Surgery for herniated discs?

Posted by Joanski @joanski, Jun 4, 2023

I have two herniated discs, a tare in another and yet a bulge in another. I see ppl on here have had surgery for 1 or more of those items. What does surgery do for that and is it beneficial? I also have osteoporosis really bad and Levoscoliosis! Should I get the discs surgically repaired?

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suzfuse46 | @suzfuse46 | Sep 24 5:29am

In reply to @mmalone1804 "I know this is an older post, but if you’re still active on this site, I..." + (show)

Hello M Malone,
I had osteopenia and osteoporosis at the times of the surgeries. In 12/7/2016 for cervical laminectomy and fusion and for the scoliosis surgery in 2017 I was on Prolia. I was on Tymlos for the 2019 surgery and two months later developed hypercalcemia from the Tymlos. It did take a year for the surgery to heal after the replacement of larger screws after "lucencies" around the screws showed pseudoarthrosis (failure to heal with new bone). The osteoporosis didn't concern the surgeons or interfere with their plans to operate. I would guess that the need for correcting the problems with the spine outweighed the possibility of the osteoporosis interfering with the success of the surgery or that the degree of the osteoporosis wasn't prohibitive(?).

mydogsbestfriend | @mydogsbestfriend | Sep 28 9:00am

Had serious spinal pain about 3 years ago, had numerous mris etc. Injections did no good, I was told I needed spinal surgery. I declined that after I was told “ it might not help and will take 6 months or more of little activity or lifting”. Including driving. I realize not everyone can do what I did, but we moved to a ranch style house instead of two story. The house now has a basement which I don’t use for much except my freezer is there; my laundry is in the first floor so I don’t have to carry stuff up & down stairs. I also insist my husband carry heavy stuff because I can’t go up & down stairs easily. I will never have surgery on my back as everyone I talk to says don’t go it. When the specialist said it might not help, that clinched my decision

taylor05 | @taylor05 | Sep 29 10:06am

In reply to @mydogsbestfriend "Had serious spinal pain about 3 years ago, had numerous mris etc. Injections did no good,..." + (show)

I had surgery 2 different times on my back. About 10 years in between and it was different areas too. I had an excellent neosurgeon and if it wasn't done I wouldn't be walking. It's extremely better! I couldn't not do it as the pain was terrible and I was getting so I couldn't walk or get in and out of car without extreme difficulties wuth so much pain! You do what you feel and what life makes us do.