I'll skip all the backstory but My surgeon is recommending lumbar fusion. Needless to say I am terrified. What are some good sites\books etc. to research this? Does it work? Recovery period? Does it just put moving to a chair full time off to the right?

Hi SD,

It can work, but like any surgery, there are risks—some that are often understated by surgeons, so I'd research them myself.

IMO, http://www.spine-health.com/ is pretty good, but I'm open to other suggestions.

I think it's important to get multiple opinions, and alternatives—surgical and non-surgical. Common advice on this forum is that surgery should always be considered only as a last-resort option, and that despite what surgeons may say, it can't/doesn't always fix pain.

Best wishes,

Doc

PS: I like the humor—it's a good sign.

This guy has been with me from the very first aneurysm rupture and if he says it is time to consider surgery it must be. We have tried physio, hydro and about every other non-invasive method.

He's pretty good. When I got back from my craniotomy with an STA to SCA bypass with a flow reversal I was going over the operation and I said "I didn't know you could do that." Without missing a beat he said, "well, obviously they can. You just have to do a lot of them."

When I go in for an angio and they start to move the screens into place I tell them I don't want to see any Facebook, e-mail, web surfing. When they are ready I remind the team ," Now at no time during the procedure are you allowed to look at a screen and say, "Holy Crap"

For you Doc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWwOJlOI1nU

I am here to talk to. Don't forget I went through two fusions. These can and do work. If you have confidence in your doctor, this can turn out OK. Which ones do they want to fuse? If you would PM me the MRI results, I am pretty good at reading them. I know you are scared, but truly the neuro pain does go away if the nerves are being compressed. Let me know what your doctor says OK? I care Mr. fence....xxxginnie

Hey, I got one of those—my ortho surgeon said so... just before he told me there wasn't anything he could do for me and cut me loose.

I'm going in for a re-evaluation in a couple weeks. IMO, some things have gotten better while others have gotten worse, but/so they kinda balance out. I think mebbe he just wants to squeeze some more bux outta my ins co.

Doc

[VENT]
My aforementioned re-evaluation is later today, so of course I'm up tonight, insomnious (That's the adjective form—I looked it up) with irrational anxiety. It's been 6 years since the ortho sent me on my merry. Five years is the cutoff, so they tell me my records have allegedly been archived and I'm considered a "new" patient again (even though I just saw the guy a month ago at DW's appt, when he suggested I come in again), which means I have to fill out all the gorram forms again!

There's no reason for my anxiety. I'm feel certain this is going to be (another) exercise in futility, and I can almost predict what he's going to say (after I endure the pita ordeal of new/updated imaging) because I've been saying it myself—some things have gotten worse (DDD), and some things have gotten better (healed), and there's still nothing he can do for me. Whoop-de-friggin'-doo. (Plotz)

So why can't I sleep?
[/VENT]

Doc

I hope your evaluation goes OK. I am going through that process too, and not real pleased. My anxiety is up too. Wish there was an easy answer for both of us not to feel so jittery. I am in your corner, and I know you are in mine. I will send over good vibes to you today. Let me know how your evaluation is today. ginnie

That's the thing—it won't happen today. He'll poke & prod a few things, ask me some questions, put me through some contortions, then tell me he can't tell me anything until after he sees the imaging, which with scheduling the next appt. will likely be a couple more weeks out. yipee (NOT).

Doc

It DID happen today! He poked & proded a few things, asked me some questions, put me through some contortions, then told me he can't tell me anything until after he sees the imaging, BUT THEN... he sent me down the hall for the imaging! ...after which they sent me back to the exam room, he went over them with me comparing them to the imaging from 6 years ago, and then he told me EXACTLY what I thought he would... Some things have gotten worse, and some things have gotten better, but there's still nothing he can do for me.

Basically I'm inoperable because the arthritis is too severe, and my spine would likely weaken and fall apart above & below wherever it was stabilized, and I'd likely be stuck with FBS.

OMG!!! Big surprise (again, NOT!) I'm so happy I could just ____.

[/END OF VENTING]

Doc
__________________
Dr. Zachary Smith
Oh, the pain... THE PAIN...

Dr. Smith is NOT a medical doctor. He was a character from LOST IN SPACE.
All opinions expressed are my own. For medical advice/opinion, consult your doctor.