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COACHSOS
Guest
After Three Years Back To Their Nuerosugeon Mri Mylo Epidurals Disscogram 
Am Unsure Of Surgery Please Help
Am Unsure Of Surgery Please Help
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Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion With Instrumentation S1 L5 L5 L4
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Candetha
Guest
I am seeing my NS on 5-29-08 regarding the same surgery. He wants to do it on me. I have a grade 2 spondylolisthesis, ruptured discs, stenosis, DDD, pars fractures and a few things I can't remeraber. I have done all the pt and have had three ESI that did nothing for me. My NS said he wanted to do this surgery. I haven't seen that much on it and have questions on it myself.
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carol632
Guest
Coach as much as I would like to help you, you just haven't given enough information as needed. Could you tell us where your pain is, what your tests say, what your dr. is recommending....what kind of pain you have and any thing else that might help us figure out what is going on with you? It would help if you had specific questions, too.
Carol
Carol
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BlueAtlas
Guest
Yes, as Carol said, more information would be helpful. In general, though, if you may be looking at surgery, you ought to get at least two opinions from spine specialists in different groups, either orthopedic or neurosurgeons, and preferably doctors who have done fellowships. They'll have more training and experience. Don't tell the second one what the first said; let him come to his own conclusions without the pressure of feeling like he has to back up another doctor's opinion.
Hope you get the answers and help you need.
Emily
Hope you get the answers and help you need.
Emily
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mznell
Guest
A PLIF is a very common approach to dealing with the spondylolisthesis and the other problems you mention, Candetha. The procedure has been done for a long time and has a high rate of success (90-95%). I'm not sure how they define "success," however.
As everyone else mentioned, you should get at least another opinion before deciding on any back surgery. Fusion is done way too often, in many people's opinion. It is done for pain relief, but it will not return you to the way you once were prior to your back issues. It is important to know this before you enter into this surgery.
As everyone else mentioned, you should get at least another opinion before deciding on any back surgery. Fusion is done way too often, in many people's opinion. It is done for pain relief, but it will not return you to the way you once were prior to your back issues. It is important to know this before you enter into this surgery.