What are people's experiences with spinal fusion surgery?

Hi, I just joined. I am going through some fear as my ACDF surgery is June 5. I have read some of the comments and it is helpful. I only met my neurosurgeon once, but he gave me confidence with him and he explained my MRI and the surgery well. I have myelopathy and my spinal cord is already damaged, so my main reason for having the surgery is to avoid paralysis. I have just turned 73 and I don’t want to spend what time I have left paralyzed. They will fuse 3 discs together (C3/4, C5/6 and C7). I have stage 2 congestive heart failure; FMD of the carotid arteries; lupus and Rheumatoid arthritis. I am worried about my carotid arteries which are like beaded necklaces. Anybody there to give me a pep talk?

I have FMD as well. I had one spinal surgery and there were no issues. It is important that the anesthesiologist is aware of your FMD so as to not hyperextend your neck when intubating you. That’s how my FMD doctor explained it to be. Also, be sure not to ride roller coasters which can also hyperextend your neck🤪🤣🤣

I am 72 now and had a successful fusion of L4-5 last August. It’s a long recovery- I had to wear a back brace for 3 mos. I wasn’t allowed to start PT until 4 mos afterwards. I do not have pain now, only residual mild numbness in my feet from spinal stenosis. My surgery was a TLIF procedure. I’m pretty much back to all activities but extra careful when walking, hiking. No falls allowed! All the best. FYI- if you are post menopausal female and have never had a Dexa Scan for bone density, get one prior to surgery! I have osteoporosis and the surgeon wanted me to take bone building meds 3-6 months prior to surgery

@italialola3 Lola, It sounds like the insurance company is playing games. You may want to make some calls to your insurance company and talk to supervisors there. Tell then how urgent your situation is and that you don't want further permanent damage because you're not being helped in a timely fashion. If they think it will get more complicated and expensive if you wait, they may authorize it. I don't know if this is a work comp situation, but often those can be long and drawn out while the insurance doesn't want to pay and hopes that you give up. I'm sorry you have this situation. It's not fair, but you need to speak up and keep calling until you get what you need. They need to hear from you what your surgeon explained. If you have an attorney involved, it would be worth calling them.

@mariner1925 Welcome to Connect. Sometimes choices are hard and scary. I was there too 8 years ago with spinal cord compression and scared because I'd always been scared of medical procedures that would cause pain. Fearing pain actually makes it hurt more, so anything you can do to relax will help. I worked out a routine of music therapy with deep breathing to music any time I got anxious and I picked music I could get lost in. You know that you are choosing surgery for the right reasons, so believe in yourself to get through the recovery more easily. It will take a while before you feel better and your body does that on it's own schedule. You can't rush healing, so just relax and be kind to yourself. After surgery, the pain will be healing pain.

Here is a discussion that may help give you some ideas on how to cope. You can workout your own routine for when you need it. In your mind, you will connect it to a safe place which will help ease the stress. Also gratitude helps chase away fear, so be grateful that you have decided to go forward and that you have a good surgeon on your team. Yes! You are part of the team!
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/how-can-i-defeat-my-anxiety-about-medical-tests-and-surgery/
I didn't want to be paralyzed either and I was loosing the coordination in my arms. It mattered to me a lot because I am an artist.. I got through it and you will too! I hope you'll check in when you can.

Jennifer

I have had 2 lumbar fusions from L 2 to L4 the first 20 yrs ago then the second about 8 yrs ago. My first was by neuro surgeon had bad results on pain meds for about 4 yrs. Came off meds as my body was wanting more. Knew I had to come off them. It was a hard month I reduced the pills by half for a week them by 4ths the nect week and by 5ths until I could live without them it wasn’t pleasant! Next the vertibrses above the fusion failed! So fusion on L4 snd L5. This time a Ortho surgeon did the fushion no problem with pain meds. Them the Cervival 4 5 6 broke down ortho dr did the fusion. Now my hands and the back of my arms and neck are hurting. Dr said need to do carparnal tunnel surgery ortho surgeon done the surgery, Did not faze the pain still have neck pain stiff neck migrime headaches fingers hurt wrist hurt and the back side of upper arms. Cannot find a the reason for this psin. But it’s a classic symptom of C 6 problem well thats under the fusion so no one can find a cause as to why I have these symptomd. So we are at a stand still! With pain meds to get me thru it. Not a fan of pain meds but not a fam of extreme pain either. I am 69 yrs old and I am not looking forward to the future! If I had it to do over I would do everything not to have back surgery!

I had a fusion L-5 L-4 30 years ago. It permitted me to continue my work as a carpenter.
Five weeks ago I had another fusion L4 - L3. So far so good. Much pain at first and then
much nerve pain in my legs (controlled with Lyrica) . Presently only on Tylenol and actually
feel pretty good. Wear back brace when up (out of bed), sitting for short times but spend
much time lying in bed (actually have finished 6 books). In general - very happy with the
surgery. I realize that the dics above the original fusion are disintegrating but before the
surgery, I could walk only short distances, unable to stand for long and was in pain all the time.
My problem - I am old (almost 80) but life is still good. peterpaul

I have nothing but good things to say about having had emergency surgery from L2,-S1. Revision surgery last summer so now 12 pedicle screws L2-S2. But I never had back pain. Only excruciating nerve pain down both legs which progressed into difficulty even walking. So I guess I was the ideal candidate for fusion. I never complained and haven't since about my aching back. Perhaps if someone expects this kind of surgery to alleviate muscle pain they are in for a rough ride. Because that's not the intent at all. I didn't choose my neurosurgeon. It was an emergency. But I went back to him because my right foot was cold and I had yet nerve pain. He checked all the screws replaced two loose ones and put some long ones at S2. I am happy indeed. I have arthritis in my cervical spine it's severe on an image but no problem for me. Unless I develop nerve pain I won't seek relief for that. I've lived with that for decades. I'm good. My mother at 88 had laminectomy for her spinal stenosis. Much much easier recovery. My neurosurgeon wisely sent me to endocrinologist for osteoporosis. That is something I appreciate at age 67. I'm at higher risk for several reasons. I am thin. And female. So now I'm getting treatment + take calcium magnesium zinc D and I walk a great deal. And do not fall. That's the absolute most thing I think. Good balance. Weight bearing exercise. For my back and general health.

"Only excruciating nerve pain down both legs which progressed into difficulty even walking."
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I know how that pain feels. One of my legs stopped working. I couldn't walk very well and needed to drag one leg.

I was being prepped for "urgent surgery." The spine surgeon said I wasn't the best candidate for a lumbar fusion because of taking so much Prednisone for many years. The plan was to fuse my entire lumbar spine. The surgeon said he would have to remove all the "bad bone" in my lumbar spine. However, he didn't think there would be enough "good bone" left to hold all the hardware needed to fuse my lumbar spine. Taking prednisone didn't bode well for full recovery without complications.

Several years have past. I have residual foot drop and still have some difficulty walking unless I use a rollator I don't drag my leg anymore. I'm off prednisone so surgery won't be as risky.

Nerve pain was going to be the "deciding factor" about doing the lumbar fusion. I don't have too much nerve pain anymore as long as the inflammation around my spine is controlled. Now the surgeon wants to do surgery while I can still walk.

The surgeon says it isn't about the pain anymore. If it was only about the pain, I wouldn't consider the fusion. If the pain returned I would do any surgery that would stop the pain.

I had fusion of my L3/4 & L4/5, with Dr Phillip J Orisek in Sacramento. He does a LLIF it is a
minimally invasive procedure Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion is a method of spine surgery in which the lumbar spine is approached through the patient's side. With the use of x-ray imaging, this procedure allows for dilation through the psoas muscle in a muscle splitting approach rather than approaching the spine anteriorly (through the abdomen) or posteriorly (through the back). Anterior (ALIF) and Posterior (PLIF/TLIF) approaches would require a larger incision with more muscle, bone and ligament disruption.
You are not alone in your pain and this should save you from some of it !
SURGICAL PROCEDURES