I have to make a decision as to whether or not to have this surgery. It would be a double fusion (I believe that’s what it’s called): L4-L5-S1. Both of my facet joints are broken at L4 (spondylolysis) which is contributing to spondylolisthesis of L5 and S1. I have been to chiropractors, massage therapists, physical therapy, tried multitudes of medications, tried ignoring the problem, and also recently had a bilateral epidural in an attempt to relieve the problem. I have been told the only way to fix the spondylolysis is through a fusion. I am 31 years old and have been having back problems for quite some time now. Sometimes my back flares up, and I literally can’t walk… crawling to the bathroom is about the only I manage to do when I have a flare up. I have been told that at some point in my life I will need a fusion, and I basically have to decide whether to do it now, or continue dealing with the pain and have it later.
Any suggestions/experience/advice anyone has with this particular surgery would be extremely helpful.
Thanks! 
Posts Tagged Fusion
I have a birth defect that in my lower back that causes my last vertabrae to shift. I have been doing physical therapy for years but the problem is getting worse as I age. The doctor said I might have to have it fused. Has anyone out there had this done? Did it work? How miserable was it and how was the rehab?
Initially, the surgery ( spinal fusion ) stopped the sciatic pain I was experiencing and it helped quite a bit for the last 6 years. In the last 6 months or so I have developed severe muscle spasms. I have undergone physical therapy treatment, and am now going to a pain clinic where I am receiving trigger point injections which only help temporarily. I cannot have nerve blocks because of the metal in my back. Any suggestions?
I am 21/F and I recently had back surgery in Feb. 2008. I started having back problems about 3 years ago. I saw SEVERAL doctors and had literally any diagnostic tests you can possibly imagine run on my back. Any type of scan or blood work or anything was done. I drove from state to state seeing different doctors and because of my age no one believed me and thought I was looking for pain medication instead of treatment for my back. I went through rigorous physical therapy and also had about 50-55 total injections in my lower back. I finally found a spine specialist that read all of my films and immediately knew what was wrong.
My L4-L5 and L5-S1 discs were herniated. I also have Spina bifida occulta which affects my S1 vertebrae and a pars defect which affects my L5 vertebrae. The bone defects which caused an abnormal movement of my discs that I have had since birth is what caused the 2 discs to herniate. To make sure the discs were the sources of my pain, my pain management doctor performed a disco-gram in which I was fully awake and he placed needles into the herniated discs and put x-ray dye in and then placed pressure on each disc. If the x-ray dye bled out instead of staying in the center of the disc then the discs were herniated. If the pressure he applied to the discs replicated the pain I had in my lower back and down both of my legs then the discs were the pain generators.
Basically, the disco-gram showed that the discs were herniated and that they were also my pain generators which meant I needed surgery. The doctor went in through my stomach to my spine and removed the 2 herniated discs and got a very good clean out. The discs were replaced with cadaver bone. After I was closed up on the front I was flipped over and 6 titanium screws and rods were placed in the bone to stabilize it.
It has been almost 9 months since my surgery and I am still in pain management. I’ve had several x-rays, mri’s and ct’s done to see if there is anything specifically causing my pain but no one sees any physical abnormalities from the surgery. I continue to have pain down both of my legs/hips/thighs/butt. The pain is very unbearable at times. The disc directly above the fusion is already bulging but it is not herniated.
Does anyone else have a similar problem or know someone who does? I would love to get some input from other people and their experiences and what their doctors say about everything. Sorry this was so long. Thanks for your time!
I am 17 have had back pain since 15. I have been through physical therapy, everything. recently the dr. took x-rays of my back said it was the worste back in a 17yr he had ever seen, I had the back of a 50yr, my back was worse than his ect. to make a long story short my spine is cruved and I have degenerative disc disease between10,11, and 12. ok now the prob. My regular dr. and the plastic surgeon want me to get a breast reduction. I’m small 5′4 130lbs and 36D and my posture is poor because I can’t hold up the weight. My dr did refer me to an orthepedist though and he said that because the disease was in my lower back that I should get a spinal fusion . The thing is that even though I have the disease in my lower back my upper back still bothers me. and we were hoping that we could fix my posture and get rid of the weight and my back would feel better. and if I get the spine thing done wouldn’t the weight still aggravate that? what do you guys think?
I have a fusion of the L4-5-S1. Rods and cages. They took bone from my hip for packing. I am a cabinetmaker and the job is physical. I am 37 years old. I listen to all these athletes using this stuff for rehab. I am to a point of trying anything.
After a Car Accident that was Fatal 2 of my Friends past away!I was diagnosed with a severe herniated disc that was caused by a violent whip lash!After 2 years of physical therapy and minimal relief from painkillers I underwent cervical spinal fusion with a Bonegraft at c-6c-7!Then another Mri revealed i had another herniated disc on t-1 level!Im still in pain all of the time And dont know what to do after being so many years of and on on pain medication,my doctor thought it was best to stop the pain relievers!Now im left in severe pain everyday still goin to physical therapy wich does not help in my case it makes it worse!I would like to go to Pain management and see if they could help me i had the steroid shots and they are to expensive and only last for a couple month if that this was for lower back pain but what about my neck !I was told after the spinalfusion i would feel better but I dont!Please Help Im located in Maryland and looking for the best painmanagement out here any suggestions?