I am awaiting a disco gram but in the mean time which type of surgery for L5 fusion or replacement? And if replacement thru the front or the back? So scary

Hi ~ If I were you, I would stay away from surgery at ALL COSTS unless your spinal cord is being impinged or else you are in danger of permanent nerve damage.

The American medical Society said that last year, spinal surgery patients had the SAME RESULTS as people who had physical therapy!! In other words, thousands of people had needless surgery!!! Also, after spinal surgery, you are NEVER the same -- it will not take away your pain - you will probably have the same pain or worse after surgery as you had before surgery. Surgery only corrects mechanical problems. And, surgery begets more surgery -- if you have spinal surgery, the level below the surgery site will more likely fail because it has to take on more of the load -- it's called the "domino" effect. So you'd be needing more surgery -- it just keeps going on and on. The doctors don't tell you this. They WANT you to have surgery.

If I were you, I'd stay with physical therapy. You'll get just as good results as with surgery. God bless. Hugs, Lee

Leesa, I know you are only trying to help some of us to decide whether to get surgery or not. I was really scared by your post of not to get surgery and almost considered canceling, until I talked to my physician and he said that the "success stories are not posting very much on forums -- after they heal and recover, they get back to life and don't have a need to read the forums." I am a newbie here, but a very positive person and realize the dangers of surgery, but also am frustrated by the pain and lack of ability to do the things I love -- tennis, golf, and so on.

I have gone to PT 43 times, physiatrist, massage therapy too many times to count and have had a good outcome with epidurals but doesn't last long enough.

I think we have to try to make an informed decision, but just realize not everyone will have an awful outcome. I feel bad for you that your outcome was not what you hoped for but others have had good outcomes with the surgery.

I work in the medical field and I trust the doctors I go to give me good advice. The person who you are answering is looking for advice on a discogram, so it means the physicians are looking for the disc causing her pain which is a good thing to do before surgery, even tho this is a painful test.

It has taken me 18 months to make a decision to get surgery and I am getting one more opinion next week and may even switch to this NS since he comes highly recommended.

I thank you for making us aware of the dangers of surgery, but for some surgery is a viable option to be considered AFTER all other avenues have been explored.

Sorry for the long post, but I had to vent.

Hope every one has a pain-free day!

Sorry Diane but I feel it's my DUTY to tell people the TRUTH about spinal surgery. And all I did was post what the American Medical Society POSTED about their study plus some facts that I found during hours and hours of RESEARCH on spinal surgeries.

Doctors don't tell their patients these things ~ so why can't I? Wouldn't you if you had found out these things? Or would you let these people go into surgery not knowing the information you discovered?

I'm not going to apologize for this. I wish I had been more informed before I had 2 open surgeries 26 years ago. My doctor certainly didn't tell me anything about it.

Hope you have a great day. Peace, Lee

Dear Leesa,

My husband has had 3 back surgeries. 2 lumbar L4-L5. The first lumbar was not done properly 4 years later he had a complete revision done in NYC by a top spine surgureon a complete success, no meds. just advil on occassion it was truly a miracle. It did take some time getting there but the 2nd was a complete sucess. His 3rd was cervical on 2/25/11 he had no pain presented itself in his hand and 4 weeks out he is doing well. His hand is coming back and will start OT tomorrow and he can drive already. We used the same doctors and hospital as his second lumbar. I do agree only have spine surgery if you have to and go to someone that only is a spine/neuro surgeon and you here success stories from his/her patients.

My husband and I have both have orthopedic issues and have found out the hard way you have to go to the best. It is truly a miracle we both have come out ok. I almost lost my arm in 2003. Again same hospital ofcourse different doctor, but again did not go there first.

You seem to be doing you research, I'm sure you will be fine. Wish you the best.

Gabbycakes

Hi Gabby,

Miracles don't happen every day, and double-hitters even rarer, so are we to infer that you think you're extremely lucky, and that it's an 'amazing, extraordinary, or unexpected'* event for surgeries to come out alright?

* from Encarta Dictionary definition of "miracle".

Me? I'm firmly perched on the fence. I want to know about all sides of an issue - the good, the bad, and the stuff they don't tell you about. But I do wish statements attributed to sources were cited/linked to those sources; it supports the statements' and posters' credibilities, and allows for independent interpretation, follow-up, and judgment.

Doc

Doc,

Sorry, you if you have had negative outcomes. I posted "if you are going to have spine surgery make sure it's done my the best and someone who has done it many times and speak to patients who have had surgery by your doctor". I thought that was a positive response. It you think half empty that's what your going to get.

And yes, you are correct it is rare to have more than one positive outcome. Put most negative outcomes are due to doctor's not having enough experience doing the surgery there doing or there doing the completely wrong procedure. I travel 70 mile 1 way to our ortho. facility. I also stated I found out the hard way, so it did not start positive.

Always better to keep positive. Speaking from experience and remember "I ALMOST LOST MY ARM", I have spend 40 days or more over a period of 3 years sitting in the hospital, 70 miles from my family, with 2 doctors who fixed me piece by piece, explained every procedure, surgery, honestly they became my friends especially the one. If I would not have been agressive found the right doctors through networking other doctors that would not even touch me who knows where I would be today. It was not easy but if I fell apart and there where days I did where would I be today. I am a normal person I don't have any more money then any one else,pay my bills,mortgage just like the rest of the world.

I hope you have a more positive outlook in the future. What's the point of thinking have empty instead of half full. My husband and I have this same disagreement. So know offense taken.

Gabbycakes

Gabby, you made both positive and negative statements, hence my confusion. Half-empty or half-full is irrelevant - it's still half either way you look at it.

The confusion continues when you reiterate things like:
and then detail your negative ordeals.

If you say you're positive about it, I'll accept that, but what you say doesn't support that in my mind.

I don't know where you get that I'm negative when I admit I'm firmly on the fence. Cautious optimism at best/worst. I've not had surgery yet, because my orthopedic/neuro surgeons have thus far advised otherwise at this time, but there are a lot of variables in flux.

Doc

I don't believe that is my quote? Please refresh my memory. I believe someone else stated that.

Found it, it was your original message back to me.

Gabbycakes