Anyone had spine surgery who has osteopenia or osteoporosis?

Hi im due my Alif any day im desperate to get this dont it was from the back now its changed to an Alif ive been fkd about for years

@shirleyhibb26
From what I understand the ablation is only good for back pain I don't have back pain I only have pain in my legs so they won't do it for me. Where is your pain? Did you say it worked for you?

My back is fused L1-L5 and the pain is the S1 joint. I have gone thru the first of 2 tests and hopeful it will work for me. Sorry that isn’t going to work for you.

@mika86753099 I also had a diagnosis of severe osteoporosis and severe DDD. My rheumatologist has been on me for years to take medication for my bones. I rejected because of all the side effects....until he said I could no longer go without doing "something." I started the Forteo injections almost two years ago. My spine has improved greatly and now I'm considered to have osteopenia, not osteoporosis. I am so thankful I did the injections because I now need back surgery. My spine is so compressed with stenosis that I can no longer wait for back surgery. I don't think any doctor would have touched me if I had not started the injections. It was a scary choice, but the right choice.

@annie1 yes I have just had an ALIF L4/5 . I also have osteoporosis -4.2 L3. Op went well had a stand alone cage with two screws. I am four months post op now. I am 75 and female. Small bones. I also suffer chronic fatigue do my recovery is very slow and depressing so far. My problem was always sacroiliac dysfunction either nerve pain and that has been worsened by the extra load from the stretching of the spine. It’s an individual decision so all I can say is do not go into it lightly . Try everything else first.

I am due to have ALIF with laminectomy on L2 L3 and L4 L5 next Tuesday MIS. Had ablation that helped but not severe pain burning both legs from knees down to feet. Hoping surgery helps. I’m 81. Dr says young 81. Any thoughts?

@maryyg67
I don't have any suggestions unfortunately I'm just interested because I was told I would need an alif/360 for my severely degenerative disc disease. I have osteoporosis. Can I ask where you're having your surgery and if you have osteoporosis? I've been told I'm not a candidate for minimally invasive because of the extensive amount of discs that are almost completely gone.

@tiny28
Thank you for that advice. I actually was advised that I would need not only alif but 360 which means they flip you over and first do the alift in the front and then posterior decompression fusion in the back. The only reason I'm writing this right now at 1:30 a.m. is cuz I'm having extreme spasms in my legs and I can't sleep. I am not going into any of this lightly but I have to find some way to deal with this. Did you have your surgery at Mayo clinic?

@annie1 yes I have osteoporosis.but bone scan shows normal bones. I am having done at. corwell formerly Beaumont in Royal Oak Mi

@annie1 hello Annie, this is difficult to answer . Firstly , do you have any other health issues that might hinder your recovery ? You do realise that a double major op will be a very long recovery with no guarantees. I have been in terrible pain with my lower sacrum for five years with deprivation and continued pain but the only thing that seemed to show up on my scans was L4/5 degenerative disease with bone growth so I decided to have the operation. My surgeon is a professor so very skilled. As I said before I am four months post op ALIF and my pain is considerably worse than it’s ever been!! I now have leg weakness and stiffness also . I feel like my life is over . If you have osteoporosis and are considering rods , screws and cages with two ops then I can only wish you luck and hope that your recovery is better than mine . I have nowhere left to turn now as I don’t have the strength to fight it anymore . You are younger so it may be ok but please think very carefully and let me know your decision . Regards .