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L4-5 laminectomy and fusion

Posted by mrsr1234 @mrsr1234, Jun 9 9:12am

I had a L3-4 lami and fusion in 2020 however since then, I’ve continued to have back pain that has progressively gotten worse. The surgeon said that everything looks good (of course it couldn’t be his fault) and that I should just do physical therapy. Well that only makes it worse and now I have severe pain front of my right thigh that causes me to not be able to walk properly. When I bent to pick something up (for example) and straighten to standing, the pain is so excruciating that I scream out and my leg ‘gives out’. I haven’t fallen yet but it’s a concern. I went to a different practice/orthopedic doctor for a second opinion. Was told that (MRI results in hand) L4 is crumbling and bulging into spinal cord. Also, the way the prop fusion was done was not “the way he would have done “ and is why I’m having the pain I am in now. (I have a cage that was insert around the vertebra.) so now I have to have surgery to repair. Anyone else heard of this or in the same lake (where I’m rowing my boat)???

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gently | @gently | Jun 9 11:58am

I've heard of it. There are surgeons who specialize in revision surgery. I've met several individuals who have had fusion surgeries without being imaged for osteoporosis. There are medications that can fortify your bones before surgery. Sometimes the bones are so porous that they can't hold the screws or the hardware. This may be true of your lumbar vertebrae. I suspect it would have been evident to the original surgeon if he'd ordered an MRI (or did he just not tell you) that your L-4 was crumbling and putting pressure on the spinal cord. It isn't that easy when you are in pain to insist on imaging, but that is when we need to insist regardless of what it ends up proving.
I'm really sorry that you've had this experience and happy that you've found a second and don't have to live with the painful mistake.

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1 reply
mrsr1234 | @mrsr1234 | Jun 9 1:09pm
In reply to @gently "I've heard of it. There are surgeons who specialize in revision surgery. I've met several individuals..." + (show)
@gently

I've heard of it. There are surgeons who specialize in revision surgery. I've met several individuals who have had fusion surgeries without being imaged for osteoporosis. There are medications that can fortify your bones before surgery. Sometimes the bones are so porous that they can't hold the screws or the hardware. This may be true of your lumbar vertebrae. I suspect it would have been evident to the original surgeon if he'd ordered an MRI (or did he just not tell you) that your L-4 was crumbling and putting pressure on the spinal cord. It isn't that easy when you are in pain to insist on imaging, but that is when we need to insist regardless of what it ends up proving.
I'm really sorry that you've had this experience and happy that you've found a second and don't have to live with the painful mistake.

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Thank you. I did have MRIs prior to and multiple after the surgery and I allegedly do not have osteoporosis. Just my luck.

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1 reply
gocy | @gocy | Jun 9 1:50pm

Thank you for sharing. I was diagnosed with Cervical Spinal Stenosis two years ago. After reading about your struggles, I have ruled out any type of surgery. Others I know who have had spinal or back surgery are very unhappy after having high expectation to be much. I am just getting along and hoping for the best.

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1 reply
gently | @gently | Jun 9 6:00pm
In reply to @mrsr1234 "Thank you. I did have MRIs prior to and multiple after the surgery and I allegedly..." + (show)
@mrsr1234

Thank you. I did have MRIs prior to and multiple after the surgery and I allegedly do not have osteoporosis. Just my luck.

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does your 2nd think that positioning crushed the vertebra or is it the disc crumpling?

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mrsr1234 | @mrsr1234 | Jun 9 7:06pm

Hmmm, that’s a great question and I didn’t think of that and I will ask because he didn’t say.

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mrsr1234 | @mrsr1234 | Jun 9 7:10pm
In reply to @gocy "Thank you for sharing. I was diagnosed with Cervical Spinal Stenosis two years ago. After reading..." + (show)
@gocy

Thank you for sharing. I was diagnosed with Cervical Spinal Stenosis two years ago. After reading about your struggles, I have ruled out any type of surgery. Others I know who have had spinal or back surgery are very unhappy after having high expectation to be much. I am just getting along and hoping for the best.

Jump to this post

Hi. Yes, I understand this position. It’s scary. I’ve also had cervical that will need to be re-done just as soon as possible because I am at the point of no return with my pain… Hang in there.

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