Anyone else pleased with their spinal fusion outcome?

Posted by dredk @dredk, 4 hours ago

I never had back pain. But oh my did I have nerve pain. Both sides starting around hips and going all the way down. Then it progressed and the pain wasn't so awful but walking became difficult. I had emergency spine surgery from L2-S1. Fusion. Rods. The whole deal. I recovered nicely. And I recently revision surgery done by the same neurosurgeon. Nerve pain was due to bony growth around the nerve. Now I have 12 pedicle screws, rods. a spacer. Two long screws at S2 now. Two screws had loosened at L5. I am fine again. All this was because of my back. But again. I never complained about back pain as so many people seem to do. So I'm happy with the outcome indeed. I was in much better shape prior to the revision surgery than the first one. Walked a lot. I'm thin. I don't fall. Muscle aches aren't the same as nerve pain. And I always wonder how many unnecessary back surgeries are performed for conditions that aren't helped by taking such drastic measures. Simply because it sounds good to the patient and the doctor suggests it. Mine wasn't elective. I was facing paralysis. So I'm grateful indeed.

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