Hey Mate, no problem, i had the operation at Mercy Hospital in Auckland with Dr Barnes (his office is near ponsonby/new market) he is one of 2 surgeons suggested to me of which both are 10+ years doing spinal surgery, i think they are pretty much the top 2 in NZ for this kind of op. from what i found out when i did my research. Hope that helps and all the best!

Cheers
Mike

Hello I'm a 31 years old and i need some help i have DDD and i have been this way for near on 6 years now and i have been told i will be having a spinal fusion on L5/S1 i have had 3 surgeries Discectomies already and by what i have read on this site that's nothing the first operation worked fine until i fell then it was back to square one since then i have had the same pain when i have woke up from the operations i have 2 children ok there not baby's at 14 and 12 but i still have a house to run and children and a husband to care for and i DONT want to be on these Medications no more there awful what i am asking is is this the right thing to do i know i don't know any of you out there but my doctors say yes then no then maybe my friends think its up to me as do my family i just need someone out there who is in the same boat that's had the op and is doing well yes i know that there are some horror stories out there as well and i am happy to here both sides please anyone help me rest my mind
thank you so much for you time take care and hope your not in to much pain x

I am in a similar situation - after two back surgeries L23,5 and again L5 to remove what they thought was pressure on the nerve causing my left leg pain. only to find out that my left hip was totally dislocated due to the scoliosis and tilted pelvis - doctors are considering a totol top to bottom fusion - I would be at least 4 inches taller - cool - but the 10 hour surgery then the hip replacement scares me to death - no to mention to loss of confidence in the medical community - I am 49 and want to to return to a fully active life style. I am searching for the best surgeon to consult with - I will go anyplace. that may be the best strategy for you. I wish you well.

Wow. Where do you live??? I live In Tucson AZ and just was told I need a 3 fusion with a metal rod put in--cervial Stenosis--C4-6....getting a 2nd opinion first and am VERY interested in the Flexible rod! that totally makes sense. and if they use "plastic" for the disks, why can't they use it for the rod??? Please let me know if you did have it done and how it is....

Hi TucsonGrandma,
I just signed up on this forum to contact you. I live in Tucson also. Your post was in 2010 and it is now 2015. First I was wondering how you are doing 5 years later? Also, I am in the process of getting Neurosurgeon Opinions on Fusing my L4-L5. I have had 2 opinions so far. One said an ALIF is what I need and the other said a TLIF is what I need. I have Anterolisthesis. I don't know what grade slip, but I do know my slip is 9mm. I was hoping you can give some advice on these Tucson doctors, have you found a good surgeon? Should I go up to Pheonix and ask at the Mayo Clinic? Any advice would be appreciated, as I, like everyone else, is terrified and making this decision.
Thank you
Jeepgirl

Hello jeepgirl,
Welcome to the NeuroTalk Support Groups.

Just wanted to mention that TucsonGrandma hasn't visited NeuroTalk since July 2010 from what I can see so you may not get a response from her, but there may be other members in a similar situation who can help you with information and support about potential surgery.

take care.

I hope your surgery has gone well. I had a fusion in 2004 (L2 to T12) as a result of a burst fracture at L1 and have been trying for years to get a sense of what I would experience in the future. What I have found is that there is such a wide range due to many factors. It seems that there is always a chance that there will be degradation above and below the fusion (I've never been able to find stats on that.) I was 24 when I got the fusion and have done extremely well, that is not to say that it hasn't changed my life, but I have had no problems with the fusion healing etc.... I had extremely good doctors, with the newest proceedures. There are support systems out there if you need them, so don't be afraid to ask around and ask a lot of questions, the better you understand your body the better you can care for yourself. If you have a doctor you don't like, find one that you do. Take care of yourself in every way you can, the healthier you are in general the better. Best of Luck!

IO had lumbar fusion in 2003. Since then I have had all, every single one of my internal abdominal organs try to part company with me. Bladder bowel, and reproductive organs. So I have had a hysterectomy, and a repair job to the bladder, and large and small bowel. Then one year later I have had, (Nov 2006) major repair to my large bowel, and half of it was removed. This has now been put down to spinal cord damage. Presently I am undergoing a trial for sacral nerve implant, I have wires going into my spine, and attached to an external machine a bit like a Tens unit, to see if my bowel can be kick started to work again. Unfortunately it hasnt worked. I have one more week of the trial, and then I think I am back to the drawing board. I asked my original spinal surgeon to forward me the results of my scans that were done last year. I got them, but without the radiographers reports. However it looks as though one of the screws is very crooked, possibly even broken. This could be the seat of all my probs. My final word is, if you can get by without the surgery, try to do so. I have been in constant and unrelenting pain ever since, and am now on duragesic (fentanyl) patches, which still does not do a whole lot for the pain.

I had my first back surgery in 2002,for spinal stenosis.I hate to say it, but it was the most painful experience ever after surgery.The surgeon did not prescribe the necessary pain killers, and it was hell till I was transferred to a hospital that new what was necessary to stop the pain, and they brought it under control in 2 days.Unfortunately it did nothing to help with back pain and I had to have a spinal fusion at L4/L5,L5/S1.with a cage a year later. Then I was told I had failed back syndrome. A spinal cord stimulator was put in and it had helped to a degree.I also have been taking percocet 10/325 4 or 5 times a day with fentanyl patches 200mg every 2 days.They recently added lyreca,without much success.
Now Im told they have to fuse L2,L3 and insert another cage.
After reading the reponses here it doesnt sound very encouraging,but I dont know if there is any other options.I can barely walk without shooting pains in my legs and severe weakness from the knees down .
I know everyone is going to say just because it didnt work for them,doesnt mean it wont work for me.but trust me,I am always one of those who it doesnt work well for in the long run.
But what other options are there.I tried therapy,have had several steroid injections, and the pain killers aren't doing the job anymore, and the pain is getting worse.
Was it less painful after the surgery for those who have had this surgery or about the same.
My wife is against another surgery because I now have diabetes and 2 stents in my heart and there is risk invovled with another operation.I am 64 years old.Thanks for any responses.
NyGuy

I am 42 now and had a fusion of L5 to S1 at the age of 24. It was done with Steffee Plates and healed very quickly. It also nearly completely eliminated all pain. But to be truthful, it also eliminated my prior ability to enjoy running or to really ever run again (without a great deal of pain). My post surgical life has been for the most part very good. Although I did run into severe pain when I took a "standing" oriented job at age 30 (that quickly debiltated me with pain). So much so I decided to take the plates out (which it had been determined had caused destruction of the next level above at L4 which has now fused on its own to L5...a very long and painful process which I chose over jumping into another fusion). This was likely a result of being a very active (golf and biking) individual. But one has to live... My overall thoughts of these surgies now is that you will trade one problem for another. The intention, however, is to trade the worse problem in for one which is far less of a problem. Point in case, I traded continuous low back pain in for only intermitant pain. This is a very different life than my doctors lead me to believe I'd be living. Two pieces of advice I have for you are (i) once you've identified a problem that you are seriously thinking about having surgery on, WAIT one year. I have done this numerous times and learned that most of time - usually several months later - the problem subsides, and (ii) it is best to avoid surgery if you're only doing it to get rid of pain and have no other neurological issues (unless rule 1 above applies and the pain has simply been unbearable for a year or more. Then, you have no other choice). Oh, and one more thing. You "will" get through this. The body eventually finds equilibriums (and you can continue them by taking care of your self). I find riding a stationery bike for 30-45 minutes not only keeps my body fit, it keeps my mind off occassional pain and frequently pushes me through it. Hope by now your issue has past. Look forward to seeing/hearing a message posted from you on how you're doing.