Deciding Against Spine Surgery for Chronic Pain Relief- Patients' Advice: Part I

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Patients share advice about deciding against spine surgery
In this section, patients share their insights about why they made the decision not to have spine surgery.

I'm 56 years old and have fought a severe lower back problem for the last 16 years. My left SI joint has been fused, I have dextroscoliosis in my lumbar spine along with bilateral facet degeneration, bilateral disc degeneration, bulging disc along my whole lumbar spine. I cannot stand to take the pain meds and do not want my lumbar spine fused. Dec 10th 2007 I had a neurostimulator installed in my spine. The results have been mind boggling. I am about 80% pain free for the first time in 16 years.

From: Ed – Indiana, USA

I would have spine surgery - especially something drastic like fusion - as a last resort.

I was bed bound for close to a year for a ruptured L5/S1 and got better on my own slowly but surely. Oral steriods, epidurals and oral pain meds were useless. Swimming and moving around in the water helped until I could finally walk at 11 months without crutches. (I used a wheelchair the first 5 months.) At 13 months I can do most things except bending over and lifting heavy objects. I'll be staying away from Pilates, high impact sports and dancing. I can't wear heels anymore. I am 34 and worried about having a safe pregnancy but was too scared to have my spine's anatomy changed by an operation that might not work and could make me worse. I was lucky that I had the support and resources to recover at a snail's pace from my family and my excellent doctor (a spine surgeon). I had the least support and understanding from work (I am a physician) and work for a large health care organization. I am glad I didn't cave into their pressure and go for surgery to get back to work quicker.

There are too many studies suggesting that one fusion leads to many more surgeries down the line. Especially in young patients.

From: Getting Back

I've been diagnosed with spondylolisthesis, DDD, sciatica, etc. (from accident in '76.) I'm 46 years old & on pain meds constantly. Was told by 2 different Dr.'s NOT to have surgerey until I could not stand the pain anymore. I AGREE. Too Many Risks for Too Little Benefit... If Any... Or Relief That Does Not Last. The PAIN I HAVE... IS BAD ENOUGH. Why risk... making it WORSE?? Give it SERIOUS thought. YOU are the one who Must... LIVE WITH your choice... For Better - or Worse. -GOOD LUCK.

From: LaMar – Minnesota, USA

I am 44 years young. I had tons of pain in the back of my legs. Almost to the point where I did want to sit or stand. Along with that I was having terrible trouble with my neck. I tried dealing with it, I tried exercises, that helped very minimally. I went to a Physical Therapist I didn't see and results for 2 months so I stopped. I went to my doctor and he told me I could get surgery done to fix the problem or prescribe me some pain medications. I decided for the time I was going to do the pain medications and just deal with it. Until I met this Chiropractor at a park. I just knew that it wasn't going to work but I was out of options, so I tried it. After seeing him for 1 week I started to feel better. And just over 1 month later I am pain free. I sent my friend into him (she didn't think he could help because she had a disc herniation). She got great results and thanks me all the time. My doctor of Chiropractic uses Gonstead (I don't really know what that is but it works). To all those suffering from back pain - go to a chiro. They will know when they can help you and when you need a referral to surgery.

From: Carolyn – Iowa, USA

I suffered my back injury in 2000 (herniated L3-4, L4-5, bulging L2-3. The L4-5 became symptomatic with HORRIBLE sciatica. Tried all conservative treatments including epidurals with minor success. Had laminectomy in 2003. It went well then it recurred in 2006. Tried epidurals again plus DRX9000. Again, no success. Neurosurgeon suggested a possible fusion. But my MRI stated "stature of vertebrae is well preserved with no evidence of spondylolisthesis." Plus, during the first surgery in 2003, he only took 18% of the disc material. So I decided to not have fusion. I feel once a fusion is done, there is no turning back. If disc regeneration or any other advancement like that is made, I won't be able to take advantage of it. So I had surgery on Oct. 26. He did a right L4-5 redo anterior laminectomy, right L4 hemilaminectomy, right L4-5 medial facetectomy, foraminotomy and resection of herniated disc. Right now, I feel fine. The sciatica is gone. I have about 50% disc material left there. I will pursue intense physical therapy and try to make my back as strong as possible. I DON'T WANT a fusion if I can avoid it. I may also try prolotherapy if it recurs.

From: Dan - Florida, USA

I had the new Charite Disk Replacement Surgery because I suffered with DDD for a very long time and my doctor told me it was the cure for my type of problem. I would not recommend this surgery. Have it done only if you are guaranteed it is 100% possible to identify that one is aware of his/her surgical procedure while it is taking place and steps can be taken to alleviate that on the spot. You do not want to be aware and paralyzed during this procedure. I was aware for most of the surgical procedure and could do nothing to make known to anyone that I was. Many months and many nightmares have passed since then. I do not know if the pain I have now is caused by the anxiety of the experience or if the surgery only truly helped some of the pain. I do have more mobility than I did before the surgery even though I must still take prescription pain medication at times. Proof of that mobility are the nights that I have woke up finding myself running away and falling over everything in the house while my wife tries to catch me and wake me up. Added to my pain medication is also medication for anxiety that I take every day now. Disk Replacement surgery should be discontinued until more studies are done relating to its effectiveness and, in my opinion (unique it may be), of the possibilities of one becoming aware during this procedure. Good Luck.

From: M. H. – North Carolina, USA

Communicate with others making the same decisions.

* Note: This page expresses the experiences and opinions of patients, not doctors. The Back-to-Back forum is provided because we think people often have very practical advice and insights to share that can benefit other patients who have similar back problems. This section has not been peer reviewed by our Medical Advisory Board, and is provided for your informational purposes only.

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