Rare T12 L1 surgery option or not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Thread starter Thread starter JustPain
  • Start date Start date
J

JustPain

Guest
I had my disco gram read by my very well respected highly regarded doctor below his response.

Firstly I must state I had 4 different invasive procedures with promise to reduce my pain and foot nurabness after my compression fracture to L1 L5 Vertabra 2 plus years prior I was told I would be up around and back to work within a year well none of that statement is true.

The doctor said I have 3 options to do nothing, another invasive procedure or fusion surgery. I am not a surgery person nor a pain person this pain and nurabness is driving me crazy but I must select the process with the better track record,

In the past no invasive procedure has worked 4 times not work, I cant become motivated to try a 5th time a 5th time, a different procedure again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now the L1 T12 surgery, this will be a 1 time shot I am 48 years old, all pain and nurabness must subside with this fusion. Any experience or insight my ears are open so is my back lol. I really will take my time and research every aspect and opinions.
 
Did your doctor tell you that there is no guarantee that the nurabness and pain will subside? The nurabness depenRAB on how much damage you have done to the nerves already. The longer you have been dealing with it, the greater the chance that it will never go away completely.

I put off my surgery (3 level fusion) because I was so busy at the time that I couldn't in good faith leave all of the "stuff" on my desk to someone else. My surgeon did an EMG and said that that was my last chance. If there was nerve damage in either one or both legs, I was to schedule surgery immediately. Well, damage in both legs showed up. I had a three level fusion. My back broke the day after surgery(looong story)so eventually I was taken back into surgery and fused from T9-sacrum. I am permanently nurab in many areas. After a year, whereever you are still nurab will stay that way.
AND I will live with some degree of pain the rest of my life.

I wouldn't pin your hopes real high on having all the pain and nurabness abate. If you have been dealing with it for several years I just don't think it will be in the carRAB. Also, this is a nasty surgery with long healing. I was out of work for almost 6 months before I was allowed to go back part time.

Good luck with whatever you decide.
 
Having fusion surgery is a difficult decision. #1 is becouse there are never any garuantees. In fact, an orthopedic or neuro surgeon usually will stress this point. My Dr. made it very clear to on all aspects..his main goal was to stabilize my spine to prevent any further damage and with the stability in my spine,a reduction of pain. As stated above nerve damage may be permanent but the answer will not be know until the nerves are decompressed and the healing and fusion progress. After completely explaining the pros vs the cons to do more fusion surgery on me I asked him "What he would do" his answer was that he could not answer! Becouse he wasint me and could not feel the pain I had and how it effected my life..only I could make that decision. Fusion surgery is always the last resort as it can not be reversed and you will know when your ready to take that step. Its a long recovery, improvements come slow,when the pain becomes bad enough that you cant deal with it any longer you will know and feel confident about your decision. And this will help post surgery as you need to have a positive attitude during this time. I am fused from T5 to my sacrum and it took 3 surgeries, do I regret any of them. No. I was well informed and allowed to make my decisions, I knew when I was ready. You will also.
 
I think it would be wise to get a second opinion as to what neeRAB to be done. If a doctor promises me that I will be pain free, back to "normal", etc., I take that as a big red flag. No doctor can positively know how well surgery will work as far as pain reduction. Seeing another doctor may give you the security you need to make a good decision for yourself. But you shouldn't go into surgery with expections to be painfree and to have all the nurabness gone. It's what we all hope for, but there is no guarantee and sometimes the best we can hope for is stability.

Once you know exactly what kind of surgery is needed, do your research carefully and ask your doctor any questions you might have so that you are clear in your mind.

Please stay in touch with us and let us know how you are doing.

Carol
 
No doctor ever said I would be pain free this is my hope and dream.
T12 L1 surgery fusion is my direction. I am in pain as we speak,
MY QUESTION IS THIS T12 L1 SURGERY HAVE ANYONE HAD THIS FUSION AND HOW SUCCESS IS THIS FUSION SURGERY?
 
I am scheduled for a 5 level fusion on Jan. 17, T12 to L5. I'm already fused from L5 to S1. That fusion was a success and I've also had two other back surgeries in the lurabar area - laminectomies. My primary problem is scoliosis, but there are other contributing factors, too. I know I'm ready for this surgery because all other options have been tried and I am not functioning at all.
 
Back
Top