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Success stories after lumbar fusion?

Posted by domiha @domiha, Oct 13, 2024

I realize that many, perhaps most, of us who are here are still experiencing problems. And perhaps people who have been treated, have recovered and are doing well are out there "living life" and no longer posting. But I would LOVE to hear from someone who had lumbar fusion and is HAPPY with the results! I'm trying to decide whether or not to have the lumbar fusion L3-S1.... and it would help to hear some stories with positive outcomes!! Anyone?? Best to all! Mike

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annie1 | @annie1 | Dec 26, 2025
In reply to @kitkatrn "Are you talking about the doctor who is the Intracept trainer at UCSF or the doctor..." + (show)
Profile picture for kitkatrn @kitkatrn

Are you talking about the doctor who is the Intracept trainer at UCSF or
the doctor who does the Intracept training in NY?
Cat

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@kitkatrn
Do you have a contact for The intracept person in New York City? I don't know if it'll work on my symptoms though I have leg symptoms not back symptoms.

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sonygardi | @sonygardi | Feb 18 5:27pm
In reply to @annie1 "Yes I would like to talk to the guy about the intracept procedure. I haven't heard..." + (show)
Profile picture for annie1 @annie1

Yes I would like to talk to the guy about the intracept procedure. I haven't heard anyone in the New York area ever mentioned that but most of those surgeons obviously just want to do surgery. I'm having a little problem also with my family and I probably shouldn't be asking them or telling them as much as I do. I guess they're concerned about my pain and also a little impatient that I'm not just going ahead with fusion. They asked me well what's the success rate for fusion and I have to explain to them that it's not that simple question but they only have limited capacity to listen to me. I also worry myself that I might have permanent nerve damage since I've had stenosis for 7 years. The laminotomy did help like I said but it came back after four and a half months, that is the throbbing twitching pain. So please send that number for that intercept doctor. Thanks so much

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@annie1

Please think hard before having this procedure. I had it done about 3 years ago and it made my spinal pain worse. What they don’t tell you that half of all back surgeries fail. I spent $20k out of my own pocket for an irreversible procedure.

Please think it over. I wish I did.

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2 replies
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annie1 | @annie1 | Feb 18 7:53pm
In reply to @sonygardi "@annie1 Please think hard before having this procedure. I had it done about 3 years ago..." + (show)
Profile picture for sonygardi @sonygardi

@annie1

Please think hard before having this procedure. I had it done about 3 years ago and it made my spinal pain worse. What they don’t tell you that half of all back surgeries fail. I spent $20k out of my own pocket for an irreversible procedure.

Please think it over. I wish I did.

Jump to this post

@sonygardi
I'm sorry to hear your pain is worse ! Were you talking about the intracept procedure or TOPS ? I did a trial for the Spinal Cord Stimulator and it didn't help my symptoms.

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1 reply
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sonygardi | @sonygardi | Feb 18 9:08pm
In reply to @annie1 "@sonygardi I'm sorry to hear your pain is worse ! Were you talking about the intracept..." + (show)
Profile picture for annie1 @annie1

@sonygardi
I'm sorry to hear your pain is worse ! Were you talking about the intracept procedure or TOPS ? I did a trial for the Spinal Cord Stimulator and it didn't help my symptoms.

Jump to this post

@annie1
Sorry Annie, I was referring to the Intercept procedure. I waiting for over a year for insurance to pay it. I ended up having to give up and $20k for it out of my pocket. When I confronted Dr. Mcadea of the Indiana spine group. He said oh well and ghosted me. I am now bed ridden. If I stand on a hardwood floor for 10 minutes, I am in so much pain that I have to sit down.

After numerous rhizomes, spinal lumbar injection. I am no better. I take Belbuca of the pain with so so outcomes.

I was at a spinal surgeon today and he recommended that I look at the Revive procedure. I guarantee I will be researching that for months before I do that. Please be careful, I thought I had nothing to worry about. I am with the best spine doctor. YaYa Da I trusted him only to come to the conclusion that doctors ate no different than any of business. They need to sell procedures to pay off their $1 million day medical school debt.

Research the doctors. Ask them what is the success rate. If the procedure fails then what next.

I wish you the best. If you have any other questions let me know.

God Bless,

Seán

REPLY
4 replies
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annie1 | @annie1 | Feb 18 9:08pm
In reply to @sonygardi "@annie1 Please think hard before having this procedure. I had it done about 3 years ago..." + (show)
Profile picture for sonygardi @sonygardi

@annie1

Please think hard before having this procedure. I had it done about 3 years ago and it made my spinal pain worse. What they don’t tell you that half of all back surgeries fail. I spent $20k out of my own pocket for an irreversible procedure.

Please think it over. I wish I did.

Jump to this post

@sonygardi
Which procedure are you talking about?

REPLY
Profile picture for sonygardi
sonygardi | @sonygardi | Feb 18 9:11pm
In reply to @sonygardi "@annie1 Sorry Annie, I was referring to the Intercept procedure. I waiting for over a year..." + (show)
Profile picture for sonygardi @sonygardi

@annie1
Sorry Annie, I was referring to the Intercept procedure. I waiting for over a year for insurance to pay it. I ended up having to give up and $20k for it out of my pocket. When I confronted Dr. Mcadea of the Indiana spine group. He said oh well and ghosted me. I am now bed ridden. If I stand on a hardwood floor for 10 minutes, I am in so much pain that I have to sit down.

After numerous rhizomes, spinal lumbar injection. I am no better. I take Belbuca of the pain with so so outcomes.

I was at a spinal surgeon today and he recommended that I look at the Revive procedure. I guarantee I will be researching that for months before I do that. Please be careful, I thought I had nothing to worry about. I am with the best spine doctor. YaYa Da I trusted him only to come to the conclusion that doctors ate no different than any of business. They need to sell procedures to pay off their $1 million day medical school debt.

Research the doctors. Ask them what is the success rate. If the procedure fails then what next.

I wish you the best. If you have any other questions let me know.

God Bless,

Seán

Jump to this post

@sonygardi

Sorry for the misspelling. I am tired. I am here to help.

REPLY
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annie1 | @annie1 | Feb 18 11:26pm
In reply to @sonygardi "@annie1 Sorry Annie, I was referring to the Intercept procedure. I waiting for over a year..." + (show)
Profile picture for sonygardi @sonygardi

@annie1
Sorry Annie, I was referring to the Intercept procedure. I waiting for over a year for insurance to pay it. I ended up having to give up and $20k for it out of my pocket. When I confronted Dr. Mcadea of the Indiana spine group. He said oh well and ghosted me. I am now bed ridden. If I stand on a hardwood floor for 10 minutes, I am in so much pain that I have to sit down.

After numerous rhizomes, spinal lumbar injection. I am no better. I take Belbuca of the pain with so so outcomes.

I was at a spinal surgeon today and he recommended that I look at the Revive procedure. I guarantee I will be researching that for months before I do that. Please be careful, I thought I had nothing to worry about. I am with the best spine doctor. YaYa Da I trusted him only to come to the conclusion that doctors ate no different than any of business. They need to sell procedures to pay off their $1 million day medical school debt.

Research the doctors. Ask them what is the success rate. If the procedure fails then what next.

I wish you the best. If you have any other questions let me know.

God Bless,

Seán

Jump to this post

@sonygardi
None of the ones I've been to will tell me they're success rate. They are very general about it like oh this is common procedure I do it all the time etc etc. I just found a medical advocate who I have to pay but has worked with surgeons in the OR and saw what goes on. He's pretty full I just found him and he said he was very full and I haven't even started yet I just had the consultation this evening. Let me see how it goes and if you were interested I could pass along his information I just want to get a few sessions in as he said he's getting very full up. I'm so sorry that that happened to you that's just awful.

REPLY
1 reply
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sonygardi | @sonygardi | Feb 19 8:36am
In reply to @annie1 "@sonygardi None of the ones I've been to will tell me they're success rate. They are..." + (show)
Profile picture for annie1 @annie1

@sonygardi
None of the ones I've been to will tell me they're success rate. They are very general about it like oh this is common procedure I do it all the time etc etc. I just found a medical advocate who I have to pay but has worked with surgeons in the OR and saw what goes on. He's pretty full I just found him and he said he was very full and I haven't even started yet I just had the consultation this evening. Let me see how it goes and if you were interested I could pass along his information I just want to get a few sessions in as he said he's getting very full up. I'm so sorry that that happened to you that's just awful.

Jump to this post

@annie1

Thank you. Let me know what you find out. They all say their busy and so it all the time. Ask them if they have any testimonials from actual patients that underwent the procedure. They might say no because of Hippa. If they won’t give you their success rate, how many patients have they done this on. It’s not as common as they would likely to believe.

I would be interested if what your advocate says.

Take care,

Seán

REPLY
Profile picture for jackiet
jackiet | @jackiet | Feb 19 9:05am
In reply to @kitkatrn "Are you talking about the doctor who is the Intracept trainer at UCSF or the doctor..." + (show)
Profile picture for kitkatrn @kitkatrn

Are you talking about the doctor who is the Intracept trainer at UCSF or
the doctor who does the Intracept training in NY?
Cat

Jump to this post

@kitkatrn I have followed your description of the Intracept procedure with interest because I am also thinking of having it. You mentioned that you were going to go ahead with it. Have you scheduled it yet ?
Can you keep us informed about where you are in this process ? Thanks!

REPLY
Profile picture for annie1
annie1 | @annie1 | Feb 19 11:11am
In reply to @sonygardi "@annie1 Sorry Annie, I was referring to the Intercept procedure. I waiting for over a year..." + (show)
Profile picture for sonygardi @sonygardi

@annie1
Sorry Annie, I was referring to the Intercept procedure. I waiting for over a year for insurance to pay it. I ended up having to give up and $20k for it out of my pocket. When I confronted Dr. Mcadea of the Indiana spine group. He said oh well and ghosted me. I am now bed ridden. If I stand on a hardwood floor for 10 minutes, I am in so much pain that I have to sit down.

After numerous rhizomes, spinal lumbar injection. I am no better. I take Belbuca of the pain with so so outcomes.

I was at a spinal surgeon today and he recommended that I look at the Revive procedure. I guarantee I will be researching that for months before I do that. Please be careful, I thought I had nothing to worry about. I am with the best spine doctor. YaYa Da I trusted him only to come to the conclusion that doctors ate no different than any of business. They need to sell procedures to pay off their $1 million day medical school debt.

Research the doctors. Ask them what is the success rate. If the procedure fails then what next.

I wish you the best. If you have any other questions let me know.

God Bless,

Seán

Jump to this post

@sonygardi
They never told me any exact figures for a success rate or failure. I think I mentioned that before. I saw a surgeon on Tuesday about fusion and he told me he did 125 fusions in a year I don't know if he meant this year which would be almost like a fast food restaurant so he must have meant for a whole year. He wouldn't give me success rate he just told me it was a common procedure his bread and butter. Have you been able to get more exact information about success rates?

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