Feedback For Lower Back Lumbar Spine Surgery

  • Thread starter Thread starter JCW247
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Thank you Emily and Mel52 for your kind feedback.

Anybody else on board, please chime in. Information
that us merabers get onboard here helps everyone with
the same or similar symptoms that I'm dealing with. I'll
keep everyone posted when I make a final decision about
the surgery and who will perform it. HAVE A GREAT PAINLESS
HAPPY DAY. Leticia:angel:
 
The distressing and sad part is that it seems from reading lots of posts..that the Dr.s doing your operations are not telling you that surgery is most often done to relieve any nerve pressure or impingement and not primarily done to alleviate all pain.

Pain reduction for most fusions is only 50%...but with fusions...there is ALWAYS more pressure put on the upper and lower discs from the fusion...there is always scar tissue...

I have had 3 Cervical fusions but only as the last resort to keep from having any type or major permanent nerve damage...always with a total herniation...there is always some residual inflammation to nerves...but after the disc is removed...this takes away the pressure on the spinal cord...I would never have surgery with just bulging discs or DDD...and a surgeon who suggests this, to me...is just too anxious to cut and I would go elsewhere..there are way too many other modalities to help with those issues..

Over 90% of the population will develop DDD over there lifetime...as well as more than 75% have bulging discs at one time or another but with proper care...these can go back into place again without herniating..

So...it is imperative that to all persons whom are considering surgery...do many hours of research online...get 2nd and 3rd opinions...and deal with only Board Certified Spine Surgeons/Specialists...and openly discuss the expectations of 'recovery'...and pain...

Again...surgery is not to eliminate all pain...and any surgeon who tells you otherwise...I would run in the other direction..
 
Surgery is a serious commitment and its not for everyone. Commiting to this type of surgery also means you commit to the recovery process. If you don't, you are wasting your time and will most likely end up in worse shape. When the doctor says that you can't do ANYTHING, they really mean it. The minute you start feeling better and get a wild hair to push the envelope you are putting your recovery at risk. Scar tissue forms quick and if you push it you will only cause problems.

I had a fusion, L4 through S1 without instrumentation: bone graft only. I was in a hard brace for almost four months but the surgery was successful and I have spent the last 12 years living a very normal life.

Recently I ended up in the hospital with severe back pain due to a herniation at L2, no idea how it happened but it did. So I find myself back where I was before but I will exhaust all the conservative treatments first because I know that I am not ready for surgery right now. The pain is bad, no doubt, and I can't work right now or go to school (yes I am back in school again) and I am Very frustrated with my own body.

If it comes down to surgery I would do it again, my first experience was great but I really think it was because I was able to commit to the recovery. Of course now I'm 29 so it would be more difficult, so until I know I'm ready and have the support to do it I will wait.
 
Leticia.. which disc(s) are involved in your lurabar spine and what exactly is going on there? How long have you been suffering, and what type of doctor are you seeing that suggests surgery? How long have you been going to PT? Have you ever had any steroid injections in your spine to see if it helps relieve your pain? Have you also tried switching to a new PT group all together and see if a new group can better help you? They are not all alike at all. Ask for a non-cookie cutter therapist that specializes in spine rehab. Might make all the difference.

Please make surgery your very last resort. It's not a guarantee to ending pain. Majority have great success, but then there are many that do not get the relief they were hoping for. I was only given a 50/50 chance of surgery helping me relieve my pain. I am about 93% improved at this stage over 2 years post-op. So I am one of the lucky ones. See signature section below for level and surgery done.

It would be nice to know more about you, hence the questions above, and we can better offer our thoughts for you. Take care.
 
Hello Everyone:

I'm back, but unfortunately worse off then before after
six hours of Laminectomy surgery with complications
that required ICU Support.

Just to bring everyone up to date. Had surgery Sept.2, 08.
Read my previous postings about what I was scheduled for,
but didn't receive. My surgeon informed me at a office
consultation that he could do a 15 minute microscopic
quick fix surgery. On the day of the surgery in the operating
room, the surgeon informs me that he is doing a Laminectomy.
This is major fusion surgery that includes the implant and
hardware (screw/roRAB). I should have refused this surgery,
but didn't and just went along with what the doctor wanted
to do. Long story short and 15 months forward, I am worse
off then before. Second/third opinions indicate that the
surgery was not done right and can be corrected with very
risky surgery. I have a bone impingement on the nerve
causing radiating pain through my left leg, sharp shooting
pain on side and bottom of the foot, heal, toes. These
surgeries don't help and am sorry that I went forward with
it. My advice, ask lots of questions and know exactly what
is going to be done. If the doctors/surgeons do a quick
switch at the last minute, refuse and sign yourself out of
the hospital ASAP.

Sorry that I didn't have happier news to share with everyone,
but like they say IT IS WHAT IT IS. Learn From Your Mistakes
& Just Keep Moving Forward.

Leticia
 
I had the l4/5 fusion 2 1/2 years ago with the same problems as you are talking about including the extra 20 plus pounRAB. I couldn't walk more than 100 yarRAB before my leg would go nurab and it flet like someone was putting a hot poker on teh right side of my back. I always have loved to walk and eat a lot but then it was just eat and drink a lot which didn't help with pain.

I sure didn't enjoy the surgery or the aftermath but started walking as soon as I was home a few days and got up to 3 miles before my 6 week check up. That was to far to fast. No hurry going far but that was my goal and after that stayed around 2 miles a day and thats far enough. Dropped from almost 190 to 170 in a year and now have put a few winter pounRAB back on which I will lose in the summer when I garden and hike more. It took over a year to feel close to right and it was frustirating. Have a few days where it doesn't feel right but I go 30 minutes of back exercises every other day. In my case it saved me in others you see it doesn't Good luck!

John
 
I signed in & saw this 1st post, was going to search for it but there it was. I fell over a yr ago & landed on my right side of lower back. Pain comes from there to groin then down right thigh. Boy is it painful. I have tried acupuncture, chiro & physical therapy, none worked the last PTherapy actually hurt me more. I was thinking now of epidural injections, my daughter had it & was pain free for a yr. I have L4-L5 bulging disc. spinal stenosis, disc herniation, changes in facet joints mostly at L4-L5 &L5-S1. Also showed a Tarlov cyst w/septation 30mm which radiologist sd is ok cyst has been there for yrs & never changed. I have alot of respect for him & he has read many xrays of mine thru the yrs. All this is greek to me but I hate living in pain so much. Thanks
 
:) Thanks for your kind feedback. It's nice to hear about positive outcomes that did work. Sorry to hear that you're back to square one with your L2. You're young to be dealing with these painful medical issues. I'm sure there was a valid reason of what happened with your original back issues. Hope everything works out for you with L2 and hope you have better options to choose from instead of major fusions. YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH ME FOR A POSITIVE SOLUTION TO YOUR PAIN & SUFFERING.

Leticia
:angel:
 
My name is Stephanie and I hurt my back at work in Aug. of 2009. After I hurt it, I was in bed for about two weeks and I went to Phyical therapy 3 times aweek for 2 months. I started to feel fine and really wanted to get back to work. I went back in Noveraber and not long after I went back to work Then pain started to come back. By January it was much worse. I asked for a MRI and that showed a large bulge in my L5 S1 of my lurabar spine. I can tell you this, Everyday I am in pain. My hips and legs hurt . Along with my feet hurting and feeling nurab at times. I went to a Spine Surgeon last week who said that he thinks we need to remove my L5 disc. This is all so new to my husband and I we truly don't know what to think. I don't even know what the surgey is called let along know that it is going to do for me. I have two little girls and two dogs and don't forget the big kid (My Husband) that I need to care for. I have no family that can really help me. I am so lost and don't know what to do. I would love it if I can get some in put on this matter and some help in making make my dession. They want to do the surgery the 1st week in March. I am so scared.
 
I'm trying to figure things out myself alot older then you but I would say be careful get a second opinion don't just jump into something. the people on this board are very smart so they should be able to help you alot. good luck.
 
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