Has anyone had loose screws following lumbar spinal fusion surgery?

Posted by denman55 @denman55, Aug 14, 2024

I just had my 3-month CT Scan of my lumbar spine following my L3-4-5 spinal fusion surgery. The results indicate I have a disc bulge and herniated disc at the L2-3 level and 2 pedicle screws are loose at the L3 level. I am really horrified at the results and don't know what will happen now. Has anyone experienced this?

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Profile picture for skyebelieu @skyebelieu

I was 65 at the time of my spinal fusion L-4--S1 lamenectomy in two areas for nerve compression. I'm 2yrs post op. My nerve pain in my legs came back. I'm hard on my body sometimes and I'm redoing a floor in my apartment. I love home improvements , but I woke 2 days ago in so much pain my pain meds were not controlling it and I could hardly walk without discomfort. I see my Neuro surgeon in 2 days. Everything I'm reading indicates I may have jiggled my screws loose or I have DDD and the L-3 was bulging after surgery. I have gained the weight I had to lose back 30 pds . I'm sure that hasn't helped the pressure. My surgery was very very hard to recover from. You could say I never completely recovered. My original back pain did get better I was able to bend, but I lost muscle strength in my upper legs I was unable to get myself up from the ground by myself. 2yrs finally legs had strength but now they had the nerve pain to deal with neuropathy in my left foot is a big issue now.
I have to say I don't think I could go through this area surgery again. Recovery was ugly and brutal. I wish all the best of luck. I would conclude for you to make sure the rest of your spine is healthy enough to handle the change..

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@skyebelieu I had a spinal fusion 11 years ago at L5-S1. A recovery for this is one year. But this procedure did not help. I work with a pain specialist who gives me pain meds. If I didn't have them, the pain would be crippling. I live alone in a big house and would like to downsize. I don't know where I would begin packing. I also had a Laminectomy in 2024 for spinal stenosis. That did help either. That one was minimally evasive. No more surgeries for me.

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Profile picture for skyebelieu @skyebelieu

I was 65 at the time of my spinal fusion L-4--S1 lamenectomy in two areas for nerve compression. I'm 2yrs post op. My nerve pain in my legs came back. I'm hard on my body sometimes and I'm redoing a floor in my apartment. I love home improvements , but I woke 2 days ago in so much pain my pain meds were not controlling it and I could hardly walk without discomfort. I see my Neuro surgeon in 2 days. Everything I'm reading indicates I may have jiggled my screws loose or I have DDD and the L-3 was bulging after surgery. I have gained the weight I had to lose back 30 pds . I'm sure that hasn't helped the pressure. My surgery was very very hard to recover from. You could say I never completely recovered. My original back pain did get better I was able to bend, but I lost muscle strength in my upper legs I was unable to get myself up from the ground by myself. 2yrs finally legs had strength but now they had the nerve pain to deal with neuropathy in my left foot is a big issue now.
I have to say I don't think I could go through this area surgery again. Recovery was ugly and brutal. I wish all the best of luck. I would conclude for you to make sure the rest of your spine is healthy enough to handle the change..

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@skyebelieu
Did they not caution you about bending, lifting and twisting after surgery? Just because they fixed one area of your spine does not mean areas above and below are not increasingly vulnerable. Take it easy, buddy. We all have to find work-arounds with our new status. You’re just tempting fate (says one who’s had three of these surgeries because I abused my back like you in between them. )

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I had two loose screws taken out at the top of my incision and the pain in that a region ceased entirely.

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That sounds pretty bad I'm sorry! Can I ask you where you have the surgery done was it in a major hospital with a recognized surgeon? And if I may ask, was it in New York City by any chance? Or another major city with many spine surgeons.

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Profile picture for linda6101 @linda6101

@skyebelieu I had a spinal fusion 11 years ago at L5-S1. A recovery for this is one year. But this procedure did not help. I work with a pain specialist who gives me pain meds. If I didn't have them, the pain would be crippling. I live alone in a big house and would like to downsize. I don't know where I would begin packing. I also had a Laminectomy in 2024 for spinal stenosis. That did help either. That one was minimally evasive. No more surgeries for me.

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@linda6101
What were your initial symptoms, did you have back pain or pain in your legs? So you're saying the fusion didn't help with anything? I'm so sorry and I'm on the verge of having fusion and having second thoughts because of reading all of these types of things that happen.

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Profile picture for linda6101 @linda6101

@skyebelieu I had a spinal fusion 11 years ago at L5-S1. A recovery for this is one year. But this procedure did not help. I work with a pain specialist who gives me pain meds. If I didn't have them, the pain would be crippling. I live alone in a big house and would like to downsize. I don't know where I would begin packing. I also had a Laminectomy in 2024 for spinal stenosis. That did help either. That one was minimally evasive. No more surgeries for me.

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@linda6101
Where did you have the surgery done? I guess it doesn't matter really it could be a well-known surgeon or not well-known surgeon who knows?

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Profile picture for annie1 @annie1

@linda6101
Where did you have the surgery done? I guess it doesn't matter really it could be a well-known surgeon or not well-known surgeon who knows?

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@annie1 the fusion was done at Christ Hospital in Chicago. I’ve switched to Rush Orthopedics in Chicago, a reputable orthopedic hospital. The spinal surgeon did a laminectomy for spinal stenosis but only did L4 and not L3 . I complained to the hospital. I work with a pain specialist at Rush. He tried 10 procedures on my spine with no help, but I’m not giving up.

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Profile picture for annie1 @annie1

@linda6101
What were your initial symptoms, did you have back pain or pain in your legs? So you're saying the fusion didn't help with anything? I'm so sorry and I'm on the verge of having fusion and having second thoughts because of reading all of these types of things that happen.

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@annie1 don’t do the fusion. Try physical therapy, a chiropractor, acupuncture but a fusion made me worse.

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What did a chiropractor suggest for you?

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This is a note to : Denman55
I am 80 years old - had lumbar fusion 30 years ago - no loose screws !!!!!
I had an additional fusion (above the area because of disc deterioration) 10 months ago - full success.
I am mostly pain - free again - I stretch every day and try to walk a minimum of 3 miles daily.
Good luck and all the best -peter

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