Connect
← Return to Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion Back pain
Discussion
Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion Back pain
Chronic Pain | Last Active: Mar 31 5:23pm | Replies (10)Comment receiving replies
Is there such an operation as minimally evasive spinal fusion, I would think that you have a great doctor because I know of cutting to do a spinal fusion. Of course, I had one 11 years ago and procedures have changed with less down time. Mine was six months. I was okay for a couple years and the pain gradually came back and now is very hard to deal with. If you know of a reputable nerosurgeon at the Mayo Clinic, can you please let me of one. I just got a new MRI and if the nerosurgeon that I am going to see can't relieve some this pain, I will fly out to Mayo if I have to.
Replies to "Is there such an operation as minimally evasive spinal fusion, I would think that you have..."
@linda6101 No. I am not going to a Mayo Clinic for the procedure. But I understand that it can be and has been very successful procedure. A friend here had it done.
Connect
@linda6101 Hello, Linda. I had what is referred to as minimally invasive lumbar spinal fusion surgery (ALIF) about 5 months ago. The surgeon goes through an incision in your lower abdomen, about 3 inches long, right below the naval. This was for an L5-S1 fusion, so one point of my spine. There are other fusion surgeries that involve more than one joint in the spine, and they may not be referred to as minimally invasive, especially if surgery is through the back.