I'm answering for everyone reading instead of trying to send an answer to each post. As you can tell after reading these comments, there is not one experience for spinal fusion surgery. Each person has a different issue with their spine, and each person's body will respond differently to surgery.
I had spine surgery in November last year, an L5-S1 fusion. My surgeon made it seem as if it was more minor of a procedure than it is. Then he didn't set up any pans for physical therapy, or have anyone explain what I was allowed and not allowed to do after surgery. So I am now going on my own to specialists with scoliosis, as I have a curve and a rotation in my spine.
So, my advice is do not believe anyone telling you spinal fusion surgery is a minor surgery, ask all of the questions you have run through in your mind, and make sure physical therapy is not an after-thought.
Another thing patients are not always told is the success rate of spine surgery. It is successful about 40% of the time, so don't let the surgeon get away with telling you an unrealistic success rate. Or in my case, leading me to believe this was easier than it is.
@marcd2k Yes I can absolutely agree with your comments on this procedure . I had a very experienced Professor who carried out my surgery . I am a complicated case as I have supposedly got osteoporosis which was looked into and meetings were had and came to the conclusion that I was still. Good candidate for surgery . I am female 75 yrs but previously very fit apart from sacrum pain for three years . I was told recovery 6 weeks !! I had an ALIF anterior approach stand alone cage fusion . This was four half months ago !! Since then I have been in considerably more pain than before with leg pain stiffness, sacrum pain and terrible nerve pain . I am now told it could take 2 years and had suggestions of spinal cord stimulators or steroid injections !! The op went ok so I was lucky there but there are no guarantees as with any op. And as far as I can see I have come off much worse then before and am convinced that it is and always was my sacroiliac joints and hyper mobile issues causing g the problems . However , even though every day and night is a huge struggle we must keep going what else is there only hope .
@marcd2k Yes I can absolutely agree with your comments on this procedure . I had a very experienced Professor who carried out my surgery . I am a complicated case as I have supposedly got osteoporosis which was looked into and meetings were had and came to the conclusion that I was still. Good candidate for surgery . I am female 75 yrs but previously very fit apart from sacrum pain for three years . I was told recovery 6 weeks !! I had an ALIF anterior approach stand alone cage fusion . This was four half months ago !! Since then I have been in considerably more pain than before with leg pain stiffness, sacrum pain and terrible nerve pain . I am now told it could take 2 years and had suggestions of spinal cord stimulators or steroid injections !! The op went ok so I was lucky there but there are no guarantees as with any op. And as far as I can see I have come off much worse then before and am convinced that it is and always was my sacroiliac joints and hyper mobile issues causing g the problems . However , even though every day and night is a huge struggle we must keep going what else is there only hope .
@tiny28 Good morning, I'm sorry to hear of your ongoing pain, but unfortunately this seems to be more common than doctors tell their patients.
I am 63 years old and have been fit most of my life. My pain started one morning back in July of 2023. There were no injuries, no weight-lifting causes, as I do not use heavy weights that would hurt my back, there was just severe pain in my low right back on that morning.
A couple of things you mentioned, the steroid injections (epidurals) and how long we are told the healing process will be. In your case it is 2 years, and I have been told by more than one doctor that it will be at least a year before we know if the surgery was successful.
I've had epidural injections (3 of them), and the first two (at T12-L1) did not make any difference either way. I wasn't better, and I wasn't worse, there was no difference. The 3rd epidural (at T11-T12) was just in February 2026, and this one has left me in more pain than before the epidural. My right oblique and flank muscles are constantly cramped, and I am in pain from when I get up until I go to bed, every day, all day.
I just had CT scans done of my Thoracic and Lumbar spine areas, and I am seeing my doctor this coming Monday, April 13th, to discuss the results. I'm figuring it will either show I need another surgery, or they won't see anything at all that is causing my pain. I've had more imaging done in the past 2 1/2 years than most people will have in their lifetimes. And for 99% of them I've been told they do not see anything that would cause my pain.
I totally agree with you about your last sentence. The only thing we can do is keep searching. Keep on top of the doctors. Be your own advocate every chance you get, otherwise you will be left behind as they move on to other patients. This summer will be 3 years I've been dealing with this, and I am not close to giving up.
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Thank you for your HONESTY! I have gathered a lot of information and WILL ask a lot of questions! Thank you again!
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1 Reaction@marcd2k Yes I can absolutely agree with your comments on this procedure . I had a very experienced Professor who carried out my surgery . I am a complicated case as I have supposedly got osteoporosis which was looked into and meetings were had and came to the conclusion that I was still. Good candidate for surgery . I am female 75 yrs but previously very fit apart from sacrum pain for three years . I was told recovery 6 weeks !! I had an ALIF anterior approach stand alone cage fusion . This was four half months ago !! Since then I have been in considerably more pain than before with leg pain stiffness, sacrum pain and terrible nerve pain . I am now told it could take 2 years and had suggestions of spinal cord stimulators or steroid injections !! The op went ok so I was lucky there but there are no guarantees as with any op. And as far as I can see I have come off much worse then before and am convinced that it is and always was my sacroiliac joints and hyper mobile issues causing g the problems . However , even though every day and night is a huge struggle we must keep going what else is there only hope .
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2 Reactions@tiny28 Good morning, I'm sorry to hear of your ongoing pain, but unfortunately this seems to be more common than doctors tell their patients.
I am 63 years old and have been fit most of my life. My pain started one morning back in July of 2023. There were no injuries, no weight-lifting causes, as I do not use heavy weights that would hurt my back, there was just severe pain in my low right back on that morning.
A couple of things you mentioned, the steroid injections (epidurals) and how long we are told the healing process will be. In your case it is 2 years, and I have been told by more than one doctor that it will be at least a year before we know if the surgery was successful.
I've had epidural injections (3 of them), and the first two (at T12-L1) did not make any difference either way. I wasn't better, and I wasn't worse, there was no difference. The 3rd epidural (at T11-T12) was just in February 2026, and this one has left me in more pain than before the epidural. My right oblique and flank muscles are constantly cramped, and I am in pain from when I get up until I go to bed, every day, all day.
I just had CT scans done of my Thoracic and Lumbar spine areas, and I am seeing my doctor this coming Monday, April 13th, to discuss the results. I'm figuring it will either show I need another surgery, or they won't see anything at all that is causing my pain. I've had more imaging done in the past 2 1/2 years than most people will have in their lifetimes. And for 99% of them I've been told they do not see anything that would cause my pain.
I totally agree with you about your last sentence. The only thing we can do is keep searching. Keep on top of the doctors. Be your own advocate every chance you get, otherwise you will be left behind as they move on to other patients. This summer will be 3 years I've been dealing with this, and I am not close to giving up.
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