I am contemplating S1-L5 lumbar fusion. Outcomes thoughts

Hi Joe,
If working on your core muscles is doing you good, why choose surgery? Surgery should be the last resort and most people choose surgery because of the unberable pain. I had a L5-S1 fusion and my pain was resolved. As for the stiffness, I suffer some but I have no pain. Life is about compromise 🙂

I found my surgeon through two independent sources. My PCP recommended him. When it go incredibly bad, I looked around. Some told me they wouldn’t touch my spine. I spoke to a good friend who was at the time (2014) the head of the OR Ortho nurse team at the best hospital in town. She said she’s “seen them all” and one stood out. It turned out to be the same guy my PCP suggested. On top of it she told me she and two of her team had back surgery by this guy.
I went in completely confident in my choice. It’s the best thing I could have done.
Afterwards he told me he could have done more than the L 3-4-5 fusion but I had been under for four hours. I was 65. I’m now 75 and have zero regrets over that decision.

That’s terrific fncz. You did great due diligence on your surgeon and the results show.

Always great when these Drs do only what is necessary for surgery. And I had the same experience. Minimal intervention and I still haven’t had any fusions.

Good to know that in the right hands, fusion surgery can work. Thanks again.

Joe

Hello Mary. Several questions. When was your fusion? Please describe your stiffness. Does it extent beyond level of fusion? Could you swing a golf club comfortably? Touch your toes?
I’d appreciate your reply and glad you have no pain. Bill

Hi all fellow spine surgery candidates!
7 orthopod said lamonectomy and fusion. I have extreme stenosis L345 and spondolothesis ( 2slipped discs)
Recommended to a neural surgeon who was willing to meet my request for no fusion. He responded and said he was thinking hemilamanotomy !
This procedure spares the vertebrae structure, much faster recovery, less hospital time, less blood loss, less procedural errors/problems and almost same 1 yr, 2 yr 5-10year patient satisfaction, reduced lower back pain and neurogenic claudation.
This is the way I plan on going.
Having read the studies I’m convinced either way you have 10-15% revisions or additional treatments. Neither is perfect however one is minimally invasive and 4-6 weeks full recovery. Fusion is 6 months to a year for recovery.
Less is more regardless of the 2 slipped discs.
Good luck.
You must do your homework, neurosurgeons are much more skilled with nerve systems.
Tony 78

Hi Bill,
I had my spinal fusion (L5-S1) 23 years ago. I don't play golf so I can't explain how I feel on a swing. I do still play leisure tennis. The stiffness on my lower back was preventing me from kneeling all the way down. I have no problem touching my toes. Hope this helps.

don't do it. Had a spinal fusion that the neuro surgeon never went high enough so I have had noting but problems, and now they want to do another fuion, then eventually you will have a rod all the way up your back. I got a spinal stimulator and it is amazing. Check out spinal cord stimulators and forget surgery

Thanks Mary - I'm glad to hear you're managing your fusion well. It's a serious procedure as you well know, one I want to avoid.

And to clear that up about me. No I would much rather keep my core strong and avoid fusion. I met my surgeon for the first time over one year ago - it was a purely preventative visit. He was referred to me by by knee Dr. When I arrived, XRays were taken before I even saw the surgeon.

In all humility, he was surprised to see someone as fit as I am. He said just from the pictures of my lumbar spine, he expected a bent over old man. He advised me to continue with the core work, because if surgery were ever necessary, it would require some fusion.

I'm 70 now, well almost, and want to be ready with a surgeon I trust if I ever do need surgery. Everything that could be wrong with my lumbar spine is wrong. Stenosis, scoliosis, vertebra slipping over another, disc degeneration and osteoarthritis. It's a mess.

You wouldn't know by my lifestyle. I'm at the gym each day and do spin 5 days a week and I work with a trainer twice a week. But with my lumbar spine, picking up a case of water at Costco the wrong way could result in surgery, so I'm careful.

Anyway, I hope that clears it up. I've also lost 25 lbs in the last year and am now at normal weight for my height. You're right, life is about compromise. I had my knees replaced to rid myself of the pain. I'll do the same with my back, but will avoid at all costs.

Even so it's good to hear your story. I've had two bouts with sciatica, one resulting in laminotomies at S1, L4, and L5. They worked but I'm not a fool.

Thanks again Mary. I'm really glad you are doing well, even with a bit of stiffness. It sounds like you had a good surgeon and took your recovery seriously. All the best.

Joe

Thanks Carrin. I'm so sorry to hear about what happened to you. That's what concerns me about fusion. Fuse two vertebra and then it starts a chain reaction. Fortunately I'm avoiding surgery by keeping my core strong. My core is literally holding my lumbar spine together.

Can a spinal cord stimulator be used in lieu of fusion? I will check it out, and thank you.

All the best you you friend. Joe

Hi Tony,

I'm almost 70 and have had laminotomies at S1, L4, and L5 - 10 years ago. First surgeon would only do fusion so I got a second opinion. The laminotomies remove some of the vertebra, but not as radical as a laminectomy. 10 years later, no leg pain and going strong.

I'm in the gym everyday, at my ideal weight, and I work core specifically (almost everything we do, every motion, involves the core). My surgeon said keep it up because my core is holding my degenerative lumbar spine together and keeping me from fusion.

What is a hemilaminotomy? I'm not familiar with it. With back surgery, less is more. I'm encouraged you're doing so well at 78! Keep it up!

Joe