I hope you have hope that things can get better. My surgery was successful too. The depression will lift with a decent outcome. ginnie

So I had my Diskagram this morning..man is my back sore..I have an appt with my Neuro-surgeon next week to discuss the results and schedule my surgery.....Getting Close...

Hi everyone...
I am 16 years old and am scheduled for a L4-S1 spinal fusion with a discectomy for early June. I am nervous and scared of what it will be like. About a year ago I had just a discectomy on my L4-L5 and started to have pain again. I had a MRI and they told my my discs were herniated again and were degenerating. I then had flexion and extension x rays done and they said I had a loose lower spine. I have a very capable doctor, but with all they stories i have read about being worse coming out then what you went in for I am kinda scared. Is it really as bad as some are making it out to be? Any help or advice would be great!!!! Thank you soo much.

Hey everyone
I am 16 years old and scheduled for a L4-S1 fusion alone with a discectomy on the same levelsin early june. About a year ago I had a discectomy on my L4-L5 disc and I started to have bad back and leg pain again. I went back to the doctor again and was referred to a neurosurgeon who said i have degenerating discs in my low back and a loose lower spine. So I don't have any other option but to have a fusion. I have a very capable doctor and I trust him very much but after reading so many stories of this surgery failing or making it worse it has started to plant a seed of doubt in my head. I know it will be painful and isn't a walk in the park. Is the fusion really that bad? Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated! thank you!!!!!

So I hade my L5-S1 fusion on the 12th oh june. Stayed in the hospital for about 3 days before being transferred to a rehab facility. Let me say this..on my 2nd day post op I had spasms so bad all I could do was grab the nurse and scream...mucho IV dilaudid was needed to get me thru the night. But thenk God my pain has been under control since. I have been home for 1 week and I get by on 1 pain pill a day... Takin things easy..wearing my back brace and walking every day....so far so good....Going for my first post op Dr Visit at the end of this week...

I am glad you are recovering. That was a hard surgery to go through. You sound like you are on the mend. Be good to yourself.
ginnie

You are young to have to go through so much. All can turn out OK. Just make sure you get that second opinion before you do the surgery OK? This is very important to do even if you like your surgeon. I am fused C3-7 and mine turned out very well. If you want details, I can talk to you through PM tomorrow. I am bushed for tonight. ginnie

Hey mate,

Just read through this thread from beginning to end and im sure you will feel alot better about going into and getting through this surgery

The first 10 pages or so are my story thorough my surgery, 8 odd years later and im feeling just great.

Cheers
Mike

If your neuro surgeon is good, you should be just fine. It is normal to have those seeds of doubt. I am a success story. I had a second fusion of C3-7. My life is much better now. This can and does turn out OK. I am sorry you have to go through this at such a young age. Take it easy during your recovery, don't over do anything. Get into PT as soon as the doctor clears you. Make sure you discuss pain medicaions before surgery, and what he will send you home with. I also hope you have good support at home. If you had to ask your doctor one question. mine would be, "what is the condition of the verterbre above and below the proposed surgical site" Those verterbre have to be strong enough to hold the hardware. If they are damaged, you have a risk of the domino effect, where the ones mentioned could fail. Its OK to ask your surgeon any question like that. It is important. I wish you all the best Mike. ginnie

Had my first post Op visit today..Dr Took x-rays and said all the hardware looks good...nothing out of place. So the Dr sounded a little shocked when I told him I did a 5 mile walk yesterday...He said if I overdo it I will know..so far all is well. I have 4 more weeks in this back brace that makes me look like a ninja turtle...then I start serious physical therapy... Oh Yeah..He cleared me to drive Woo Hoo
Keep yall updated...Thanks for all the encouragement.....
Mike..