[BMyers]

Hey everyone! I have been reading a lot of your posts and wanted to share my story in hopes that others could offer some advice or share your stories. I am 31 years old and I was diagnosed with about a grade 1 spondylolisthesis in 2010 at my L5-S1. I also have a chronic unilateral right pars defect and a large herniation at my L5-S1. I have gone to PT, had an epidural shot and taken medication. Nothing has helped the pain. Lately my feet have been going to sleep more often ( even while laying in the bed) and my back constantly hurts. My ortho sent me for another MRI last week and I go for the results tomorrow. Oh and I have pretty unstable spondy. My disc slips 5 mm upon flexion and 10mm upon extension. My first ortho said i'd eventually need surgery and suggested a laminectomy first and then down the road I may need another surgery with a cage and screws. I went for a second opinion and he said that he would also suggest surgery but suggested a TLIF surgery. I'm not sure if i'm ready for surgery but I have been considering it more and more because i always seem to be in pain and i've noticed it's harder for me to move around and get up an down.
Sorry to ramble so much but I was hoping maybe some of you might have advice or stories to share. I feel like i'm not as bad off as some folks but I know I do get tired of hurting all the time. I'm also wondering if I should get another opinion since I have had 2 different docs give me 2 different opinions. Thanks everyone for taking time to read my post!

[Leesa]

Hi ~ All I'm going to say (pretty much) is that do NOT go into surgery expecting to have your pain relieved, because that just doesn't happen most of the time. Surgery is ONLY to repair mechanical problems. You probably will still have pain and sometimes worse. Surgeons don't tell you this.

I've had back surgeries, but that was before the internet, and before I learned anything. I would NOT have surgery UNLESS my spinal cord was being compromised, or I was in danger of permanent nerve damage. Other than that, recent studies have shown that people who have had spinal surgeries have not gotten any better results than those who have had physical therapy!! There was an article in the June/July issue of AARP magazine that stated this same thing, plus I've read it in numerous other articles. Naturally, surgeons are going to recommend surgery.

Whatever you decide, I wish you the very best. Let us know what happens. God bless & take care. Hugs, Lee

[Dr. Smith]

Originally Posted by BMyers

My first ortho said i'd eventually need surgery and suggested a laminectomy first and then down the road I may need another surgery with a cage and screws. I went for a second opinion and he said that he would also suggest surgery but suggested a TLIF surgery.
....
I'm also wondering if I should get another opinion since I have had 2 different docs give me 2 different opinions.

Were these both orthos? If you get a third opinion, you might try a neuro to get one from a different perspective.

In line with something Leesa said, there's something called Failed Back Syndrome that you should be aware of (and bring up with these surgeons).

Google: failed back syndrome
Google: failed back surgery syndrome
Google: questions to ask before back surgery

Doc

[ginnie]

[Welcome to neuro talk. I am sure glad you found this site. I came here too in a constant state of pain, shaking and crying. I had already had a fusion at C6-7 that failed to resolve my issues. I was told to have this surgery as there was no other option, I was in danger of becoming paralized. There were other issues with my spine that I presented with, but that I was not told about. You need another opinion, before you do this surgery, as you are being told two different things. In 2010 I had three opinions, from three different branches of medicine, ortho, neruo, and my painspecialist, and even my PCP. All agreed that I didn't have much choice. My spine fell over like dominos, and I was fused C3-7. Surgery is always a last option,. and you should be absolutely sure that this is right for you. Believe me I cried a boat load before I decided to go with the second one even with being told that I needed it.
I DID get GREAT results. So the lesson here is with all the other responces, is that we all present to our doctors with different digrees of backs issues, some work, some don't. I want you to know that a good outcome CAN happen and it did with me. I do know that others have not been so lucky. Please do consider another evaluation before you go to surgery. Get enough opinions, that they all agree and you are really sure. I have NO regrets at what I went through, to get the degree of stability I now have. I wish you all the best, and I hope that your situation has a good resolution. ginnie

[BMyers]

Thanks for all the input! Yes both of my opinions have been from orthopedics. One is a Sports Medicine Ortho and the other specializes in spine abnormalities. I talked with my husband, mom and dad and I think that I am going to go for a 3rd opinion.

I went back to the the Sport Medicine Ortho today and went over my new x rays and MRI results. Some stenosis is there that wasn't before but other than that nothing has changed a lot (which is good). He thinks the pain is from the aggravation of my spine slipping back and forth when I move. My flexion/extension are about the same as last year but maybe just a little bit slipped more than the last time. The doc said surgery wasn't something i had to do right away but said with the "gross instability" in my spine that it wouldn't get better.

I am not going to rush into anything that is for sure. I really appreciate the reponses. It certainly helps to have input from people who have had similar problems with their spines!

[ginnie]

Glad you are going for another opinion. That is great news, for those of us who pay attention to these back issues. Let us know what happens, we will be listening to hear how it goes. I wish you all the best, and the best solution for your back pain. ginnie

[BMyers]

I wanted to ask what kind of leg pain any of you have had ( if any) from your spine problems. It seems my spondy and herniated disc causes radiating pain down my into my right hip and leg. Lately my right ankle seems to kind of just "go out" from time to time when walking down the stairs. Luckily I catch myself before falling on the ground. I'm guessing that is more due to my herniated disc pressing on my L5 nerve root. According to my MRI report my herniation at L5-S1 goes almost up to my L4-L5 which my doc said it a pretty large herniation.

I am being a bit whiny today so sorry about that. I'm just so tired of my back and leg always hurting. The doc upped my dosage of Lortab but honestly it doesn't seem to do that much good for very long.

I hope everyone had a nice weekend and good luck in the week ahead!

[Dr. Smith]

Originally Posted by BMyers

Lately my right ankle seems to kind of just "go out" from time to time when walking down the stairs.

It's difficult to say definitively if that's related or not. Aging stinks, and sometimes multiple but unrelated things go haywire at the same time.

We all get bad whiny days. Hopefully we get a few not-so-bad days to make up for them. One day at a time.

Doc