Hi there

I am new to this site but find what I have read so far so interesting. I have had several spinal operations inthe last 3 years. The last one in January this year was for Anterior L4/L5 discectomy, bone graft and fusion, and revision of posterior instrumentation. Nine and half hours in total with 3 days in intensive care. Now I am being told I need a similar operation higher up - at L1/L2 and that that will leave the area in the middle at risk so I may need more surgery after this. It all feels quite daunting, Has anyone else been along this path or similar and is surgery the only option?

Sally

I haven't had the problems of being in intensive care after surgery, but I have had 7 back surgeries. I am fused from L/2 threw S1. My first was 3 fusions at L4,L5 and S1. They put in screws that I was allergic to. Then I also fill with scar tissue and have stenosis. After much suffering, my next surgery was to use my own pelvis bone. Then the first fusions above and below gave away ane had to be fused plus more scar tissue taken out. Three years later I had a stimulator put in by another surgeon and I was in nothing but pain, so I had it removed by the other surgeon plus all my own bone had crumbled, so he replaced it with artificial bone. So far it is holding up.

I also had a buldging disc that fell into my spinal cord. That was really my first surgery. I usually forget it, for it was nothing compare to the other surgeries. They were all very painful and I still have to wear a brace after 15 years. My only advice would be don't have surgery until you have to. It just opens the door to more. I started in 1991 and I still see a surgeon in June.
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Fancylady

Hi there

Thanks for replying Fancylady. I was so sorry to hear what you have been through. It makes mine seem less major. Do you still have a lot of pain? I think one of the options for me in the future might be to be fused from L1/L5 but a physio told me once that if they do this to you you have great problems bending and it puts a lot of pressure on your hips and knees which are then at more risk of failing too. I have been lucky so far in that my job as a counsellor has been kept open for me but this is getting less and less likely as it goes on. I guess what will be will be - but even if this is what I think I still find myself trying to control things. Perhaps time to accept there are some things we cannot control and we just have to go along with them.
Take care - Sally

Yes, Sally I still have pain and I think as long as I live I will have some. It is worse when I try to be on my feet walking or just doing something. I can sometimes not do much, and be ok. I am determine not to let it get me down.
Pain is what drove me to more surgeries. I can bend, but it is somewhat painful. My surgeon is the one that told me fusions lead to more fusions down the road. It is true in my case. It will always be up to you as to how you are willing to have. They never get easy either and it takes so long to recover. I do wish you good luck.
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Fancylady

Hi Sally!
Sorry, I don't know much about Lumbar fusion... I had cervical fusion at C5/6-6/7 on Feb 14th. They used cages and plates, and I went back to work 3 weeks later. I do very heavy work (printing) and my Neuro said I shouldn't have any trouble above or below the areas where I had ACDF. My muscle spasms are almost non-existent, and I rarely have any pain. I had no physical therapy, and am doing well. My mother had lumbar fusion, and started having pain again, and we found out it was how she slept... she uses my method now...we call it the "knee pillow method" lay on your side, with knees bent, and place a pillow (small or large depending on your preference) between your knees. It seems to take the twisting stress off your lower back, and I have found I sleep much better. Since doing this, my mom hasn't had any more lower back pain.
Hope this helps!
Be well!
Dave

Thanks Dave - It is good to hear you are so well after your surgery. That's what is so good about this site - you do hear from people who have been helped by surgery as well as those who haven't and this really helps. I think my lower back is a little less painful now so if he does offer the same op further up when I go for my appointment this week I will probably go for it. He is doing a scan first to check if the bone graft and fusion he did in January has taken. Thanks for the tip about pillows - I will give it a go.

Take care
Sally