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Doc recommends spinal fusion from T12 - S1.
66 year old female Considering spinal fusion from T12 - S1 for pain standing and walking. Has anyone had this full lumbar fusion? I am concerned for permanent restrictions or loss of mobility post surgery.
I am active and very social. Looking for what I can expect for future life mobility restrictions as I weigh whether to move forward with this surgery. I would like to hear about your post surgery experiences as I weigh my decision, understanding healing is a very individual experience.
I believe I am at the tipping point and am moving towards surgery, if I can live with the restrictions and if I will be able to acclimate to my body new abilities and be active WITHOUT pain.
Prior Micro discectomy L2 - L3 in 2015.
Pain again about 2018 and has progressed to not being able to stand more than 20-30 minutes nor walk more than a mile. Significant pain when I do either of these things....cooking....walking to an event....putting on make up.
Once I sit, fortunately the pain lessens and eventually goes away. I can sit hours mostly pain free and laying down and sleep without pain.
I had to use a wheel chair to tour a museum with friends and find I am not doing things I want to do to avoid hurting which indicated to me that I should stop kicking the can down the road and consider more surgery.
I was surprised with this full lumbar fusion recommendation and did not realize how restrictive my life will be permanently. I am confident in my surgeon and do not feel pressure to move forward with surgery.
I bicycle 60 miles a week pain free (sitting) and it is my go to escape and exercise. I will be most unhappy if I am not able to bike. Anyone a biker
I am a massage therapist and I have stepped away from work except one worksite client. I golf and exercise and am social. Travel and site seeing is painful, but I do it anyway.
Any new treatments on the horizon? Concerns if I wait to have surgery?
My MRI reports.
1. Progressive moderate levorotoscscoliosis centered at L2, which measures 30 degrees and previously 18 degrees in 2015.
2. Progressive degenerative disc disease in the right half of L2/L3 disc space.
3.At L2/L3, previously noted right parcentral/posterolateral disc herniation has been relaced with moderate-sized osteophytic bone ridge which narrows the right lateral recess and results in mild to moderate right foraminals stenosis.
4. At L4/L5 and L5-S1 mild to moderate broad-based left paracentral and Posterolateral disc bulge/herniation relusts in progressive moderate to advanced left foraminal stenosis.
5. L3-L4, mild multifactional central spinal canal stenosis due to posterior disc bulge/herniation, bilateral facet arthropathy, and ligamentum flavum thickening. Mild-to-moderate right foraminal stenosis. This has progressed.
Thanks in advance for any information you are able to share. Tamra
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@sassytwo, I hope my message was did not discourage you but just provided an opportunity to pause and get all of your answers. I am hoping that when my current PMR flare is in remission, I will be able to do all of the things that you can. I am definitely taking your advice on massages. I had been going and somehow they have fallen off my schedule so I will get that restarted. Please keep me posted. Take care!
I am so sorry to hear this and it does give me pause. I have been told to expect a very tough year plus to heal, but to keep doing all in my power to heal and to keep the faith. The body wants to heal and I pray yours will improve for you soon.
@sassytwo Those are some tough choices. Is your scoliosis causing a lot of problems? I think I would take a break and really think about it too since those are big surgeries. Does your scoliosis allow your spine to have some mobility or does it kind of lock you in place? Does it cause muscle pain in your body from misalignment? I don't have scoliosis, but I'm trying to understand and empathize.
Jennifer
@lmant63 Welcome to Connect. I'm sorry that spine surgery didn't help your condition, and it is good for others to know your experience. Spine surgery isn't always the best choice for everyone. I read an interesting book from a spine surgeon who later because a spine surgery patient himself, and he writes about this. The book is "Back in Control" by David Handscom, MD. Here is his website.
https://backincontrol.com/
Jennifer
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2 ReactionsHi - Still doing ok just under a year later. It has been very mild this winter even in Feb and I have been able to work in yard several days last month and already a few days in early March! Mostly trimming back dead perennials left standing over winter. I have some steep areas and have been able to get up and down them with no real problems. Lots of bending and stretching. Sometimes my muscles are sore but that’s to be expected.
I do have some bulging discs in my T-spine but those have been present and SO far not symptomatic! 🤞
My neck is still an issue but as I said, I’m not going there again for several reasons!
Hoping this is helpful? Let me know if you have more specific questions. 😊
As an FYI, I’m 73, 5’1” and about 115# right now.
Oh my! I'm so sorry you are experiencing such negative impacts from your massive lower spine surgery. What you had done was huge! I had three (all scheduled) spine surgeries in 2023 and my rehab continues over 9 months later.
Yes, I have felt the same feelings you express and have some thoughts for you. I believe that such massive surgeries can create for the patient a post-surgical form of PTSD. I felt similar debilitating and terrible psychological symptoms ... and I couldn't see my way past them. I literally feared I had ruined the rest of my life. You may be there, now.
Two things helped me manage: (1) Realizing that PTSD might be at work. Do some online research. Match your symptoms to those related to "typical" PTSD. Consider some of the approaches others have used to manage PTSD. (2) Maintaining a progress diary helped give me the perspective that - even though I felt like there was no change in my rehab - that I actually was slowly improving. When in the depths of PTSD - it feels like you're never going to improve...
Expressing yourself can be therapeutic.
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4 ReactionsNice to hear this helpful experience!
I have an mri scheduled in about 2 wks and will go from there. I am going to get another doctor to look at it and if possible have a smaller procedure. I've decided I will not have the mega-fusion unless the pain gets considerably worse or I start losing strength in my legs or feet. I can get around ok and work part time as it is. Pain is tolerable taking Norco/hydrocodone as needed. To me there is too much risk and not enough upside at this point. At 57 I want to keep working and be a little bit active for as long as possible. If you can golf and ride a bike afterwards I would be surprised. I have a neighbor who had the T12-sacrum procedure(he would be in a wheelchair if he hadn't). He is a very tough country boy and he's had a hard time doing much since the surgery 5 years ago. He is about mid-60's. God bless whatever decision you make.
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1 ReactionThank you very much for your response. That is great to hear that you can do so much. I will consult again later on!
Hi Sassytwo-
My surgeries were 12 and 8 years ago. I'm now 83. I am fused from L2 to L5. Currently I have significant arthritis at L5-S1 and at the R-SI (sacroiliac). Injections no longer help. I've had about 6 or 7 very good years following the last fusion at L3-L5 in 2016. I've been able to walk long distances, ride my recumbent tricycle, and do all the cooking I wanted. My limitations were to not bend over .
Now, years after the last fusion, and with steroid injections no longer effective, I have considerable pain on standing which limits my standing to just a few minutes. I can walk no longer than about 5 to 7 or 8 minutes - to the mailbox and back, but by the time I'm headed home, I'm hurting. I can push a lightweight stick vacuum, do a limited amount of cooking, but I can't throw a dinner party any more. This area no longer has a outstanding spine doctor or clinic. On Friday, I do see the best brain/spine doctor in this area. No I don't need any brain surgery, but he has a stellar reputation for diagnosing spinal conditions. He may not be able to provide the solution, but he can recommend a solution or solutions and tell me who I need to see, very likely in another city.
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