Spinal Fusion

I hope the best for you!
The second surgery I looked forward to being put on the operating table because I knew it was going to be better in a several months (the years of uncertainty and anxiety waiting to get there was the worse part seriously).
I would think if someone has a lot of pain with spinal disc issues then you will be strong enough to get through the surgery recovery pain!
Let me know how how things are after your recovery!😊

I am facing spinal surgery on 5/20 to include fusion and rods and screws to address my scoliosis mainly in my lower back but extending up into the lower thoracic area. I am 71 years old in ok health and really apprehensive of the surgery and the pain to come. So many horror stories! Any words of wisdom?

@lisajanec At 3 weeks I was accidentally twisted by a friend ( it didn’t seem to bother me ) then the next week his NP said it might be a set back but you can start twisting bending and lifting up to 25lbs. I went home that night and bent to dry my lower legs and had a burning sensation in my back (probably screw coming loose ) 2 years later I’m still suffering from it. Before the next visit the nurse had gotten one of them to do an X-ray or mri because the pain was getting worse and I go to see him and he says why are you here and I explain if I rub my tailbone it goes right to the testicles . Not even getting me out of the wheelchair he says no you don’t ! He put that it was a failed fusion and said get a stimulator . My doctor doing my stimulator agreed with me and sent me to another surgeon which I saw another one as well there while admitted to the hospital , they both looked at the test from 6 months ago and said they don’t see anything. He sent me to another one that said it was my hip so I went to a hip doctor who laughed and said no it’s not it’s your back. I finally about 18 months after my fusion went to Mayo and was told I have the screw loose at L5 and not to do any revision. When he fused me he couldn’t put the screw in L5 right side because it blew out. I went to 2 more surgeons and finally had the stimulator it’s helped tremendously but I still have bowel issues and have read some of problems seek help immediately and they just say no you don’t have that go see a gastro doc or urologist.

So sad! I hope you can get this situation rectified. What was the reason for the fusion? I, too, had a fusion at L5-S1 eight years ago to correct(supposedly) spondylolithesis. It was a tough recovery, but it never provided any relief. What troubles me, looking back, is that two previous MRIs did not show any such condition. It was labeled the infamous "Failed back surgery syndrome". Wish I had been a little more savvy back then.

@lisajanec After a failed L4-S1 fusion April 2023 I also have a loose screw and was told it’s best to leave it alone . I finally had to get a Boston Scientific Spinal Cord Stimulator in January this year! After being in so much pain prior to installation I was 95% afterwards (felt amazing actually got to sleep in bed immediately after installation which I couldn’t do for 8 months) I occasionally used an air bed that I used to be able to go to Mayo in Minnesota. 4 days after stimulator was put in we boxed the air bed up and I bent to pick a magazine and pulled the wires loose (so much for a $78,000 surgery) I just had it redone 2 weeks ago they used leads the first time and paddles the second time, they just removed my staples and turned it on Thursday it still needs some more adjustments but I’m about 75% pain free.

Hi!
Did the dr. explain why it is best to leave your failed fusion and loose screws alone?

I was recommended for fusion of L5-S1 back in 2017. It was for supposed spondylithesis(?). Not a pleasant experience. Took about a month to get back to some sort of normalcy. My original complaint was for lower back pain. The fusion did nothing for the pain. I suppose it's possible that the surgery did solve the out-of-alignment vertebrae. Who knows. It was ultimately listed as "failed back surgery syndrome". Very convenient.