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What are people's experiences with spinal fusion surgery?

Posted by heatherm @heatherm, Oct 27, 2020

After trying pretty much everything, with little pain relief, my surgeon has put me on his priorty elective list for fusion of my L3/4/5, and maybe S1. I've heard both positive and negative experiences with this surgery. What are people's experiences, with this? ,

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Mentor
Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | 2 days ago
In reply to @hhall124 "I have been scared out of my wits this past week. I have a fusion at..." + (show)
@hhall124

I have been scared out of my wits this past week. I have a fusion at c5-t1 plus the original acdf at c5-c6. Long story short - I was changing the furnace filter when I "browned" out and and fell into the furnace. Since then I've had a couple of similar episodes - and
the pain! The shortness of breath. The feeling that someone has punched you through your back to your heart.

I'm almost 60 and post menopausal with a comorbidity no doctor thinks off - polycystic ovary syndrome. A metabolic multiple issue. The insulin resistance went away when I had a total hysterectomy but whatever the cause of that underlying issue is still there. In other words, I don't know if I was ever a good candidate for all the surgery. I think what's happening is the adjacent segment degeneration. So scared I had the "if anything happens" talk with my husband. My last hospitalization for a hemi laminectomy was not a fun experience and I have no desire to end up back in the hospital. All I know is I'm scared out of my wits and feel like this can't have a good outcome. I hope to see a surgeon as possible-but...

I'm sending you a great big hug and saying you are not alone in your pain. Thanks for sharing your story and resilience.

Jump to this post

@hhall124 Have you told your doctor about nearly passing out? In changing a furnace filter I'm guessing you were bent over and then stood up. That can cause dizziness if your body is trying to adjust the blood pressure to that change. Being bent over, the blood goes to your head with gravity, and then suddenly that's reversed when you stand up. It is something you should tell a doctor in case there are blood pressure or heart issues.

REPLY
hhall124 | @hhall124 | 2 days ago

I texted with on call doctor. He didn't seem too concerned and told me to call my surgeon this week. I took my vitals. They were high 160/90 BP right after it happened. I wouldn't be concerned if it didn't feel like my neck was catching. Maybe just muscle spasms.

REPLY
rwhite44 | @rwhite44 | 1 day ago
In reply to @jenniferhunter "@rwhite44 Thank you for your kind words. I'm sorry you are suffering. There are some discussions..." + (show)
@jenniferhunter

@rwhite44 Thank you for your kind words. I'm sorry you are suffering. There are some discussions here with DISH patients. The information you've shared is valuable for other members. Choices are not always easy. Does it help to get exercise with walking?

Spine Health - "I am reaching out to those with DISH "
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/i-am-reaching-out-to-those-with-dishd/
Spine Health - "Diagnosed with A.S., DISH and OPLL...what to expect?"
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/diagnosed-with-a-s-dish-and-opll-what-to-expect/

Jump to this post

Jennifer, thanks for reaching out with that information.
I'm sure you'll see me posting there in no time as this has really blindsided me.

I have been in treatment with Orthopedic Dr.'s and surgeons since my first 3 cervical fusions began hurting after 15 good years.
That was in 2015.
Ended up with a 4th fused cervical vertebra. Kept regular appointments and occasional imaging when I feel pain just to be sure hardware and cages are good.

Fast forward to earlier in 2024, and the same Orthopedic surgeon that had imaged my cervical and thoracic region as I was having a transmodulation stim device implanted to attempt to curb some neck and shoulder pain.
Absolutely no mention of anything off.

I begin having real issues twisting, and breathing really deep causes physical pain, and it's firmly rooted in my Thoracic region.
So I see my Dr. (this is just a few months after stim implant) again, and I get the DISH syndrome/ Ankylosing Spondylitis diagnosed.
He explains the DISH is what's making the twisting and breathing tougher and that there is no real meds or treatment.

After reading about it a bit, I just don't understand how it went from "they don't see anything" to my ribcage feeling like it's lined with broken glass that fast.
From what I read, this isn't something that spreads like wildfire...

So deflated. Already more than 2 decades of cervical suffering, now, a literal future forecast of physical misery.

I really hope my case is an outlier.
I hate the thought of anyone feeling what I feel daily.

Sorry, didn't mean to get on a tangent, just meant to thank you for the information, and to finally answer the query in your message : Yes, it CAN help to be up and moving and actively trying to gently push to the boundaries of your movement.
Some days are tougher than others to endure to be honest, and I have begun to employ a system of a Brace prescribed by my pain management Dr., and several other braces I've accumulated through a sporting adulthood.

It's hard to watch my wife's face as I struggle into the 7 accessories I need just to be able to be ambulatory.

If the case is not that severe yet, I would highly recommend getting into a routine of activity that will find the person articulating their spine as much as they can tolerate.
Once you start losing that mobility to the hardening of tissue, it's really painful to break up that calcification (I'm sure that's not what's really happening, it just feels that way on the inside lol) and get motion out of that soft tissue.

Thank you again, I have a tendency to be verbose, but truly appreciate your time and information.

Please be safe out there, and I hope you have a great day and rest of '25!

REPLY
1 reply
rwhite44 | @rwhite44 | 1 day ago
In reply to @hhall124 "I have been scared out of my wits this past week. I have a fusion at..." + (show)
@hhall124

I have been scared out of my wits this past week. I have a fusion at c5-t1 plus the original acdf at c5-c6. Long story short - I was changing the furnace filter when I "browned" out and and fell into the furnace. Since then I've had a couple of similar episodes - and
the pain! The shortness of breath. The feeling that someone has punched you through your back to your heart.

I'm almost 60 and post menopausal with a comorbidity no doctor thinks off - polycystic ovary syndrome. A metabolic multiple issue. The insulin resistance went away when I had a total hysterectomy but whatever the cause of that underlying issue is still there. In other words, I don't know if I was ever a good candidate for all the surgery. I think what's happening is the adjacent segment degeneration. So scared I had the "if anything happens" talk with my husband. My last hospitalization for a hemi laminectomy was not a fun experience and I have no desire to end up back in the hospital. All I know is I'm scared out of my wits and feel like this can't have a good outcome. I hope to see a surgeon as possible-but...

I'm sending you a great big hug and saying you are not alone in your pain. Thanks for sharing your story and resilience.

Jump to this post

I'm so sorry to hear what you are enduring.
It's bad, and when the options are not guaranteed, it can be scary.

All any of us can do is try to weigh whether there is a chance things will improve against sticking to the suffering we are already familiar with, and those aren't terribly fun thought exercises.

Any spinal procedure at any age gives me the heebie-jeebies, and I've had plenty at this point.
It's never something to take lightly.

I will be holding good thoughts for you and your husband. It's an unenviable position.
I sure hope you are able to get some relief and happiness in the coming year!

REPLY
hhall124 | @hhall124 | 1 day ago
In reply to @rwhite44 "Jennifer, thanks for reaching out with that information. I'm sure you'll see me posting there in..." + (show)
@rwhite44

Jennifer, thanks for reaching out with that information.
I'm sure you'll see me posting there in no time as this has really blindsided me.

I have been in treatment with Orthopedic Dr.'s and surgeons since my first 3 cervical fusions began hurting after 15 good years.
That was in 2015.
Ended up with a 4th fused cervical vertebra. Kept regular appointments and occasional imaging when I feel pain just to be sure hardware and cages are good.

Fast forward to earlier in 2024, and the same Orthopedic surgeon that had imaged my cervical and thoracic region as I was having a transmodulation stim device implanted to attempt to curb some neck and shoulder pain.
Absolutely no mention of anything off.

I begin having real issues twisting, and breathing really deep causes physical pain, and it's firmly rooted in my Thoracic region.
So I see my Dr. (this is just a few months after stim implant) again, and I get the DISH syndrome/ Ankylosing Spondylitis diagnosed.
He explains the DISH is what's making the twisting and breathing tougher and that there is no real meds or treatment.

After reading about it a bit, I just don't understand how it went from "they don't see anything" to my ribcage feeling like it's lined with broken glass that fast.
From what I read, this isn't something that spreads like wildfire...

So deflated. Already more than 2 decades of cervical suffering, now, a literal future forecast of physical misery.

I really hope my case is an outlier.
I hate the thought of anyone feeling what I feel daily.

Sorry, didn't mean to get on a tangent, just meant to thank you for the information, and to finally answer the query in your message : Yes, it CAN help to be up and moving and actively trying to gently push to the boundaries of your movement.
Some days are tougher than others to endure to be honest, and I have begun to employ a system of a Brace prescribed by my pain management Dr., and several other braces I've accumulated through a sporting adulthood.

It's hard to watch my wife's face as I struggle into the 7 accessories I need just to be able to be ambulatory.

If the case is not that severe yet, I would highly recommend getting into a routine of activity that will find the person articulating their spine as much as they can tolerate.
Once you start losing that mobility to the hardening of tissue, it's really painful to break up that calcification (I'm sure that's not what's really happening, it just feels that way on the inside lol) and get motion out of that soft tissue.

Thank you again, I have a tendency to be verbose, but truly appreciate your time and information.

Please be safe out there, and I hope you have a great day and rest of '25!

Jump to this post

Thanks. I hope for good things for you as well. Turned out to be major muscle spasms due to this wonderful cold and snowy weather.

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | 1 day ago
In reply to @hhall124 "Thanks. I hope for good things for you as well. Turned out to be major muscle..." + (show)
@hhall124

Thanks. I hope for good things for you as well. Turned out to be major muscle spasms due to this wonderful cold and snowy weather.

Jump to this post

@hhall124 That sounds like good news. Magnesium can help with muscle spams, and most of us are deficient. A good way to absorb magnesium is soaking in a bath with epsom salts. Some of the pills for magnesium are not absorbed well in the body.

REPLY
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