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Choosing a spine surgeon

Posted by annie1 @annie1, Nov 15, 2025

I have a problem in that I have interviewed many surgeons and there are at least two who have very good reviews and I'm having a hard time deciding who to go with. One of the surgeons had one bad review out of all good reviews. The other one had no bad reviews at all. I had a minor surgery/decompression with one of them that was successful only for 4 months and then my symptoms came back. He's very likable guy has great reviews and would do the fusion but I am a little worried since the first time it didn't really stick. It's very hard to decide since I already have a relationship with him and I do like him. Can anyone identify with this kind of dilemma and share a way to choose which surgeon to work on me? I keep getting more recommendations also which you and makes it more complicated.

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annie1 | @annie1 | 5 days ago
In reply to @ou14mejc "@annie1 I saw a neurosurgeon last week who does the TOPS. He said people with osteoporosis..." + (show)
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@annie1 I saw a neurosurgeon last week who does the TOPS. He said people with osteoporosis aren’t candidates because the screws won’t hold. That particular procedure is very specific and limited to very few patients…He said a DXA scan with a T-score of -2.0 or greater is a disqualifier.

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@ou14mejc
Where was the neurosurgeon? My DXA in my spine has improved to osteopenia but it is still osteoporosis in my femoral head. Do you qualify?
I saw a surgeon at Mayo this past week and he dosen't think it would help me because I have degeneration at several levels/several discs that are very worn down to almost bone on bone. What is your diagnosis or what is your pain like?

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ou14mejc | @ou14mejc | 5 days ago
In reply to @annie1 "@ou14mejc Where was the neurosurgeon? My DXA in my spine has improved to osteopenia but it..." + (show)
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@ou14mejc
Where was the neurosurgeon? My DXA in my spine has improved to osteopenia but it is still osteoporosis in my femoral head. Do you qualify?
I saw a surgeon at Mayo this past week and he dosen't think it would help me because I have degeneration at several levels/several discs that are very worn down to almost bone on bone. What is your diagnosis or what is your pain like?

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@annie1 my neurosurgeon was in Oklahoma City. If you have improved to osteopenia and your T-score is better than -2.0, you should qualify (according to him.) the femoral head is on your hips, not your spine. My pain gets so bad that I have to go to the ER for pain shots occasionally. It isn’t just pain, I actually can’t walk, sit, stand, etc. I also have DDD and have severe stenosis at L4-5 and spondylolisthesis. I thought this would qualify me for TOPS, but the surgeon said I had other discs that looked to be compromised and would need a fusion. I have avoided a fusion for years because of the horror stories, but I don’t think I can much longer. Good luck in whatever choice you make.

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Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | 5 days ago

Hi, @marsi and @annie1 - just wanted you to know that for your own safety and privacy, I've removed the request from you for a phone number, @marsi, and replaced it with a request that annie1 private message you on this site. This is because having phone numbers on the site compromises member's privacy and could be a security issue.

Hoping this might work for you two to connect this way. Go to the top of any Mayo Clinic Connect page and click on the little envelope in the upper right corner to get to the private messaging tool.

marsi - is anything becoming more clear to you as you think back on what these doctors have advised you might do?

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marsi | @marsi | 4 days ago
In reply to @lisalucier "Hi, @marsi and @annie1 - just wanted you to know that for your own safety and..." + (show)
Profile picture for Lisa Lucier, Moderator @lisalucier

Hi, @marsi and @annie1 - just wanted you to know that for your own safety and privacy, I've removed the request from you for a phone number, @marsi, and replaced it with a request that annie1 private message you on this site. This is because having phone numbers on the site compromises member's privacy and could be a security issue.

Hoping this might work for you two to connect this way. Go to the top of any Mayo Clinic Connect page and click on the little envelope in the upper right corner to get to the private messaging tool.

marsi - is anything becoming more clear to you as you think back on what these doctors have advised you might do?

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@lisalucier
Thank you. Not really it’s a very difficult decision.

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