Back Pain Support Group

Im 29 years old and did the same thing, I just ruptured My L5-S1 disc which I'm told will need a fusion. Just have to wait till the 21st to see My neurologist and set it up. Also I need to see if workers comp is going to approve it the first time.

http://www.laspineinstitute.com/de...

This is not an endorsement for this medical group or the doctors featured here. It is a great website with info and animations of surgeries and hardware devices that offer options that are FDA approved now and shows you that fusion is not always the only option.

I recommend you discuss these surgical devices and techniques with your neurosurgeons and see if you are a candidate for something beside fusion.

I had C5-6 fused 3 years ago, and it turned out great!

Only problem I have is that the discs above and below the fusion site have now herniated and I will be having disc replacement surgery on the disc at C6-7 soon. That is one of the problems with fusions, some people have the discs above and below herniate due to the extra pressure on them.

Still the pain I had before the fusion surgery was gone after I recovered from surgery. I was in the hospital over night, and up and about after about 4 weeks, back to normal within 8 weeks.

I had a fusion at L-5 S-1 in 2002 and the fusion never healed causing my screws to break. After 6 years i found out the fusion didnt take and in March of this year i had a 360 fusion at L-4 to S-1 they had to go up another level due to the screw lodgeing into L-4. I do not have any of the pain in my legs anymore and am presently in pain but we have been having rain like 24-7 for at least 10 days now and no end in sight. i am only like 4 and a half months post op so i dont know if it is going to take this time i know there is the chance of it not taking but we were hopeing this anterior/posterior entry would do it this time rather than just one entry. I go back and see the surgeon at the end of next month and ill see whats going on then. The hard thing is i know there is a chance of upper disk herniating later in time and there will always be restrictions.
I wish you luck and let me know if i can answer anything .

I had 2 lumbar laminectomies first at L4, L5 and S1. That got me through about 8 years. Then I had the fusion, I even donated my own bone from my hip because they say if you donate your own bone, the fusion is more likely to fuse. Well, honey mine did not. One year later they went in and removed the steel cage and I am just as I am now. Mobile but in pain, and I live my life cautiously as I am afraid if I fall, get in a car accident, etc that will be it. Make sure you have a second opinion and that you have tried all your options ok. If you want to talk about it, Maryghostmom

BeckyK said: "I had C5-6 fused 3 years ago, and it turned out great!

Only problem I have is that the discs above and below the fusion site have now herniated"

It turned out great.. except for causing 2 more herniations (?). Yes, thats adjacent disc disease and primary reason for concern regarding the procedure and if doctors should be performing it. You have to consider the usefulness and/or point of a process that ruins two discs in attempt to fix one. It's illogical in my humble opinion.

Be careful folks.

I will be having a fusion of L-s S-1 in a week, i already had C5-C6 and it turned out good and that was on june 10th 08 and it was a very short recovery, and nicely healed hope to have the same with lumbar

My husband went through the fusion surgery L5 S1 on August 6th. He spent 5 days in the hospital and they did not do enough for him so he was supposed to go to rehabilitation for another 5 days. He was miserable and he was very neglected since day 1. They have NO clue how much pain this poor man has been in. He was taking high pain meds before the surgery and after they were giving him pretty much the same. So he has been in agony. NOW that he has been home since Wednesday his doctor cut his pain meds in half and now he is going through withdraws...YEAH...can you believe this crap. He has said over and over again...he wish he never had it done. So before you do this make sure you know exactly what you are getting into. The pain afterwards was unbearable. He told me he didn't know how people lived through this kind of pain and he has had a bad back since 1999. How in the hell do you get your doctors to realize that the pain meds he has is not enough. What the heck do we do. Now he is suffering withdraws and that is worse than the back pain. Not to mention he cant take any meds because he keeps throwing them up. Please help...what advise can you anyone give me for my husband.

Jtallent : call your husbands doctor and let him know about the withdrawal symptoms. Maybe the doc was not aware of your husbands high tolerance for pain meds. Or maybe the doc was not aware that your husband was on pain meds before the surgery which is causing the withdrawal. If it were my husband i would call that doctor everyday and tell him what my husband is going thru.

I had a fusion in my lower back almost 4 years ago. I have several other spinal problems also. I'm thankful that the surgeon that did the fusion is wonderful, and because of him, and the grace of God, I'm still able to walk! Please keep me updated!