Hi all, I have been in severe pain for over 8 years, 4 failed surgeries, one of those was a revision which was incredibly difficult. L4/5 is fused, L5/S1 was fused in 2019 when doctor found the disc torn in half. This fusion also failed with no bone growth and the hardware now loosening. I have degenerative disc disease and have no plans to have more surgeries. What I know now is avoid surgery at all cost. Success in resolving pain via surgery is a coin toss even if you have a successful osseous union. All surgeries done at high end hospitals with top tier surgeons. Fusion surgery is still in the dark ages. Electro-ceutical implants, stem cells, are probably the future but cost always comes into play for me, so I understand. I had to retire in Nov. 2020 because of all this mess. I have tried every treatment known to man except an implanted stimulator with zero positive results. Stim was ruled out for me by every doctor I have had. Pain is crippling...we can split an atom but we cannot find a non invasive solution to chronic back pain. Although expensive, stem cell still may be cheaper than the copays over time on other treatment. I Have over a $million dollars of insurance money into this....keep that in mind when making decision. Be well and take your time. Desperation has driven most of my decisions...which were wrong
2959 days of crippling pain and counting.