I had a total spinal reconstruction (L1-S2) seven years ago.

False hope seems to accompany the recommendations for spinal surgery. I'm so sorry you are suffering.

I have a friend with similar combo of major spine surgeries, plus knee replacement…..he says there’s pain, pretty much under control, but has very restricted movement of head/neck…he had small strokes, but mostly recovered from them, doing various therapies…reading is harder…needs a walker to get around…has a great attitude in the midst of many frustrating limitations….my heart goes out to him and others experiencing similar situations.

Only my opinion,
But I think surgeons consier a sucessfull surgery one in which they complete the task of the fusion itself.

Fusion is done to stabilize the spine not relieve pain itself.
If what is causing your pain is resolved by the fusion then that pain will go away, but if there is another pain source it will continue.

Then there is pain that you did not have before that can be caused by the surgery itself and pain from nerves that are now free but already damaged that may not get better.

I think when you hurt 24/7 you grab at straws for relief.
But with fusions you can't go back to the way you were before surgery.
Its like a bad Humpty Dumpty movie

I’m not sure that’s a total spine replacement. I had a surgeon that was going to fuse me from my thoracic spine all the way down. But I didn’t have him do my spine surgery. I’ve had a few spine surgeries. I consider all my spine surgeries, huge successes! Did it get rid of all my pain yes and no. There is pain I have which does not come from my spine. It comes from the tugging that goes on from the muscles, pulling on my spine, and it also comes from my tailbone, which I am told cannot be operated on. In my case, I completely got my life back by having the surgeries. It is unfortunate that you are not told about pain that may stay with you after surgery. My surgeon was honest. But I clearly see the 5 ton gorilla on my back was removed with surgery. I can exercise, I can walk I walk to 5K, I can do my art and I can function. I stay on low-dose opioids for 25 years for the pain, however the destructive pain and joint deterioration that comes with degenerative disc disease is being alleviated by the periodic surgeries over 15 years. I expect them to continue (the need for surgery) and I am no longer afraid because of the freedom. I get after surgery. But there is a cost. I imagine I would’ve hated life entirely if I didn’t have the surgeries, and I wouldn’t be able to have inspired and happy moments without the surgeries. I think finding a really good orthopedic surgeon who I could trust after 18 years of being a volleyball between doctors resulted in me being confident with my decisions about surgery. I am very grateful.

@loriesco I am really happy for you that you have had successful surgeries. And when I called my initial surgery a “total spinal reconstruction “ it’s because that is what my neurosurgeon called it. Not replacement.

@nycmusic adding- my friend is doing occupational therapy for reading..goes slowly, but does seem to help…could be that 1 of his eyes isn’t quite right, so having that checked out…many specialties and therapies involved.

@corycpainchronic I dumped the neurosurgeon and went with the orthopedic surgeon. So I would suggest if you haven’t tried an orthopedic surgeon you make sure you do my neurosurgeon would’ve never done surgery, and my nerves were destroyed because he was fearful. In his favor, he grew up with bad back surgeries, but that was no excuse for being neglectful and not moving with the times. I had much better success with the orthopedic surgeon!!!