more surgery??

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apartipilo

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Anyone ever have an L4-5 fusion, then having another surgery to "extend" the fusion down to S1?

What was your experience--- better / worse / the same ?

Thanks for any feedback.

I'm terrified about more surgery but I don't know what else to do-- The drugs don't work; I've tried every other treatment know to man; I stay active despite the pain because I know it's worse if I lie around.

What's bad is that the doctor's tell me the chances are you'll end WORSE with more surgery because all they see is disc degeneration below the fusion and scar tissue around the nerve roots. What then do you do??? Live with this?????? It's no quality of life!!!! I feel I have no choice but to take the risk.
 
I had an old T4 to L4 fusion that is now extended all the way down to my sacrum. It was a good move for me. I have less of the intense pain I was having. But I do have new pain, what I call "sit" pain. My PTist said that's a regular complaint for those with all of the lurabar segments fused, since you have no movement whatsoever and need to have a little even to sit bolt upright.

You won't have breakdown below your fusion, because there won't be anything left below it that isn't fused. You can have breakdown above it, though. I do have mid and upper back pain along with my lower back pain. I think the upper back pain is mostly because of the stress of all those fused vertebrae below it.

This is a big decision. It has to be on a case by case basis. Make sure you get more than one opinion. If you have no other options, it might be the best thing for you. I don't regret it for a second, but that's me. My situation is different from yours.

I wish you the best as you make your decision.

Take care,
Emily
 
I have had a 3 level fusion L3-4 to L5-S1. I had the pain that you are speaking of prior to my surgery. I do have a different pain now, but, it is just as debilitating. Now I have so much pain from my Sacroiliac areas. I would think long and hard about what is best for you. If I had it to do over again I would not.
 
Surgery is a big decision and I think you are right asking. You have been around and I am sure you have read my story.

1982 Fusion s1/s1
2006 Laminectomy L5s1
2007 Fusion L5/S1 with hardware
2007 Revision L5/S1 added BMP, Laminectomy L3 and L4

I now have extended pain up into my mid to upper spine. Would I do it again? You betcha and my pain is worse now then before and I have been diagnosed with Failed Back Syndrome and Post Laminectomy Syndrome.

I personally believe it is worth taking a chance to get better. What is the alternative - living like you are now? Is this the kind of life you want?

Can you get better? In my heart I believe so but don't expect 100% because that is unrealistic.

Can you get worse? You betcha - I am proof of that and so is the poster above.

Is it possible to do the spinal implant? This might be an option to delay the surgery.

Good luck and I pray that things work out for you. I am willing to answer any questions. Just remeraber that you will recover slower from multiple surgeries due to all the muscles being cut multiple times.
 
Thanks Blue Atlas. I Can't Seem To Make A Decision Though. If I Do It, There's A 50-50 Chance Of Success, The Surgeon Says. It's Basically A Coin Toss. I Terrified Out Of My Mind But I Know I Have To Do Something.
 
My first surgery was 03/06: L-4 L-5 S-1 fused with hardware; decompression and lami; SIJ fused with plates and clips and some more. Surgery was almost 9 1/2 hours.

A year my upper levels "collapsed "(it happens and honest DR always tells you about this possibility for upper and lower levels of previous fusion) and I had to have L-3, L-4 fuse. During the surgery he saw that my L-2 is 50/50.
This means that it takes no time before it will need to be fused again. And so on.

Is this common? I am not sure about it but many DRs tell you about it and the say :" One fusion surgery opens doors for many more and more complications" is common too.:mad:

By any means I don't want to sound pessimistic. You asked us about our opinion so I think you want to hear all of our opinions; so I will not sit here and prutend a very happy post-op patient and lie to you.

I am not bitter after what happened to me and my life after my first surgery: i am good of accepting things happens to us during our life; like "life gives you lemons, make lemonade".
I was told before my first surgery about all this as a possibility, so I did not expect miracles to happen to me. I knew not to expect "brand new body" or pain free life.

And yes I was told many times too: more surgery - weaker the spine and more surgeries may be in a future. More surgery - more scar tissue around which causes great deal of pain too.

You have to go through all your options before your sign for surgery. Like Diet said - surgery is the last resort. For example I had to have hysteroctomy and many other surgeries but not on spine.

I forgot already I had it, did not affect my life at all. But when it comes to something like a spine - think many times before you do it.

Best of luck. My heart goes out to you since I know how hard to make this decision and how hard to leave in pain...:angel:
 
It is terrifying, and in retrospect, my recovery was much harder than I expected it to be from what I had read here on the board. I was determined to keep a positive outlook, though, and that went a long way to helping me through it. At my year mark, I let my guard down and looked back. What a relief that it was over! It was the right thing to do, but it's not to be entered into lightly.

Take care,
Emily
 
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