One surgery leads to another....

M

Megss

New member
It seems to me that surgery is no cure, and I am destined for a life filled with pain. I am only 28 years old! I had my first spinal fusion 7 months ago, and now I need another fusion at another level. I am hoping that this second surgery will be my last, but I am so afraid that with every surgery I am causing more harm than good. I have tried all the conservative treatments to no avail.

L5-S1 was fused in April due to Spondy and a herniated disc. I also had bone removed where it was compressing my sciatic nerve. Now I need L4-L5 done. The disc is torn and leaking, the disc space is not big enough. I had another discogram on Thursday and when they poked L4-L5 it was 10/10 pain. L3-L4 was about 5/10, and L2-L3 was just pressure. I am worried the surgeon will want to fuse L3-L4 also.

Have any of you had multiple back surgeries? Did you ever get better? Do you think I could be a candidate for a disc replacement instead of a fusion? Is that easier to recover from? I cannot get in to see the surgeon again until Dec 29th, thats how good he is. (different guy from the one that did my first fusion.... I don't trust him anymore.) My current surgeon was also talking about re-doing the fusion I already have. I was like, WHAT!!!!

Please someone give me some hope! I want my life back and I want to have another baby!
 
I have not had any lurabar surgery done exactly for the reason you are talking about...one surgery leaRAB to another. My neurosurgeon figures of he starts, he'll end up going right up my spine to meet the fusion in my neck.

But I have had 2 major cervical spine surgeries, 3 months apart. I have a 6 level fusion. It's tough...I understand. The best advice I can give you is to see the finest spine surgeon you can afford to see. I'm lucky...I have one of the best only 100 miles away but have sought second opinions from much farther away.

See your second doc and see what he says. Replacing an existing fusion with a better and longer fusion system is not unusual. There are specific systems for longer fusions that do a better job that when they just fuse 2 vertebrae.

Hang in there...it will get better sooner or later. I'm partially paralyzed and finding that I can do just about everything I need to despite the lack of movement. So if I get on with life, I bet you can too. It just takes time and a really good surgeon.

Let me know how it goes with Doc #2.

gentle hugs.............Jenny
 
My reason for fusion was different from yours. But I have a young friend, about your age, who had a fusion last April. She has absolutely NO PAIN at all now and her doctor has told her she has no restrictions whatsoever. She's doing great! Lots of people go through fusion surgery and end up with no pain. Don't lose hope, sweetie! Sometimes a level above or below a fusion can go bad, but that doesn't mean you're destined to be in pain forever.

Try to stay positive!

Blessings,
Emily
 
I have had 3 lurabar surgeries, 2 were endoscopic and one microdiscectomy on L4-5, all by one surgeon on LI in 2008. Now I am going into Manhattan and a top surgeon wants me to have a lurabar fusion, I am not happy, but what are my options. I don't sleep I limp and I am in pain most of the time. I also had a cervical fusion in 1990 as a result of a previous car accident, now the most recent accident has herniated the balance of discs in my neck, some thorasic and several lurabar. I was put on disability and desparately want to go back to work, my worst fear is paralysis, worse pain and the possibility of never working again! I feel your pain.
 
Thanks everyone for your replies. Luckily my surgeon had a cancelation and I get to see him Dec 1st. I got my test results back. L4-L5 is compressing my nerve, and L3-L4 and L2-L3 have tears but otherwise look normal. L3-L4 caused 5/10 pain however on the discogram.
For the last couple of days I have noticed incredible weakness in my legs. It is too much work to walk up the stairs and sometimes just to hold myself up. I am worried about it. The other weird thing is that the sciatic pain is not as bad lately. My legs feel funny and I am worried they are about to go nurab.
I guess I am so worried about the next surgery because the first one was so horribly painful, and I never felt better. I never had a day where I felt good. When I woke up from anestisia, I tried to scream but nothing came out because o the respirator that I had during surgery.
It is good to know that there are people who get better. I recently just started working, but it is part time and completely from home (I work for my dad). Other than that I am in no shape to work and haven't been in over a year. I just hate to go through another surgery all over again, but then again, I don't want to put it off because I really want to move forward and put this behind me. Hopefully in a year I will look back on this and say, wow that sucked but I got through it!
 
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