Non Fusion Pain

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alim15

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Has anyone had an L5-S1 fusion that did not fuse and still had pain? Either in the central back or left or right butt or legs? Has anyone had an L5-S1 fusion that did fuse and the pains went away and they could get back to normal activities again?

I have not fused yet 9 months post surgery and I am still having the same pain in my central back and left butt area.

Any comments would be helpful.

Thanks.
 
My first fusion, L5-S1 in 1987 w/o hardware, ended up not fusing (didn't know that until years later) but I did feel better and had no significant problems. Then in 1993 I had pain again and after extensive testing it was found that I never did fuse fully at L5-S1. I then had an L4-S1 fusion in 1993 with hardware and the fusion was complete. I've had some other problems lately and all the tests have shown that I did fully fuse at L4-S1.
 
Since my L3 has moved forward so far injections aren't a viable option. By next week I should know if I'm headed for more surgery.
 
Hi SpineAZ,

From 1993 until now were you pain free? Were the pains different after you were totally fused or were they the same pains from before? I have a central screw in at L5-S1. They took out a degenerative disc, but centrally I feel unstable and I still have pain. But I also have pain on my left side so I am not sure where it is coming from.

Thanks again.
 
Hi SpineAZ,

Good luck. I hope they can solve the problem.

After your first surgery were you still active with jogging or sports? Or did you decide to take it easy, but still the upper levels of the back degraded?
 
Alim:

Yes, relatively pain free with the occasional stiff back (which would last about 2-3 days and was effectively treated with aspirin/advil/aleve and heating pad). I never felt an instability - though I was told it was there. My current problem is that L3 is moving forward (due to my ligament and tendon problems) but it only manifests itself in pain - I don't recall ever feeling any instability. Prior to my fusions I had pain into my hip and right leg. In fact when it first happened, in college, I though I had a hip problem. When I went to Student Health they opted for x-rays since I had prior joint problems and that's where they happened to see on a hip x-ray the lower part of my lurabar spine and the fact that I had spondylolisthesis.
 
I was never a real athlete (even before the back surgery) as I have also had bad knees since about 14. But after the back surgeries I continued to be active. That included swimming, being a life guard, working out at the gym, hiking, lots of cross country skiing, walking (I love a good long walk), and some bike riding.

I did avoid anything that would possibly hurt my back and was very conscious of how I lifted, asked for help with stuff like lifting and moving stuff.
 
I am feeling the same pain, that you described prior to your fusion, in my left side and left butt area. I am thinking it is due to the instability and non fusion in the center. Have you tried injections into the L3 area for relief?
 
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