Your experiences with spinal fusion surgery?

[jrm53]

I had my back worked on in 1994, a couple of small holes and they pruned off a couple of bulging discs. I had put up with pain off and on for 33 years but it got so bad I had to do something. The pain down my right leg was so bad you could not get in a position that it would ease it hurt so much the pain pills they gave did not completely block it after the surgery I was about an inch or so taller as I was stooped over. Its worth getting done. Jeff

 

[Beemerguy53]

To everyone who replied on this thread...

Thanks so very much! I read every word of every post, and I am very encouraged by what you've told me. Your thoughtful and detailed comments really helped me understand this issue better, and it confirmed my opinion that the S&W Forum is truly a community of polite and friendly folks.

I took my second dose of Prednizone on Wednesday, and noticed some relief, but the pain in my lower back and leg, though lessened, is still there. We'll see what happens when I finish the meds, but unless a miracle happens my doctor made it clear that surgery is my only remaining option. And even if the steroid buys me a little more time now, I think it's inevitable I'll have to have this done fairly soon.

About my doctor: He is one of the most prominent spine surgeons in this region, associated with a large orthopedic practice at a large hospital that does more of these than anyplace else in the area. My ex-wife is a surgical nurse at that hospital, has known and worked with my doctor for more than 20 years, and has cared for many of his patients. She has the highest regard for him, and I trust him implicitly. If he says it's time to do this, I'll take him at his word.

Reading your replies and thinking about what my doctor said on Tuesday, the procedure he described sounds more like a lumbar laminectomy than what I've always thought of as a fusion. As I explained in my first post, he proposes to remove the deteriorated parts of the vertebrae involved, as well as the disc between them. I specifically asked him if he is going to put any hardware in there, and he said no. And when he was dictating his notes for his assistant to transcribe, I'm pretty sure he used the term "laminectomy". From what I've read here, it seems that those of you who've had this done have had generally good results, and I find that very encouraging.

I'll update this thread on what happens over the next several days. Thanks again for all your terrific replies!

 

[TACC1]

Hope this all works out for you.
After reading "bassoneer"'s post, I searched for artificial discs, and
ended up at www.spine health. They've got some interesting info
on several different styles of artifical discs, that are now in use.
If my problems had just held off for another 20 years or so, that
would be something I'd be checking out. It seems to me, that
there's supposed to be a disc there. I'm walking around without
two of them, and it's no fun.
TACC1

 

[coobie]

Well, guys...life gets interesting!

My fire service career and my youthful misadventures have been catching up with me for some time, and for the last 11 years I've been dealing with increasingly severe low back pain caused by arthritis, along with all the associated problems -- bulged discs, pinched nerves -- that go along with that.

I have tried everything -- except acupuncture -- over the years to alleviate the pain from this: physical therapy, chiropractic care, nerve blocks, exercise, etc. -- and I have finally gotten to the point where the only remaining option appears to be surgery.

My current symptoms (for about the last two months) include constant severe pain in the lower back running down the left leg, and the doctor who has done my nerve blocks told me I have a herniated disc at the L3 - L4 joint. The surgeon who's been seeing put me on a steroid today in a last-ditch effort to relieve the pain, but told me if I don't feel relief by the end of the week, we will have to schedule a spinal fusion.

What he will do is remove deteriorated pieces of the two vertebrae, as well as the disc between them. He's very direct and honest, as well as conservative, and told me that this will probably relieve the symptoms I now have, but will not restore my spine to what it was; what I have is my new normal.

Have any of you had similar surgery? What was the outcome? Are you better? Worse? No different? How is your quality of life after your surgery compared with before? Side effects? How is your range of motion? Are you physically restricted in any activities?

Thanks for any advice you can provide!

IMHO hold off as long as you can tolerate the pain.2 years ago I had my L3-4-5 bulging discs operated on at well respected hospitial and doctor here in michigan.What i have now( two cages,4 rods) is 2 outside numb thighs,heel and left butt cheek,lower back still hurts like heck.I contuine to work as a electric lineman (34years)but everyday is a challenge to say the least.2-5 more years until retirement,my fingers are crossed.(PS) I would also check into laser surgery if at all possiable.From what I have read its less invasive.

 

[beemerphile]

My wife had spinal fusion and for the first 6-9 months se thought she had made a terrible mistake. She is now glad she had it done but the recovery was horrific.

 

[GRIZZLYBEAR]

I had some extensive work on my neck to include fusion.

After several years of pain and at time loss of feeling & movement in my right arm, at times I couldn't close my hand or grip and lift a cup of coffee to mouth without spilling the contents or dropping the cup.

I had and MRI and the person who did the MRI commented that I should see a surgeon. I called my GP and she gave three recommendations. I asked her which of the three she would for use herself. Her recommendation was the surgeon that is used by the Steelers and Pens.

Had the fusion done. Followed all the PT requirements to the letter. I have not had problems with my right arm since, there is a lack in the range of movement but not much. My results may better than most but my only regret was not having this done 10 years sooner.

 

[Danny Abernathy]

I have a degenerating vertabrae at L3 and stress fractures on L4, L5. Had a spinal block in May and it is begining to wear off, my next option is surgery because the disc at L3 is buldged and pressing on the sciatic nerve-very painful. When I had the spinal in May I ruptured C6 in my neck and had it removed and haven't had too much problems with that other than some residual numbness in my fingers on my left hand. The neurosurgeon said that will get better but will always have some numbness forever.
I do not want another block and do not like to take the painkillers so it looks like surgery again for me, let me know how youras turns out.
Good Luck
God Bless

 

[H Richard]

I've had 4 back surgeries. Two Laminectomies (L4-L5 and L2-L3) and one surgery to clean out scar tissue pressing on nerves. The 4th was the fusion with a Ray Cage at L4-L5. That was in 2003. I have had no back pain since. But, I have numbness. The Dr. told me there could be some, localized. My left knee area has been about 20% numb and within the past year I have gotten to the point where when I stand for more than 30 - 45 minutes the leg goes numb from the hip to the foot. Also my right foot goes partially numb. While I have no back pain, the numbness is very troubling. It does keep me from doing what I want to do. I'm only 69, and I still want to do a lot of traveling. Sitting in a car for 2-3 hours makes the leg go numb and I need to get out and walk around for awhile to get part of the feeling back. Walking more than a half mile is not possible without difficulty.

I'm scheduled for a Mylogram (back X-Rays with injected dye) and CT scan on 1/17. Originally I thought they were going to do a MRI, but supposedly the Mylogram gives a clearer picture.

I wish you luck. Just remember any surgery will result eventually in Scar Tissue, which can be a problem causer in itself.

 

[Beemerguy53]

I have a degenerating vertabrae at L3 and stress fractures on L4, L5. Had a spinal block in May and it is begining to wear off, my next option is surgery because the disc at L3 is buldged and pressing on the sciatic nerve-very painful. When I had the spinal in May I ruptured C6 in my neck and had it removed and haven't had too much problems with that other than some residual numbness in my fingers on my left hand. The neurosurgeon said that will get better but will always have some numbness forever.
I do not want another block and do not like to take the painkillers so it looks like surgery again for me, let me know how youras turns out.
Good Luck
God Bless

Danny, it sounds like you and I are in about the same place with our backs. My disc at L-3 is herniated and pressing on the sciatic nerve, and it is excruciating. The nerve in my left leg is swollen and inflamed, my blood pressure is up, and there is no position I can place my body in, other than driving and sleeping on my right side, that will relieve the pain.

This whole "pain" thing is interesting. I have a very high tolerance for pain, and have experienced a lot of it over the years, including 3rd degree burns on the job, 3 cancer operations (on my vocal cords), thoracic surgery (secondary to the cancer), and a nasal-septal reconstruction. Only the chest surgery was more painful than this condition. I try to block it out of my mind, but that doesn't work too well.

I first bulged this disc almost 11 years ago, and have been delaying surgery since then with a variety of treatments. Among them, I have been getting nerve blocks on and off for 10 years, and while they were effective initially, the last round had no effect. It was at that point the pain management guy told me I needed to go back to my surgeon and have a serious talk about getting operated on.

The prednizone I have been taking the past three days is now having no effect, and I plan to call my surgeon's office on Monday and tell them to go ahead and schedule my surgery. At this point I just want this to go away...and I suspect once I have it done I will be kicking myself for not having it done years ago. We shall see...

Once again, thanks to all for your thoughtful posts. I will keep the thread updated on what's happening.

For now, though, it's off to the Big Apple for the weekend, celebrating the New Year at the home of some dear friends in Queens. Happy New Year to everyone!

 

[LHS]

Been there, had that done!

I'm 47 years old, btw. Some years ago I had a herniated disc in my neck removed, a cadaver bone graph put in along with some screws. It did wonders for getting rid of my neck pain and the pain radiating to my leg too!

Only problem is the one below it was also showing signs of deterioration, and now it needs removed also, and the one below it is going bad.

I also have 2 between my shoulder blades, and several in my lower back going bad.

Seems a lifelong hard work ethic has paid off only with a worn out body. I have tendinitous in both shoulders, bad knees, and starting to get signs of carpal tunnel in both wrists again (already had surgery once in both wrists).

My neck surgery was done at Cleveland Clinic, and I was VERY pleased with my Doctor and will go to him only!

 

[26Ford]

Beemerguy, my neighbors K100 just turned 60,000 miles, he also has a R90S, which he wont part with and LORD knows Ive tried. My wife had a Cervical Discectomy about 5 years ago. A Canadian Nuerosurgeon, who used a Cadavar vertabrae and of course some Titanium for the plates and screws. I dont have to tell you that C-spine has a few more possible issues than L-spine. She left the hospital the very next day with only a very small scar in the front of her neck. The scarring was completely gone a year later. This surgeon is truly amazing. I personally dont talk much about my spinal health until I feel more comfortable with a new forum, but I will tell you this, the best therapy for me has been my inversion table. Literally less than 2 minutes upside down, and it brings me HOURS of relief. Less than 2 minutes. I have suffered trauma to my C-spine, L-spine, and currently have 3 compression fractures in T-spine. I have 11 herniated and bulging disc's. That is not a exageration, or misinformation. Back to you though, I pray the HOLY SPIRIT, that you find relief from your pain, and the Doctors and hospital staff are Blessed with the very best that GOD has to give. 26

 

[pill popper]

I wish you luck in your recovery. The thing I cannot stress enough is to research the doc you are going to have perform surgery. I did'nt do enough when I had to resort to surgery and I think I'm paying for it everyday. I had a lamonectomy,fusion and hardware installed done 5 yr ago and then the screws and rods removed a yr later.I am severly limited in my activities and have pain and swelling,( which no one can explain to me ) I think if you can,the small incecion operation is best. Good luck to ya.

 

[Beemerguy53]

I'm 47 years old, btw. Some years ago I had a herniated disc in my neck removed, a cadaver bone graph put in along with some screws. It did wonders for getting rid of my neck pain and the pain radiating to my leg too!

Only problem is the one below it was also showing signs of deterioration, and not it needs removed also, and the one below it is going bad.

I also have 2 between my shoulder blades, and several in my lower back going bad.

Seems a lifelong hard work ethic has paid off only with a worn out body. I have tendinitous in both shoulders, bad knees, and starting to get signs of carpal tunnel in both wrists again (already had surgery once in both wrists).

My neck surgery was done at Cleveland Clinic, and I was VERY pleased with my Doctor and will go to him only!

One of the good things about living in these times is that medical science is always advancing, and new treatments are being devised for various illnesses all the time.

(At the time I was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer, in 1991, the standard treatment was either a partial or total laryngectomy (the removal or one or both vocal cords), with the creation of a stoma in the neck through which to breathe, followed by radiation. Because I was just 38 at the time, my doctor wanted to do everything he could to save my larynx, so he used a laser to cut away cancerous tissue, and re-section the right vocal cord. It worked, and he not only saved my life, but my voice as well.)

You are ten years younger than I am, and while your back problems are serious, by the time you need to have them repaired, it's likely there will be better surgical techniques and treatments available. Keep the faith, and good luck to you.

 

[Danny Abernathy]

Beemerguy, I am going into my sixties and do not look forward to surgery but it beats the heck out of the pain. The blocks are wearing off and am on some heavy meds which I detest taking.
I know how you are feeling not being able to sit or stand or even lay down without discomfort and terrible pain.
Hope yours works out well for you.

 

[Beemerguy53]

Beemerguy, my neighbors K100 just turned 60,000 miles, he also has a R90S, which he wont part with and LORD knows Ive tried. My wife had a Cervical Discectomy about 5 years ago. A Canadian Nuerosurgeon, who used a Cadavar vertabrae and of course some Titanium for the plates and screws. I dont have to tell you that C-spine has a few more possible issues than L-spine. She left the hospital the very next day with only a very small scar in the front of her neck. The scarring was completely gone a year later. This surgeon is truly amazing. I personally dont talk much about my spinal health until I feel more comfortable with a new forum, but I will tell you this, the best therapy for me has been my inversion table. Literally less than 2 minutes upside down, and it brings me HOURS of relief. Less than 2 minutes. I have suffered trauma to my C-spine, L-spine, and currently have 3 compression fractures in T-spine. I have 11 herniated and bulging disc's. That is not a exageration, or misinformation. Back to you though, I pray the HOLY SPIRIT, that you find relief from your pain, and the Doctors and hospital staff are Blessed with the very best that GOD has to give. 26

I've been riding since my late teens, and had Japanese sport bikes in the 70s and 80s. My first BMW was a beautifully restored 1976 R90s, which I bought in 1992, and which I still consider to be the most elegant machine BMW has ever made.

In the summer of 1996, I went to my local dealer to buy an exhaust pipe spanner for the R90s, and saw a brand-new leftover 1995 K75s on the showroom floor. I bought it the next day, and still have it. I have not ridden as much as I would like to in the last two years, largely because of my back, but I have almost 50,000 miles on it. It is the perfect motorcycle for me: Smooth power delivery, neutral handling, good riding position (when my back doesn't hurt LOL!), large saddlebags, ABS, heated hand-grips, an accessory socket for my heated vest, and a good amount of underseat storage. I've been from Montreal to Orlando on it, out to Michigan and Ohio, and in the fall of 2004 I rode Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway from Front Royal, Virginia, to and through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the Tennessee - North Carolina border. I will part with it only when I die, and I tell people that if this Beemer could cook, I would marry it!

I'm glad your wife's surgery went so well...yes indeed, a competent doctor can make all the difference.

I am so sorry to read about the condition of your own spine, but it's good that you apparently have found something that works that will bring you some relief. When I first bulged this disc, in February 2000, I got it under control with physical therapy and exercise, and that, plus nerve blocks, has enabled me to postpone surgery up until now.

Thanks very much for contributing to this thread, and I hope your inversion table continues to work for you.

 

[Beemerguy53]

I wish you luck in your recovery. The thing I cannot stress enough is to research the doc you are going to have perform surgery. I did'nt do enough when I had to resort to surgery and I think I'm paying for it everyday. I had a lamonectomy,fusion and hardware installed done 5 yr ago and then the screws and rods removed a yr later.I am severly limited in my activities and have pain and swelling,( which no one can explain to me ) I think if you can,the small incecion operation is best. Good luck to ya.

Thanks very much for your input. I have every confidence in my doctor, so much so that I would not dream of letting anyone else do this operation.

I'm sorry your own surgery didn't work out better...good luck to you, and I hope you find relief from your pain eventually.

 

[Beemerguy53]

Beemerguy, I am going into my sixties and do not look forward to surgery but it beats the heck out of the pain. The blocks are wearing off and am on some heavy meds which I detest taking.
I know how you are feeling not being able to sit or stand or even lay down without discomfort and terrible pain.
Hope yours works out well for you.

Danny, I cannot take prescription pain medications because of the job I now hold. And pain meds mask the pain, but don't repair the cause of the pain...so surgery is the only option at this point. I put it off as long as I could, but now I welcome the thought of getting it done and getting this damned pain out of my life.

I will be calling my surgeon's office first thing Monday, and will be ready whenever he has a date available. I'll keep you posted...thanks for your kind thoughts.

 

[Beemerguy53]

Well, I spoke with my surgeon's people the other day, and the date for my back operation is Monday, January 31.

I have a meeting before then with his Surgical Coordinator, who will go over with me all the various aspects of this, but so far I've been told that I will not be able to drive for four weeks, and I will be out of work for 6 to 8 weeks. Because I live alone, I will probably have to go into some sort of rehabilation facility for a week or so after I get out of the hospital, so I can have the 24/7 help I will need.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this does the trick...thanks, everyone, for your advice and kind thoughts, and I will keep you posted on what's happening.

 

[CajunBass]

My wife has had two, one in her lower back, and one on her neck. She got the one in her back done before I knew her, but the one in her neck came after we were married (she has degenerative disk disease).

One night after the surgery, I woke up to a strange sound in the room. I listened and finally recognized it. It was my wife, quietly giggling in her sleep. I had never heard her do that. I had heard her crying because of the pain in her neck, but I had never heard her giggle like that.

Praise God and thank the doctors He used to relieve her of that.

 

[ogilvyspecial]

Well, I spoke with my surgeon's people the other day, and the date for my back operation is Monday, January 31.

I have a meeting before then with his Surgical Coordinator, who will go over with me all the various aspects of this, but so far I've been told that I will not be able to drive for four weeks, and I will be out of work for 6 to 8 weeks. Because I live alone, I will probably have to go into some sort of rehabilation facility for a week or so after I get out of the hospital, so I can have the 24/7 help I will need.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this does the trick...thanks, everyone, for your advice and kind thoughts, and I will keep you posted on what's happening.

Hang in there! Before my first surgery I was apprehensive, for my second I was cool as a cucumber since I knew what I was getting into. It was interesting how my 2nd "whacking," as I affectionately call 'em, went down.

It was scheduled for a Friday the 13th and every Nurse, or Tech, that I ran across during my pre-op office visits just had to comment on that fact, wondering if I thought it a good choice of date for such things. I told them that I was born on the 13th, not a Friday, but that I did turn 13 on a Friday the 13th. I remember sitting in Science Class that day watching the clock at it rolled around to 1:13 & 13 seconds. Nothing happened to me when all those 13's got stacked up but my table mate that day was gunned down by the Police about 6 years later. He deserved it though since he was robbing a bank at the time so I guess he made his own bad luck eh?

Back to the story; I worked the night before my 2nd "whacking" so, for me, it was kind of like business as usual. As I was driving to the Hospital that day, the 13th, my wife kept staring at me while I was stopped at a traffic light not too far from the Hospital. Because of this I turned to her and said, what? She said, "you act like you are just going up to the store for a loaf of bread or a gal. of milk." I said, yeah? She then said, bless her heart, "If it were me I would be afraid that I would end up dead or in a wheelchair, it being a Friday the 13th and all." In a very calm voice I asked, would you do me a favor? Wife: "Sure, what?" Please shut the "heck" up.

You'll be alright Beemerguy53 and one day this will all be a memory. Thinking about it, prior to my 1st, was far worse than actually having it done and the relief that I had was oh so sweet, even if it only lasted three years. This wasn't any fault of my Surgeon, I was injured, once again, at work through no fault of my own, same with this last time when I was hit in the back by a fork truck driver moving dunnage around by hand. I was just standing there putting on Oil Pans (3800 V6 Engines) when, wham, I was hit with the corner of a 25 lb., 5 x 5' plastic divider that Oil Pans were shipped in on, right where I had been worked on twice. There was no walking that one off and is the major contributor of why I'll need a third go around........

The reason that I included the last part is so you won't get discouraged and think that I had to have multiple "whackings" without good reason. Like I said, you'll be alright, just follow all the pre & post-op instructions and give your body the time it needs to heal before trying anything "they" say you shouldn't be doing and even after that I would feel things out as time goes on. You know your body better than anybody else and don't forget that fact when doing any post-op therapy.

Take care my S&W Friend!