Will lumbar spinal fusion solve my leg pain or just add new pain?

Posted by roma76 @roma76, Jul 15, 2023

I have spinal stenosis with increasing leg pain and decreasing ability to walk, stand, or do PT work. Next week I will have L4-L5 fusion with bone graft. I’m anxious about the surgery but also worn out from the leg and hip pain. Anyone else have this fusion surgery? Did it add new pain or resolve the leg pain once the nerves were freed up? Thanks for any input.

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maggie76 | @maggie76 | Aug 6, 2023

In reply to @babykay "I just had a lumbar laminectomy. Don't know if it will help or not.I am in..." + (show)

After I had Lumbar Laminectomy I was in rehab for a month and took PT for close to 2 years. Its 6 yrs now since I had the surgery and I live pain free.

sbcarcht | @sbcarcht | Aug 7, 2023

In reply to @verajeff428 "I have spinal stenosis don’t know what to do next. Had epidural but doesn’t help. Stomach..." + (show)

I have spinal stenosis that’s severe at L4/L5 with crippling sciatica pain. My neurosurgeon agreed to a conservative approach and I began following the Gokhale Method primal posture approach which a Mayo neurologist called “the greatest contribution ever made to non-surgical back pain treatment.” Now I haven’t had a sciatica pain for a couple of years!

karencarrow | @karencarrow | Sep 14 8:14am

In reply to @sbcarcht "I have spinal stenosis that’s severe at L4/L5 with crippling sciatica pain. My neurosurgeon agreed to..." + (show)

Would this help me with nerve damage from 19 spinal surgeries? My legs are in so much pain I cannot sit for longer than 10 minutes and I have a terrible time sleeping without excessive use of Ropinirole.

sbcarcht | @sbcarcht | Sep 14 10:06am

In reply to @karencarrow "Would this help me with nerve damage from 19 spinal surgeries? My legs are in so..." + (show)

That’s more of a medical question that I’m not qualified to answer, but I suspect if anything it would help as the posture method tends to even out stresses on the spine.

roma76 | @roma76 | Sep 14 4:11pm

I had serious leg and hip pain that made walking an agonizing adventure. The morning after my L4-L5 fusion with bone graft I walked around the unit with NO pain. Following day I was home with a manageable back ache. Two years later I have no right sided leg pain. Best wishes to you for a great outcome like mine!

karencarrow | @karencarrow | Sep 15 10:01am

In reply to @sbcarcht "That’s more of a medical question that I’m not qualified to answer, but I suspect if..." + (show)

Thank you! I’ll try anything!!

annie1 | @annie1 | Sep 16 12:56am

In reply to @roma76 "I had serious leg and hip pain that made walking an agonizing adventure. The morning after..." + (show)

How long did it take for you to recover? I have to have a much more extensive fusion they are telling me and that my recovery would be more than 4 to 6 months.

annie1 | @annie1 | Sep 16 1:08am

In reply to @sbcarcht "I have spinal stenosis that’s severe at L4/L5 with crippling sciatica pain. My neurosurgeon agreed to..." + (show)

Where do you live and where is this neurosurgeon who isn't pushing surgery? That's amazing. Do you think that can help if I have many areas with degenerated discs and her dated discs?