Should I have a fusion and.....

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Kertie446

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I ma 20 years old and have had a back problem since I was 17. I have back pain in my lower back with tingling/burning/hot/cold sensations and sometimes pain down my leg and foot, including my toes. I can't work because of this disorder.

I have been told that they think I have degenerative discs, instability and a suspected herniated/slipped disc and that I may need a fusion and some other form of surgery to correct my herniated/slipped disc. Would anyone recommend a fusion and could tell me a bit about their experiences with this procedure or any procedure for herniated/slipped discs.

Another thing I was wondering is would it be better for me to see a neurosurgeon or an orthopaedic surgeon for this specific disorder?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give.
 
when i slipped my disc 4 years ago i had more leg pain in the end than back pain but once i had my operation the pain totally went so i guess nerve pain can go away,then before this op i had no leg pain at all and only back pain but its the other way round now since the op,so hopefully it will go away.:)
 
Hi, Kezzo and thanks once gain for your help and sharing your experience. :)

Yeah, I agree with you. How do physios know what exercises to give to people if they haven't seen the MRI or x-rays? I had my first physio session and hadn't even had any investigations done before this. This was ages ago (2005 to be near exact). My GP just sent me for physio and that was it. They just guessed what my back pain was, saying that it was just muscular which I knew it wasn't. It made my pain worse so I eventually gave up on it as it wasn't worth making my pain worse and found rest much better. Nowdays I just do things that don't aggravate it. I have found that sitting for long perioRAB, standing and walking or any type of physical activity to aggravate it so I just don't do these kind of things anymore which does upset me as I used to like my sport, walking, etc.

On the nerve thing - I have had my nerve trapped for some time now - three years and a half in all which is why I was wondering if my nerve damage could be permanent because I should've had it operated on and released before even a couple of months.

I'll let you know what happens when I go to my appointment with the physio. Hopefully they won't prescribe me physio as I know that it won't solve my back problem. I need to try a different kind of treatment.

I will let my physio know that it makes it worse and maybe they'll leave my back alone and refer me to a consultant.
 
Hey again,

Well you have tried a nuraber of non surgical procedures. I think all that referral probably means is that the surgeon wants you to see the therapist prior to seeing you so that the surgeon will know what the treatment did for you and this will in turn better help the surgeon in making a decision on whether or not surgery is for you. It's almost mandatory for some surgeons. I don't know any surgeons that just let patients jump into surgery without doing treatment. It's something you kind of need to try (again) in order to see this surgeon and get an honest opinon. I had the same experience as you, physio made me much, much worse! I was in so much pain afterwarRAB. I'm sure it's because I didn't have a proper diagnosis and so I was just being manipulated and my back couldn't handle it. It was not a good experience. My advice to you is that if you are going to be going through more physio (requested by this surgeon), then be carefull, if it's really hurting you, say something. Also let this surgeon know this too. Make sure he knows all that you have done and of course what you experience with this other therapist.

The epidurals and what not that I tried also did not provide relief for me. THey can for some, although I think (could be wrong) but it seems to me that they don't seem to work for most people?!

Let me know what you get back in regarRAB to you MRI and x-ray. Take care of yourself. Look forward to hearing from you.

Beachgirl ;)
 
Thanks for your advice and sharing your experience, beachgirl01. I feel a lot better knowing that I can ask questions or talk about my back problem with people who have had similar types of things and that care as I feel that some doctors don't care about the pain that their patients go through. :)

The MRI results will probably be announced sometime either this Tuesday or next week the hospital told me. I'll let you know what they say they have found on the MRI when they announce it.

My appointment to see this physiotherapist practitioner specialist is on 14 July. I'll let you know how it goes and if I'll be able to see a consultant.

Did you find any type of treatments that were particularly effective and could you also tell me what back condition you have been diagnosed with as I'd just like to know because it sounRAB familiar to mine. Mine is instability of my spine, degenerative discs and a suspected herniated/slippedc disc. My problem is with my lurabar (lower) spine.

Thanks for helping me, I really appreciate it. :)
 
hi,4 years ago i slipped a disc and had an operation to mend it,it did work for about 2 years and then i started getting lower back pain again,i had to get in touch with my doctor who then wrote a letter to the hospital for me to see a consultant which all in all took about 5 months, i was sent for a mri which showed i have ddd of l5 s1, i was then sent to physio which didnt help then i had facet injections twice which didnt help either so i ended up having fusion which was 4 months ago and i feel great,i dont have pain at all in my back,i have some nerve pain in my thighs but surgeon says that should go in time,i have been for a x ray and i am starting to fuse so hopefullly everything is going to plan,i just thought i would tell you my back story as i am in the uk too,i went to queens medical hospital in nottingham,which one are you at,hope all goes well with your physio and hopefully you not have to make that decision whether to have surgery or not,
take care
kezzo:)
 
Well I had a spinal fusion at age 35. I was told I would be playing golf again in 6 months and fully active and free from severe back and bi-lateral leg pain. That was in 1985 and I have been crippled ever since with the pain worsening in every way after surgery. I was told the surgery was a success but "I" failed. I had "autogenesis boney spinal fusion but not the full decompression "Gill procedure"...levels L4,5 S1.
All I can say is I haven't met one single person in 24 years that spinal fusion relieved then of even 50% of their pain. This is cold hard facts of life and it's a very difficult thing to be so physically impaired as I wasn't before the surgery. My "donor site" pain is the worst of all where they removed the bone from my Illium for the fusion. Please do your own investigating and talk to as many patients as possible who reflect the true nature of spinal fusion results..good luck and God Bless.
 
I would recommend obtaining a opinion from a neurosurgeon and then an opinion from a spinal surgeon (orthopedic with a speciality in spinal surgery - only does spinal surgery). Then I would consider your options and make a decision based upon the feedback and their recommendations. Only you can make this decision - you are the one who is dealing with the pain.

In the meantime, remeraber that we are here to answer any questions that you may have.
 
I'm very thankful 15 years later that I did the fusion and that they used harware so I'd have stable fusion (as opposed to fusions done without harware but solely with bone). They took shavings from my hip area to help enhance the fusion. The site where they took the shavings from was paifnul (deep aching pain) for a few months. As soon as I was allowed to take NSAIRAB (aspiring, aleve, ibuprofen, etc) that bone pain diminished. For the first year it did ache on occasion but today I often forget that until I see the scar on my back where they went to get the bone shavings.

I do have a stiff back now (I just don't push it too much) and I will always have to stay away from spinal strenuous activities (no more roller coasters, golfing, or playing too much tennis). But I am able to swim, hike, walk, and do many other physical activities.

Karin
 
My lurabar fusion was done by an Orthopedic Spine Surgeon (good outcome) at age 26 and I was very happy with the results (an OSS also did my recent neck surgery - though now a different one than from my back as I've since moved states). I also saw a good Neurosurgeon but I've always felt more confident in orthopedic spine surgeons IF that is the sole work done in their practice. They can deal with bones and with nerves where as Neurosurgeons do a larger variety of work than just spine care.
 
I had a neuro surgeon with a fellowship in spinal surgery. That seems to be what most recommend. I won't go into any gory details to bore you with but I will tell you that it did not work for me and as a matter of fact I am worse now than I was before the surgery. Everyone is different and has different outcomes. I know of people who feel it is the best thing they have ever done for themselves. I just had a really difficult time with it. I was overweight to begin with and then I gained some weight after getting injured and taken off of work and still more after the surgery so personally I think that has a lot to do with it. I think the pain contributed to the weight gain and the weight gain contributes to the pain. You are the only one who can gage how well you can live with things the way they are. If you can't live with it at all then you have to at least try. Just be very sure that it is beyond what you can live with before you opt for the surgery as it isn't an easy surgery or recovery either. I wish you the very best.
 
Niad,

My daughter is currently 19, only a year younger than you are. She had a two level fusion at the age of 16 after having consulted with three different specialists. She did not have ddd. She had been born with spondylolisthesis and stenosis that became worse by her dancing. She is three years post op and is doing great. Very rarely does she have any pain. She is able to snow and water ski, play tennis and has just begun to golf. Like Spine A-Z she will always have to use her head when it comes to her back and what she can do. In her case she is far better off than she was prior to surgery. cas
 
Hi there,

I have had 2 major spine surgeries and am waiting for my third. Like you I was unsure if I should go ahead with surgery at all. For 3 years I did non surgical procedures, I exhausted all my no surgical options and I am so grateful that I did that becaue even though things haven't yet turned out in my favour, I can still at least know that I absolutely needed the surgery and I don't have any regrets.

Only you can decide what is right for you. You will know if it's time to go ahead with it and when. What have you done non surgically? What can you do, what can't you do, what do you want to do? THose are big questions and they deserve big answers. I look forward to hearing from you and maybe I can help you out. Take care.

Beachgirl ;)
 
Hi, SpineAZ and thanks for your help and advice.

Good to hear of another positive outcome. :)

I have had some results back for my MRI and they say I have injured the L2 and L3 region of my lurabar spine. Basically they say that I must have fallen or done something impacting the disc or discs (not sure how many) which as a result now goes upwarRAB and outwarRAB.

They have said I'll probably need an epidural and to see a consultant orthopaedic spine surgeon.

The thing that now confuses me is that although I have pain, tingling, hot/cold feelings down my leg, there is no damage or trapped sciatic nerve which is confusing as I have the symptoms?
 
Hi and thanks for sharing your exerience, Kezzo. :)

It's nice to hear treatments go well. I am going to a hospital in Shropshire.

I have heard that surgeons say that once a nerve has been trapped/damaged i.e. sciatica for ex amount of time that surgery may not help it and that the nerve damage is permanent after a couple of months. Is this true? I've had mine for three years now becuase my GP didn't listen to me and ignored me, saying my back pain was normal and nothing was wrong but my physio reckons I have instability, degenerative discs and a suspected herniated/slipped disc.

Unfortunately I found physio not very effective, it made my pain worse.
 
hi,i dont think my nerve damage is permament cos some days i have no pain at all and then other days i have pain,it all depenRAB on what i do in the day,if i walk plenty i seem to be ok,my surgeon hasnt even mentioned physio and i dont go back to see him for 6 months,he just told me to carry on whatever i was doing cos i am doing so well.it always amazes me how a physio can tell you what exercises to do before you have a mri scan to see what the problem is,so how do they know the exercises they give you are the correct ones for your condition.let us know how you get on please
take care
kezzo:)
 
Thanks for your advice and sharing your experiences, 123dietdrpepper, angelomercy and beachgirl01. :)

Apparently I am supposed to be seeing an orthopaedic surgeon but have currently been made an appointment to see a physiotherapist practitioner specialist who is a meraber of his team. The letter says I have been made an appointment to see this physio on behalf of my consultant (who I haven't even seen). I don't know if I'll even be able to see a consultant. I don't understand what it means by on behalf of my consultant. Does this mean the consultant has referred me to his physio team or does it mean he can't see me for some reason? I'm just a bit confused and frustrated with only being constantly referred to different physios and not a consultant after three years of trying to get to see one. I would also be grateful if anyone could suggest I may do to allow me to eventually see a consultant?

I've had an x-ray and MRI and am awaiting the results from this.

The conservative treatments that I have tried are physiotherapy which I found from my experience gave me no relief, in fact it made me worse. I have even tried swimming which I like but is also too painful. I just can't do physically demanding activities anymore. I feel frustrated as I am quite a sporty person.

I haven't tried any epidurals, nerve blocks, etc, yet but may ask for these but I have heard that these are not always effective and can be as risky as having surgery anyway.

I'd like to eventually have a career in healthcare but this is in doubt for the time being because of my back. I'd like something done that would be instant relief and permanent.
 
Thanks for your advice and sharing of experience, 123dietdrpepper, Davonwav, SpineAZ and caszyman. :)

Nice to hear some positive outcomes. I have talked to a few people generally and they say that they have had disc surgery and/or fusion and can do things like riding a motorbike, horseriding and stuff like that.

I'm going to probably have an epidural. Not sure if they are doing surgery on my spine or not as I haven't seen a specialist yet.

Does anyone have any experience of what an epidural is like? What to expect? Can I have sedation? I'm nervous about it.

The other thing - I'm not if they do a fusion on whether I'd want to get bone taken from my hip/iliac crest part as it will be two sore places at once. I'm not sure whether to ask for donor bone or not.
 
We actually thought my daughter was having the bone taken from her hip as we had talked about that at her pre op appointments. The day of surgery her dr surprised me when he said they mixed her bone from the laminectomy with donor bone. For her if did work out fine. She did not have the bmp mixed in. He said something about hospital protocol. I think it was a bigger deal since she was only 16 but she fused fine without it.

Again, because of her young age they never did an epidural. Her dr said they use those on older patients. So we have no info for you on that. cas
 
You could be that the nerve itself is inflammed and they want to give you an epidrual to reduce the inflammation.
 
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