I ama 80 yo male who is in reasonable good health except for lower back and frontal thigh pain. i have been suffering for about 8-10 years. I have been controling the pain with epadurals but it has gotten worse. My Nurosurgeon wants to fuse L3-L4-L5. I am concerned about the recovery time and living alone also the fact that the vertibre above and below become weakend. I have contacted "Microspine" and submitted my latest MRI report and they claim I am a candidate for their procedure.

I would like comments about Microspine and my condition.

Lou

Lou,

It is just my opinion, but I would stick with your doc....I do not know though if I would go for a fusion at your age...Why don't you see a few other surgeons for opinions and see if one doesn't suggest a laminectomy to you? Where are you located? Florida? There must be some good, top docs, near you...see one of them and see what they have to say about the laminectomy... Maybe you could go to a rehabilatation center after surgery for a while until you are up and on your feet. My pain management doc was going to send me to one after my surgery...

I definitely agree with Gloria.

But just wanted to add. My husband's brother is 68 and had a lumbar fusion done last year (I forget the level or levels). He DID have to wear a Bone Growth Stimulator for about 6 months. But at three months he was fusing. So, IF you have to go with a fusion, ASK about the Bone Growth Stimulator. I wore one myself, twice, for both cervical fusions and they work wonders. Just something to consider based on your age. But again, agree with Gloria, I would stick with your own NS.

Yes, I agree with Kathi...I too wore a bone stimulator with both of my fusions...they can be a pain, but I think they do help with fusion....