Fusing Vertebrae

[buck]

Any one there vertebrae fused in their lumbar region? If so your experience please. Thanks.

 

[Tom]

I can tell you my ex-wife had it done and now 3 sugeries later she regrets it. She wishes she would have done aggresive Pt and stretching. She lives on oxycontin now and is worse than before her original procedure.

 

[E.J.]

I don't have any fused vertebrae but I do put these pt's under anesthesia pretty much every day I work. I'm always in our neuro room. If u have any questions about the procedure I could possibly answer feel free to pm me

 

[Indifference126]

If you take a look at the sum outcomes through studies etc, you'll find there is about a 50/50 split for people that experienced relief of symptoms versus no relief or worse pain. I would do like ^^^^ suggested and exhaust all other avenues before surgery.

 

[LEX]

I see these every day and 50% are revisions or additions to the previous fusion. I would say truly exhaust every possible delay of fusion at all costs. However there are sometimes where it just has to be done. best of luck to you man.

 

[terraj]

As said over.....it really is the last option. If you have a specialist recommending fusing...get away from them ASAP.

They fused 5 in my Dad's back....lawyers say he could have sued the doctor if if were younger....

 

[thebrick]

Cervical fusion has a high success rate. Lower back does not have a dependably high rate of success. That's what my surgeon told me 2 years ago.

If you are still functional at all, I would not do it. Good luck.

 

[chinaboy]

Fusions create future problems above and below the fused areas as the above and below now make up for the fused joint's motion. Exhaust all conservative options. A good physical therapist can do wonders (as long as you continue with what they teach you and you learn from them and apply it). Traction therapy can help but doesn't replace PT. Spinal fusion should be the last resort unless you are 80 and don't have much longer to live anyway. And I am talking lumbar fusion. Cervical fusions do have a higher success rate. Look at Jon Cena, he has an cervical fusion and still wrestles in WWE.

 

[buck]

my pt who works as a pt for a NFL and a pro soccer team tells me he can really not do much other then try to get more range of motion through ART etc. my Neuro surgeon uses fusion as a last resort, i a just starting down the path. the discs in L1-L5 are ruptured to some degree. but the Spondylolisthesis between L4-L5 are the real problem i would guess. my neuro guy graduated Harvard, Yale interned at one of the best hospitals IMO. has summit-ed the highest mountains in the world so he knows about trying to keep going, just got his law degree and had performed emergency surgery at high altitude. just looking for experiences. my brother had some fusion done 25 years ago but never did any therapy before or after really and is still in some pain.

 

[chinaboy]

If your spondylolisthesis is moving than a fusion may be necessary. But surgeons talk in cut or not cut thought process. Look into seeing a physiatrist. Things like prolo-therapy and PRP can help the low back greatly in certain instances. But also find a good PT!

 

[buck]

If your spondylolisthesis is moving than a fusion may be necessary. But surgeons talk in cut or not cut thought process. Look into seeing a physiatrist. Things like prolo-therapy and PRP can help the low back greatly in certain instances. But also find a good PT!

if you don't mind what constitutes a good PT for this problem?

 

[Viking55]

Prolozone Therapy

Aloha,

Spondylolithesis L-5/S1 for me, and have tried all forms of protocols. My pain is beyond belief, and very humbling.

Started a treatment with a NMD called Prolozone. Similar to prolotherapy, except ozone gas is injected in 8 areas around L-5/S-1. I have 1 session every 3 weeks, with 6-7 more to go. The Naturopathic Medical Doctor who is treating me had the exact condition, and it was healed and he can do anything he wants.

I have hope again..

V

 

[jrod]

I'm not fused lumbar but cervical c-2 to c-8 backside c-4 to c-6 front broke my neck in a car accident I have no pain unless the weather changes and unless the pain is way up there I don't take anything I still have over half a bottle of tramadol I got 2 years ago but then again I only have to hold my head up I also have limited mobility if you decide to have it done you will probably will have to completely change the way you train wish ya the best of luck whatever you decide

 

[Jim550]

My father had it done and it did not turn out good, I hear a lot of them do not turn out so well. He has a pain pump implanted in his stomach and is still in a lot of pain.

 

[buck]

not to many happy endings in this forum i see. but i know the stats are about 50%. i am guessing a lot has to do with ones expectations on the outcome.

 

[phatrr]

I've been told to focus on core strength, and that I have to make a personal decision as to whether to have the surgery. If I think my daily pain, and then my episodic acute pain is so bad that I can't live with it, we'll try lumbar surgery, including fusion.

However, the orthopedic surgeon I interviewed admitted that (a) he couldn't guarantee any relief from pain in my back - the leg, yes, the back no (b) he couldn't guarantee that I wouldn't come out of the surgery in functionally worse shape. He encouraged me strongly to live with what I had, and not consider cutting until it got unbearable.

I obviously don't know where you're at in terms of pain, mobility, etc.

I hope you find some relief.

 

[buck]

the pain is manageable for the most part. only in the glutes and legs and across the pelvis. the left glute is a lot weaker so working on bringing that up the strengthen the pelvis to keep it from twisting.

 

[Hendawg75]

You need a good pain management doctor. A good pain mangement doctor should treat you in a whole holistic approach besides just shelling out narcotics. I go to the Shepherd Center in (Buckhead) Atlanta. Don't even think about a fuse unless you see a good neurosurgeon first. Go get a fuse then you will be joining me in the pain management program. I can't tell you the number of people I've seen in the waiting room for failed back surgery. I have a herniated L4, L5, and S1. One of my disc is torn also. I'm back to squatting and deadlifting.

 

[chinaboy]

if you don't mind what constitutes a good PT for this problem?

A good PT should teach functional exercise. Start with basic movements such as a pelvic tilt and then increase the complexity of the exercises until you mimic day to day movements. This takes time to re-learn and coordinate your body's movement patterns. They should not just stretch you and toss a stim machine on your back. When I see people I could point out imbalances in their body and point to where their pain is before they even speak. The body is like a model of a car and a good PT is like a good mechanic. They understand how one thing leads to another and how to work on one area to take stress off another area. Unfortunately, good PTs can be hard to find. Ask around and talk to staff like the front desk girls. If you work at a PT office chances are you used their services and know who is the good PT and who just shows up to collect their pay check.

 

[Hendawg75]

Any one there vertebrae fused in their lumbar region? If so your experience please. Thanks.

Buck have you had Radial Frequency? I get it done yearly with no down time. Plus I do a lot of stuff like chiro, Art, Graston, Acupuncture, inversion, icing.

My doc loves patients to use fish oil and is a big believer in gluten free.