Spinal Fusion: Upcoming surgery, what was your experience, any tips?

@ddister1 that is wonderful news! Thank you for coming back on to share your surgery success!

I am in the process of considering a minimally invasive TLIF procedure. Do you need to live in Arizona to go to Mayo for this procedure? I am out of State but hear such great things about this Hospital system.

@jeffkboyce To get into Mayo you had best get your local Doctor to refer you ... I had my surgery in Oklahoma City from Dr. J Odor..He was really good as he helped me with other spine problems later.. (Cervical).. I think he may be retired at this point.. I live in Central Iowa now .. but I go to Mayo MN now about 8 times in 20 yrs.. There are 3 Mayo Clinics.. Scottsdale, AZ, Jacksonville, FL. and Rochester, MN.. Headquarters is in MN..

You do not need to live in Arizona to go to the Mayo Clinic there. You also do not need to have a doctor’s referral to get to see someone at Mayo. I live in Pennsylvania and referred myself to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester where I had a cervical spine fusion.

I had a cervical spine fusion at Mayo in Rochester. Dr. Ahmad Nassr was my surgeon. The surgery went well and my recovery was pretty uneventful.

Can I ask what part of your cervical spine was fused?

C5-C7

Thanks much

Thank you. I have been told I need C1-C6 and have gotten three opinions and all doctors agree. I hope you did alright with it. I have tried to talk to someone that had this extensive a surgery but no one on this site has replied to my inquiry.

Hi @kdj, I am fully fused between c2-T1. I have fusion hardware on the front of my neck, and rods covering the same area down the back of my neck. This was done over several surgeries. Are there any questions you have that you might be willing to share? I’m glad you’ve gotten several opinions and everyone agrees that this is what you need.