Is it possible to work as a Registered Nurse after a spinal fusion?

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I need a spinal fusion for double major scoliosis!! Going to be quite a long fusion. I am very healthy in all other areas and heal quite rapidly.

One other question for the fused people out there, do you feel all stiff with the metal implants in your spine? Is it obvious that you have the implants in, like sitting up really rigid?

Thanks to all who answer :)
Hello there,

i have had a 5 hour surgery to my spine,had it fused from top to bottom and have rods,i too had severe double curves and was like a z shape,

and yes i feel stiff after it, and cant bend lift or twist at the waist at all now, but i was told i can have the implants removed but they also told me i would still be very stiff as fusing is what causes the stiffness so i refused,

as i thought it pointless to go through more surgery only to be the same afterwards,

and my implants can be seen through the skin at the top like a bump a bit like a marble under the skin really,but i don't sit rigid i can stoop a bit and i mean a bit too!

i am unsure if you can be a nurse after but when i was in hospital one of the ambulance drivers who took me home told me he had been through the fusion surgery as well, and i was surprised at this as he was lifting stretchers and stuff,

and i was warned at the hospital not to bend and be too rough but of course i felt so well i didn't take the advice big mistake! as my implant came away from the spine and ripped through the skin,

at hospital they put it back inside me and attached it back to the bone while i was fully awake with no painkillers at all as they said it was to urgent to wait for painkillers to work,and it really hurt!

so you must be care full afterwards.  (+ info)

If I had Spinal Meningitis Haemophilus Influenzae type B when I was an infant do I have anythin to worry about?

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When I was around 18 months I had Spinal Meningitiss Haemophilus influenzae type B. They told my mother that I could possibly suffer from hearing and/or vision loss from the antibiotics used in during my treatment. I am now 22 years old and have not encountered any problems regarding this matter. The spinal meningitis I had was in fact bacterial. I was more just wondering if and when these hearing and/or vision loss could take place, if ever.
Meningitis causes brain damage and with that come loss of hearing and loss of sight which are actually quite minor side effects from meningitis when you consider all the other problems that people have once they have over come the disease.
If you were going to lose your hearing or sight it happens in hospital while you are being treated and not years down the track so to answer your question you are never going to be deaf or blind unless you end up with another illness that could cause these things.

Im am very happy you survived un like so many thousand of other people who don't and if they do there left with very serious illnesses including blindness, deafness, seizures, autism, cerebral palsy, loss of limbs, loss of Speech, inability to walk and in some cases even move.
The list goes on and on.
You should be very happy and proud of yourself that you are okay and thank you mum everyday because it was her the noticed the symptoms and got you the treatment that saved your life.  (+ info)

What are the nerves in the spinal cord, and what do they do everyday?

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I want to know the nerve in the spinal cord does, what its calles, what they do everyday, as in, what their job is...
The spinal cord as it leaves the brain controls everything the body does-especially the autonomic systems. You don't have to think to make your heart beat, your brain does that all by itself via these nerves as well as other things like breathing when you are asleep.
Remember the late Christopher Reeve. His central nervous system was interrupted just below the brain. He had to have a machine to breathe for him and a pacemaker to keep his heart beating.  (+ info)

How do I go about donating spinal fluid?

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As crazy as it sounds Im very much interested in donating my spinal fluid much like one would donate blood (just obviously not on a regular basis). I would want to do it as a donor for a patient not for research. How do I go about doing this? Who do I contact?

Any help is much appreciated. Thanks!!
Very carefully.  (+ info)

What are the risks of having spinal steriod injections?

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I have lumbar disc disease- what are the pros and cons of spinal injections?
The injections are usually depot preparations of steroids. It is wrong to say that they are spinal injections because they do not go into the spinal cavity.
They generally exert a local effect , and can be said to be generally harmless unless used for a continuous long period exceeding two months.

Please see the following site. The possible side effects in your case is the same as described below
http://www.arc.org.uk/arthinfo/patpubs/6250/6250.asp  (+ info)

What does it mean to have Protein in your Spinal Fluid?

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My aunt has been having headaches and things, and she went to the hospital today, and she had a Spinal Tap done today, and the results showed that she had Protein in her Spinal Fluid. Does anybody happen to know what this could possibly mean? Any answers would be great. Thanks!
Well, it is normal to have protein in the spinal fluid. However, a high or low level can help a physician with a diagnosis. High levels can indicate infection/inflammation, neoplasm(tumor) or perhaps a bleeding condition such as an injury. Low levels can be indicative of a high rate of spinal fluid production. A protein analysis is just one of many tests, so without any more information I cannot offer much help. Although, the most common condition is infection or perhaps nothing to worry about at all. Best of luck to your aunt.  (+ info)

Is there another way to find out you have meningitis besides a spinal tap?

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What are the most sirius side affects from meningitis? How do you find out you have meningitis besides a spinal tap?
The most serious effect from meningitis is of course, death.

However, there a quite a few other serious effects, such as hearing loss, vision loss, brain damage, loss of limb(s), personality change, memory loss, attention difficulty, learning disabilities, etc.

Meningitis is a serious illness. It's not something to "wait and see" how you feel tomorrow. If you think you may have meningitis you need to see the doctor immediately or go to the hospital.

There are two types of meningitis...viral and bacterial. Bacterial is the more serious one and can kill a person in a matter of hours, but it is also less common. Viral meningitis is much more common, but it is rarely fatal.

Bacterial meningitis is treated with powerful IV antibiotics. Viral meningitis is fought off by your immune system. Most people with viral meninigitis recuperate at home, but some need medical support if they get hit hard with it.

But to know if it is meningitis for sure and to found out which it is, you need a spinal tap. If you go to the hospital, if they suspect meningitis, they will usually start you on IV antibiotics right away. They do this because if it is bacterial, you could be dead by the time they find out which it is. They generally do blood tests first to check for bacteria, then a CT scan for brain pressure, and then a spinal tap to find out for sure whether it's viral or bacterial, and if it's bacteria...which bacteria it is that's responsible so they can give you more specialized antibiotics.

After those are done, then they send the spinal fluid out to the lab to be cultured...meaning to see if they can grow any bacteria out of it. This takes 48 hours. If they can't grow anything, then they know it was viral. But usually, the preliminary work on the spinal fluid is correct...meaning if they don't find anything in the fluid at first, it's unlikely to grow anything later. But they have to be sure before they stop the antibiotics.

Spinal taps are not the horror stories you've heard. Like root canals, they have a scary sound because of the stories you've heard, but they're not that bad. It's basically an IV, but in your back instead of your arm. Like an epidural for childbirth.

My 6-year old had one and barely even cried. She had it done when she had meningitis. Luckily, it was viral, but she got hit hard and was hospitalized for several days. She's good now, but she did have a minor personality change from it, and she still gets headaches from time to time. But the spinal tap was a piece of cake for her. She barely cried.  (+ info)

How do i build a homemade spinal cord?

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I have to build a spinal cord for my biology class out of household items. It just has to be the cord and the nerves though not the vertebrae. Please help
you can use a wire hanger and "paper mache" to do it.. or you can make it out of jello or cake.. that way is original and you can eat it after the presentation :) good luck!  (+ info)

What is the difference between an epidural and a spinal?

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i know that the spinal acts quicker... (right???)
i had an emergency c-section after a 30 hour labour with my son (had the epidural while in labour) and i am 25 weeks pregnant and have to have another c-section however i was told that they will give me a spinal which is like an epidural

what are the differences and what are the different side effects?

thanks in advance for your answers!
1. A spinal block (also called a spinal) involves an injection in the lower back that numbs the lower body. With a spinal, the medication is given only once. It begins to relieve pain almost immediately, but pain relief lasts only 1-2 hours. A spinal is most commonly used when pain relief is needed for a limited period of time, such as for a cesarean delivery or a vaginal delivery in which the doctor uses instruments to help the baby out. Side effects are similar to an epidural.

2. An epidural is an injection given near the nerves in the lower back to numbs your lower body. It blocks pain from contractions, while allowing you to be awake and alert. You should begin to feel pain relief within 5-15 minutes, though you still may feel some pressure during contractions. You probably won't be able to walk around once the epidural takes effect, but you should be able to push during delivery.  (+ info)

what are the chances of somebody surviving spinal surgery?

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My friend said that his mom might have to have spinal surgery. He's real beat up about it. what are the odds that his mom will survive?
I WENT THROUGH IT AT 13 years old. (13 years ago) but i had fluid in my spine that couldnt be removed by needle they had to open it up and i survived major major major pain but i survived  (+ info)

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