Lumbar Back Problems

Right. It was for hvannort.

I would say it took 6 weeks total to feel normal. The first 2 weeks were not great but I went back to work the third week with no issues. I have a desk job. I don't regret doing this. It improved my life beyond my expectations.

I asked everyone I knew who had surgery about the outcome of their surgery and who did the surgery. I also asked everyone in physical therapy about their experience. The best resource is any physical therapist who rehabs people from these surgeries. They see the results repeated every day and can tell you which doctor has good outcomes and who they recommend. If you ask about someone they don't like they just go silent or say they don't know. You can also read reviews of the doctors online. Nurses are often a good source of information as well. It is a research project but well worth it.

In addition with my cardiac issues, I had extreme sciatica down my left side. I initially had my maximum set of epidurals that did not help mid- or long-term. I did have a laminectomy between L4/L5. The laminectomy did help. Recovery for that was quick and painless. Two years later, the sciatica came back with a vengeance, from the lumbar region, through the left piriformis muscle, and down the outside of the left leg to my foot and around to the inside of foot. Again, I had my epidurals that only slightly decreased the pain. Eventually, I had a L4/L5, L5/S1 lumbar fusion in 2019. With the exception of a current issue that I accidentally created; the fusion took care of the sciatica. I accidentally mistepped off of a ladder and twisted my back to the left. Sciatica came back and I had shots in the SI joint and around the piriformis muscle. With PT and the shots, my sciatica seems to be controlled.

I think the process (I am in the middle of three planned surgeries) is straight forward. (1) Get the best diagnosis you can! That means go to where the MRI/X-Ray equipment is top notch. (I went to one "average" place and then to Mayo. The output at Mayo was several levels more sophisticated). (2) Find a facility that has a specialty in spine surgery. My research landed me on using a neurosurgeon rather than an orthopedic surgeon. I want my nerves well treated! (3) Find a surgeon who's experienced and, in my case, a published researcher in this medical field. He is familiar with the very latest equipment and procedures. His bedside manner is lacking...but I really only care about his "In the OR manner"...! (4) Agree on a surgical strategy w/your doc that you're comfortable with. (5) At that point, make your decision, focus on getting better, and trust the detailed process you followed to then. No need to look back or second-guess yourself.

Thanks very much - found it very useful, especially confirming my decision to look for a neurosurgeon.

Neurosurgeon. Hands down. They see the entire spine rather than focus on just the spot/area you say "hurts" - which may or may not be all that needs to be addressed. These folks are at the top of the medical food chain for a reason.

I am new to Mayo Connect. Doctor has recommended I am a candidate for a Lumbar Spacer. Getting MRI and Xray .
Any experience?

What is a lumbar spacer?

@suev I think the doctor might be talking about replacing a disc with a fusion in the lower back (lumbar spine). A bad disc is removed, and they have to put something in it's place and can refer to that as a "spacer". I had a cervical fusion, and my spacer is a milled piece of bone. Sometimes they put in a cage that can be metal or made of a plastic material. These spacers can have a place to add bone cells to seed bone growth for the fusion. Bone cells are removed during surgery such as bone spurs or bone overgrowth, or what they remove to prepare the surface of the vertebrae for the fusion.