Has anyone had laminectomy then needed spinal fusion?

I’ll see it “he told you so.“ I suggest if you love your surgeon you follow his advice. It took me 20 years to find Prince charming and it took me two seconds to decide on the surgery! The problem was that my desk fell completely out, and the vertebrae fused themselves together! I had done my own free self surgery! The problem was that the nerves exiting the spine were crushed in the process. My surgeon couldn’t guarantee the outcome of the nerve damage. It can take 10 years for the nerves to heal themselves. I understood that the fusion had to be part of the surgery because of the weight compressing one spine in the lower lumbar of L3 L4 L5. I also understood that the trade-off we were making was that eventually the outside levels would suffer stress and I’d be back for more surgery. But during that time I was doing a very physical art form pavement art in the street very large 9‘ x 12‘ street paintings in a weekend. I was able to get back to work and get my life back and I could sleep at night. I could exercise during the day and I had a quality of life that I was denied Because I had a fearful Neurosurgeon who thought I wasn’t ready for spine surgery. So for 20 years I suffered and then when he said there was nothing to do because I wasn’t ready for Spine surgery. I said fine. I’ll go home and just take the narcotics. That’s when he sent me to the orthopedic surgeon and the orthopedic surgeon freaked out and said I need surgery immediately. I said fine do it. That was 2018. I almost died in my surgery from an unexpected pulmonary embolism. I stayed in critical care for two weeks.( hey it was a great way to get out of the holidays and going to a subacute rehab facility! Plus, if you’re ever near Ucsd, they have the greatest cafeteria supporting the hospital Ever!) too bad my taste buds were numb for 10 days out of the two weeks! Since then I ended up having two cervical spine surgeries in 2023 back to back. I had already had my hips replaced in 2012 in 2014 before I got to the spine surgeon for my back. I look at other people who don’t do the fusion when it is recommended and I shake my head because they are never going to be as good as I was made hole by the fusion Surgery. But people don’t wanna listen to the advice of good doctors and they are talked out of good medicine by Internet B.S. , And they are swindled by snake oil salesman who promised them they can fix their backs. I understand I was swindled out of $6000 by a snake oil salesman for some traction therapy. It worked great for the three months, but I would’ve had to live in attraction machine for the rest of my life. Better to have the surgery with the World‘s most amazing orthopedic surgeon and get back to your farm. I got back to my street painting. If you want to get your life back, have the surgery and discuss honestly with your surgeon. What’s in store for you the rest of your life. I had this difficult discussion with my surgeon this fall as we looked at my collapsing back around the surgery. I’m almost 69 years old and he said I have four years in which to figure out if I am ready for another surgery on my lumbar. Maybe I should rephrase that to say if “we“ are ready for another surgery. He said after age 73/74 recuperation might be a problem, so best to do it before then if we find the back has deteriorated to the point where the exterior areas need attention. Good luck and I hope you do it sooner rather than later. My nerve damage to my left leg did not entirely regenerate itself– however in many ways, things are still on the move. The numbness comes and goes, and I just discovered that extra B vitamins and iron lesson the neuropathy quite a bit in my left ankle top of foot and left side of my leg. Some of the stuff you just get used to after so many years. Good luck with your decision. I’m on the.” just do it” side of things if you love your surgeon!

@loriesco Hello and happy new year. Your story is amazing. Could you let me know who your surgeon (and hospital) was?

I am 64 and have a farm, which necessitates heavy lifting, twisting, etc. In my college years, I herniated two discs playing lacrosse and have managed the pain for 40+ years. Three years ago my surgeon recommended fusion given the damage to my S1-L4, but I elected a laminectomy. Back pain solved. However, I now have worsening numbness and burning in my left ankle joint, and cramping along my left shin. My surgeon informed me that disc degradation is getting more advanced, and my left leg is progressively getting weaker (e.g., foot drop, etc.) He is again recommending fusion to stem the tide (he was kind enough to withhold the “I told you so”). He has told me that unless I change my lifestyle, this fusion will likely not be my last. Like others, I am weighing the pros and cons of more surgery. Should I try to gut it out and pray that this is as bad as it gets, or fuse the discs with all the pain/hassle/risk, etc. that comes with the fusion. So… anyone share this sob story? Anyone have laminectomy followed by fusion? How long is the healing time? I am in good health otherwise. Recommendations?

@ccchang I am UCSD. Anyone in the Spine orthopedic department is amazing! My particular surgeon is Dr. Zlomislic. The hospital is located there on the campus in La Jolla. It used to be called the Thorton hospital, but now they have broken it up to service the various departments - so it may be called the Jacobs Center.
Happy new year and a healthy one to you too!