Looks like you have had some great response to your questions. Wish I could help...my fusions have all been in the Lumbar area...

I'm a little confused here. The original post/question was over 2-1/2 years ago, as was the last time that person was active on this site. Their decision & outcome is probably (hopefully?) long past.

That said, any kind of spinal surgery is so speculative. I'm very glad that most of the respondents here had good results from their surgeries, but on other forums, I have seen clear majorities of people who weren't so fortunate, and wish they had never had their procedures done. Some have gone through multiple follow-up surgeries over many years to correct earlier ones with no relief.

There is, and I spose will always be, the "What if..." conundrum. If you do get surgery, and it turns out badly, you may always wonder, "What if I hadn't?" and if you don't get surgery, you may always wonder, "What if I had?"...

I don't say this to scare anyone, but to urge anyone considering surgery, especially on the spine, to garner as much information possible, both pro & con, (especially success statistics & ratios) and make the best informed decision they can. Surgery should always be a last resort, subject to second (or more) opinions - it can't be "undone."

In my own case, I was in so much pain I was very willing to consider surgery. But my own surgeon advised against it (encouraging multiple opinions, and some were willing to risk it, always disclaiming, "no guarantees") because statistically, the number of people who were better off after that particular procedure was LESS than the number of people who were the same or worse. I didn't like those odds.

Instead, he advised pain management and natural healing. In time, the vertebrae (c5-c7) would fuse on their own, without the risk of doing more damage and causing more pain. Do I wonder, "What if...?" Sometimes. But I also wonder how much worse I could/might be if I had rushed into the "quick fix". I am still in a lot of pain, but some healing has occured, and as time has passed, other changes - some good - some not-so-good, but I honestly can't say, all things considered, that I regret my negative decision. One day, techniques may improve, and with them, the success ratios.

Relating personal experiences is good; I'm not so sure about making recommendations in cases like this - every case is so different, and as in this case, the numbers may be skewed. I would, again, urge each patient to ask and determine those kinds of risks for themselves.

Doc

Just found this thread, hope someone is about. I was fused Aug.30th C3-7 and the surgery worked for me. For the first time in 7 years, I have a good reduction of pain. I am reducing my morphine in stages through my PPP. This is a ruff surgery, but it is worth it in my opinion. Ginnie

HI,

I originally posted on NeuroTalk about three weeks ago but only two people responded to say "hi" and "welcome". I do not know why no one else had any advice, but maybe I posted to wrong thread.

Anyway, since you had lumbar fusion I wondered if you could advise me at all. I need fusion on I believe L2-L3-L4 and one other, maybe S1, need to look at the radiologist report. I have triple major scoliosis (progression is under 40 and I think stable). I also have spondolisthesis diagnosed in 2011. I believe this in in lumbar spine and worst in two discs. I have a lot of tightness in my low back when I try to do anything more than 20-30 minutes. In January I started limping and this really scared me and it hurt. I learned that this is related to the lumbar spine issues. I also began to have really terrifying muscle spasms in my legs (both, but mostly the left leg where the limp is) and even my abdomen). This also is evidently related to the body trying to compensate for the pathology.

I was told that I should have the fusion done by Dr. Sigurd Bevard at UC San Francisco and that there were only two surgeons in the country that I should ask to do the surgery. I think the other is at the Cleveland Clinic. I wondered if anyone has gone to Dr. Bevard. Also, I sent an email to Dr. Nitin Bhatia at UC Irvine and he replied saying he wants me to come to consult with a spine surgeon they recruited from UCSF who worked with Dr. Berven there. Since I live in Southern CA getting to San Francisco would be more complicated than getting to Irvine (Although more fun!). I would go by train so I could lay down. If I lie on my back I still have Sacral pain. Only laying on my side offers relief. Pillows are wonderful!

Also, I really have no one at home after so will need to manage by myself (unless Medicare would pay for someone to visit a couple of times a week and maybe for physical therapy). Has anyone managed on their own following this surgery? I do have my two dogs to help me (A Great Dane and an Anatolian Shepherd). :-)

I wonder what it is like to have 4 discs fused? I wonder how much post op pain there might be and how long it would be until I recovered. Would they put some sort of brace on me?

I was diagnosed with Major Depression and anxiety in 2000 and since then when I have had a surgery I feel like they have not given me enough pain medication. I worry that when people have Depression they will not give you enough pain medication which is a terrible sort of discrimination.

Also, I went to an Anesthesiologist recently and he told me that the only thing they could do for me was given me a cortisol injection. I did that once a few years before and not only did it not help at all but the doctor doing the injection told me he did not feel comfortable doing it because of my curved spine.

Only once was I given enough pain medication and that was at UC Irvine in 2009. I wonder if anyone else has had this experience with pain management. They give you these nice little illustrated pamphlets that discuss how they understand the role of pain alleviation in healing but it seems that the application of that philosophy is very subjective.

Since 2003 I have been taking the same medications for pain: Hydrocodone, Piroxicam and SOMA. No one has ever increased the dose, or asked me if I needed more and I have not asked thinking that my continuing degeneration and discussion of pain levels would have prompted an increase or change in pain medication. I thought methadone was only for drug addicts. I do not really know what it is or does. I think I will ask about it.

Any thoughts or advice would be deeply appreciated. Thank you.

I am sorry if I missed your postings. I try to visit as much as I can to welcome people to Neuro Talk. Most all of us on the site have some form of disability we are dealing with. I have had so many appts. lately, time for NT has been limited. I do want to welcome you and address some of your fears and concerns. Going for another opinion like you are doing is vital. I think that is the very best thing to do. Your symptoms do sound like they are due to lumbar problems. If you post your MRI, and need more help in understanding it, others will help you for sure. Lisa is the best in that regard, as she has done alot of research.
I have cervical issues, and have had two spinal fusions. The last was C3-7. I have a few sugestions. You will need help at home. Please get some kind of help in, a neighbor, a friend, church member and discuss this issue with your doctor. For me, pain was extreme for the first two weeks, and I didn't get around so good. i too had the curve in my neck, and that was straightened out at the time of these fusions. I was NOT able to tend to myself. Medicare/medicaid may provide some kind of help in, I would sure inquire.
Before you do the surgery, please investigate the condition of the vertrebre above and below the site to be surgically corrected. It is important that these vertrebre are in good shape. All hardware puts strain on the ones above and below. Ask your surgeon specifically about this. This happened to me, where the ones above and below did not do so well, and further surgery was needed. It is called the domino effect.
Prepare ahead of time, with good nutrition that is ready made at home. There are also wash cloths for adults, for washing that are water free for the first days you are home, and may not want to get into the shower etc. It helped me to stay feeling clean. Talk over all your pain medications carefully. I did not feel I got adequate pain control either in the hospital or at home. If you have a pain specialist, make sure they are on the same page as your surgeon. I had trouble with these two doctors of mine communicating. You will not want to walk you dogs. DO think about putting them in a facility for a few days, or get someone in to walk them for you.
Because you are at multi level of fusions, plus a curve of the spine, it is a tough surgery. I did need alot of help. I was lucky to have the friends on hand to give me help. Please try to get yourself help while you are home that first week. I wish I were your neighbor, I would be there for you. I do wish you all the best in this surgery. I hope it turns out OK. My surgery did turn out OK and I am glad I went though it. Pain is much much less than it was. if you need anything, or research, please don't hesitate to contact me. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. ginnie

Thank Ginnie, I appreciate the suggestions. Some people say you should have a neurologist and orthopedic surgeon participating in procedure, or a neurologist rather than an orthoepedic surgeon. I guess I will ask about that when I go for my consultation later in June. This may sound like a silly question but how do I post my MRI? I see how to add files but since it is on a disc how would I do that? I also have a SPEC CT scan which is really scary but interesting. Maybe you refer to the radiology reports rather than the images. In that case I could scan those but would want to make them private I think....what have others done?

Again, thanks so much. Unfortunately I recently moved here and do not know people well yet except for church and the people in my church have already offered to help...it is so hard to accept! My family...all are thousands of miles away in different directions and mostly have to work...such is life in the 21st century!

Take care,

Good idea, get both of those to address your back issues, both fields of medicine. I did the same thing, and found them to be on the same page, so I knew the surgery was right for me. As far as posting the MRI. Jo*Mar, one of the moderators I would contact. I am horrible on the PC and still flounder around a bit. Should be able to click on one of the moderators names to ask her. May try posting on the front threads again, to get more attention on the how too's of this. wish I were better at it. There is a way to put the MRI up, and alot of people just write it all out like as list for others to read. Leesa is real good at this, and Mrs.D and Doc. Smith. If you have trouble getting directions, contact me and I will write to the modertor for help.
ACCEPT help from the church. Yes, very good idea. Even if this is hard and embarassing to do. We are all the human family and need each other. Let them extend their hands to you. Take care of the dogs etc.....
Do you have a side potty chair? or are close to bathroom? This may help those first days too. since yours is lumbar, you may want a walker as well. Mine was Cervical, so I just walked stiff and upright.
I used one of those gently sloping pillows to keep my back and neck straight.
I also did all the doctors told me to do....keep wound dry. There are bandages to put over incision site that will allow bathing after a time. They keep the incision site dry. Somebody can apply that to your back for you.
My wound was in the front of my neck so I had no issue with that.
Don't hesitate just to write out your MRI or CT report. Someone will help with that interpretation stuff. I also can look up what I don't understand and help you too. Once the language of it is understood, it isn't quite as scarry.
Do go for those two different fields of medicine, that really is the best way to feel at ease with your decision, when more than one doctor agrees on the same procedures. take care, I will be here, and so will NT ginnie

Thanks Ginnie, I will try to post at least the MRI and CT radiologist reports if not the image files. I did get a bit of (relatively) good news...they are going to have an orthopedic spine specialist and a neurosurgeon present at my surgery and evidently a 6-pk of residents as well! I do think now that no matter how much I learn about this or how many people I have holding my hand I will still be fearful. Maybe I could just take a very long nap after....perhaps they could put me in a coma for six months and just rotate my body so the muscles don't shrivel up and blow away! Wouldn't that be great...

Appreciate your encouragement so much.

That is good news, about that many doctors looking at your reports. The more that look at it the better! I so know about that fear. That is why I found this site too. I was so sick with fear I was nauseated most of the time. I would indeed hold your hand if I could. None of it is fun or easy to consider. You have friends here, that will help you cope. Two days after my surgery, even in some pretty bad pain, I did type a few sentances to NT. I was so surprised to find so many people who were thinking about me during the proceedure, and they were there for me after also. You are doing all the right things. ginnie

Hi Skygardener, Welcome back...

We chronic pain patients are subjected to a lot of stigmas; I'm sure you've experienced/figured that out by now. There are many possible reasons for your post-surgical pain being undertreated. They may be concerned about medication interactions between any antidepressants, anxiety (benzodiazepines), or other meds you may be on, and pain medications. Or they may be concerned/fearful of an overdose - either accidental, or intentional during a bout/period of deep Depression. Also, there is a Pain Crisis going on right now that is having effects on the way doctors and health professionals do their jobs. It's a very complicated situation that often doesn't make sense. If you're interested, google: politics of pain

Yes, undertreated post-surgical pain is affecting many patients. One thing you can do (that may be mentioned in those nice little illustrated pamphlets ) is contact/make use of the hospital's Patient Advocate. Also get a copy of the hospital's, or California's, Patient Bill of Rights.

Unless patients speak up, doctors assume that everything is fine, including the amount of pain medications they're taking/prescribed. In some cases, patients must initiate discussions lest doctors be construed as "pushing". We have to be our own advocates in this, and most other respects.
Google: talk doctor pain

By all means, ask your doctor about it, and (in keeping with being your own advocate) look into it yourself. I will mention that, like all medications, methadone has its own side effects and risks. While it is an excellent longterm and long-acting medication for chronic pain, unfortunately it can also carry a stigma; many medical professionals who should know better still associate it with addicts/addiction as well. This is changing, but change is sometimes slow.
Google: methadone and methadone for chronic pain

Regarding a few items in your subsequent posts:

They do; the trade name is Vicoprofen. Ask your doctor.

When Ginnie suggested posting your MRI, I think she meant the interpretation/report. It may be possible to post the MRI itself, but I have never seen it (I have seen x-rays posted) and I don't know that it would be anymore helpful than the report. Also, you mentioned a lack of advice/responses to this thread. These kinds of posts & discussions usually occur in the Spinal Disorders & Back Pain forum. More folks with experience/knowledge/wisdom regarding matters of the spine may see it/respond there.

Lastly, your shared experiences, advice, and wisdom have been wonderful; thank you, and again, welcome back.

Doc