Back Surgery and Neck Surgery
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Wed, 10/28/2009 - 15:47
Survey: Are you better or worse after your back surgery?
In th Nov. 2009 issue of Readers Digest there is an article,"Is Your Doctor out of date?". One of the areas covered is low back pain.It states that the use of epidural steroid shots has quadrupled in the past ten years, though evidence shows they're only minimally effective. Spinal fusion surgery numbers have grown about threefold, yet research shows that approach, too, frequently does little good.
Are you Better? Yes= +1 Are you worse?No= 0
If you are better or worse add yours to your post so we can keep a running count.
_____________
spondylolisthesis,Sept 29, 2009-ALIF, L5-S1,dowel, BMP
Oct. 1-L5-S1, Pedidide fixation fusion
Carpal Tunnel surgery both wrists,Septoplasty,Both knees scoped twice,Total knee replacement both knees-2002
Abdominal lymph node biopsy-2004 (possible sarcoid)
Neck fusion-2005,Fibromyalgia,Meralgia Paresthetica,
more nerve blocks than I can remember,DDD, Osteoarthritis
Severe facet arthritis,TMJ
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I am better only 3 weeks after surgery than I have been in close to 2 years. I have no trouble saying I am pain free. I have some tightness/stiffness but I can't even classify it as discomfort. Before the surgery I could barely walk to the bathroom, even on a large amount of narcotic pain meds. Now, I can do almost anything (within proper restrictions), I'm walking 2-3 miles a day, and with no pain, and no pain meds.
Herniations at L4/5 & L5/S1 – severe stenosis, thecal sac impression, sciatica/radiculopathy
Treatments
Nov 08-One course Methyl-prednisone, Vicodin 5/500 every 4-6 hrs, Neurontin 600mg/day
Dec 08-Oral morphine 10mg every 8-12 hrs, Neurontin 900mg/day
Feb 09-Tramadol every 6-8 hrs, Tylenol 500mg every 6-8hrs, Neurontin 1200mg/day
April 09-Percocet 5/325 every 6-8 hrs, Neurontin 1800 mg/day
July 09-Percocet 10/325 every 4-6 hrs, Neurontin 1800mg/day
August 09-Oxycontin ER 10 mg 2x/day, Percocet 10/325 every 4-6 hrs, Neurontin 1800 mg/day
PT Dec 08 – no help
ESI’s -Dec 15, 2008, Feb 17, 2009 and July 7, 2009 - none provided relief for more than 2 weeks
Surgery
October 5, 2009 – Open TLIF w/hardware L4-S1 (6 screws, 2 rods, cages, allograft and bone marrow)
Oct 8, 2009 - Released from hospital with only Percocet to stave off withdrawals
Began walking day after surgery and continued to increase distance until I was up to 20 mi a week by Nov 20th, 2009
Began weaning off all pain meds on Oct 17th – had no pain – switched to Vicodin on Nov 5th, and was completely off pain meds by Nov 15th.
Returned to work on Nov 2nd, 2009 – still with no pain
Better and stronger every day, but best of all still pain (AND MED) free!
Try to keep a running total. Thanks
spondylolisthesis,Sept 29, 2009-ALIF, L5-S1,dowel, BMP
Oct. 1-L5-S1, Pedidide fixation fusion
Carpal Tunnel surgery both wrists,Septoplasty,Both knees scoped twice,Total knee replacement both knees-2002
Abdominal lymph node biopsy-2004 (possible sarcoid)
Neck fusion-2005,Fibromyalgia,Meralgia Paresthetica,
more nerve blocks than I can remember,DDD, Osteoarthritis
Severe facet arthritis,TMJ
I'm better - at least on MY scale.
My agonizing sciatic nerve pain and the CES are gone.
The new numbness I got post-op is still really bad.
I KNOW that technically numbness rates worse on the Dr.'s scale, but I would take numbness over pain almost any day!
Car accident 10/2005.
My mantra: Mind over Matter: If you don't mind; it don't matter.
Have done PT, Physiotherapy, Cortisone. Don't tolerate meds well.
4 ankle surgeries / 1 shoulder / 2 back - all in less than 4 years.
Discogram 4/2008
7/21/2008 - S1-L4 PLIF fusion
Developed new rt. leg numbness
7/23/2008 - Second surgery to explore possible hemorhage and to remove BMP and other tissue
Right leg still numb. Dealing with major leg cramps in the numb parts (pretty much painless, but disabling in severity)
Meds: Tylenol PM as needed (nightly)
I am better, actually much better that the last few years when I did not even know that I had back problems. I thought I was just getting old, with sciatica. But maybe that is one of the things to pay attention to, as I read before tmy 3-level spinal fusion that surgery is more effective treating sciatica like pain than dealing with back pain.
Kin
SF Peninsula CA resident
Decompression and L3-S1 fusion with instrumentation, 5/1/08
I am only 1 month post PLIF...perhaps I am a bit premature to say this...but I am much better than I was a month and a few days ago! I was literally crying myself to sleep prior to the surgery. Now I have some stiffness and tightness...a few pains here and there. But, the overall success is that I am mostly pain free and take Tylenol for when I go to bed. Thumbs up surgery in my book.
Take care,
Misty
MistyMaam
30 years old
Discectomy S-1/L-5 July 2004
PT-no progress
Severe DDD-S-1/L-5 & L-5/L-4
PLIF Sept. 29, 2009 (S-1/L-5) So far great results!
wasn't sure if you were adding you're own +1? below the 1rst reply?
Misty
MistyMaam
30 years old
Discectomy S-1/L-5 July 2004
PT-no progress
Severe DDD-S-1/L-5 & L-5/L-4
PLIF Sept. 29, 2009 (S-1/L-5) So far great results!
I am better.
Laminectomy - December 31, 2008
PLIF (L5,S1) - March 19, 2009
sorry to say after 8 weeks, I am still worse, I have worse nerve pain/numbness then pre-op and have since the day of/after surgery, hoping one day to be able to add to the yesses. One day at a time
Shirley
45 Mom of 2 girls 24 and 21 and 1 boy 4
Bilateral pars defect l4 and l5
spondelolisthesis l4/l5 l5/s1.
Facet Arthropy l3 l4 l5
cyst l3-l5
8/31/09 l4-s1 tlif with bmp, screws and rods.
meds as of 10/05/09 norco 10mg/325mg every 6 hours
Neurontin 600mg in am and afternoon 900 mg at bedtime
No difference, I'm only 2 months post op but am the same as before. I'm hopeful to change my vote by month 6.
worse,thats why i'm having another surgery.
had 2 discectomys on l4-5 in 92 & 94,had fusion on l4-5 in 98....acdf on c456 plate and 6 screws in 4-16-08...double (lam) on l2-3 & l3-4 had it done 5-31-08...still in pain,left thigh hurts all the time and lower left leg is numb.also my back hurts all the time.change meds now taking meth 10mg....starting to have knee problems.had to get off the meth made me to sick.back on hydroco-10-325.got to find a med that will work for me.
worse. My leg pain is gone but my back pain is worse.
I am in no way associated with the medical field. Anything that I post comes from personal experience only.
DDD, Facet Arthropathy, DJD,Collapsed Disc, Sleep Apnea
PT, Epidurals, Facet Blocks,Medial Branch Block, Rhizotomy,Discogram,Annular Tare L3/L4 Endoscopic MicroD and PLDD,
Methadone, Percocet, Baclofen, Welbutrin
I feel so much better. I don't have the pain in both legs, feet or both sides of my butt any more. I don't lock up after sitting anymore, I don't walk like an ape anymore. Don't get me wrong, I still get stiff every once in a while but it is not pain.
I'm wondering if a "post op time period" should factor into this. Since it is quite common for folks to not understand how long the healing process can be for certain surgeries, it may skew the results. That is depending on how much accuracy you are looking for.
"C"
"The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain. "
- Dolly Parton
sorry worse off now then, before bilevel spinal fusion in 03/07.
sorry jwl about count, but like someone pointed out, did you add yourself once, or twice?
Bobbi Jo
I'm 100% better.
Surgery aged 57 for Scoliosis
Laminectomies, Osteotomies and Fusion T4-pelvis
using autograft, allograft and BMP
March 3, 2009, Brisbane, Australia.
Curve corrected and spine de-rotated from 68 degrees to 22.
I still have problems, but I can walk without a cane, I don't nearly give people a heart attack when I gasp in horrible pain and then can't move for several minutes. Before surgery, that was my life. I remember locking up and nearly screaming in pain while pitting cherries!! Good grief - if squeezing a cherry pitter causes such low back spasms that you can't move, life really sucks!! I can walk, I can work, I can do a lot of things. Yes, I'm stiff; yes, I get painful at times; but life is one heck of a lot better than it was pre-surgery.
Linda
Ruptured discs L3/4, L4/5, L5/S1 May 2007
One ESI in 2007 with lots of PT
Microdiscectomy and foraminotomy L5/S1 December 2007
Worsening of symptoms (back pain, sciatica, right leg weakness) June 2008
New MRI and Discogram show all three discs torn through the annulus, left to right, all three levels
2 ESIs unsuccessful in managing pain
PT, Duragesic pain patch and percocet for break-through
Was told nothing could be done for me because I had three levels and DDD
Given option of three-level fusion after being told nothing could be done
Surgery was November 19, 2008 fusing L3/4 to S1
Attempted PLIF (from both sides) on November 19th.
Rods and pins were placed, but scar tissues prohibited removal of the old discs.
On November 24th, I had ALIF (opened from top of pubic bone to the bottom of my left ribcage) and removed the torn discs, placed dowels with cadaver bone, and some of my own bone marrow mixed with BMP. I left the hospital on the 26th of November.
Currently suffering temporary (hopefully) nerve damage of both legs and total numbness of right foot. Strange tingling in both feet at 4.5 months out of surgery. Numbness still exists in right foot at almost 9 months out.
Weaned off Fentanyl patches and only take occasional percocet for pain.
The healing period after back procedures varies enormously and depends on many factors. Those factors may include, but are not limited to:-
THE TYPE OF SURGERY
THE SCOPE AND DETAIL
THE SPECIFIC AREA
THE AGE OF THE PATIENT
HOW WELL THE PATIENT GENERALLY RECOVERS
HOW PHYSICALLY FIT THE PATIENT IS
In my case specifically, while I do not suffer POST SURGICALLY from Sciatic pain any more, I still get muscle aches if I overdo it. I know that discomfort like that will subside in due time with exercise, muscle recovery and healing, which according to my surgeon could take around one year from the date of the surgery give or take a few weeks either way. Based on that and the above, together with the opinion of HAGLANDC I am not completely sure that your survey without some specific timescale will have very much meaning or indeed usefulness.
I sincerely hope and trust that you will accept my comments as constructive.
John B
FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.
REMEMBER OUR SERVICEMEN AND SERVICEWOMEN TODAY AND EVERY DAY AND BE EVER MINDFUL OF THEIR GREAT SACRIFICE. Anon
I am better 1 year post PLIF L5-S1 but different. The pain in my right foot some days is killer. Like keep me away from power tools. At least my back pain is now manageable. Still driving many Docs mad about the foot.
I had my back surgery in 1996, I was glad I had the surgery, and pain now is nothing like I experienced pre-surgery.
Liz
Born with Familial epiphyseal dysplasia
Polio at 4yrs.
Severe Osteoarthritis from age 30
Lumber and cervical stenosis from 1995, surgery of decompression lumber L4/5 S1 1996
allergy to all NAIDS and opiates
chronic pain since 6 years of age
Sciatic pain and flare-ups
Its taken 2 and a half years, but I am much better than before the fusion.
Dick
Spinal stenosis surgery in May of 2002. Emergency surgery in March of 2006 for spinal infection of L 2 and L 3. Spine became unstable after surgery and had 360 fusion with 10 pedicle screws, plates and rods in April of 2007. Retired early as a high school principal, couldn't run a school with such a bad back.
I know everyone on this site knows with pain you have good days and bad. I used back surgery in general and realize that there are many different types of surgery. These surgeries range from moderate to severe. There are numerous differences in people's ages, general health and attitudes.I am almost a month post op for 360. I am doing fantastic right now, but I have no idea how I will be 6 months from now.You will find on this site some who still have tremendous pain and others who are pain free. Many times people on their post have asked is it worth it. My goal was simply to give people an idea of those who are better from their surgey as opposed to those who were not. I hope this clears up and misunderstandings. Today in what ever state of recovery you are in, what ever type back surgery you have had are you better right now or not?
spondylolisthesis,Sept 29, 2009-ALIF, L5-S1,dowel, BMP
Oct. 1-L5-S1, Pedidide fixation fusion
Carpal Tunnel surgery both wrists,Septoplasty,Both knees scoped twice,Total knee replacement both knees-2002
Abdominal lymph node biopsy-2004 (possible sarcoid)
Neck fusion-2005,Fibromyalgia,Meralgia Paresthetica,
more nerve blocks than I can remember,DDD, Osteoarthritis
Severe facet arthritis,TMJ
IN YOUR ORIGINAL POST. IN FACT YOU TITLED YOUR POST:-
"Survey: Are you better or worse after your back surgery?"
AND THEN YOU ASKED THE FOLLOWING:-
"Are you Better? Yes= +1 Are you worse?No= 0
If you are better or worse add yours to your post so we can keep a running count.
YOU DID NOT SAY THAT YOUR "SURVEY" WAS NOT SCIENTIFIC AND IN ANY EVENT, BEARING IN MIND THE CONTENT OF MY POST ABOVE, IT IS CLEAR THAT SUCH A SURVEY WOULD HAVE NO VALUE WHATSOEVER TO ANYONE WITHOUT VERY SPECIFIC PARAMETERS. THAT IS WHY I DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE POINT OF YOUR "SURVEY"
IN SHORT, UNLESS YOU ARE VERY SPECIFICALLY SUGGESTING A SURVEY COMPARING APPLES WITH APPLES,THERE REALLY IS NO USEFUL POINT, NOR ANYTHING TO BE GAINED BY THOSE WHO GATHER HERE FROM REPLIES THAT YOU MAY GET ON THIS STRING.
THE FACT IS, AS YOU HAVE RIGHTLY SAID "with pain you have good days and bad" AND INDEED MOST PEOPLE DO. BUT NOT EVERYONE IS THE SAME OR HAS HAD THE SAME PROCEDURE.
JOHN B
FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.
REMEMBER OUR SERVICEMEN AND SERVICEWOMEN TODAY AND EVERY DAY AND BE EVER MINDFUL OF THEIR GREAT SACRIFICE. Anon
John
I found how you replied to this blog quite rude and offensive. Your use of capitals is extremely rude. You should rethink how you get your points across to ppl.
40 year old married mother of two children ages 20 and 18.
Muscle spasms started after getting up from sitting position in '07, cervical herniation, stenosis and bone spurs showed up on MRI resulting in emergency cervical fusion of C5-C6(sept. 07).
Pain continued in middle/lower back. MRIs showed herniated disc in lumbar area, stenosis, and fatty tissue in the spinal canal causing spinal cord to be pushed to the left.
Tried heat/cold therapy, PT, facet joint injection,as well as facet joint injection, epidurals/injections, steriods, Tens Unit, Ultrasound therapy, Nerve blocks and Various pain meds.
After exhausting all other treatments and having a discography had a spinal fusion L5-S1 with instrumentation (cage, 2 rods, screws, plastic spacer, bone grafts (made from my own bone ) on June 24th, 2008. Both growth stimulator used. Ct-Scan at 13 months showed fusion on one side and non-fusion on the other. Nerve block injections tried again for pain with no luck. Screw loosening and movement seen in the bone. Arthritis and DDD now in hips as well as spine.
Medications have been chaged to Lyrica twice a day, Morphine twice a day, muscle relaxers tid and Percocet for breakthrough pain.
Having alot of pain in the left side of my hip and lower back where there was a non-fusion. Also now have started having quite alot of pain in my legs down to the knees.
Nerve damage showing as Numbness and tingling in the hands and feet which surgeon says will probably never go away.
Have buldging disk at T-9. Physical therapy with ultrasound and hot packs. Injection to numb the nerve root.
Third surgery on October 22nd, was suppose to be an exploratory surgery and remove hardware. Turns out I had a bone shelf grow into spinal canal which had to be removed and the fusion of 08 had to be redone and packed with more bone and bigger rods and screws.
Still on Morphine 2X's a day, percocet @ 4 hours for b/t pain, and a muscle relaxer when needed.
I agree that Johns response was rude. I hat use of Cap. letters when a person is trying to make a point. We are intelligent enough to understand a point without using Capital Letters!
Liz
By reading your posts, I would have guessed that you are still in pain; however, you have indicated otherwise. Please let's be civil when exchanging posts.
Scientific answer = My back hurts worse.
Unscientific answer = My back hurts worse.
2 3/4 years post op 2 level ALIF with instrumentation, 43 yr old male, active.
Keith
L4-S1 360 ALIF w/Instrumentation 11 Jan 07
Just curious........did you ever have relief after surgery?
Laminectomy - December 31, 2008
PLIF (L5,S1) - March 19, 2009
I had relief from the pain which caused me to have the surgery. Unfortunately, that pain was replaced by a different, much worse pain.
When I slightly bend over then come back to an upright position, I have an excruciating pain that right where my hardware is located. Also, driving any distance at all will knot me up pretty good.
I think the hardware needs to come out. But Workers Comp says that the doctor has to attest that the surgery WILL solve the pain. No doctor in their right mind is going to make such a statement. So, I'm stuck.
I take medication for when the pain becomes too much, but it doesn't work very well. I am going to ask my PM about an extended release medication and see what he says.
Keith
L4-S1 360 ALIF w/Instrumentation 11 Jan 07
EMS Guy, I'm so sorry to hear of your continued pain. What type of surgeon performed your surgery? Have they determined if the hardware is broken, perhaps?
Liz49
JWL
The concern is that without specific parameters, it is easy to give someone a false sense of success or failure in regards to surgery. During the decision making process, just a small snapshot (as the way your request is currently set up) can be extremely misleading and would be tragic if it led someone to make a decision about surgery that either denied them relief or caused more suffering.
Early on in post op months, depending on many of the listed criteria that John provided, a person may feel their surgery was a success only to find out a year or two later it was exactly the opposite. Or someone who is having a hard time healing (say they are a smoker, elderly, diabetic etc ...) may initially say their surgery was a failure. Then they find a year or two later, it was a great success and they just had a difficult healing period due to other contributing factors.
It is difficult to express my concerns about your survey without it appearing that you are the target of some sort of flame. Not so. I applaud your desire to do something good. The hope is that you keep in mind how many thousands of people a day read posts on this forum. With a topic like this, it will draw more viewers than the vast majority of other threads. If it is misleading to the unknowing and unsuspecting, it's unfair.
"C"
"The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain. "
- Dolly Parton
0
I had a discectomy on the L4/L5 left side herniation back on Aug.18 this year. Right now I feel worse. I did get relief from my legs feeling like they were really weak.
I now have these new issues after surgery, I still have sciatic issues, right side lower stabbing back pain at times, right hip pain to the point it feels like my hip is going to break off, I still cant sit in a chair without sciatic pain I almost always lay in the floor or on the couch.
-34
-Never had back problems until I injured my back trying to pick up to much weight.
-Had left lower back pain that progressed into left leg tingling, pain, and weakness. Two weeks before surgery developed weakness in right ankle.
-8/18/09 had discectomy on L4/5 for left side broad based herniation.
-10/12/09 had MRI over new and on going pain issues. Surgeon says he sees nothing that would cause my problems and called them "odd".
10/13/09 started physical and massage therapy. Technique in massage therapy relieved some of my sciatic issues.
-11/16/09 weakness is gone in legs, left leg still has some sciatic issues, minor compared to what it was.
-No pain on lower left of back... the surgery side, but pain on lower right back that I never had before surgery, comes and goes sometimes with the hours. Right hip pain if I walk a mile or more, never had that before surgery.
Great question! Helps to know you are either in the same boat as someone, worse or better off. Lots of good tips as well!! The ones that have "issues" with this dialogue have more serious problems than their back or neck. As for the question, I am better! Its been 9 months since my 2 level PLIF (L4 L5 S1). Although my left foot hurts horribly (no doubt nerve damage) and I a do have some pain when I over do it and I have a cane when I leave the house...BUT, I AM UPRIGHT and with that I am grateful.
I did not post this to hurt anyones feelings, or cause any problems. Nor am I trying to suggest to anyone they should have any surgery of any type. This is a personel decision you have to make. I would hope that everyone who has gone through these surgeries would be 100% better and pain free,sadly this does not happen in the real world. For some, no amount of medicine, no surgery helps with the pain and that truly is depressing.
Simple question, Are you better right now or not? As I said 1 month post op 360 fusion and feeling great. 6 months from now, if I was asked, I might say fantastic or it was the worst decision I ever made. We just have to take every day as it comes and be thankful for the blessings of the day. God Bless all who suffer!
spondylolisthesis,Sept 29, 2009-ALIF, L5-S1,dowel, BMP
Oct. 1-L5-S1, Pedidide fixation fusion
Carpal Tunnel surgery both wrists,Septoplasty,Both knees scoped twice,Total knee replacement both knees-2002
Abdominal lymph node biopsy-2004 (possible sarcoid)
Neck fusion-2005,Fibromyalgia,Meralgia Paresthetica,
more nerve blocks than I can remember,DDD, Osteoarthritis
Severe facet arthritis,TMJ
We know you didn't mean to hurt anyone's feelings or cause problems, nobody's feelings were hurt and you didn't cause ANY problems(I don't know why anyone gets so riled up about things, it's really no big deal). I think it is an interesting topic, just way too many variables. Just for the record I am 10 1/2 weeks out and feel worse and right now I wouldn't go through this again for all the money in the world, but I SINCERELY hope this will change in 4-5 months.
Have a good day everyone,
Rachel
Front and back alif, fusion l-5, s-1 09/09. Microdiscectomy 12/08. Meds: Norco, cymbalta.
Life is beautiful!!
I think that there is no harm in jwl12250's original question. It's a question that almost all of us thought about before our respective surgeries.
So long as we all recognise that the answers, and any conclusions drawn therefrom, are purely anecdotal and not scientific.
For the record I would be a +1.
Severe Degenerative Disk Disease and severe bilateral foraminal stenosis at L5-S1. Laminectomy & fusion in Dec 2006. Hardware removed due to issues, in July 2007. Now living a back pain free life.
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Important: My comments here and comments from other members reflect personal opinions only. You should not act on any advice or opinion posted in these forums without seeking proper medical advice from a qualified doctor. Please, ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health!
I am much better now. Had my surgery on April 29th of 2008 and feeling great now.
Its been a long time since I logged into this website. I am sorry to hear that there are people that are still not doing so well and my heart goes out to you. I wish you all a SPEEDY recovery and will keep you all in my prayers.
Had spondylolisthesis, fixed with Lumbar fusion on April 29th, 2008
Let's see...
I woke up one morning in approximately 2005 and could not put any pressure on my right leg. I could not stand straight, could not sit. Could only stand (as long as I was leaning on something) or lie down. If I did any walking, it was with a cane - at the age of 42!
According to an MRI, I had a herniated disc (L5-S1), but I kept thinking I'd get better. Needless to say, that was so very very stupit on my part.
I had surgery in 2/06 - hemilaminectomy I think... As soon as I woke up from the surgery, I could tell the difference! I was up walking within hours; left the hospital the next day (although my surgeon told me I'd have to be in the hospital 2 days) I felt so much better!
I even went to work within 2 weeks (again, stupid stupid! I should have waited at least 4 weeks). I figured, since I felt so much better, I must have been healed up enough to resume regular activities?!?
Although I still had/have other spine issues (almost every disc in my neck is bulged, I have DDD, bulges at T1/2 and other bulges in my L-Spine), I am better off for having the surgery I did.
Only problem is that I waited too long for the surgery. I have EMG/NCS evidence of permanent nerve damage at L5/S1 on the right thanks to my reluctance to "go under the knife". I'd do it again in a heart beat (I'd like to think I wouldn't wait as long, though) and would encourage anyone with the same problem I had to do so as well.
Epidural Steroid Injections and Nerve Blocks only provided temporary relief (hours); a trial RadioFrequency Lesioning (nerve ablation) showed some promise, but I was rear-ended - I want to say that was around September 2004. My doctor was reluctant to attribute the increasing pain I had to the car accident, so I settled for policy limits of $10k (half of which went to pay medical bills). A few months after settling, things went completely downhill seemingly without brakes. Then I had the surgery in 2006.
So... if I've learned anything it's this: listen to your body - it hurts for a reason so deal with it immediately. Also, if I am ever rear-ended again, I will seek an attorney who specializes in personal injury and not settle anything until I know for sure I am okay.
Well, that's my 10 cent worth (hey - inflation hits everyone!)
For what it's worth!
PS:
L S U Geaux TIGERS!!!
JEAUX
I am not a medical professional. BUT, I DID stay in a Holiday Inn last week...
Don't get your knickers in a knot; it solves nothing and makes you walk funny.
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How very sad that a couple of people found my post unacceptable. I am convinced that in a world as diverse as this forum, if I was to offer Dollar Bills for 50 Cents each or indeed Sterling Pound coins for 50 pence each, some people would find something wrong or offensive with that too.
To jump to the conclusion of “rude” or “offensive” or indeed “uncivil” as Christina69, Liz49 and “Lovinggardener” did, is clearly patently inappropriate in the circumstances. There cannot be anything inappropriate or offensive if it describes the absolute truth.
I merely pointed out the actual facts here so that people reading this thread would be aware of the complete lack of physical properties in such a survey, so that other unsuspecting folk looking at the outcome of the survey would not be prompted to make a personal decision based upon such results for their own account. As haglandc so rightly said, “If it is misleading to the unknowing and unsuspecting, it's unfair.”
In the same vein there was never any intention to upset anybody whatsoever and I never really knew that the use of uppercase letters could be quite so incredibly provoking or inflammatory.
Fortunately, the majority of posts here were not of the same opinion as those few referred to in para.2 above and I know that “JWL12250” just like me, never set out to hurt anyones feelings or cause problems, because she said just that in her last post.
John B
FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.
REMEMBER OUR SERVICEMEN AND SERVICEWOMEN TODAY AND EVERY DAY AND BE EVER MINDFUL OF THEIR GREAT SACRIFICE. Anon
Plus one for my cervical fusion....
minus one for my first lumbar surgey...
and...
I'll let you know how the third surgery went in time =)
40 year old married mother of two children ages 20 and 18.
Muscle spasms started after getting up from sitting position in '07, cervical herniation, stenosis and bone spurs showed up on MRI resulting in emergency cervical fusion of C5-C6(sept. 07).
Pain continued in middle/lower back. MRIs showed herniated disc in lumbar area, stenosis, and fatty tissue in the spinal canal causing spinal cord to be pushed to the left.
Tried heat/cold therapy, PT, facet joint injection,as well as facet joint injection, epidurals/injections, steriods, Tens Unit, Ultrasound therapy, Nerve blocks and Various pain meds.
After exhausting all other treatments and having a discography had a spinal fusion L5-S1 with instrumentation (cage, 2 rods, screws, plastic spacer, bone grafts (made from my own bone ) on June 24th, 2008. Both growth stimulator used. Ct-Scan at 13 months showed fusion on one side and non-fusion on the other. Nerve block injections tried again for pain with no luck. Screw loosening and movement seen in the bone. Arthritis and DDD now in hips as well as spine.
Medications have been chaged to Lyrica twice a day, Morphine twice a day, muscle relaxers tid and Percocet for breakthrough pain.
Having alot of pain in the left side of my hip and lower back where there was a non-fusion. Also now have started having quite alot of pain in my legs down to the knees.
Nerve damage showing as Numbness and tingling in the hands and feet which surgeon says will probably never go away.
Have buldging disk at T-9. Physical therapy with ultrasound and hot packs. Injection to numb the nerve root.
Third surgery on October 22nd, was suppose to be an exploratory surgery and remove hardware. Turns out I had a bone shelf grow into spinal canal which had to be removed and the fusion of 08 had to be redone and packed with more bone and bigger rods and screws.
Still on Morphine 2X's a day, percocet @ 4 hours for b/t pain, and a muscle relaxer when needed.
Ask yourselves why the medical community doesn't thoroughly track such matters in a statistically valid way, across affected demographic groups. For me, this is the greatest dereliction of duty by the medical community, as they themselves rely on fairly anecdotal evidence to deduce procedures for spinal pain relief.
The technology is more than adequate to the task, just in case anybody is wondering.
Cheers, Mate
acdf C5-C6, removed a bone spur, February 2006, titanium metal plate, 2 screws.
I am not a back surgery person. However I want to say that I for one find this post to be helpful. I have considered surgery ----- hmmmmmm about 1000 times lol but the facts of my specific needs and out come always leave me with a sound "no".
BUT back to my point - it is posts like these I return to when I am rethinking my decision
Ms. Humpty Dumpty Took a great fall and all the Drs and surgeons could not put her back together again.
After my fall I started to fall apart. L1-L2-L3-L4 - S1 & S2 gone. ( full herniation )Spinal stenosis, spinal arthritis, degenerative disk, scoliosis.
The spacers in your back are gone/going, spinal nerve damage.
Spinal spurs. Both knee caps & both hips have degenerative bone disease, arthritis and bone spurs.
No surgeries as Drs. don't think it will help and may make things worse.
Age 47 - Here to find & offer support.
I can walk without a cane now and no longer spend my days in bed. I also have full use of my arms and fingers. I feel very fortunate.
Faith M
L4/5 discectomy 11/98,disc decompression surgery 10/01 (failed),C5/6 fusion 2/02,L4/5&L5/S1 discectomy 4/02,C6/7 fusion 4/04, L4/5 discectomy 4/05(failed)diagnosed with permanent nerve damage,2 level lumbar fusion 1/08,C4/5 fusion 1/09 and too many epidurhal/ nerve blocks to count. Surgeon said I have 2 more fusions in my future.
I am glad to see the responses have gotten back on track with the original question..
John said his piece, the rebuttals to his response have been made and defended. Let's leave it at that.
Please, from here on out - let's only address the original question:
Are you better off or worse after surgery?
Thank you. Carry on....
JEAUX
I am not a medical professional. BUT, I DID stay in a Holiday Inn last week...
Don't get your knickers in a knot; it solves nothing and makes you walk funny.
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Just have to say in support of jwl that I think we all know that this site is a place to exchange thoughts and ideas and no one would expect the survey to be in any way scientific nor to be any professional source of information - just a way to exchange experiences.
I did well following my lumbar PLIF in 1993 and lived a great relatively lumbar pain free existence until April of this year so I'd definitely say it worked. I'm just unlucky enough that I have a ton of orthopedic issues so now i have a new level that needs to be fixed and I again expect success.
Both my cervical surgeries did help my symptoms. Especially the ACDF.
All in all, yes, I've improved after each surgery. I know that I'll never be 100% based on my history.
C5-C7 PLIF & foraminotomy 5/2008
C5-C7 ACDF 5/2006
L4-S1 PLIF w/hardware 5/1993
L5-S1 PLIF 5/1987
Multiple knee surgeries '82 to present
I am glad to see this thread heading back the right way. For a couple of posts, we were going to close this one down.
Everyone has a right to their opinion, we never try to stop that, but when one person voices their feelings and others jump down on them, that is wrong.
Ron DiLauro (aka PapaRon)
Ron's Story
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The information provided by members of Spine-Health should never be considered as formal medical advice. It is recommendations based on member's personal experiences only.
This can vary from person to person, so do not take comments as medical facts or rules