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Concerned about fusion, have osteoporosis: What are TLIF, ALIF, XLIF?
I have consulted many surgeons because I have serious concerns about having fusion since I have osteoporosis. I found out there are at least four types of fusion and I would like to understand them better and what would be the best for me. Can someone elucidate on TLIF, ALIF and XLIF ?
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@besmith57
I have osteoporosis and DDD, stenosis, spondolysis, foraminal stenosis etc. I was told I need fusion on three levels also. My main symptoms though are in my legs and they came back after I did a decompression without fusion after four months. I was so happy for four months only. I just don't want to do fusion and still have the pain in my legs from walking.
I don't have pain in my legs. When walking too far, my mid and lower back hurt. Also, when standing too long.
I don't know if you had the fusion if your leg pain would still be there. Sorry, I can't answer your question. What does your doctor say? What kind of decompression did you have? That sounds very interesting to me.
@annie1
I live in Indiana. Goodman Campbell did the surgery-Dr. dePowell. I don't know about the cement. He did have to use a cage because one of the vertebrae became crushed.
I'm so much better after the fusion. I could hardly walk before the surgery. Very extreme pain!
@pyates
No, the fusion improved my pain considerably. Before the fusion, my pain was extreme. There have been no instrument/hardware failures. My pain now is from DDD.
@jenniferhunter Thsnks. I’ve done PT but it just increases the pain. It was just generic, one size fits all.
I’ll check in with someone.
I have Osteoporosis and had successful back surgery. However, prior to surgery I was on the generic version of Forteo for nearly 15 months to build up and strengthen my bones. I will remain on Forteo for 9 months post surgery. (At the recommendation of my endocrinologist.)
A friend of mine on this blog is on Evenity (to build bone) for a number of months prior to his surgery.
Have you consulted with an endocrinologist who specializes in Osteoporosis?
Best Wishes!
@heisenberg34 I’ve had chiropractor care with similar surgery. They will need to know your history and usually they take films. It did not help me long term.
@jenatsky Thanks. I,too, have been to a number of Chiropractors. I don’t think any of them have really helped me.
@besmith57
Thanks for the informative reply. A few comments.
For now, my pain/immobility situation is severe, but fluid. Last week, as I've said before, was all about crawling around, making agonizing, strenuous efforts to rise from chairs and beds. and resigning myself to not being able to pick up anything that fell to the floor. I've been relying on self-made contraptions such as bent coat-hangers to aid putting on socks and pants. This week, I'm the same, but considerably less crippled by pain/immobility.
With great effort, I can walk around to attend to daily needs, such as getting to the stores and other key public places (all within a 1/2 mile of home). But sometimes I moan in pain while doing, or struggle up steps, and so on.
I'm seeing my physiatrist next week. Last month he put me on gabapentin 300mg, 2x daily. Last week he ok'd an increase to 400mg, 2x daily, but that's only somewhat effective. I've felt compelled to use the gabapentin 400mg up to 4x daily. That's the only reason my symptoms have improved this week.
Maybe this present onslaught of disabling symptoms, which began in late September for reasons unknown, will go away on its own. I hope so. If not, I could be looking at decompression/fusion surgery sooner rather than later. At least that's my guess.
I have more questions for you, definitely. But first, can you tell me, does the symptomatic picture I describe here remind you of what you felt like immediately before your operation? Or were your symptoms worse than mine presently are?
@pyates
The symptoms sound very similar. I had 2 fractured vertebrae and one that was crushed. So I can't really tell you if I was in more pain than you. I ended up in the hospital for 3 days. They sent me home in a back brace. The back brace wore a hole in my back. It looked like a bullet hole. I didn't get any relief from gabapentin. So basically, I was using OTC meds. I waited until I got Medicare for the surgery. I know the pain you're going through. I'm so sorry!