Dynesys stabilization

fireyangel76 · #1 (**permalink**) 05-01-2007, 04:55 AM

I am new here so I hope I do this right! I had a dynesys soft fusion (no bone graft) done the end of Feb. I am trying to find anyone who has had this done successfully. It seems this is fairly new in the US and I am not finding too much information on the post op period. I am having a great deal of pain in my back and some leg pain, although my leg pain has improved some. I just want to know if this is normal for this procedure. My surgeon is wonderful but as surgeons go, he only wants the positive information and gets a little defensive about the negative. I used to work with him and I don't know how to tell him that so far I am worse than pre-op. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Poncho · #2 (**permalink**) 05-01-2007, 06:53 AM

Dear Fireyangel,

Welcome to the forum. I have seen an occasional patient here and there on the spiney support forums at various stages of recovery and varying degrees of success at those points in time. I wish I could tell you more, but I don't have the information in front of me.

Mark will probably come by soon. He has a lot of insights to offer with the new spine technology. He may be able to connect you with someone on here that has been through the same procedure.

Has your back pain and activity levels improved from pre-surgical levels? (other than the leg pain?)

fireyangel76 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-01-2007, 06:54 PM

Thanks for the reply Poncho....I don't feel so alone here. My back pain and activity levels are worse post surgery. I am hoping this is just a phase that I have to go through. I will say that my pain is nil if I lay in bed but as soon as I try to be upright for 30 min or so, I get pain in my back and the tuning fork feeling in both feet. I am so tired of this bed! I wish I would have found this sight pre-op. I may have opted for the ADR that was offered.

Maria · #4 (**permalink**) 05-01-2007, 07:05 PM

Betsy,
Welcome to the forum..
I don't know anything that could be helpful to you except to say you're still early in terms of your post op course. Sometimes things turn around/change at some point so just hang in there and hopefully Mark will come along and reply to this post as he probably is the most informed person here to address this other than someone that had the procedure.
take care and hang in there, stay w/us ~ Maria

experimentalflyer · #5 (**permalink**) 05-25-2007, 06:34 PM

Can you explain the term (soft fusion) when they use the dynesis device for lumber stablization. I have facet issues at L5S1 and i have a Charite disc at L5S1 as well. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

fireyangel76 · #6 (**permalink**) 05-26-2007, 01:35 AM

A soft fusion uses a system of screws, rods, and flexible bands. It stabilizes the spine but still allows motion at that levels. It also acts as a spacer and thus takes pressure off the nerve roots. It does not use a bone graft. It is supposed to avoid the complication of stressing the other levels of the spine when a bone fusion is done. Check out the zimmer spine site. They have a lot of information there on the dynesys systrem.