get more opinions! I had 4! And my stupid neurosurgeon (who I saw for 20 years) would have had me in a wheelchair NEVER doing surgery! When I saw the 4th ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON, he showed me on a simple Xray how my disc fell completely out and my vertebrate grafted together. (my own self-surgery!) I wondered why the electrocution pain stopped. My major nerve roots were SQUASHED and I was on my way to permanent disability and lack of mobility. I said "do it" before he even finished his explanation. I was in surgery L3 - L5 with all the toppings on top of the sundae in a month (after 20 years of horrible back problems and two hip replacements which only took care of part of the problem). I got my LIFE BACK. @anoyymous123 6 years ago! You didn't say enough to help but to say GO BACK. If you don't trust the surgeon FIND ANOTHER. Sometimes scar tissue grows and there are NON SURGICAL interventions. Sometimes other modalities will help. They have for me! My back has continued to degenerate over 6 years. My surgeon who I adore is not sure what to do - so I explore other modalties. They work! But in that process I am learning MORE about what is causing the pain. My surgeon probably should have done more in the first surgery but my work is physical and he was trying to aid in my need for flexibility . This was always going to be my path. I have degenerative issues as does your wife. She should get a second opinion if she is in more pain than before or go to the original surgery. I hope she is doing her exercises, in p.t. where they can monitor her and going to her surgeon for post-op visits. She can go get MFR therapy (there is a section here on that), and try botox and acupuncture. There are many reasons why should could have pain - which could be resolved but you have to advocate for her and try all the things that may cause the pain.
About the shifting - it happens. Sometimes, it happens because the core muscles are not strong enough to hold things in position. That isn't the surgeons fault, nor the surgery. It could be the patient not being able to exercise enough, or continued degeneration. There are ways to cope with that but you need to get to pain mgt. or p.t. and continue with your doctor (or another). I went thru unbelievable double surgery in my neck. It is taking me TWO years to recover. (I am 68.). I just learned that the last vertebrate outside of the FIXED rod they stuck in my back is slipping too. Not pleasant news. I am working on my posture and strengthening my core. Some surgeons try and act conservatively. Their patients would be mad if they immobilized TOO much.
My suggestion is to keep moving forward with what you got! And don't get a bad attitude or you will give up and then its a revolving door of NO going forward. Get up and get engaged with getting rid of that pain. Try myofascial tissue relief therapy (MFR). Check for scar tissue (that's a biggie! and there are many options to deal with that). Trigger point injections, steroid injections and botox. But get the scar tissue checked first. best, Lori