OK guys, I went to see a surgeon today and he suggested a spinal fusion. I know what a spinal fusion is so I dont need that explained. What I want to know is if you have had one for your back pain and do you think it is worth it? They gave me about a 70% success rate. I am supposed to think about it over the next 6-8 weeks and get back to the surgeon. I'm just not sure if I want to go this route so I'd like some personal opinions from people who have had it done for low back pain. I have disc degenration and a herniation at L5-S1 with some facet arthritis (which will not be helped at all by a fusion) so I already know it will not releive ALL my pain. I sure think it would be nice to be able to live and function on no pain pills other than an occasional OTC or light pain pill. So if you have had a spinal fusion could you tell me if you think it is worth it and would you recommend someone to do it for low back pain?
Spinal fusion - was it worth it for your back pain?
- Asked
- 16 Aug 2011 by DzooBaby
- Active
- 4 Sep 2017
- Topics
- pain, back pain
Responses (34)
Hi there DozoBaby. Well, in a nutshell, ansering on behalf of a late aunt of mine if thats ok with you. She had it done, the fusion. I believe at the time she was in her early fifties. And she was glad that she ended up having it done. She was an avid gardener, lots of bending over, in her flower beds etc. So, I know if she were here, she'd give you a thumbs up. :-0)
Dzoobaby,
I haven't had back surgery so I am relying on a couple of good friends two of which had positive results the other one had a procedure after that and I think the word back and surgery together are not in her vocabulary. The thing of it is I hear 70% success rate how does that equate in terms of you being able to drastically drop your pain medications, I don't want it to seem like I am against this I just want to know how much relief are you going to get and I understand it won't totally rid you of the pain but to what degree? I just really care about the outcome! Billy
Ok DzooBaby, I personally haven't had the fusion which I need, but my hubby has had 2 on L3 thru S1, later L 1&2, & 2 on his neck. He thinks it has helped him, but he will never be pain free. He says the sites they did are better, but you have to be so careful of the next level, in your case L4 going next because when they fuse it puts so much pressure on the next level it may eventually done also. A lot to think about I know. Good luck in your decision...
That is another thing I've heard a lot of that once they start cutting it leads to more. I do know that it does put pressure on the above and below joints. At least there is nothing below! It is a lot to think about. It really terrifies me to think about surgery on my spine. I think if they could tell me it would truly help, I'd do it, but I know they will never say that. I know more people who have had more trouble after than those who did better but I dont know if it is just that the people who did well just dont say as much about it as those who had poor outcomes, you know?
I had a fusion in 1986. There was a 50% chance of betterment. It helped a little bit for a short time, but it didn't make things worse. I had most of my pain in L4-S1. My Dr. wouldn't operated on S1. The thing to think about is the degenerative disc disease that I've been told we all have when we have a fusion because the stresses aren't the same as our natural disc stresses. The bad part is it gets worse as you get older. However, sometimes the pain is so great you just hope that it will work and today spinal fusions heal a lot faster than they used.
dzooBaby, I had a fusion in 1982 and did very well for several years, but it sure didn't last very long. Of course, I do have to say that this surgery was a long time ago and I know they do things different then back then. I would say if your pain is at the level, you feel you just can't handle it anymore, then go for the surgery. I just dragged my leg along before the surgery and the pain was so intense before surgery, and was much improved afterward. I have years of much improved pain relief, and better mobility, but many more things have happened to my back since then. Your problem is at the same place mine started at. With much improved techniques, I would say yes, but think about it for awhile. Best wishes, LeaBlue
I'm managing with meds right now so I'm not sure. I just hate being dependent on meds and having to plan my life around them. They are beginning to get to the point where the meds dont help as much as they used to either. I used to be pretty active and enjoyed doing things that I cant do anymore. If I could get to a point where I didnt need the meds and I could be more active I'd do it in a heartbeat! There are just no guarentees and it is a lot to chance.
People are talking about further degeneration after the surgery, but nobody is considering inevitable degeneration without surgery. My son had a lower lumbar fusion about 20 years ago. I think part of it is how bad or serious was/is the spinal condition and type to assess the results. My son didn't have any feeling below his knees and lost feeling in his hands. The surgery returned the feeling into his upper body, and to his legs down into his heels, so he wasn't falling when he tried to walk on a deck. It also reduced the chance of complete paralysis from the disk changing position and putting pressure on his spinal nerve. His disc was setting at a right angle between his vertebrae. So, you have to consider possible nerve damage as a result if you don't do this. He was injured in a maritime accident-out at sea.
Thanks Meyati! Your comments were very helpful. I dont feel like I'm this point yet. Your son sounds much worse than I am. I'm leaning towards waiting a bit. As long as meds are helping some I'm going to keep on and try to work on strengthening my core more!
I agree with you that core strengthing exercises are wonderful. The muscles can help support the skeleton and discs. Stretches are very good for that. Get down on your hands and knees, and lift a leg and stick it straight out and count to 5. Start with reps of 5 for each leg. Also another good one is to arch your back like a cat-hold it and go back to a straight back. By strengthening the back-pelvic and tummy region your tummy will be flatter too. Swimming is the best if you can get to a pool. You want to gentlely work and stretch your muscles-it will help loosen up your arturitus. Also, if the thought of surgery bothers you, you can ask your doctor for a tanz unit, where you break the pain with mild electric shocks. Another option is huge Lidocaine patches that you put on the affected area. They're transparent and you can bathe with them on. You just peel it off each day and put on a fresh one.
I had spinal fusion and a rod placed in my L-4, L-5 levels. The surgery was successful for about 5 years and I was walking and enjoyed a reasonably pain free life style. I have DJD/DDD and the rod replaced deteriorated bone. Since then I have had pain flare ups with my right leg and hip and already I have heard from 2 doctors (not surgeons) that I will need surgery again. It appears the rod or the screw may be lose and adjustments will be needed. I have had the radio frequency to the S-1 area which gives me constant pain and the procedure was successful for about 2 years but the second procedure with the radio frequency did not take. My surgeon and hip specialist say my DJD/DDD has not shown any progressive signs as yet but the pain is intense and now I am going for another surgical consultation. The first surgeons ego is in the way and he sees nothing wrong on the x-ray but two doctors suggest the rod or the screw may have shifted cause pain on the nerve.
He is the second surgeon I've seen. They both said almost the same things. I wont be pain free (they both say that) and I do have a lot of arthritis and degeneration. I dont want to go from surgery to more surgery and it seems that once they start it always leads to more. I have a few months to think about it. I still just dont know if I think its the best thing to do. There seems to be too much of "It may or may not help and could make it worse" One was a neurosurgeon and the other was an orthopedic surgeon. If I knew for sure my pain was from lack of stability I'd be more inclined I think but I dont know that for sure.
could somebody tell me what a spinal fusion is im lost?
Hi Dzoobaby... After having a lamenectomy, ten months later I was told that I needed a spinal fusion. I think it was the worst decision I ever made to go ahead with it. The problem is that when you are in pain, you will do anything at all to get out of pain. After the operation I was ok for about a year but after that all of my seemed to return. If I had to do it all over again, I would never go through the procedure. Now the doctors say that I have failed back syndrome. They also say that I have nerve damage and scar tissue which is causing all of the pain. If I didn't have the spinal fusion I wouldn't have so much scar tissue. I have gone through so many doctors that it isn't funny. Some doctors just give you a load of painkillers and they think that that solves everything. Luckily I have a great doctor now that is very concerned about the meds that I am on. At one point I was on Actiq for break pain and the drug caused me to loose all of my teeth.
This is kind of the line I'm thinking on. I have never tried a brace to see if that works. I hear too many people who say the same thing. I hear of so many stories about how one surgery leads to another and that in too many cases people are worse off after surgery and you are right, when you are in pain you are willing to do anything. I'm thinking at this point, my meds still give me pretty fair relief. If I get to a point where pain meds no longer work or if I have progressive weakness or something I'll be more inclined to say yes. I'm leaning pretty heavily on holding off at this point. Thanks to all!!! You have all been very helpful!!! :)
I had s1 l4 l5 fusion done about 25 years ago told i would never be able to work again found old time doctor who had back fusion made me stay in bed for 3 months with hard plastic brace when ever i got up work as store clerk after a while i went back to consutrion work for 12 years every one i talk to said doctor has them walking next day wish the old doctor was still around but he past away i was almost pain free for 10 1/2 years not sure about new ways doctor do things now but new disc replacmet things look good good luck to you talk to doctor alot before anything done
ill give you what i think, i had one within the year,, hurt my back in 1989, hernated disk, therapy for 2 years, off and on, no surgery, pain mangagement, dr, and seem to get better, but limits, on lifting, sitting, even at the computer, bending, and its 2011 now, since the infusion, when i bend more, and more, sore as can be, so yard work, over worked maybe, but it put me in bed, a whole, day, and i still feel like where they did it, that the needle is still in my back, it hurts, in the same place, they wanted to test me for ms, and of course, it scares you, but i cant reconmend,it, the doc, did or does, its up to you for the reason, i deal with it, now i know i cant do as much as i used to do, so just if you have back problems, and are older, dont over do it, i have to rem im not a spring chicken any more, .\
DzooBaby,
My wife had a spinal fusion and a lamenectomy. It was horrible before she had the surgery and is already up and walking around. She had a nuvasive device put in. She went through the MRIs, X-ray and even a discogram. None of this has been fun but the level of pain she is at now has come from a pain at a constant 9 down a 4 while recovering from surgery. The recovery from surgery is far less pain than what her daily pain was. The disc at L4-L5 was gone, L3-L4 was a grade 5 and the L5-S1 was also a grade 5. She suffers from arthritis on her hips and in the spine. They managed to remove some of this from the spine with the surgery, not every doctor can handle this.
It sounds like your fusion would involve only the lowest section of your spine L5-S1 and perhaps some work needed on the facet joints. This, as I know, is not a very extensive surgery, but does take 1-2 months to recover. I'm sure you would get good relief. I had scoliosis so my fusion required that 15 levels of my spine be fused (T4-pelvis), which is a whole different story. If you have scoliosis it would be advisable to see a scoliosis specialist before you consider any surgery.
i have had 1 fusion-bone from my hip used and later i had a plate put in. these were in the C area of my neck. i do need work done on my L3-4-5; but i am not ready to go thru all this again. the fusion was done thru the front and the plate thru the back. IMHO other than saving me from the possiblilty of becoming a quad; this was all for nothing. both times i got cut on my pain levels increased and i started getting pain in areas that i never had before. i get my medical thru the V.A. and my pain management is horrible. I do have friends that have had these operations right away and ive seen immediate success; i imagine the length of time for these injuries (age) is a big factor on any operation such as these as far as the ACTUAL success rate. it used to be that when you had a lower back or whatever they had to be done again in 5-6 years or so. i believe that is no longer the case. since i am a male i would give up both of my jewels to go a day with out pain or headaches.
I am 5 months post op from a C-5/C-6 anterior cervical fusion and a little over 1 month post op from an L-5/S-1 anterior lumbar fusion. I am 33 years old and for me, there was no way I could continue life without having the surgeries. I highly recommend doing the anterior approach if the fusion surgery you need is for your low back, and if you can be a candidate for that route of surgery. The anterior approach saves your back muscles from being cut and destroyed and you will have a much faster recovery with an anterior approach. I was up and walking the day of surgery if that tells you anything. They go through your abdomen instead, and you will have a C-section like scar. You can find animated You Tube videos on this approach, if your Dr. has not already discussed this option for you.
Your answer was very helpful-sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you! You and I sound a lot alike. I dont feel like my home support system is all that great. My husband doesnt believe my pain is as bad as it is and he doesnt want me to do the surgery. I'm still not sure even after all this time. He has given me several months to think about it and I'm leaning towards waiting. he is talking about an anterior approach which I'm not crazy about. I've heard from a few people that this surgeon is really good but I'm just not sure that I'm ready. I am thinking of trying a back brace first. If it is truly instability needing a fusion then a brace should provide some relief and if it does and I decide I want that stability "built in" then I can go for the surgery.
I'm sorry to rain on your parade, but my experience with spinal fusion was absolutely NOT a successful one. My Oma (Grandma in German, she raised us while my Mom taught elementary school & we called her Oma), had spinal fusion after years of unrelenting back pain. She used to sleep on a board, the floor, not at all. She would cry out from all the pain she was experiencing. I don't know if she was taking medication, I never asked. She had the surgery done & was a practically a cripple afterwards. Her pain was not helped, in fact she believed that it made it all the worse.
I'm pretty much leaning towards NOT doing it. It seems that more people who have had it done are worse than before they started. This surgeon is a second surgeon who has said a fusion may help. I think as long as pain meds are working I'm going to hold off. I am planning to try a brace for extra stability and see how that goes. Thanks for the info-it was very helpful! It is always better knowing what something is in real life than what they say it will do in literature.
Hi DzooB, I know you want to hear from some one that has had it done, I am bending the rules a bit. Do you have a foot drop or bladder or bowel problems? Different doctors have different success rates as you know. I am sure you are going to use a neurosurgeon to do this procedure. I Had a "Pars" fracture L5-S1 with a foot drop of my right foot. Two different neuro doctors wanted to operate asap. an old radiologist I know looked at my CT and told me to just wait it out, just had spinal fluid pressing on those nerves. (Again this is off subject Sorry).. Is there any way to check this doctors results? I know it will vary from PT to PT. I used to assist a neuro surgeon @ A hospital here in Austin from time to time, on a private basis. It seemed to me that people with multiple levels being done, had the poorest outcome. As you know people with degenerative bone disease don't get better.
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There are no guarentees, you know. They really cant even tell you how much, if any, pain relief you get and some folks even end up being worse than before. that is why I want to hear from people who have done it before. I read in the literature they gave me that they want you to be off, or nearly off opioids by three months after surgery which I know will be difficult for me just because I have been on them a long time. He suggested it might be a good idea to try to cut way back prior to surgery so that I get better pain relief after surgery and have an easier time coming off meds after the back is stabilized. Which seems kinda crazy to me, although I understand the reasoning for it, it is still crazy because if I could come off meds, I wouldnt be thinking of doing this in the first place! It is very concerning to me about how much relief I would get too, but it seems to be pretty much a crap shoot as to who has a good outcome.
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He said even when they are fairly sure of diagnosis, sometimes people just do not have success. I'm overweight so that is points against me too. Between inactivity due to pain and the steroids they have been shooting me up with for years I've gained a lot of weight and I was a bit overweight to begin with. To me 70% is not really good odds.
Hope you are well Billy? Have a nice night & the day ahead, take care... Rajive
Dzoobaby,my husband had the surgery over a year ago.3 months later he had the nruoste
mulater put in.I had to take him to a pain clinc last week,Finally some relif.i would hate to tell you not to do it at all.It may work for you.Please keep me infromed...
Dear Dzoobaby,
You don't mention whether your spinal problems are the result of trauma or progressive degenerative arthritis causing cervical stenosis. Over last Christmas I underwent complete anterior diskectomies,, foraminotomies,and decompression of nerve roots from C3-4 through C6-7 . I wish that I had been able to have this surgery three or four years ago, because I have suffered permanent disability due to severe compression of my spinal cord.. The "nightmare pain" caused by CERVICAL stenosis is GONE. Horray.
BUT, the disease is still at work causing pain and disability through the REST of the spine. So the outcome was excellent, but the patient still lives with moderate to severe pain from the midback down. I worked in orthopedic medicine for many years. Most of the physicians would not touch a patient until compression of the spinal column was an issue.