Hi Guys, I've just come from follow-up with my spine surgeon. The recent events were that I've had butt pain since about 3 months after laminectomy and fusion of my lumbar spine b/o a spinal cyst. An MRI and CT done last month showed arthritis at L5, below the fusion (new) and failure to fuse. The radiologist said I could still fuse. There was air around the screws, which he did not like, but said all was not lost; it's just not great.

Last Thursday I got steroid injections into the L5/S1 facets and joint space, which has taken some edge off the pain--I just can't sit comfortably. I can stand, lie down, but sitting hurts.

Today I saw the surgeon. He took one look at the MRI and said he is very unhappy with what he sees. It is the worst possible outcome. The three sets of screws are surrounded by air and that means, basically, they have come out. Nothing is holding them in place. There is zero fusion. No bone formed and healed where it was supposed to. He said when there's no bony fusion, there are two things which can happen. The rods can snap. Or, the screws can pull out. My screws have pulled out. And, there is now arthritis below the fusion, because, probably, there is a lot of shear force on the level.

He says nothing good will happen from here on. This is a "failed back with "pseudarthrosis". He says I do not have to worry about nerve damage---all the nerves from the lower spine have plenty of room, and nothing that will happen will hurt them. I won't get paralyzed or anything. However, over time I will have more and more back pain, as my back collapses on itself, and at some point I will decide to have a re-do. At that point, he would explore from the rear, repeat the fusion, then flip me over and do an anterior approach with hardware in the front of the spine. Since I have no risk factors for failure to fuse, whatever in my body caused me to not heal will probably still be present for the do-over.Therefore it would be prudent to do more hardware at that time, as well as extend the fusion down to S1.

He says to NOT do much exercise or physical therapy, as that will put stress on my back. (This doesn't sound right to me; I'm sure there are safe ways to exercise and stay strong). I only take oxycodone at night, because I work and need to be alert; he suggested that over vacation I allow myself to take it during the day, too, so I can sit and enjoy more. He said continue to get injections into the arthritic joint, or radio-ablation of the nerve supply to the arthritis, for some pain relief.

But, he says, there's no way I'm going to make it through life without a re-do. It's a matter of how long I can last without it and enjoy my life. He says to find a good pain doctor (I think I might have), and work with him as long as possible.

That's it. Sucks.