I am in significant amounts of pain, I am nervous about the recovery for this procedure. I would like to think that I have a high tolerance of pain but I am very nervous about this procedure. How long is the typical recovery time and how bad is the post-op pain? I am having a difficult time deciding when to have my surgery because I don't know how long to expect to be incapacitated.
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I am a 40 year old male that has had two back surgeries. First Surgery February 2014 Lumbar Spine Posterior Discectomy Micro-discectomy on L4 & L5. Surgery failed no improvement. My Second surgery March 2015 Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (alif) surgery on L4, L5, & S1 with cage implants and bone grafts harvested from my own hip bone. I experience sciatica on my right leg and most frequent on left leg ;shooting pain down my right/left hip/buttocks, goes down the back of the leg. The last 3 years left foot numbness. My worst pain is in bed getting up is very painful. Before my ALIF surgery I suffered from sciatica foot numbness and pain in mostly my left leg region. After 6 weeks post ALIF surgery or so I started getting pain in my buttock/hip region. This actually started during my physical therapy. At first I was doing water therapy this is when it started. My last day of water therapy I was literally about to go to ER from P.T clinic. From there on it just had gotten worst, no real improvement. I went back for more P.T sessions stretching and other exercises . What Physical Therapist did notice that my hip motion was very limited and not much improved happen during all my sessions about 40 or so. Its being about 10 months after surgery and 4 months of P.T. and pain on hips doesn't go away. I have to be careful going up or down stairs. Getting out of bed or moving around in bed its a battle. I have spoken to my surgeon and he says it will take more time for recovery and possible have to live with this pain as a fact of life. I have also spoke to other doctor s and pretty much same response. Once thing I just found out recently is about Hip Bursitis. I was diagnosed with Arthritis. My surgeon keeps on saying its my Arthritis causing pain but prior to ALIF surgery I never had this buttocks pain , specially getting in and out bed. I was wondering if anyone has had same symptoms after spinal fusion surgery having Hip Pain From Arthritis or Hip Bursitis?
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I had it done and I'm now 9 days post op. I just wondered if anyone knew how long the fever lasts it does come and go and I know everyone is different I just wondered.
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I am 10 weeks post op and I am getting periods every 2 weeks. Not as heavy as before no flooding it's the frequency that bothers me. Pretty bad period pains as well in my lower back today yesterday it was both sides of my bikini line. Everything else is better I can now walk my dog for an hour without coming home and having to sleep. My energy levels are getting better all the time. My tummy is going down as well ( although the period has made me bloated again) also I am having discharge between each period where I have to wear panty liners.
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I am nearly 7 weeks post op UFE. The pain I had for a few days has gone. My leg ache has almost gone as well. My periods are strange but better than pre op. Before UFE my periods were every 3 weeks and lasted 10 days. In that 10 days I had 2 days of flooding and 1 day of pain so bad I couldn't leave the house. Now I have had 3 periods in 6 weeks. The first one was heavy no flooding and no pain and lasted 4 days (2 light days) last one was in 2nd March. Heavy and painful for 3days but the pain wasn't in my tummy it was on my bikini line all 3 days. Day 4 was normal flow then it just stopped.
So if I could just get to 3 or 4 weeks between each one I will be happy. So if that continues then my iron levels will improve. All that is left then is the stomach which is going down gradually.
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I previously posted about my night sweats but now I have a new symptom. Mostly in the morning, my forehead and sometimes my face feels hot but I don't have a fever. In fact my temp. will be a degree below normal. My body will feel a little warm but not as much as my face and forehead. Does this sound like mild hot flashes?
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Don't know what has just come over me. I am nearly 8 weeks post . Operation on second tkr and have managed to stop all my pain meds. I got up put some washing out and because it's a lovely sunny day decided to go shopping and then have a sit out in the sun this afternoon. However something just came over me quite unexpectedly and I started to cry. What is happening?
I feel that only the people on here understand exactly what we have gone through and don't feel that I can talk to my family because they think that I am doing so well and now should be back to normal. I wish people on here lived nearby and we could meet up because some days I feel so lonely. I don't give off this impression but I think it's the shock of the operation and trying to get on with things. Anyway must pull myself together and
put on my coping face. Does anyone else feel like this?
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Im am 6 weeks post. I had my myomectomy on December 18th. I had sex last night (2/10/2015). I started bleeding while having sex but no pain. The blood was bright red/pink. Is this normal? I had sex before 2/10 and I didnt have any problems, no bleeding no pain. Just this one time I start bleeding.
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I'm 6 weeks post TKR, my extension is 0 & flexion is 148°, returning to work this week, can only sleep when I take Lorazepam at bedtime. Unable to sleep on my side yet, pillow doesn't help, having to drink Tonic water to get the cramps and spasms away at night and having to cover my scar with a telfa pad so I can cover up with a sheet. I have worked very hard and cried with every PT session, last professional PT session was 2 weeks ago,I'm doing them on my own now, twice a day.Off all medications including all over the counter meds.... What else should I expect when I return to work this week???? Would love to stop the sleep medication..
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12 wks post op.
Check up by stand in consultant, not so good!!!
As still having probs with stairs, socks and cutting toenails, was put through a few checks, conclusion was, despite walking and exercises, my bum cheek muscle, for some reason , has collapsed!!
( I did ask him if he was insinuating I had a saggy arse?)
Been referred back to original surgeon, with recommendation of intensive physio. That's me off work now till Jan.
Am questioning whether I should have had this op, more importantly, should I go ahead with left hip, which I've been told, will need replacing in the future!
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I am 6 weeks post tkr, I am managing without crutches indoors but still use 1 outdoors.I am walking with quite a pronounced limp, and I am having trouble bending my knee when walking (during excercise my bend is 90) any thoughts anyone ? How long is it likely to take to walk normally ?
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