Originally Posted by FYI1263

Thanks for the post. Mine is in the same area. Were they doing disc replacements when you had yours? Cannot find too many who have had one and would like to think this is an option.

Originally Posted by adreynolds

hi all. I have been reading this thread for quite a long time. i've been feeling quite down and depressed about constantly increasing back and buttock pain that i've had for around 6 years now. My most recent MRI shows degeneration and some bulging at the l5-s1 level. i am on painkillers almost everyday and i hate it. reading this thread gives me hope that 1 day i may be able to achieve a pain free existence. My last treatment was facet joint injections and they didn't really do anything. The worst thing at the moment is that i have a 14 month old son and really don't feel like i can take care of him it makes me feel like a failure as a father. Mum has to do everything everything. She is an angel and is incredible, but it makes me feel like such a letdown to her.

i have a follow up appointment with my Ortho surgeon on the 13th of january and i'm going to discuss trying to have one more focused go at physio therapy. i still religiously do stretching and strengthening exercises most days walk most days and manage to swim usually up to about a mile and a half a week. it's really disheartening to think that all the hard work isn't really doing anything especially as i seem to be getting worse as time goes on.

thanks again for letting me introduce myself and for all the posts that the inspiring people have put on this thread. my name is Adam from the UK - I hope to be able to use this thread as a source of of support and inspiration just as others have over the last ten years. Thanks especially to Mike for keeping it up for so long.

Thanks all, and happy new year.

Originally Posted by kiwimike

Firstly i just wanted to post this to encourage all those out there that are thinking of having spinal surgery because there are good success stories out there. Before i went through mine i had read alot on the internet about peoples horror stories and it almost put me off having it. but the constant thoughts of suicide were annoying me and i didn't want those things in my head anymore and i thought it surely can't get any worse than it is now. So i had a L4-S1 posterolateral fusion with instrumentation and now 3 months later i am pain free. Please be encouraged , these guys can get it right, sure there are horror stories out there and i know that those people to can be fixed, just hang in there (thats you Pam ). And to those who are thinking about it please go for it, because you don't want to carry on as you are with pain and always think to yourself, "i wonder if the surgery would have fixed it ?" , i waited 10 years before i finally had the courage to go through with it and i wish i had done it years ago.

This was briefly my situation somedays my pain was bearable , other days I could hardly bend over or climb stairs, (the day I was to have the op in hospital I felt great , always the way though isn’t it! , but I still went through with it)

Heres a few tips if you do decide to go through with it.

1. Firstly ask around about surgeons, find a good one ,ring around as many medical places as you can and ask “who’s the best spinal surgeon?” I managed to speak with a patient of one surgeon who raved about her op and how good this guy was (she had the same problems as me and had the 2 level fusion done to fix it and never regretted it) so I went with him in the end.

2. If you have the op TAKE IT EASY !!!!, no running, jumping , lifting for at least the first 3 months, this was hard for me as i am an active person, but fight the urge!, the best thing you can do is walk, just a little to start with , then go further and further each day.Listen to your body, it will let you know if you over do it (i had this happen twice) I have only just started light running after 3 months but will continue to not do much up until month 6. There is still lots of healing going on inside you, even though you may feel great, TAKE IT EASY PLEASE! , i can not stress that enough. This is major surgery and your body needs lots of time to heal , don't stress it out by thinking that you feel great after 2 months and can do whatever you like. I laid out on the couch for the first 3 weeks and just watched movies, the only thing i did was my walk each day and i believe this aided big time in a successful recovery.

Well that's all for now, if anyone has any questions, please ask me!! and please all those who still have issues from things that have gone wrong , hang in there! and all those considering this type of surgery , as long as you have exhausted all other options (ie physio, chiropractic, orthopaedic methods just as i did as surgery is the last option) then go for it and i wish you the best!

Cheers
Mike

PS Don't expect to end up so your as good as you were when you were 18 cause i'm def. not! , but i'm active again without pain and i'm happy with no more suicide thoughts at all.My goal is to beable to play soccer again, i am aiming to play my first game on the 1 year anniversary of my operation.

Originally Posted by AussieGirl2016

Hi Kiwimike,

I am booked for Spinal Fusion (L4/5) in 2 weeks time and am doing some research and freaking out at the same time. Your story was very encouraging and comforting to read. How are you doing these days? Are you still happy with the outcomes of your operation? I'm a triathlete and really worried I will be limited post recovery but I have heard of some real success stories about people getting back into the sports they love. Would love to hear from you!

Originally Posted by rec60661

This thread is giving me hope! I have severe neuropathy in feet and legs that progressed rapidly a few months ago. Feet are numb and i have twitching muscles and severe pain in calves thighs and left hip. I am on heavy pain meds to get through the work day and add xanax at night because pain is worse when I try to relax. Walking is difficult, balance is very bad. Not worth living like this.

An MRI taken when neuropathy was just getting started and confirmed degenerative spinal stenosis, with 2 bulging disks in lumbar area. I have had a number of episodes with severe back pain and spasms for many years. But the neurologists dismissed spinal stenosis as the cause of the neuropathy.

After many tests - no cause can be found for the nerve pain and progression of the nerve damage. I am seeing a spinal neuro surgeon next week and wonder if he will also dismiss stenosis as the cause for the neuropathy.

My question is would severe neuropathy that affects my ability to walk make me a likely cabdidate for surgery? I am doung physical therapy, but not getting better.