Hello everyone,

This is my first time here. I'm glad I found it as there seems to be a wealth of info available.

After reading a few posts here, my problems seem trivial now. Many are in much worse shape than I am. But I'm still "not right".

I am coming up on my 1 yr anniversary of my TLIF surgery (L4/L5 9/25/07) and have to say immediately after the surgery, when I woke up in recovery, my back, hip and leg pain were 100% ::POOF:: GONE!

But here it is over 10 months after the fact and my fusion is showing little if any progress (x-rays, MRI and CT scans). Pain has started rearing it's ugly head again and seems to be getting worse as time goes on depending on what I do. My initial back, hip and leg pain are still gone. It's more of a painful heavy feeling in the extreme lower part of my back with occasional left hip pain (first time around it was right hip). I also seem to loose my balance more often. Over the past 5wks I have fallen twice.

My OS cannot explain why the fusion failed other than "sometimes it happens". I guess I'm weird. I know 3 -4 other people that have had excellent results with this same surgeon. He was highly recommended by everone I know that has used him.

Anyway now he is now recommending what he calls a 360-degree (or Global or Circumferential) fusion. I know nothing about this procedure other than addressing the problem front and rear at the same time (anterior/posterior). That's the extent of my knowledge and I would like to research it more before making a decision. Is it an ALIF in combination with a PLIF or TLIF? Exactly what happens?

What is recovery like after a 360? I was on my feet 4-5 hrs after the TLIF and walking the halls of the hospital the next day (with difficulty). I was back at home on the 3rd day. I don't remember post op pain being much of an issue. I must have a high tollerance. The nurses were giving me heck for not using the "magic button" very often.

If possible could someone point me in the direction for more info about the 360? I still have a bit of time. If I decide TODAY to have the procedure, it wouldn't happen until early November.

Thanks,

Kevin