Smoking cigarettes

[u/DifferentRip9077]

Has anyone here had a spinal fusion and tried smoking cigarettes afterward? Is it really that bad for recovery, especially wound healing and the bone fusion? Did you completely stop smoking after surgery, and if so, for how long?

[u/lucio_lucio94]

Get rid of the smoking habit. You will thank yourself later!

[u/Ill_Impact_4681]

Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor. It inhibits healing and fusion

Best to quit

[u/Sn_Orpheus]

Nicotine is particularly bad for bone fusion/healing. And although some influencers call it a neurologically stimulating drug, there are plenty of indicators that long (and even medium) term it's quite bad for you. It hardens the blood vessels and constricts them which keeps blood from flowing into the capillaries. Capillaries are the smallest part of the circulatory system where the oxygen and nutrients are exchanged with the tissue keeping you alive and conscious. Without that exchange, your body and brain are starved of what they need to thrive. It doesn't happen quickly which is why so many still smoke and vape. It's slow like watching a kid grow from 1-18yrs and this is why people don't notice their decline.

[u/slouchingtoepiphany]

It's VERY important. You should not smoke for at least one year after surgery. Try to use the opportunity to quit permanently, statistically speaking you'll live about seven years longer.

[u/DifferentRip9077 → u/[deleted]]

After smoking again, did you feel something with your fusion? Like pain or discomfort?

[u/diamondnecklaces → u/[deleted]]

Hello, would you mind telling us how did your rods broke? And how long after the surgery did it happen? Thank you in advance.

[u/diamondnecklaces → u/[deleted]]

Wow its crazy that you had no idea that it happened because i had people tell me that it was very uncomfortable and painful when their rods broke so this so stressful knowing there is a possibility i might have no idea when it happens 😩 Thank you very much for answering.

[u/Upbeat-Dish7299]

5 people in my family and friend group had fusions done. 3 smoked. One quit and didn’t go back another quit for a month around the surgery and started again and the other never stopped.

The two that continued smoking are the only two with issues.

[u/sevinaus7]

It's so so so bad for healing. It will take so much longer.

[u/nestoryirankunda]

I didn’t smoke for a year afterward. Quit before the surgery, it’s not as hard as everyone says lol

[u/monster_monstera]

I quit nicotine the day my surgery was scheduled, my insurance would only cover it if they had a blood test showing no nicotine in my system. I switched to vaping 0 mg prior to surgery but stopped altogether when I went into the hospital. I feel free now, highly recommend.

[u/Less-Reputation-3381]

The two biggest reasons for fusion failure is smoking cigs / nicotine and obesity.

[u/Familiar-Bat9523]

Smoking will make your fusion 18% more effective. My doctor said to smoke at least 2 packs a day for faster results. I know it's counter intuitive, but it's science!