If you've ever had back surgery, please come in

Hi all,

Welp--where do I begin?

I'm 28 years old, and 21 weeks pregnant. I've had low back problems for YEARS, and I ruptured my L5 disc for the first time last summer.

It seems I've done it again, and this time the pain is coming in the form of SEVERE sciatica that prevents me from sleeping more than 2 hours at a time. I can usually go "numb" enough to sleep longer, but when I finally get out of bed...the pain is THROUGH THE ROOF.

My orthopedist suggested having some sort of procedure before I even think about getting pregnant again (I'm still wondering how I'm going to get through THIS pregnancy). I've spoken to a few girls who have had something done (either a microdiscectomy or a spinal fusion), but I'm trying to get as much feedback as I can.

The idea of having someone operate so close to my spine is terrifying to me. I'm also scared by the fact that the success rate seems low, and the rate of return of the pain seems to be up there.

If you could share your experience with me, I would be forever grateful. Thanks.

Re: If you've ever had back surgery, please come in

i had a scolosis operation when i was 13. i mean technology has signficantly changed since then. recovery was long. i had a rod put in my back.

Re: If you've ever had back surgery, please come in

Re: If you've ever had back surgery, please come in

i have a compression fracture of my T9 and T10 and ruptured a disc as well...lucky for me the bones healed well enough that I didn't need surgery...but i was in PT for over a year and am still in pain...and yes, the pregnancy weight has made it even more uncomfortable.
But i can def empathize with you about being fearful of surgery...

My brother's ex gf has scolosis surgery a few years ago...she recovered well from it and said she was so happy witht he results of the surgery. I know she had rods put in her spine.

have you gone and seen a spinal surgeon yet? Perhaps they could help shed some light on procedures etc?

Re: If you've ever had back surgery, please come in

I had a spinal fusion just over 5 years ago to correct my scoliosis. The fusion runs almost the entire length of my back. As you get older the recovery is harder. The more weight you have on you, the harder the recovery. Sometimes back pain isn't worth the surgery because there can be more complications after. I was 17, pretty heavy, and my recovery was 4-6 months. My sister was 13 and very thin, and her recovery was 2-3 weeks.

I am now having problems with the small part of my back that is not fused (lower). I couldn't walk for 2 months on my own. I had the sciatica for months and it was killer! Turns out I have Spondylolisthesis now. My spine is deteriorated, fractured, curved and slipping forward. I saw 2 surgeons who both said the same exact thing - fuse the rest of my spine to my pelvis. BUT they both also said it's a quality of life issue. If I can deal with the pain and inconvenience it causes sometimes, I can decide not to have the surgery. Which is exactly what I've done. I know I will have a hard time when I'm pregnant, but having the surgery again is just not worth it to me.

If I were you, I would get a few different opinions. My surgeon is in NYC. He operated on Gloria Estefan when they said she wouldn't walk again after her car accident. He also worked with Chris Reeves. He's an amazing doctor. My family thinks of him as a God - just an amazing doctor and an amazing person. He didn't take my Dad's insurance at the time. Mine and my sister's surgeries were $250k each and he just took whatever the insurance company would give my Dad. It was nothing near what he was owed, but his concern was us. Five years later, he remembered every single thing about mine and my sisters cases, and our personal lives, without even looking in my record (because he didn't have it - it was in storage so I know he didn't read it over). I also saw a surgeon out here on LI that was trained by my other surgeon. If you'd like their info, feel free to FM me. And FM me if you have any questions.

Back surgery is such a big decision. It can be the best thing, or it can be the worst thing. You just have to decide if it's worth it. If I had to do it again, I would definitely have the first surgery I had. I'm scared to get pregnant because I know how much pain I'm in now, and how much worse it will be with all the extra weight. But I'm still unsure of having the 2nd surgery. I don't think I'm being much help to you at all here lol.

I also know of some chat boards for people who have had back surgeries so that may be a good source for you as well.

Re: If you've ever had back surgery, please come in

I myself have not had back surgery but my sister has had 4 now. The first one was the day after she gave birth to her DD and the others followed. She is trying to avoid the fusion as much as possible. the fusion is very serious and like the above poster, the recovery time varies and its a long road. My boss had the fusion was in EXCELLENT shape and for him it took 6 months and was long and hard. there are other ways to alleviate the problems depending on what it is. My sister uses Dr Marmelstein on LArkfield Road inEast Northport. Across fom sears. She thinks he is great. my boss went to a Dr in NYC and he got an infection they had to go back in one of the screws fell out of place. What I am tryingto say is that not every Dr in NYC is great. There are great Drs all over the place you just have to go with word of mouth.

Re: If you've ever had back surgery, please come in

I had a microdiscectomy almost two years ago. It was to correct a herniated disc at L4/L5. I could barely walk before the surgery, and as a teacher that presented quite a problem. I would do the surgery in a heartbeat again- recovery was so much less painful than how I felt in the months leading up to it. I was literally up and walking around the hospital the day I had it.

I have known people who had the surgery and the pain didn't end- from what I read, the faster you do it, the better your chances of recovery. When you let it go for a long time, you end up having nerve damage that is hard to reverse.

I started off with a nuerologist, who gave me a few rounds of steroids- they helped, but as soon as they were finished the pain came back. I was referred to a nuerosurgeon and he operated within weeks.

We are currently TTC, and your situation is my worst nightmare- I am so afraid that this pain will come back. I can't even imagine how you are dealing with this carrying extra weight all day in the front. It must be unbearable.

My best advice is to move on it quickly, don't wait anymore than you have to. When it is this severe, it's not going to get better on it's own. Don't worry about the surgery, it's a tiny incision and they are so technologically advanced these days that it is really low risk.

Hope this helps.

Re: If you've ever had back surgery, please come in

I also had a spinal fusion for my scoliosis but I was 13 yrs old. I have 2 titanium rods in my back from right below my neck to right above my butt.

I was out of school for months. My recovery was ok. But because I was under anesthesia so long most of my memory from before the surgery is lost.

I still have back pain but nothing compaired to what I went through. It is tolerable.

Re: If you've ever had back surgery, please come in

Posted by 5ofClubs

I also had a spinal fusion for my scoliosis but I was 13 yrs old. I have 2 titanium rods in my back from right below my neck to right above my butt.

I was out of school for months. My recovery was ok. But because I was under anesthesia so long most of my memory from before the surgery is lost.

I still have back pain but nothing compaired to what I went through. It is tolerable.

Re: If you've ever had back surgery, please come in

I had a spinal fusion between my L-4 and L-5 a year and 1/2 ago. I had severe Sciatica caused by the rupture collapsing on my nerve. I took awhile before I seriously thought about surgery.

It was the best decision I ever made.

It was a long recovery but I am vertually pain free now! I can do things I haven't been able to do in years.

I wish you the best .

Re: If you've ever had back surgery, please come in

Thanks to all of you for responding. As one of the posts said, my biggest concern is nerve damage. With the amount of pain that I'm in in the mornings, there's no way I'm NOT doing any damage to my nerve. The pain is literally off the charts for the 1st hour that I'm awake. I know that can't be good.

I'm definitely going to get more aggressive on this as soon as the baby is born. I know my options are very limited right now, but I really need to do SOMETHING. I have a feeling, 2 steroid packs and 1,000,000 stretches later, that this is not going to get better on its own.

Thanks again to everyone for all of your help.

Re: If you've ever had back surgery, please come in

You know my story. But I will say that the spinal fusion was the beginning of a new life for me. My second surgeon was in NYC, the first was on LI. I urge anyone to go to NYC, even for a consultation. Like Jennifer's surgeon, mine took what the insurance paid and wrote off thousands and thousands of dollars. He is my angel and I still keep in touch with him. As far as pain, I was left with alot of nerve damage, so that is the main source of my pain. My back pain is rare.

I know it sounds scary but you know I will help you in any way I can.

Re: If you've ever had back surgery, please come in

Jake had spinal fusion on his neck in December

after 6 months- he is perfectly healed- he can move his neck in every direction and it no longer in any pain

he does have some occassion nerve pain - but that is just his nerves healing

best thing he ever did- so mad it took us 4 years to get his doctor to do it

Re: If you've ever had back surgery, please come in

as for the nerve damage- the longer the nerve is compressed- the longer it's going to take for it to heal

they told Jake about 2 years till he has no more nerve pain- which is half the time of his injury