Lumbar Fusion Surgery

[DEADn]

I'm curious who here has had any type of fusion surgery in their lumbar region and how are you now?

I'm definitely having L4-5 fused and likely L5-s1. I'm having a discogram to determine if the L5-s1 disc is causing me pain as well. Discogram's aren't necessarily definitive but my doctor wants to try it.

To go online and look up this type of surgery, there are a lot of dissatisfied people. Sadly, there are a lot of doctors that due unnecessary surgeries which skew the results. Plus, as my doctor pointed out, the people that have successful surgeries, for some reason, don't tend to go online and talk about...Hopefully they're busy enjoying their new found pain free life!

Eventually I'll need C5-6 and C6-7 fused as well. I know Brick had a similar surgery and it was successful. Let me know if any of you have had this surgery and what your results were. Thanks!

My wife had disc fusion on her S1-L5 discs. She developed an injury that went 3 years beforehand. It turned into degenerative disc disease. It was in that bottom disc and then the one above it was beginning to collapse. You could see her whole spine moving to an angle. She did the discogram as well after doing session of cortisol in the back.

She eventually had fusion surgery with an Orthopaedic surgone. It was over 2 days. Day 1 was to remove the disc and replace it with a special protein. 2 days later the dr went in with the screws. It has been a year now and she is doing 80-90% better. She does alot of stretching and walking in order to help the healing of it. She has a massage every 2 months and that lady can tell a difference.

She was originally diagnosed with bursitis.She does have that but it wasn't causing her the major pain. Spent 3 years of medical visits before the surgery.

My wife did go online before all of this so she understand what the issues are in this circumstances and she knew the right questions to ask. Her only regret was not getting the surgery done sooner.

ironically, the doctor said that when you are young and athletic you will heal faster. If you are 300lbs and haven't exercised in years changes are you won't after surgery and will heal slower. Wife is 37 and very slender. She is also Filipino if that tells you anything.

 

[Beefy1]

Just had an artificial disc put in at C6-C7 on friday. The surgery was so nothing. Getting my wisdom teeth pulled was worse. I got the Mobi-C implant and the dr. I chose was one that did surgeries in clinical trials for FDA approval. If you do anything to your neck, switch to PPO, and go to a good dr. and get an artificial disc. Fuck Fusion!

 

[Hunter88]

Age 41, just had a microdiscetomy on my L5S1 about 6 weeks ago. Have had the bulging disc for a long time now but it was off and on. Ended up reaching for a computer and bam bad pain and basically on my back for 2 weeks of hell. I read all the stories I could find on microdiscetomies and ya there were lots of bad ones. I heard the good ones (most of them) don't post cuz they are out having fun again. I am very active and just decided to get it done. Smooth surgery, recovery was fine. Really no pain other than the incision. Just took Tylenol for a couple days and did what they told me to do. Feel great after 6 weeks. Was able to go to the gym forr the first time tonight actually and do really light weight. Glad I didn't listen to all the bs stories. These guys do this surgery a ton and know what they are doing. A fusion is obviously a much longer surgery and recovery.

 

[Bio]

Just had an artificial disc put in at C6-C7 on friday. The surgery was so nothing. Getting my wisdom teeth pulled was worse. I got the Mobi-C implant and the dr. I chose was one that did surgeries in clinical trials for FDA approval. If you do anything to your neck, switch to PPO, and go to a good dr. and get an artificial disc. Fuck Fusion!

Hey Beefy I appreciate the input. This is my older thread. I have a newer one where I talk about the two level lumbar fusion I had a week ago today...http://www.professionalmuscle.com/forums/professional-muscle-forum/120811-lumbar-fusion-surgery-wednesday.html

For a one level issue like you have / had, I don't think it would matter what you had done. It's so low in the neck, it won't effect you. Once I recover from this I'll be having a C5-6 and C6-7 fusion. You said "Fuck Fusion", but the thing to remember, is that the statistics are showing that a certain number of people that have the artificial disc put in, still wind up with that area fusing naturally over the artificial disc. The patient usually doesn't even realize it until it's revealed on a scan during a check up.

I don't think that a fusion surgery is the problem in a lot of the cases that report negative results. I think the biggest problem is surgeons doing surgery where statistically it's a bad idea. Remember, there are still surgeons out there that will cut no matter what. These doctors really skew the numbers! My issues go back almost 30 years! I have suffered for so many years it's hard to fathom. I spent the last year and a half with my spine specialist going over all the issues and having other procedures done and finally coming to this point. I would never recommend anyone to jump right into any surgery, unless they sustained a serious injury in an accident that called for it.

 

[buck]

many of the newest treatments do not have a history to show that they work long term. some artificial discs have been recalled according my ortho last time we spoke of this. hopefully some will pan out but time will tell.

 

[LEX]

many of the newest treatments do not have a history to show that they work long term. some artificial discs have been recalled according my ortho last time we spoke of this. hopefully some will pan out but time will tell.

yes some have been others have been used for more then 20 years in Europe. Prodisc. patient selection is critical. If you Dr. doesn't to at least 10-12 a year look for another one.