Back fusion

Has anyone had one? I had a microdisectomy of L4/L5 in 2010 and so far I've been ok. But lately the arthristis in my back has gotten so bad. I went to the doctor today and he said L5/S1 is practically gone and I'm bone on bone. Hes ok with putting off the surgery until I can't take the pain anymore. So any advise? Experience?

Re: Back fusion

i had 2 microdisectomies on l5/s1 in 2010. my disc is herniated again, and i've been getting opinions on my next steps.

first, did he dertermine this from an x-ray or an MRI? also, my current surgeon said that bone on bone is a 50/50 chance of pain, for some it happens, but not all.

if its the bone on bone causing the pain, i'd consider the fusion, if its the arthritis, no i wouldn't.

i think you need to find out what exactly is causing the pain.

you don't want a fusion unless you absolutely have no choice. their success rates are not nearly as high as you would like them to be to go through that kind of surgery. you'd be looking at 5 days in the hospital and 6 months to a year recovery time. plus if you have any issues with the disc above or below the fusion, the extra pressure put on those discs because of the fusion, can be enough to cause them to herniate/bulge. then you're putting yourself right back to the same position of needing another fusion. i

there are tests they can do to try to pinpoint the source of pain. i'd be looking into those before i said yes to a fusion. plus, if you wait, there is also the change the bones will fuse on their own.

oh, and i just had a 2 level fusion done in my neck for 2 other discs that were causing nothing but problems for over a year.

feel free to pm me if you'd like.

Re: Back fusion

Re: Back fusion

that stinks. i can tell you i've been on close to everything there is for pain with my back at this point. i'm a walking phamacy. i've done mobic. its an anti-inflamatory. gives me stomach problems. i've also done celbrex, same issues. the only one i've been ok with is naprosyn. its actually just a stronger version of alleve. the OTC is 220mg, but you can get 375 or 500mg as well. that was the only one that helped without major side effects with my stomach.

did you doc say if you do the fusion, it will alleviate the low back pain? because honestly, if its not going to correct that, i wouldn't even consider it. its one of the reasons i am still sitting on the fence about another lumbar surgery.

workers comp is nuts. of course you could be in my shoes, no specific cause for the herniated discs. so no workers comp, no accident to blame. and insurance who just can't accept they have to pay for the doc visits and stuff because they want to go after someone else for it. i spent a year filling out paperwork for insurance saying my problems were not from a specific accident.

Re: Back fusion

Re: Back fusion

yes. had t5-L3 fused when I was 18 for scoliosis. had discectomy on L5/S1 in 2002, and spinal fusion on L5/S1 Dec 2010 because, like you, it had completely eroded, I was bone on bone, and in terrible pain. I feel GREAT now. For the first time in a very very very long time, my back feels great! I feel normal and it is such a huge relief.

feel free to FM me any detailed questions, about the surgery itself, my symptoms, recovery--whatever. you might also want to do a search for my name and "fusion", because I think I've posted some details before.

feel better!

Re: Back fusion

Re: Back fusion

I had a spinal fusion in 2001 for scoliosis. I was 17 at the time and recovery was hard for me. I was out of the hospital in 4 days, but once I got home it was very difficult. From what I understand, the older and heavier you are, the harder the recovery is. Seventeen is very young, but I am overweight so that didn’t help.

In 2008 my back went out and I was unable to walk. Turns out the very small part of my lower spine that is not fused has damage. There is no disc, the vertebrae slipped forward and was fractured. I saw two surgeons and both told me I could either have the rest of my spine fused to my pelvis or live with the pain. I chose to live with the pain. Physical therapy helped me a lot. Now, I do get bad back pain, but I manage to get through it. I’m terrified of having that surgery again and having to go through the recovery process.

Good luck with your decision. It's a hard one to make, especially since you have a young child to care for.

Re: Back fusion

My husband had a L5/S1 spinal fusion back in 2001. He had a terrible experience in the OR but that was because he was so heavy (~300lbs) and the operating table COLLAPSED in the middle of the surgery! He was out for almost 12 hours as a result. Obviously this IS NOT going to happen to you but I know that his recollection of the surgery is not good as a result (plus he has vivid memories of the nurse removing his . His recovery was pretty typical and he did not go for physical therapy.

Please feel free to FM me if you have any specific questions...I'm not sure what kind of info that you are looking for but I am more than happy to help.

Re: Back fusion

thanks everyone! i'm basically trying to see if it's worth it. deal with the surgery and recovery now or live with back pain. i'm in the process of losing weight. i lost 20lbs so far and hoping to lose another 40lbs. i told my dr that i want to at least hold off the surgery until i finish losing weight. at least for the fact that the less i weigh will help in my recovery.

i'm a single mom now but i live with my parents. my whole family are teachers so im thinking of doing this in july when theyre all off of school so i have the extra help with me and my son.

i dont plan on going for a 2nd opinion. i trust my dr. 100% and really would not let anyone else operate on me. so im not questioning his ability. i just want to hear some good stories of people who were in so much pain and now they're standing up from the couch pain free and can actually stand up straight. lol

Re: Back fusion

I have neck and low back injuries. I just had a surgical consultation for my low back and the doctor said that a 2 level fusion is the only surgery they could really offer to help. I am going to do all I can to avoid it. As someone mentioned above, the success rate is not wonderful and many people find themselves with issues at other levels because those levels have to take more of the workload of the vertebrae that are now fused. I'm a disability lawyer and I have countless clients who have had multiple back surgeries and are still disabled in spite of the surgeries. Sometimes there is relief that lasts a few years but there are so often subsequent surgeries. I don't want to eventually have my whole spine fused and I have seen people who were fused almost from top to bottom because of the wear and tear that occurred after the initial fusion. The fact that I need it at 2 levels from the start makes the matter worse. I did not have success with Epidural Steroid Injections but I am going to be trying other pain management. If the surgeon felt that any other method, aside from fusion would work, I would be a lot more willing. That's just my opinion. I see the cases that do not turn out good, not the successful ones where people are fine afterwards, but I see so many cases.

Message edited 2/25/2012 6:28:38 PM.