To fuse and when?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Angst57
  • Start date Start date
A

Angst57

Guest
:angel:When is the best time to have a fusion? I am not in any great pain now but the doctor said that it would be better to fuse now rather than when I am older (I am 51). He said problems build up later in life as one becomes less active.
I have a grade 2 slip at L4/5 with very little disc left. The slippage is fairly static but the disc is disappearing.
 
I think that this is something you should think about long and hard. Maybe get another opinion. It is a huge surgery and a long recovery. You dont want to wait to long and have long term damage, but you also want to make sure this is what you need. I am 49 and just had a two level fusion last Dec. It is something I did when I had no other options, and had tryed everything else. Not trying to scare you, just is always wise to get a second opinion on this type of surgery. Hope this helps, and feel free to ask any questions, and I will be happy to try to help you.
 
Husband had few years ago and if had to do over would never of had it done. What they don't tell you is once they do the one you need fixed it puts pressure on the one below of above and that one wears down and your in the same position as when you started and they want to do one fuse after the other. When he asked his Physical therapist about it (he sorta told him under the table) as to why they don't tell you going in about percentage not working his reply was --Dr's have house payments just like you do. Please take it for what its worth this is just what happened to us so do your research and check every option and every reason for that option (Like is there a reason Dr. would suggest one surgery over the other or why Insurance will approve one or other etc). Bottom line for us is-- Surgery did not help. Before Surgery it was extreme pain and after Surgery its extreme pain with more Fusions, Injections, tons of Medication(because it they give you one you have to take another to undo the bad of that one and it goes on and on) trips to Physical Therapy,tons of paperwork and out of pocket Money even after Insurance and I could go on and on but I won't. If by writing this I make just one person do a little extra research before getting this done... GOOD!
 
Hi my name is judi and yes I have a horror story but I have not come here because I need to tell it. I live in Australia and it is interesting aswell as informative to read these boarRAB.
People do not get enough satifaction from the answers that are given or the questions asked to the medical proffessionals.If they did then why are so many people who are responding and posting to this message board doing this?
I appreciate anybodies comments be they be a point of fact or passing on Information as you are doing so thank you for your input cowpin8 and I hope
Angst57 that you are able to make an informed decision that hepls you all the best Judi:wave:
 
Angst57:
When your disc is gone you will have very serious trouble. Obviously you cant wait until that happens but at the same time you need to evaluate your current situation.
What percentage of your disc is gone? Are you very active? Do you lift weights at the gym? Are you a runner? Do you have a physicallly demanding job? Do you have sciatica?
51 years old with no serious pain. You should at least get a second opinion. I would go to a Neurosurgeon NOT an Orthopedic Surgeon. (just my opinion based on personal experience).
I had neck surgery with a 2 level fusion and it was a success. I would do it all over again if I had to. You MUST trust your surgeon. If you have any doubts about him/her, than go to another surgeon. I know a few people with the same problem as you and they are doing well after the fusion surgery. Good Luck. Remeraber that when you are reading these threaRAB, most people come here to tell their horror stories. Most people with successful surgery dont come to these boarRAB because they no longer have the problem and do not need any more information.
 
:wave:Hello its judi ,there is no right or wrong answers when it comes to making a decision to have spinal surgery.
For me I have decided that it is just not going to give me a better quality of life for the long haul.
I am prepared to accept the consequences of the decision and maybe as a result of this i will have to endure a lot of pain that possibly would be alleviated sooner rather than later however after having further complications to my original injured spine I do not choose to go down that road again.

Everyone has a different outlook on life and when comparing this as it may be good bad or ugly as the case may or may not be I can live without all the strain both physically and mentally as well as the emotional roller coaster that is endured during the surgical process.

I would advise you to ask your doctor if they could give you a rough time frame as to when they think that this type of damage will require surgery.
If that is what you have been advised to do with your situation on a physical note.

It certainly is true that our body does not like the ageing process but it also doesn't like rapid deterioration to itself either.

If or perhaps when you do experience any degree of pain then please do not let this deter you from looking at the surgical option objectively as you seem to be doing so well at the moment.

Everybody has a different pain tolerance level so I guess this will be something you will weigh up when the moment is right.

I hope that this insight be it valuable or not to you gives you some food for thought and i wish you all the best .
 
I have learned, since having a fusion, for ME it was rough, I was severely hurt prior to having to have one. It is a last resort. It is a LONG recovery. IF you are deteriorating NOW, in your daily functions, activities and find yourself in bed more to relieve yourself from pain, than anything else, yes its a consideration to make. BUT if you can enjoy your life, right now-dont do it. if you are riddled with pain, that no pain medication can touch, and you are MISERABLE, then yes, do the fusion now. Back surgery is left as a last resort, when all else fails, and your body starts to fail. If you can stay atop of the pain, or change what you do (to an extent) in a given day, to still ENJOY your life, do not do it now. It truly is a last resort, and once you see things starting to go down hill pain and body wise, THEN you do it. And you catch it and do it the second you are lying in bed all day every day in misery and do it within a VERY short time frame.

Sadly when we are dying in pain, stuck in bed, our bodies deteriorate QUICKLY doesn't take long for muscles to atrophy, and the worse shape you get in due to being limited with your bad, the HARDER recovery you will have. BELIEVE ME I know, I was bedridden for 9 months, one back surgery failed (was a microdiscectomy for 2 badly herniated discs one of which exploded into my spinal canal and I could not feel nor move my entire leg) I got hurt real bad, and my life went down the tubes from there with extreme pain. THEN the next surgery was a fusion, and its a ROUGH and big surgery, that takes a LONGGG TIME to recover from.

If you are holding your own now, I would hold off on doing a fusion, soly due to the fact, right NOW you may be able to enjoy your life, to a fairly good extent, and why ruin that NOW with a severe surgery, that could take you upto a year to recover from (if not more), as well as a potential for nerve problems and scar tissue down the line to possibly contend with? Don't ruin a good thing (depending on your lifestyle now due to your back), believe me, when its time to definitly do a fusion, you will not haveto ask, you will KNOW cuz you won't be able to take the pain anymore and you will want your legs and life back.

Just my 2 cents. I just know it truly hasto be a last resort, because anything less than that, instead of being greatful to have 'some' mobility back, or to put up with nerve pains if the case may be you will regret deciding to do it when you did, after a fusion you will be happy and greatful for the things you CAN do again after fusion surgery, that you thought were taken away from you due to your back for what you thought was forever.

When you see you are losing the things that you love to do AND the things you don't love to do (housework, laundry, sitting to pay bills), ( and hay I KNOW I can't go bowling anymore so be realistic w things lol divy what you WILL be able/allowed to do after fusion too), and you are getting upset, and frustrated, and in pain the MAJORITY of the time, and REAL PAIN, not the wussy stuff we love to complain about cuz things aren't 'perfect' either. GET A FUSION.
 
Back
Top