Spinal Fusion Surgery – Good or Bad Experiences?

@susiesmith If what the neurosurgeon says is accurate, I guess I regret waiting so long. The peripheral neuropathy will not get better and my balance is very poor. I guess I would ask your surgeon if they think your symptoms will respond to this procedure. I was told it is 6 months to a year recovery. It was a year April 15 and I’m still at high risk for falls and using a cane, Walker at night.
I am reminded by friends that I was in a great deal of pain before surgery. I seem to have forgotten that. Now it¡s only achiness.

I’m in a similar situation with spondylolisthesis/abnormal alignment and motion at L3-4 and L4-5. I have spinal stenosis at L3-4. I’ve tried PT, acupuncture, massage and taking ibuprofen, gabapentin and sometimes muscle relaxers (not all at the same time). These treatments do help, but I’m living with daily pain that can be very bad some days and other days it’s hardly noticeable. I consulted with a surgeon and they said I need spinal fusion at L3-4 and L4-5. I have a lot of fear as well. I’ve heard for some people it works and most of the pain is gone, with others it doesn’t help that much. I was having panic attacks almost every day after the surgical consultation. Every time I saw a note from a doctor I started having a panic attack. I am working on it by writing all my fears in a journal and praying for my higher power to show me the plan for me in this situation. I’m also getting 2nd and 3rd opinions of the best way to address my back issues. Also seeking a therapist. I think I have medical PTSD from having so many discectomies and lamanectomies in the past. I have a congenital lumber deformation that caused L4-5 to herniate 4x and have 4 surgeries spanning from the time I was 15 age 40. Now I’m 53 and need fusion. My 2nd opinion doctor said, “fusion addresses the radicular leg pain and for most 80-90% of that pain is eliminated. However, back pain responds variably to surgery and may or may not be improved.” Because I have Degenerative disc disease and arthritis he told me for patients in my situation, “ he typically sees 60-70% chance or at least 50% of improvement in back pain after surgery. To me this isn’t good enough to undergo this major surgery unless I absolutely have no choice. I’m looking into Tops spine surgery with a different surgical group. My other issue is I’m not certain I like the 1st doctor I consulted with. He gave me a really rosy outlook that seemed unrealistic. I got the 2nd opinion and asked some OT’s, PT’s and my massage people about what they see with patients that have fusions. They said it’s like a 50/50 chance it helps and a lot of people end up have more surgeries after a few years because of adjacent segment disease. The 2nd opinion doc. said 3% chance per year of having another surgery because adjacent segments start degenerating. 30% chance of surgery in 10 yrs. My 1st doc. who said I should have the fusion said, “you’ll be good for 20 years.” That’s why I hesitate to believe him. This is my experience dealing with my back issues. Of course it’s different for everyone

@nuendelcapecod Big help/tough decisions. Thanks

@cira3

I just had my l4 l5 fusion one month ago. I also suffered from deep fear of doing it until I ended up in er unable to walk on left leg. I feel your fear and anxiety about this. So far one month in I have so much less pain. I am able to walk around block and sleep a full night.

Backs are so tricky and scary keep working out your worries daily and when its right for you, right surgery, right time you will make the best decision for you.

My thoughts and hopes are with you as you go through this decision process.

I had my fusion in 1990 with stainless steel plates and screws. Surgery worked fine but the SS bars stop me from an MRI of my trunk so healthcare providers will need to use their thinking caps and not technology if I need them. At 75 I will not have any further procedures unless I absolutely need them. I don’t want or need brain fog following general anesthesia.

I am almost 3 weeks out from a spinal fusion laminectomy from the L3 to L5 I am still enduring severe pain from the surgery also having very bad nerve pain from my buttocks, all the way down my legs. I don’t think I expected the pain to be this bad, but trying to have a good outlook on this. Definitely still need pain medicine and I am at work for 8 to 10 weeks. Experiencing a lot of the nerve pain and shooting pain down my legs as well as severe cramping on my calves.
Just looking to see if anybody had any of this and how long this is supposed to be lasting

I had C5-C6 ACDF on March 30th. I went home the next day and was back in the hospital the next day with pneumonia. After that little adventure it is now nearly three months post-surgery and I couldn't be better. I was cleared several weeks ago to return to normal activity. That includes swimming, biking and running, which had been strictly prohibited before the surgery. I have slowly started swimming again and biking (still on a trainer). I'm saving running for later for when I feel more comfortable. I'm 75.