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Spondylolisthesis and DDD

Posted by red3 @red3, Nov 5, 2019

I am a 52 year old female with no prior surgeries. I have suffered lumbar pack pain for 30 years. It started out hurting from time to time. Now I have constant pain and have trouble getting out of bed in the morning and can barely get the dog walked. Doctors have told me I need spinal fusion of L5-S1 and possible L4. Also, disc replacement of L5. I have seen an Orthopedic surgeon and a Neurosurgeon for opinions. The neurosurgeon wants to do the surgery. The orthopedic surgeon said his goal is to keep me off the operating table because I am opening myself up to a whole host of problems if I have the surgery. I decided to see another spine doctor. They currently have me on Gabapentin, 2 capsules a night which has made zero difference in my pain. They want me to work up to 3 capsules a night but I'm not happy about taking it. It makes me dizzy and has other negative side effects. My question is: Should I have the surgery? Or do I need to accept my condition and learn to live with a decreased quality of life?

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loriesco | @loriesco | Mar 20 1:39pm
In reply to @nana1606 "Above all else, you need the best surgical team possible, if you decide to have surgery...." + (show)
@nana1606

Above all else, you need the best surgical team possible, if you decide to have surgery. I looked online for months, especially at the patient reviews. My situation is similar to yours. I have suffered for 30+ years in pain after exhausting all nonsurgical options. I did choose an excellent neurosurgeon at Mayo Rochester. I ended up having 2 surgeries four days apart and have no regrets. My neurosurgeon confirmed that my spinal problems would continue to get worse and I could end up in a wheelchair in years to come without surgery. I am four months post surgeries and doing well. A full recovery can take 1-2 years. You may want to check with your insurance company. Many of them require that you do nonsurgical options before they approve your surgery. Best wishes you you

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best wishes on recovery! emoji heart. We have to be our own advocates unconditionally! In my case a full recovery was more because my nerves were SO SQUISHED! But I was really great at 5 months compared to the way I was before surgery. 1 year it was in the mirror. Here I am 6 years later looking at more surgery... but that is not the teams fault, its my body. I will face it squarely, too!

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