Doc recommends spinal fusion from T12 - S1.

Wow… so what is difference between medical and home grown??

Had L4/L5 lumbar fusion in October 2022. My condition did not improve so surgeon ordered CT scan, which indicated the L5 pedicle screw may be impinging on my nerve. Had second surgery January 2023 and surgeon removed right L4 and L5 pedicle screws along with connecting rod. Surgeon did not admit the removed pedicle screw damaged my nerve, but instead diagnosed me with a nerve condition (LRPN). Made appointment with Mayo Rochester in October, 2023 and they determined I did NOT have LRPN, but instead was suffering from nerve damage resulting from the removed L5 pedicle screw.
Prior to my October 2022 surgery I could bike, Nordic ski, travel and otherwise live an active outdoor life. Since my October 2022 surgery I require use of a cane or walking sticks to get around.

@sassytwo I’ve been using a combination of high CBD and low THC to alleviate my breakthrough pain and no longer need oxycodone. My main pain control though is buprenorphine patches for my spinal OA, chronic pain syndrome and peripheral neuropathy. Tinctures CBD 100mg 4x day, THC 25mg 4x day and I micro-dose by vaping in between. Took me a year of trial and error starting with higher THC. Good luck.

Thank you! I may follow up with you in the future?? Right now I am not any pain medication, nor have I been with the exception of immediate post surgery.

Can you drive and be active with your medication. I only hurt standing

I was a hippie a long long time ago and never ceased enjoying cannabis. My tolerance is probably relatively greater than most possibly. I recommend keeping your ratio of CBD to THC like a see-saw within your tolerance. Always best to start small and go up as needed. Since medical marijuana dispensaries don’t sell high enough CBD products I buy that online from CBDMarketplace.com is one place. I do not feel buzzed any longer which is OK with me as long as it helps my back pain.

@klsteffes , Hello, would love to have a conversation with you about your experiences. I am currently fused T12-L4 from a prior back injury and am now looking at adding L5,S1 and he wants to include screws to my Iliac Crest to add my SI joint as well.

I have a combination of stenosis in my L4,L5 plus SI joint issues causing my symptoms.

It seems most of the stories I read do not bode well for activity post-surgery and I am hopeful I can continue hiking, biking, snowshoeing and ski-biking.

I was worried the long fusion would result in my body not being able to absorb the shock of hiking and ski-biking as well as what happens when I wipe-out on my ski-bike.

I am planning to have a 3rd conversation with my surgeon to make sure I have all my questions answered and there isn't anything I am missing but listening to your story and success, am hoping to hear more of your story and feedback, lessons learned, experiences etc.

Thoughts?

Thanks! Bob

@bspurgeon: I've had three spinal surgeries and am now fused from L2-S1. First was a laminectmy at L2, then a fusion L2-L3, and finally a fusion L3-S1, at which time the hardware was removed from the previous fusion. The last surgery was done in 2016. In about 2018 I was diagnosed w/ Idiopathic PN. Legs are starting to go numb, feet don't respond like they used to, and it is very difficult to walk because of pain in lower back. Between an excellent neurosurgeon and a very good DO who does the injections, I've managed with injections at L5-S1 and/ or the R S-I. I'm now to the point where it is difficult to walk and the injections no longer have any effect. No longer being able to walk, due to pain, more than 100 yards, has been bad for my weight and overall strength and conditioning. I am working with a great PT using a treadmill and exercycle, the treatmill is weightbearing but the exercycle not. Up to about 2 years ago, I was able to ride a recumbent tricycle - what a blast. I'm very thankful for the PTist who is very encouraging and is helping me keep moving. I still live alone.

If I were in your shoes, and I'm obviously not, I'd find a very good physical therapist, who is a good diagnostician, to find out how much movement you will retain after the proposed fusion. When injections failed to give me pain relief, and my spine doc was suggesting a fusion the
R S-I joint, he prediccted it wouldn't affect my walking very much and my pain would be reduced (a bone scan as indicated very active arthritis at the R C-I). My PT, however, took me through quite a few moves and concluded that I still had a significant amount of movement in my R S-I, which I would lose if it were fused. That would affect my gait and could make walking even more difficult. I've postponed any surgery on the R S-I indefinitely.

Hi-
I hope you are doing well today!!
I'm new to the group, and
not sure if you opted for the surgery or not, but wanted to share my story.
In February of 2023, I underwent a scoliosis straightening and fusion from S1 to T8, with horrible end results!!
The pain is worse than prior to the surgery, and now in a broader area! I feel all my hardware, from my pelvis, all the way up to my thoracic area, and also have stomach and bladder issues, as a result of the surgery. I'm in constant pain, and spend about 90% of my day laying down on a heating pad, as I cannot sit, stand or walk long at all.
My surgeon has exhausted all of his recommended options (PT, chiropractor, steroid injections into the back muscles, rheumatologist), and is now reaching out to two neurosurgeons in California, to see if they have run into any patients with similar symptoms as mine.
At this point, I want all the hardware removed, which my surgeon states he's never done before. I'm only 60 years old and the results from the surgery has drastically reduced my day-to-day routine and quality of life.
If only I could go back to before the surgery, I would not have had the fusion performed!!

Deb