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Proposed Spinal Fusion T-10 to pelvis
Surgeon at Mayo says he can help me with a spinal fusion of T-10 to the pelvis, a long 7+ hour surgery. I have seen other surgeon elsewhere, orthopedic and neurosurgeons, who advised against surgery saying not to have it unless the pain I am currently experiencing makes me want to die. I am not really having pain, per se, rather, I cannot walk very far at all. This is limiting my retirement plan to travel and I cannot walk my dogs. So I am debating whether to have this surgery. I was also told that this surgery has a 30% morbidity rate, i.e. additional medical issues in the future due to the surgery. I wondered if anyone else has had this extensive a fusion at Mayo and what their experience was. I am a 71 year old female.
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@cruncher excellent plan. I did minimum research and trusted Dr. Abode.
@bassetmom
Im fused T10-S4. I did this because I crushed some vertebrae and likely would've been paralyzed. I highly advise against this large fusion unless you absolutely have to. Yes. You have pain, now. YES! You will have possibly even more, after fusion. You cannot mess with the spine in that capacity, without major damage.
Eight years of being bedridden (after surgery), due to intense pain, I finally was approved for an intrathecal pain pump. I'm kinda walking again, but the nerve damage from such a major, major surgery cannot be helped in any meaningful way. I am in constant, almost debilitating pain, even with the pump.
Take what you've got and work around it. Your pain is likely not gonna get any better and will very likely get worse. And recovery, after a surgery like that, takes years. I wish I didn't have to tell you this...
@jax60 Thank you for your very honest comments. I very much appreciate them and I am very sorry for your situation. I assume your experience is why two other neurosurgeons, not a Mayo, told me they wouldn't do it unless I was having so much pain I'd rather die first. I assume you had your surgery at Mayo and I guess your surgeon was one of their neurosurgeons? Dr. Abode is currently who I have seen but as I said, I have not yet decided. I do not have crushed vertebrae, more life-long scoliosis and other aging maladies as I am 71. I had lower lumbar surgery when I was 18 from a ruptured disc but that was nothing as involved as this would be. My responsibilities at home are a big obstacle b/c I live alone in the country and have 3 dogs to care for so I'd have to have a lot of help for a while afterward, which would mean paying someone or several people. Just finding reliable people is hard. Thank you again for posting your honest experience. I wish you well and pray for your improvement.
I suggest seeing a couple more Spinal Surgeons. I saw 4. They all had a different idea - from nothing to fusing my entire back! Get more info. I was VERY pleased with my L3,4, 5 fusion and got my life back. It should all depend on something simple like an xray! Believe it or not. A good orthopedic spine surgeon can see about everything he needs to know from an xray. I will need more surgery but I had wanted to keep my mobility so we "settled" on what worked best for me. Its been 8 years. Happy as a clam. If you can get to UCSD orthopedics, they are tremendous!
thank you. I have seen three neurosurgeons, one at Mayo Jax, two where I live in north Florida, one at Univ of Texas (who said 30% morbidity rate) plus at least one orthopedic surgeon where I live. The only surgeon who thinks he can help me is at Mayo Jax. When I told him what my local neurosurgeon (who is also board certified in orthopedic surgery and has practiced in NYC) told me about discouraging it ("I wouldn't do it if I were you"), Mayo Jax neurosurgeon said, "I 100 percent disagree with him." It's a very difficult decision. (I assume you are referring to Univ of California San Diego? ) Thank you for your thoughts and suggestion.