Who has had successful fusion surgery that has osteoporosis?

I am due to have ALIF with laminectomy on L2 L3 and L4 L5 next Tuesday MIS. Had ablation that helped but not severe pain burning both legs from knees down to feet. Hoping surgery helps. I’m 81. Dr says young 81. Any thoughts?

@maryyg67
I don't have any suggestions unfortunately I'm just interested because I was told I would need an alif/360 for my severely degenerative disc disease. I have osteoporosis. Can I ask where you're having your surgery and if you have osteoporosis? I've been told I'm not a candidate for minimally invasive because of the extensive amount of discs that are almost completely gone.

@tiny28
Thank you for that advice. I actually was advised that I would need not only alif but 360 which means they flip you over and first do the alift in the front and then posterior decompression fusion in the back. The only reason I'm writing this right now at 1:30 a.m. is cuz I'm having extreme spasms in my legs and I can't sleep. I am not going into any of this lightly but I have to find some way to deal with this. Did you have your surgery at Mayo clinic?

@annie1 yes I have osteoporosis.but bone scan shows normal bones. I am having done at. corwell formerly Beaumont in Royal Oak Mi

@annie1 hello Annie, this is difficult to answer . Firstly , do you have any other health issues that might hinder your recovery ? You do realise that a double major op will be a very long recovery with no guarantees. I have been in terrible pain with my lower sacrum for five years with deprivation and continued pain but the only thing that seemed to show up on my scans was L4/5 degenerative disease with bone growth so I decided to have the operation. My surgeon is a professor so very skilled. As I said before I am four months post op ALIF and my pain is considerably worse than it’s ever been!! I now have leg weakness and stiffness also . I feel like my life is over . If you have osteoporosis and are considering rods , screws and cages with two ops then I can only wish you luck and hope that your recovery is better than mine . I have nowhere left to turn now as I don’t have the strength to fight it anymore . You are younger so it may be ok but please think very carefully and let me know your decision . Regards .

@maryyg67 I’m sorry I have osteoarthritis not osteoporosis.

My daughter has osteoporosius and after badly fracturing her back she had first 1 spinal fusion, then another 4 years ago. She had limited options because the break was so complex and she could have ended up in a wheelchair. The pedicle screws started coming out almost immmediately and she is in terrible pain. You can actually see 2 of the screws protruding from her back and she is getting wound care for it every 2 days. She had a bad experience with her orthopedic surgeon but no other doctors want to get involved. She has other health issues and it would be dangerous to have the hardware removed. Apparently scres coming loose is not uncommon, expecially with someone who has osteoporosus. As others have said, it is an individual choice but explore all options. Good luck.

@jeanib
I'm so sorry your daughter is in so much pain and the other doctors don't want to get involved. But I'm beginning to see that spine surgeons are not always honest and don't really want to work on people who have complicated issues like your daughter and myself. It's very horrifying. I've thought of going to Europe but of course that would be very expensive since my health insurance wouldn't pay for anything there. As of now I am not doing the surgery but I do have pain after I walk and very disturbed sleep. It's hard living in this no person land not knowing what to do and who to trust with my body.

@tiny28
I'm so sorry you're in more pain now! I guess your surgeon knows this right? Does he say it's going to get better? What do you do for the pain? And I forget where did you have this done. You said the surgeon was very skillful but I guess that doesn't mean they can prevent you from being in pain. I am on Evenity to build bone and I just had my 8th shot today. I am not moving ahead with surgery yet. I hired a patient advocate who worked in the OR with spine surgeons and knows somewhat what goes on and the different types of fusions and he was suggesting that I still keep trying conservative methods like epidural injections and physical therapy until my pain is unbearable almost all the time. Which is not but I do have a limited life in terms of not being able to walk very far without it causing me throbbing in my legs and sometimes my whole body. Anyway I'm really sorry to hear your suffering and I hope it gets better! Let me know how you're doing.

@annie1 hi again Annie, I forgot to tell you last time that I had the op done in a top London hospital . Did I tell you that I also have ME/CFS plus fibromyalgia!! These things all contribute to a lot of pain etc so my recovery all things considered is ok at this stage , I am doing about 5000 to 6000 steps a day . My pain varies day to day as I get flare ups . Unlike yourself I will not take osteoporosis drugs and am only taking Fortibone plus a little calcium and vit D. I eat a healthy diet but can’t really do dairy . My BMI is quite low at 17.4. However I have exercised all my life up until recently which I miss dreadfully !! Anyway at 75 even though I look younger I think I have to expect a few things wearing out!! I wouldn’t consider another surgery 360 fusion from the posterior approach as I would never recover . I wish you luck with your Evenity shots and it’s good that you do t suffer any side effects . I agree you should definitely do what your advisor suggests before surgery.My surgeon is lovely and very caring but at the end of the day it’s down to whatever your body can handle as you age . 😊