Spinal fusion and possible laminectomy have been recommended!

Thank you so much... I'm fearful of the after pain too and how long it will be. My younger brother by 5 years had the same surgery and was back to work with Fedex delivering packages so that makes me feel a bit better. My husband had it from the front last year and doesn't have the pain any longer but has other back/spine issues. I didn't like his pain level at all. So I'm really apprehensive. I see my doc for preop tomorrow and will express my concerns. I have low back issues also. I actually went in the day of surgery back in 2007 and changed my mind after undressing. It still lets me know it's there but to this day I don't regret NOT having the surgery. Will keep you posted.

Thank you so much for this. My anxiety is through the roof!

Wife had spinal stenosis . Surgeon did laminectomy but hospital records show something called "INTERTRANVERSE FUSION WAS ALSO DONE. Can anyone tell me what exactly was this? Also surgeon failed to warn her that operation might lead to spinal instability-She now has sondylolitedis L3

Without getting too detailed... I'm scheduled for laminectomy in about 3 weeks. My neck pain is minimal but I have occasional arm weakness and or pain in certain positions, tingling pinky fingers, and lots of hand and finger cramping, and some imbalance at times. My pain is so minimal that I don't even take ibuprofen or Tylenol. I stretch a lot and try to pay attention to my posture. I'm hesitant on surgery but fear at 62 things will progress.

IMPRESSION:
Redemonstrated advanced multilevel degenerative changes, slightly progressed since 1/25/2018, with moderate canal stenosis at C5-C6 and C6-C7. Similar T2 hyperintense foci in the cord at C6-C7, suggestive of myelomalacia. Multilevel foraminal stenosis, most advanced on the left at C6-C7.

@bobcinem Welcome to Connect. If you have had spine surgery, you probably won't feel like traveling. Perhaps that could be an incentive for after your recovery. Would you be able to defer that trip with your group?

I know you have a lot to think about. I am a spine surgery patient with a cervical fusion. I stayed in a neck brace for 3 months until it fused because I didn't want to have hardware screwed to my spine. I had to rehab after the 3 months because my neck was weak from the brace. I did feel pretty good at 6 months. I have also broken my ankle, and I can tell you that the surgeries and recovery from that was far worse than spine surgery and a lot more painful. Having to be confined in a cast with a swelling ankle is torture, and all I could do was elevate my foot and use some ice, and pain meds of course. That went on for awhile, and then I had to gradually walk on my weak ankle which hurt and took a long time to get strength and muscles back.

Cervical spine surgery is easier than lumbar spine surgery. With lumbar, you are bearing most of your body weight on the operated area which makes that a tougher recovery.

I also had to overcome a lot of fear before my spine surgery, and I started this discussion about facing fear of surgery. It took me months to get past my fear step by step and I had been working on that for a couple years by the time I had surgery. My case was misunderstood by 5 surgeons and I was nervous seeing all of them, but also confronting my fear by facing them in a consultation, and afterward telling myself, I had done well handling the situation.

How can I defeat my anxiety about medical tests and surgery?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/how-can-i-defeat-my-anxiety-about-medical-tests-and-surgery/
Have you discussed your fear with your surgeon or primary care physician? Perhaps a counselor?

Hey, how are you doing! It close to your big date! Are you optimistic?

Hello,
My surgery date is this Friday, May 2nd. I am/have been having some anxiety but more so over the "after pain/recovery time." I have confidence in God, my surgeon, and the staff. If I'm feeling up to it afterwards, I'll definitely update you/all. Pray for me...

One more thing, what's "funny" is I was scheduled for this surgery back in December. It was canceled due to my SURGEON'S medical emergency! I was then rescheduled for January but then canceled again because evidently he wasn't "better." Then got the call for the upcoming date. During my pre-op appointments and meeting with him, he walks into the room looking great. I ask what happened. As it turns out HE BLEW OUT HIS BACK SHOVELING SNOW! Lol! We both laughed. I was encouraged by the fact that he was/is doing so well. I know that occupational health would not have let him return to work if he was incapacitated in any way. I happen to work for the same institution and know that they do not let us return after FML/sick leave without clearance. So my anxiety about his competence isn't causing my anxiety but he and others say "it's normal" to be anxious.

I would like to know more about 'living' with a neck brace... it sounds unbearable... My surgery is for L4 L5 and maybe SI(?) I keep forgetting to check that out !? ) I certainly agree with who you did that though!

The first surgeon wanted to do laminectomy, and then two fusions. The next surgeon suggested the laminectomy and one fusion.

The next time I spoke with him, he and the senior surgeon discussed my case and now recommend just the laminectomy, but strongly 'warned' me (probably not the right word choice, but fitting) that I would likely need to also at some point do one fusion and quite possible, eventually a second one. Ugh

Also I had a long session with a FMT (Functional Manual Therapy) expert. My daughter-in-law is a practicing FMT and begged me to go and at least try this. I have to say, it was truly amazing! I am going to see him again this week, but unfortunately my surgery is scheduled for May 14th. So it really won't be enough time to really give this a long enough experience to see if it could really prevent the necessity of the surgery. Apparently, there seem to be a number of people who had so much success with this (non-ivansive) treatment they were able to avoid surgery altogether. I'm really torn now.... I dread the thought of surgery but my pain level is pretty significant and I have become more or less home bound... of course after the surgery I know there will be a long recovery (even though the surgeon said that typically after a laminectomy people 'go back to work in three weeks'! That's hard for me to believe...but? Another complication is that I suffer from EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome). I will attached the description. There are many types, 7 I think, and mine is the 'Hypermobile EDS)' I've had elbow, shoulder, wrist, hand surgeries over the years and a lot of PT. My greatest weakness is that my core is not strong... and much of my pain can relate to years of that, using my back for the strength that I should use my muscles instead. Probably more information that anyone cares to know, but surgeons are notorious for not really understanding the true nature of this condition... If anyone has any feedback I would LOVE to hear it! Thanks gang!

@beancat425 My experience was that the after-surgery pain was not that bad, I felt awful taking pain medicine, so I never took any after I came home from surgery. I had it in case I needed it. I can tell you honestly that when I fractured my ankle, that was far worse than spine surgery for pain levels and time for recovery. Think about it as "healing pain" after surgery which is a positive progression toward healing and recovery. Right now, you are experiencing the pain of the spine issue that was caused by whatever led you to this condition. You are about to take control of that and fix it, so be kind to yourself. Right before I had my surgery, I asked the surgeon to come see me and I thanked him for helping me. That lets everyone go into the operating room feeling good. Gratitude helps chase away the fear.