Degenerative Disc Disease Support Group

Degeneration of the intervertebral disc, which is often called "degenerative disc disease" (DDD) of the spine, DDD is in fact a condition that can be painful and can greatly affect the quality of one's life. While disc degeneration is not a normal part of aging and for most people is not a problem, for certain individuals a degenerated disc can cause severe constant...

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back surgery fusion

mike45
mike45
The disc at my L5-S1 level is completely gone. My surgeon says my only chance to ease the pain is by fusing the vertebrae and putting in rods and screws to stabilize the spine. I have heard that fusion causes more problems than before surgery.

I would appreciate hearing from some who have had the fusion done. Has it worked or has it caused problems?
deleted_user
deleted_user
I have not had the surgery so I can't give any advice on that. But I do have a disc that is completely gone. I was considering surgery so the surgeon had me do a discogram first. The discogram is a procedure where they inflict pain on your different discs in order to determine exactly where your pain is coming from. Not a lot of fun, but it did provide the doctors with vital information. After this test the surgeon said that there was a less then 10% chance that the surgery would help with my pain. A surgeon's job is to do surgery so they will almost always want to cut you open. I would get a second opinion before taking that leap.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I feel your pain Mike, as I have exactly the same problem. L5/S1.
I had a microdisectomy in 2010, and I was pain free for only 3 months when the pain began to return. I had another MRI which showed extensive scar tissue surrounding the Sciatic Nerve Root.
I get Epidural Nerve Block Injections every 2-3 months. This helps a little but I still need enough pain meds to knock out a horse. You name it, I'm taking it.
I am scheduled for another MRI on the 15th of August, depending on what this scan shows my surgeon suggests that a fusion is my last hope. Like you, I am very apprehensive of this surgery because from what I have read, they cannot guarantee anything. If the nerve is permanently damaged a fusion won't do anything.
My surgeon also will not do the fusion if I am smoking.
He said that the surgery is not successful with smokers.
Well Mike, that's all I have for now. Hopefully this was helpful.
Janice