Spinal Fusion Surgery – Good or Bad Experiences?

Posted by sb6088 @sb6088, Nov 2 10:07am

I have degenerative disc disease which is pretty advanced and have been told by several doctors I should have Four-level fusion (L2-S1) surgery, yet I am unsure. I have heard and read so many different opinions on this varying from definitely don’t do it to it has helped a lot. I do understand it depends on the person and how extensive the damage is so I am taking that into account. I’m also very concerned as I recently had a meniscectomy on my knee and ended up with nerve damage which makes me even more fearful about a more invasive surgery.

While I have read a lot about it and met with a surgeon, I am interested in personal thoughts and comments from anyone that has had the surgery and their experience, to those that like myself that are contemplating it as well. I’m really unsure how to proceed at this point.

Thank you in advance.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Spine Health Support Group.

dlydailyhope | @dlydailyhope | Nov 3 6:30am

@sb6088
I had ACDF surgery on c5-c6 in 2022, decompression/fusion of L3-L5 in 2024 and ACDF c6-c7 in 2025. I have a congenitally narrow spinal canal which causes many issues for me with any degeneration. I am 56 (female).

I may need L2-L3 decompressed/fused (adjacent segment issue) due to severe stenosis. I remember something shifted when trying to rotate sides/rollover in bed and my back twisted about 3 months after my L3-L5 surgery. That seems to have herniated my L2-L3 disc. I may also need surgery again in my cervical spine because something seems to have shifted in my neck and I have new pain. The issue with fusion is that your spine wants to move but not all levels can move as normal. A big missing piece in my opinion is teaching fusion patients how to do things differently and change body mechanics with fusion to reduce risk of adjacent segment issues.

Before my lumbar surgery, I had back/hips/buttocks, legs and foot pain, weakness and numbness affecting my standing/walking (hard to do without symptoms for 5-10 minutes). I had severe stenosis at L4-L5 and neurogenic claudication. It was an extremely painful surgery but many symptoms improved, especially the pain and numbness. I have residual weakness due to long term nerve/spinal cord compression injury and my new severe stenosis at L2-L3.

After my c5-c6 ACDF surgery, my daily headaches, neck/shoulder pain, arm/hand weakness, bladder control issues and heaviness in legs when walking, all improved after surgery. I have residual permanent weakness in my arms/hands due to delayed diagnosis of cervical spondylotic degenerative myelopathy (spinal cord compression injury).

I don’t have regrets getting the surgery and anticipate many surgeries in my future due to my narrow spinal canal. I’m not looking forward to this but do t feel I have much choice. I want to do physical therapy to help regain some muscle strength and flexibility since I have gotten so deconditioned the last 6+ years due to pain/weakness/numbness affecting my ability to do most things.

dawnj | @dawnj | Nov 3 6:57am

In reply to @sb6088 "@dawnj I hope all goes well and you find relief." + (show)

@sb6088 cancelled again

sb6088 | @sb6088 | Nov 4 9:32am

In reply to @jenniferhunter "@sb6088 You are not alone. At first I was terrified and having panic attacks every day..." + (show)

@jenniferhunter
Thank you for sharing your experience. You have a great way of explaining how to look at things from a different viewpoint which I've never done regarding this surgery. Also good advice to use in daily life when dealing with challenging decisions. Very helpful!

sb6088 | @sb6088 | Nov 4 9:33am

In reply to @dawnj "@sb6088 cancelled again" + (show)

@dawnj
Did you cancel or the doctor? I hope you're doing OK.

dawnj | @dawnj | Nov 4 10:08am

Doctor so thats 2x its happened in sick of it

sb6088 | @sb6088 | Nov 4 10:12am

In reply to @2muchpain2bear "Difficult decision for sure.... I am 69 y/o. In 1974, I incurred what they called an..." + (show)

@2muchpain2bear

Difficult decision for sure....

I am 69 y/o. In 1974, I incurred what they called an acute Grade 2 Spondylolisthesis with a pars defect after a football injury my senior year in high school. My football days were over.

It was unstable, but I was then strong and only had recurrent episodes of LBP for many years. It was generally relieved by flexion and rest. Finally, about 2009, I got to where I could only walk a few steps w/o severe LBP w/o any real radicular symptoms. I gave in...and elected to have surgery because my NCS/EMG studies were positive, even though I still had virtually no symptoms of radiculopathy.

Surgically, I had a plate put anteriorly onto a couple of lumbar vertebral bodies. Posteriorly, I had screws and a bar put in unilaterally. Additionally, I had a cage put in, (I'm not sure at what level) and I was told that I had a bone allograft done, for further stability. I was placed in a lower body cast and sent home with a bone stimulator. It was a big and painful surgery. (oddly, after surgery, I began having intermittent pain and burning in my toes and the soles of my feet) My neurosurgeon said that it would go away in about a year. It did not.

Over the last few years, I have deteriorated. My balance and proprioception are affected. I cannot walk on uneven surfaces. I can only walk about 30-50 steps without LBP and severe neurogenic claudication which is generally relieved by sitting or lying on my left side.

I now have numbness, pins and needles, and significant burning in the soles of my feet, generally when I walk or when it is cold. I am not diabetic. I have somewhat controlled hypertension. I am post triple bypass surgery since December 2022. Other than my bp meds, I take 600 mg Neurontin 5X per day. Allergy: Lyrica - swelling in feet (at least that's what my neurologist said)

I have been refractory to spinal injections and ablations.

Obviously, I did not have a complete decompressive laminectomy due to the doctors’ fear of making my Spondylo more unstable.

I feel that my L5-S1 Spondylo is stable now. My CT/MRI studies do show degenerative disc disease and mild to moderate stenosis of the lateral recess and IVF. Additionally, it shows hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum. I do have a disc bulge, at what level, I am not sure.

No one including my regular doctors, pain management, and neurologist have been able to help. I need help, but I am not sure where I need to start.

My goal would be to be able to walk again without the pain and neurogenic claudication that I am currently experiencing.

My fusion worked, It stabilized my Spondylo, but I have issues now that were never previously addressed. I think a complete decompression and fusion may have been a better alternative for me back then.

Good luck!

Jump to this post

@2muchpain2bear
Wow you have been through a lot, thanks for sharing. You really seem to be an expert in this subject and I value your comments. So do you believe overall that you are worse or better off after all the surgery you've been through? I feel for you especially since you're still in so much pain today. Do the meds you take (Neurontin and Lyrica) help at all? I am not familiar with ablation but spinal injections do not work for me either. I can certainly relate to the LBP and not being able to walk very far. My doctors have said my next step needs to be the spinal fusion which I’m not sure I want to do especially being aware of the risks. Plus I recently had a simple meniscectomy and now have more pain and neurogenic claudication than I had before. As many have said and as you related (especially after all you’ve had done) you’re still in pain and unable to walk. I wish there was something more of us sufferers could do without additional surgery. I’ve read something about a pain stimulator, but need to look into that further. I really hope you find relief as I completely understand how being in constant pain truly impacts your quality of life.

sb6088 | @sb6088 | Nov 4 10:14am

In reply to @dawnj "Doctor so thats 2x its happened in sick of it" + (show)

@dawnj
Yeah that would upset me as this surgery is something you really have to psych yourself up for. I suppose you've done all the prep work with this doctor so it would be hard to see another at this point.

sb6088 | @sb6088 | Nov 4 10:17am

In reply to @mrmacabre "I've had spinal fusion procedures done on my neck on 2 different occasions, at the C5-C6..." + (show)

@mrmacabre
I'm glad to hear it worked out well for you. Are you pain free? If so that's definitely a success, thanks for sharing.

sb6088 | @sb6088 | Nov 4 10:21am

In reply to @jlwbc76 "I had C2-T1 fused about 7 years ago. It hurts all the time.,I have not been..." + (show)

@jlwbc76
I'm sorry to hear you're in pain. Overall would you say the surgery was a success as you're now able to stand tall or is the pain too debilitating? Does physical therapy help a lot? I'm in the process of doing that now for my knee but its hard to tell if its helping.