Spondylolethesis L5/S1 spinal fusion
 

Hi,

I had spinal fusion for Grade II spondylolisthesis back in July 2010 at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Obeyed all the post surgical do's and don'ts until the customary 90 day period when the CTscan was done in October 2010 to determine if the fusion was sucessful. My neurosurgeon sat with me going over the computerized scan and told me I was all set. I trusted him and never asked for the Radiologists printed report. It was only recently, 2 years later when I wanted to pursue more physical therapy because of sciatica nerves symptons that had cropped up again is when I discovered that the fusion was not successful. My new physical therapist had asked me for the results of surgery and I decided to retreive the "written CT report. The Mass. General Hospital provided the radiology report and when I looked it over I was stunned. My PT person confirmed the dread and confusion I felt, reading the report and telling me there was no fusion.
Before I move forward with any greivance filings I really need to find a new neurosurgeon....someone skilled and experienced in spinal fusions....and hopefully straightforward and honest with the results. Anyone with any positive outcomes with neurosurgeons in the greater Boston area, please let me know.
Thanks
Bocce Ball

I'm "bumping" this up so someone might see this. I dont want it lost at the bottom of the "list." ;)

Hey Dubious ~ isn't that a "bad" area to fuse in the first place, since there's so much movement? I wouldn't think any doctor would WANT to fuse that area, but I don't know that much about it. I haven't heard of fusions that low before. This is the first, I think, that I've heard of. ????? Can you offer a little more info? Hugs, Lee

All I can say, after 8 open spinal surgeries, is welcome to the club. I am not a total moron who is hooked on surgery. Each one involved instability and most were done on an emergency, near emergency basis, symptom wise.

Three surgeries were cervical and I am thrilled to say that my neck remains stable and relative free of pain after 15 years. There are a few arthritic changes but that is predictable and easily managed. :D The lumbar is another story. The math is simple. Five open lumbar surgeries. Each one at least involved the infamous, ever popular l5-s1. The lumbar is loaded with metal.

Perhaps I have had bad luck but I havent had a spinal surgeon, yet, that I would refer Jack the Ripper to. They had fine reputations, worked out of major teaching hospitals and I got second opinions on everything when possible. I have always been told that every surgery was a flaming success and I was fusing. WRONG. Each one was a little god whose sub specialties were deception, manipulation and intimidation.

Can you tell the weather is terrible and I am in a dreadful pain flare? LOL!!! If it was just the two of you in the room when you discussed the surgical results, you can forget taking action. It's your word against his. I always take a wittness to that special appointment and find they are much more careful in chosing their words, qualifying everything. Even if you have a wittness, good luck finding another doctor to back you up. The good old boy system is alive and well. Best wishes.

Are those guidelines AFTER surgery or before or doesn't it matter? Those guidelines are just plain IT, right? Seems like alot of motion to me, but what do I know. LOL

Still in pain...
 

In 2010 I began having major back pain all of a sudden. I went to a regular doctor that told me I just had 2 bulging disk. I dealt with the pain for about 6 months and then my regular doctor sent me to a pain specialist. The meds worked great at first then my tolerance grew and they had to keep upping them. Come to find out I had severe Spondylolethesis along with severe sciatica.
I was the GM of a restaurant so I was on my feet all day everyday and the pain just kept getting worse. While going to the pain specialist I endured 12 spinal nerve blocks and 3 RF procedures with no continuing luck. I then decided to give up and just have the surgery. I went in for surgery on June 10 this year to have the l5-s1 fusion. I woke up with my doctor telling me that my l4 had never fused since birth and they removed it and used that bone for the fusion. I have been in pain every since. It did seem to help the sciatica but it is already starting to come back.

On my last visit my doctor told me everything was great and all fused together and released me for all duties. The pain I feel now is worse than before and I am lost at what to do. I work full time, raise 4 boys, and go to school. It is hard to get out of the bed everyday. I do no that I will never have another surgery and if I knew then what I know now I would not have done it to begin with. I am considering going back to the pain specialist. Any other suggestions.