Is anyone with L4-L5 fusion happy that they did it?

[4ced2think]

Hi All,

I had a laminectomy at L4-L5 in 2003 and the disk blew again 9 months later (while I was doing my physical therapy exercises). I've been toughing it out since then, but am getting warning signs that it could blow again.

I'm scared to death that the next time my back is opened it will require fusion since it doesn't seem to be getting more stable.

I don't come here often enough to read everything people have said about their fusions, but my general take is that fusion is a slippery slope. Is anyone out there really glad they had it done?

Thanks,

Sue

[LazyDude]

Hello,

I'm only at 6 months post op but I'm better than I was. If I did absolutely nothing I felt fine, any physical activity and the pain could become unbearable, I was on 800mg motrin and vicodin and it barely made a dent in my pain. The first two months post op were terrible, months 3-4 I was moving around ok but often pushed my limits too far and ended back in bed. I didn't work for 4 months. Months 5-6 I've been walking 2 miles with ease, can easily spend an hour in a vehicle, but I'm still taking about 3 vicodin and 3 soma (muscle relaxant) per day. I've gone 24hrs without my meds but by then I can hardly walk. Overall, the bone fusion seems to be the easiest part, healing of the back muscles is what seems to be the longer straw, in my case anyway.

So, yes I'm happier, but it's a long recovery period.

[simby]

i am 15 months out of a l4/5 fusion.
Its a horrible recovery, its soooo slow. But, i am glad i did it. I had the two bones crushing the sciatic nerve. Its left me with leg problems, foot drop, and painful feet.
I would do it again - at least now i have somewhat of a life. Better than being in tears every day and struggling to even get out of bed.

[Jolene]

Sue, have you checked to see if you are a candidate for ADR rather than fusion? Just a thought...
Never mind. I woke up and remembered that if you've already had surgery you're not a candidate most likely.

ADR is artificial disc replacement

[dianne633]

jolene what is ADR I am new here so l don't know all the abreviations thank you dianne

[carolynms]

I had a laminectomy, discectomy and fusion at L5 S1 11 weeks ago. I went back to work part-time 8 weeks after surgery (with restrictions). I was walking 3 miles a day at that point. I had good pain control, so I do not feel my recovery was too bad. So far, I am glad I did it. I still have some sciatic nerve pain, but do not have that awful back pain. If I had to do it over again, I would have done it sooner! Keep us posted, I know it is a very difficult decision to make.
Carolyn

PS I was taking a minimum of 4 vicodin a day-pre-surgery (with very little relief), and was up to 6-10 a day post surgery, along with muscle relaxers. I am now completely off of the pain meds, and take a half of a valium twice a day for spasms.

[Digikitty]

Carolyn, what exactly did you have prior to your surgeries?What diagnosis?
Just curious..I had a discectomy almost 2 yrs ago and have a new injury to the area...and the pain stinks!

[carolynms]

Digikitty, I had a bilateral pars defect with spondylolisthesis. A pars defect is a break/crack in the pars part of the vertebrae. The crack was on both sides, and I guess the vertebrae seperated, and the broken vertebrae slipped over the one underneath it. So I had nerve root compression, and osteoarthritis at the facet joints, I think, due to the movement of the spine. Does that make sense? There was also spinal instability, and the disc was almost gone. That wasn't discovered, though, until they did the surgery. What exactly did you have a discectomy for?
Carolyn

[Digikitty]

hi Carolyn..thanks for answering my question.Did this come from a accident of some kind? I had my discectomy due to a heriation pressing into my nerves..was doing pretty good till a fall at Walmart about 6 weeks ago... still havent seen a Dr due to no insurance, and they said they will pay just one time, not my bills..my original Drs office quoted me a absolutely crazy $$ figure, so I wont be seeing them....
anyways, thanks for the answers...

[carolynms]

Yes, my injury was due to a car accident. If Walmart is trying to tell you you can only see a Dr one time, I might be inclined to consult with a lawyer. I don't like doing that (I had to for my accident...long story, but just me against the big ins companies), but it is just you against a big corporation. If it is a disc issue, I think the only thing to diagnose it is an MRI, and they are pretty costly.
Good luck, and keep me posted!
Carolyn

[4ced2think]

Thanks for the replies, folks. Any long-time fusion patients out there?

[Gordon Cook]

Had a recommendation for L2 THROUGH L5 fusion today.

Shiver!!

Its late and i have to go to bed but had had a lumbar laminectoy in 2000 and cervical diskectomy with plate and screws in the cervical DISK in march of 2000 and a revision of that in august and a complete hip replacement in december 2000 I will be CAREFUL

[Lea]

I am almost 2 years out from my L4/L5 fusion. I am so glad I had it done. It did give me my life back and inabled me to return to work. I still have pain, but nothing like before the surgery.

My recovery was slow and I had to wear a back brace for 7 months, but it was definitely worth it. I still take pain meds because I have degenerative and facet issues as well as a cervical fusion and a herniation at C5.

I work full time at a desk job and except for my yearly RF procedures, I miss very little work due to my back.

God bless,

Lea

[Mark N]

I had a 360 fusion of L2-5 and after 10 years I still am not having any problem with it It was a good choice for me and very successful.

[Gordon Cook]

Hi Mark N,

Good to hear. I think i should start a new thread - because of course I have LOTs of questions. Thanks

[Ponyguy]

Is anyone with L4-L5 fusion happy that they did it?

Nope.

Much love and

[tiggerpr]

My full story is on my other post. It contains info on ADRs and my story with fusion. Also there are a number of things you should consider.

Bottom line, at his point Im glad I did mine. if you are considering ADR, personally, Id lean toward the maverick.

My post is: Lumbar DDD My Journey (ADR, charite, fusion)

[hermit]

hello, i had a L4-L5 Anteriour Fusion in 1989, it failed, i suffered for years, got so bad last year i started a new journey for help, i got lucky, found a good pain doctor, i just had a pain pump installed a month ago, results been fabulous. in your situation id recommend you get a second ,..even third opinin before haveing more surgery, any doctor worth thier salt wont object to that, its your body, seems medical technoligy has come a long away since i had my fusion, back then the "anteriour" approach was some what new, and looking back i feel like i was a guieny pig, im not trying to scare you, just suggest you be as "imformed" to your options as possible, ask questions, find best doctors you can for opinions, then decide , an if surgery is warrented, research what surgeon has most experiance, and try to use them, no time to be looking for a discount or sale, LOL. good luck, hope you the best.

this all just my opinion, sincerly, hermit

[mmglobal]

You will find a lot of people with all spine surgeries who are wonderful successes. Sadly, with all spine surgeries you will also find less than success and even some horror stories. Bumping into a few successes or failures with a type of surgery, a doctor or any treatment option is always interesting, but we must understand that they all have many successes and failures. It behooves you to discover what your options are and evaluate them fully. Do your homework, make informed decisions about your treatment.

Mark

[juniee]

I had fusions at L 3-4 and L 4-5 with laminectomy in 6-06 and ended up much worse with Arachnoiditis and Cauda Equina Syndrome and my Ns and spinal Pm both agree on Dx. This will never get better and they are treating me with comfort measures only:( I only thought I knew what pain was and would give anything to go back to where I was!

[Mark N]

juniee, like you, I would love to go back to the way the pain was instead of what I go through now. We have gotten to this place in different ways [my fusions were successful but my spine continues to deteriorate] but I do understand the pain you are going through each and every day. It would be nice to find a solution but when there is none to be had we have no choice but to make it through one day at a time. Ah for the old days when pain was just a nuisances.

[marijo]

Cant say I feel happy, but at the time I couldnt see that I had a choice because my legs were giving way frequently and painfully. I'm what has been called a failed back surgery. Shortly after my op, the surgeon half considered me for an anterior fixing. I dont know really what he meant by that, but he never did it anyway. I have constant 24/7 pain, and its very debilitating. I begin to feel like the boy that cried wolf, now when I go back to the doc, because no-one knows what to do with me. I've just had an epidural steroid injection, which has not made a blind bit of difference. I still cant get any kind of a life back on track.

[Itsybitsyspider]

There is a great new technique for spinal fusion that i found on the Rush University medical center website. Its called the Dynesys® Spinal System and it seems really cool. Its more flexible than the typical spinal fusion structure, and it allows movement, so maybe it isn't as painful a recovery? I think it is some good information to just check up on. If you want to look at the more specific information check out the website...http://www****sh.edu/rumc/page-1160429743628.html. I hope this helps.

[PeeBee]

I'm at 10 yrs with my back and 13 yrs with my neck and glad I had both done. Looking at some minor revisions in the future, but got my life back when I had my back done.

[Lea]

I am 2 years post L4-L5 fusion. Best thing I ever did. It took 18 months to recover, but I am now back at work instead of staying on disability. It's not an easy surgery, but I would do it again because it gave me my life back.

I still have pain, but then my spine is a mess and surgery can't fix everything.

[gsw]

I have five levels fused from S1 to L3 with an extra vertebrae (L6) for good measure. I really had no choice with all my fusions as it was get the fusion and see if I got better or go jump off a cliff somewere. Yes my fusions have helped me a great deal and I would do it again if another level blows out. A fusion is a very hard thing to get over but if instability is your problem then a good surgeon can help you a lot. Good Luck and God's speed to you.

[luckyclover]

Hi it me luckyclover again,

Yet with another question. Simby i see you said you had painful feet. I've been looking for someone who's feet hurt because of there back. My question is??? My heal hurts so bad that's it's hard to walk on, espically after sitting awhile. It also makes my arch of my foot cramp. Is that because ofmy back? Iam waiting for a scs to be put in for pain. I had a fusion of L4,L5,S1 , two rods 4 screws etc. Went back to work way too soon. Was suppose to be out 7 months went back in 3 months, i think i screws things up with my back, that's what my pain management doc. said. He said iam 65% disabled. Wants me to quit my job in a factory. I been thinking about going on partial disablity and work 2 to3 days a week about 24 hrs a week. I just wanted to know about the feet, if its not the back doing it , its time to see the foot doctor.

Thanks for any help
Kathy Green

[paigiesmom]

well I am just a year post op from my fusion. Im 34 with 3 kids and it was not easy being down but I was doing good on my own at 6 weeks.... ok not much but I could get around and was walking a good mile or two. I was off all meds by 3 months and have NO pain at all now. I could not be happier. I couldnt ride in a car, sit for any time at all before and I was in pain all the time even on meds before my surgery. I am so happy that I had it done.

Everyone is different. But I would do it again if I had to. Dont let me fool you it is a long hard road afterwards when you are stuck having everyone do everything for you but after a few weeks it gets a bit easier. The best advice I got from people here was to attach my remote control to my bed or where I was sleeping and a year later it still is and I love it. Never had to worry and I could always reach it. Good luck.

[marazad]

It will be 2 years since my 360 spinal fusion, L4,L5, S1, in August. I consider it a great sucess. The debilitating pain I lived with constantly is gone! If I overdo things I have pain but I believe that is to be expected. I would have been thrilled to come out of that surgery with any improvement. I had nerve damage as well and that pain was the worst. I have some limitations but I can deal with that and do.

I remember asking this same question before having my surgery. I hope you get some comfort with the answers. One thing I cant stress enough is to research your surgeon options extensively! All surgeons are not created equal.:) Best of luck to you.

[Mark N]

Luckyclover, my feet killed me before my fusions and cleared up after my thoracic fusion. I forgot I was ticklish until my thoracic fusion showed me how much feeling I had lost. Yes your spine can be the cause of foot pain but there is no guarantee that it isn't from your foot.

[Big Joe]

I'm nearing ten years since my fusion. I really had no choice but to have the surgery. I can't say I'm glad I had it done. It still affects my life to this day, though I have learned to have an active and fullfilling life in spite of my limits and disabilities.

Much has changed in the last decade and I think it would be much easier today for the same surgery. Possibly less risk than the barbaric procedures we endured years ago.

I can walk and live a very full life. I don't know if that would have been possible without the surgery, though I cannot credit my walking to surgery but to a God who is still in the healing business. I am not sorry I had my surgery, but I don't know that I can say I am glad I had it either. I still have mixed feelings and still don't think there was any other option. I know this may not offer much help, but it is real.

Have a Great Day
Joe

[Mark N]

Big Joe, it is really good to see you are still reading up and coming around once in a while. I still remember the post when you let us know you received the miracle of being able to walk again after years of being wheelchair bound. It has kept me hopeful that my condition can turn around some day.

[nitrovitro]

I had a fusion on 93 they put the screws and the plates. and I had another one on 96 to remove the screws and the plates and they did more fusion on L5. and I am still in pain.. to make things worst when they did a test to find out what was causing my back pain when I got hurt, the test is call Myelogram the idiot that was performing the test on me; pull the the big needle to hard that he did some damage in the middle of my back I complaint to my Doctor but he did not do crap. Now I am seeing another Doctor and waiting for a test to find out what damage was done by that test. :mad:

[mattg325]

i am 1 month out of l4-l5 fusion and so far so good. my back only hurts when i move it the wrong way. i have been going to pt 2 times a week for 3 weeks and am now walking 1 mile mon, wed, fri, sun, and 2 miles tues, thurs, sat. the surgen told me that the surgery made me 1 inch taller so instead of being 6'4", i'm 6'5" and that streatched all the tendons, ligements, and muscles in my legs and that is where 90% of my pain comes from. i still have pain in my back but it is low enougph that a loritab 10 can take care of it instead of a 40 mg oxi. so far nothing but praises to god and the doc, but i am a deputy sheriff and will not be 100% happy till im back locking up bad guys. i will let you know if there are any setbacks or injuries but so far i'd do it agian if i needed it.

[Mark N]

Mattg, great news on your fusion. I had my lumbar fusion done back in '96 and it is still doing great so I am hopeful you will be back to full duty before you know it. Don't rush the recovery however, the better you do now the better the chances are you will have no future problems.

nitro, sorry to hear about the problem with the myleogram. I hope too much damage wasn't done. The test is painful enough without having any screw ups adding to the pain.

[marijo]

After L5/S1 fusion in 2003, a surgeon placed metal in spinal canal. A lot of you already know my story, and have helped and supported me over the years. I often wondered why I was really not getting much better. The surgeon refused to accept that anything might be wrong, and made me feel as though it was my fault, for having the wrong psychological mindset. He persisted in describing his handwork as excellent even though it patently was not, as I realised three years later when I finally got a hold of my scans, and saw the terrible error he had made. In 2005, I had many prolapses, just about everything, and around the same time my bowel and bladder stopped working properly. I had all of this repaired, and my bowel removed, and in its place an irreversible ileostomy. By now on top of the back pain I had constant non specific nerve pain, and my neck started to go, affecting my hands and arms. I finally found another surgeon willing to take a look. He was very concerned with the position of the misplaced screw, and said it should come out, but did not know if it would make any difference. Unfortunately, he informed me I would have to have more metal put in, as there was slippage higher up. So I had a plif just 2 weeks ago, and steroid injections into my neck, and a recommendation to see a hand surgeon to try and relieve the numb fingers etc. I'm very sore now. Did a little too much after the surgery, and have been a bit unwell. The surgeon would like me to get off pain relief altogether. I've cut down, and have gone as far as I am able at the present. I saw him just earlier this week. I think he was a bit disappointed that I was not playing tennis like some of his patients. Early days yet, and I remain optimistic. After all some of the discomfort must be due to the fact that I'm pushing on a bit. I would certainly hate to have to relive the last 10 years.
Husband and self are planning a trip to the rockies next spring/summer. Our daughter is going to work for a year over there in a holiday village which looks lovely. Its just a thought, we deserve a holiday! I start physiotherapy tomorrow, and am looking forward to getting some strength back.
Take care all.
M.

[mattg325]

good luck on the recovery marijo. hopefully it won't be long before you are on the tennis courts like your doc wants.

[Mark N]

Mary, I hope your recovery goes so well you are able to make the trip to the Rockies. I would love to see the two of you but I doubt you will be going through southern Indiana on your way to the Rockies but if you are close let me know. It would be great to work something out but since I can't travel any more it probably will be close but no cigar as we say over here.

[Smiling Angel]

Well, I'm not sure HAPPY is the word I'd use, but I believe that I certainly am better off having had my L4/5 fusion! My story was a bit different than most in that my problems began with not back pain, but pain in my left leg. It went straight down my leg and caused me to limp, and nothing helped it. PT made it worse, so I only had a couple of sessions. Then an MRI showed that I had a cyst on my spinal cord, originating from the left facet at the L4/L5 level. It was a synovial cyst, which means it was filled w/ synovial fluid, which normally lubricates the joints when they are healthy. My vertebrae were mis-alligned (spondylolisthesis) and the friction of the two rubbing together is what caused the cyst to accumulate more than the normal amount of fluid. I was sent to a Neuroosurgeon and, not knowing much at that time (but I began to read up shortly after!), I consented to surgery to remove the cyst, and do a partial laminectomy at that level. Great! Pain gone, problem solved!?!

However, within five months of the surgery, I began to have that same old feeling came back to my leg :( Not good! At that point, I began reading up on what was actually going on in there, changed to a basically sedentary job, and waited it out - surgeon took a wait and see approach.

Oops, too much info!! Long story short, I went one of the best places around, the Rothman Institute in Philly. My doctor explained why the cyst came back, as explained above, and reasoned that the only way to keep it from reoccuring was to do a fusion.... so that was done one year and 2 months after my first surgery -- with a much longer recovery time, I might add! Yes, I'm happy I went to Dr Albert instead of that other dude who was going to remove entirely my left facet at that level ("Unstable", he said, "No, you'll have the right side" - -- bullsh#t!!). I am still able to walk, do most of what a normal person can do, albeit with ppain, even with daily pain meds. Heck, I'm even working full time - at a sedentary job!

If you are contemplating a fusion surgery, do your homework, make sure the doctor is planning to do monitoring of your nervous system during the surgery (forgot what that's called - neuro-something). That would probably prevent what happened to marijo in post above.

Take care and good luck!

[lisa_d]

not at all. still in as much pain as I was before having surgery. I'm 9 months out almost.