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Spondylolisthesis: Spinal Fusion at L-4-L5
Spine Health | Last Active: Jul 18 7:36am | Replies (29)Comment receiving replies
BTY, upstatephil, I too am 71+ and have been active and want to remain that way. Trying to maintain a positive outlook and focus is difficult at times.
Replies to "BTY, upstatephil, I too am 71+ and have been active and want to remain that way...."
Here is an update on my situation. I've saw another neurosurgeon in June for a second opinion. He did a flexion and extension xray as well as straight on for scoliosis. His interpretation of the xrays and previous MRI's was instability of L2/3 mainly, possibly some in L3/4. He is suggesting L2/3 LIF.
I saw him again yesterday, went over the xray's & MRI's and where my pain is. I have pain in the L2/3 but also below. We talked about other imaging, and he is ordering a Spect CT, lumbar MRI, and bone density. Has anyone had the Spect CT done? It apparently shows areas of bone inflammation / pain on the scan and can help to determine areas needing treatment / surgery.
Not sure how fast those will get done, but hopefully soon. I'm keeping as active as possible with walking (1.5-2.5 miles daily), some core exercises as much as I can tolerate. But things are progressing with feet, calve, thigh, lower groin tingling as well as the pain/discomfort in the lumbar region for L2-5. I'm to the point of needing at least the L2/3 surgery, but am concerned about the ones below too. The imaging should help decide that? I'm comfortable with the neurosurgeon, his knowledge, experience, and concern. That's something that I didn't feel with the first two.
So the main thing for this posting is asking about Spect CT, who has had it and did it help with your situation and deciding surgery?
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Question for upstatephil. I'm curious about your symptoms and imaging for the decision to have L2-L5 fusion. Do you have degenerative discs, retrolisthesis, spondylolisthesis, any other spine instability issues? Did you have any abdominal discomfort, bowel/bladder involvement, tingling in groin/legs/feet? If you had any of that, has the surgery helped? How is your range of motion now compared to before surgery? Bending, twisting, etc.? I think you said you are about a year out from the surgery, what was it like 3 months, 6 months?
I'm trying to deal with abdominal issues, determining what's causing it, and not sure I want to do fusion until I get that resolved. I've got Dr. appointments soon that may give me answers, I hope. But my lumbar has retrolisthesis L2 to S1, with L4/5 level 1 spondy. One neurosurgeon says to fuse L4/5, another says it wouldn't help. Trying to get a third opinion, but it's going to be August at the earliest and maybe Dec!