Has anyone had a failed spinal fusion?

I was on prednisone for over 9 months for polyfibromyalgia rheumatica. I had just got my osteoporosis back to osteopenia. I'm sure I'm back to osteoporosis now so I understand your concern.
Sprint PNS is an implanted wire with a Pulse Generator attached to my back that I will wear for 60 days. It's supposed to change the brain waves so they don't respond to the pain. I'm scheduled for the procedure on 11-22. I pray it works.

Is that a type of Spinal cord stimulator? I did a trial for the Nevro Hfx but it didn't do much, so I didn't get the permanent stimulator. I hope the sprint one works for you. Please let us know how it goes.

After your laminectomy you need another surgery ?

I’m sorry you’re experiencing ongoing pain. I had a 3 level cervical fusion a little over 2 years ago. Despite having a successful fusion (bone is fused, hardware intact with no issues) I continue to work on muscle recovery. With a fusion one area of your spine is fixed & secure, forcing a realignment in the biomechanics of the spine. This can take time to adjust and ongoing exercises to strengthen and improve those areas can take time. Do you have continued follow ups with your surgeon? I’m so sorry - I understand the ongoing soreness and pain is a challenge

I will let you know. I'm sorry you didn't get relief with the Nevro HFx as I was considering that if this procedure doesn't work. My pain surgeon won't do a stimulater because of my hardware from my double spinal fusion. I will have to find a specialist who can try it. My pain is as bad as it was before I broke my back just in my lumbar area now. I'm at a total loss as to what to do. I''m even considering going to Mayo. The pain is so bad it's making me nauseous.

I has my back operation almost two years ago. I feel that I am still recovering. It took six months before I felt that I was making progress. I wish my doctor had told me what to expect. I was just given the choice of staying on opioids for the rest of my like or the operation with no guarantees. I took the operation.

You may be expecting too much from the operation too soon. I Know I did. I was desperate to get off the opioids. The doctors recommended Advil. I only took the max each day. I was feeling great. Then I thought I was having a heart attack and went to emergency. No one told me not to take Advil for more than 3 days. I'm on a combination of a small dose of Tramadol and and acetomynophin(?) and at my age, I decided I don't care if I get addicted. I've only used two pills once in a 24 hour period. The bottle says take 1 to 2 up to 3 times a day.
My cardiologist says he only considers a heart attack, a heart attack if there is damage. There was no damage but it scared the h__l out of me. I've since updated my will! By the way, be very careful about doing a Power of Attorney. I've heard some awefull stories. Lawyers don't tell you that you can cancel a POA at any time. I've found Notary Public's give you much more information.

Sorry it’s lengthy : After having a failed lumbar surgery April 2023 I’m worse than before the surgery . After my surgeon ignored my plea and sent me for a stimulator which luckily that doctor agreed there was something wrong and sent me to 3 other surgeons all agreeing there was nothing wrong ( why would there be any change if they all went by the same MRI that was taken 6-8 months prior and my pain got worse after it, non of them looked at my back. I could literally rub the tailbone and pain go straight to the testicles and was told by my surgeon I don’t have that) . I was then referred to Mayo Clinic in Rochester and had a CT Scan and Scoliosis X-ray which showed a loose screw. Their recommendation was leave it alone and get a stimulator. I came home and contacted my surgeon again who said that loose screw was just a halo probably not a loose screw so get a stimulator . I’m confused as to why you would leave a loose screw @L5 in that’s causing more pain and new nerve zaps everyday! If the stimulator blocks the pain wouldn’t the screw continue being loose and do more damage ? Running out of options I go see the Physiatrist Dec 2 about putting the stimulator in I hate to do it if somethings wrong( wait I’m laying on an air mattress because my back is tender and I can’t lay on a bed I slept in a recliner for 4 months until I got the air mattress ) but I’m running out of Doctors and taking way to much meds . I feel like a scarecrow would be more understanding than my local Neurosurgeons!

I feel that I am in the same boat with you. The pain I have now is different than the pain prior to surgery one year ago. And my neurosurgeon does not now why and wants me to see the Physiatrist again for another injection. He says the MRI does not match my symptoms. Why can’t he concentrate on my symptoms and accept that something is really wrong. This is not in my head, it is squarely in my back with every move I take. We need to keep fighting to be heard and believed.

I've never felt this bad in my entire life. I am now facing another surgery, in January. This time my Neurosurgeon will do an XLIF procedure. He says that I have a new herniation at the L2 level, and I have loose screws at the L3 level. The SI joint pain that he said I had did not end up being SI joint pain per the Pain Management Physician who gave me 2 steroid injections directly into the joints with no relief. I continue to tell the Neurosurgeon where my pain is, pointing to the areas on my body directly in front of him, and it's like he just doesn't get it. Plus I have ribcage pain - he doesn't know what that is all about either. I have continued pain across my lower back (L) to (R). He says this XLIF procedure will reduce my pain. I'm not so sure to be honest. So now I will have to begin the recovery process all over again from Day 1. My greatest fear is that this just isn't going to end, and it's going to be one surgery after another and I still will be in pain -----

I never got much benefit from my spinal fusion (L3-4-5). I have some degree of scoliosis which may have contributed and also had a TKA before having the fusion. The two have never meshed and I cannot maintain posture or walk any distance. I use a walking stick which helps a lot. The global picture is further complicated by fairly new diagnosis of Psoriatic Arthritis. I’m never sure if this is the source of my pain or just the whole degenerative spine issue. My ortho doc had told me from the start, that healing could take up to a year. I’m coming up on 2 yrs, so don’t hold out any hope.
Good luck to you and maybe give it more time.