[whitneyvt]

Recovery from spine surgery - what to expect?

by whitneyvt on Tue Oct 04, 2016 1:46 pm

Hi Everyone,

My father is recovering from a T2 corpectomy and cage procedure that he had in July due to complications of multiple myeloma. The surgery was a last resort but had to be done to prevent total paralysis (he was already losing feeling in his left leg).

Anyways, he is feeling a little discouraged as he spent 7 weeks in physical rehab and is still having difficulty walking. He currently gets around with a walker and a left leg brace. He was still classified as a high fall risk when he left rehab last week. He has made great progress in my eyes, however. When he got to rehab, he could only move with the help of a lift over his bed.

I am wondering, however, how his recovery from this point will be. Can anyone give me perspective based on what they've experienced themselves, what they've read, or what they've observed in others with myeloma who have undergone similar procedures?

My father had to pause chemotherapy because of the surgery and pneumonia he experienced in rehab. He returned to treatment (Revlimid, Velcade, and dexamethasone) this week. He responded quite well to the first cycle before his surgery. I think resuming treatment will improve his outlook as well.

Thank you all!

[Little Monkey]

Re: Recovery from spine surgery - what to expect?

by Little Monkey on Tue Oct 04, 2016 5:34 pm

I hate to be honest, but the loss of feeling in the left leg may never totally resolve itself. I hope it does, but based on the experience with my father, resumption of a pain/numbness-free life after removal of a plasmacytoma pushing against the spinal cord doesn't always fully happen.

My dad's surgery (a bit different then your dad's, as my dad had a laminectomy and vertebroplasty) did ease a good amount of pain, and my dad can walk short distances without his cane, but the surgery did not return him to the good condition he was in two years ago.

[Kate]

Re: Recovery from spine surgery - what to expect?

by Kate on Sun Oct 16, 2016 4:22 pm

Hi whitneyvt,

I was a bit older than your dad when I also had a corpectomy (C6 and C7) in 2012, which affected both of my arms, hands etc. I felt like new after the surgery. It was thought to be a plasmacytoma but turned out to be full blown myeloma - IgG kappa over 7000. I then had radiation on the surgery site as my surgeon said that 'one never can get all of it out'.

Three months after surgery, I finally decided and started on a Revlimid and dexamethasone only treatment (I refused Velcade) and continued it for over a year. I didn't achieve complete remission (CR), but I am medication free for over 26 months, with a low M-spike. I feel very good at this time. While I never was able to gain weight, dexamethasone 'did the trick'.

Wishing the best for your dad.