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Anterior Lumbar inter body fusion

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dianaprincess
dianaprincess

Hello, I am 52 y/o woman, I have been suffering with sciatica for longer than 2 years and the last six months the pain has been increasing dramatically, the pain is excruciating, my buttocks hurt so much I can't even sit down in my car or seeing a movie.I had a chiropractor stretches, epidurals, yoga, therapies, acupuncture and nothing works, now my Dr wants to do an ALIF and I am very nervous, any body here with this experience? please let me know.

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • CHICO_MARX
    CHICO_MARX dianaprincess

    Posted

    Please read #4 for my experience on spine surgery to cure a case of sciatica...

    https://patient.info/forums/discuss/sciatic-nerve-pain-from-the-perspective-of-many-decades-629096

    A few years ago, I came down with a case of foraminal stenosis (pinching the nerves in BOTH legs) at L2/L3.  This was cured INSTANTLY by a LATERAL Lumbar Interbody Fusion (LLIF...they go in from the side).  One night in the hospital, no rehab, no brace.  Miracle op.

    I have no experience with an ALIF but I also had a TLIF (posterior entry...rails and screws) which was 12 days in the hospital, 4 months in rehab and six months in a brace.  As in the link above, my sciatica was caused by a bone spur at L4 and all it took was a decompressive laminectomy of L4 through S1 to get me instant relief.  Did not need a fusion for that.  The TLIF was necessary because of 45 years of playing hockey...

    Pictures of the TLIF and LLIF attached.  Search YouTube for "Globus LLIF" for an animation of the procedure and "Globus Calibur" to see the implanted device. 

    Suggestion.  Find a neurosurgeon who does a lot of LLIF procedures and get a second opinion.  STAT!!!

  • prev
    prev dianaprincess

    Posted

    Hi Diana 

    I have posted on this site hoping to reach out and help people after suffering for many years myself. 

    I had IDD treatment in the end and I have managed to swerve surgery and come out the other side although I still have a slight chip on a lower spinal join and some nerve damage due to the longevity of the problem but before the IDD I was in such a state and could hardly walk sit lay or stand and in constant pain, I had almost given up.

    What is IDD Therapy Disc Treatment?

    Intervertebral Differential Dynamics (IDD) Therapy is the successful and trusted non-surgical spinal decompression treatment for back pain,neck pain and related conditions such as sciatica.

    Please call this clinic if you're in London ' Spinex Disc Clinic ' trust me Sally can help you. If you're not in the uk I know that there are many clinics that do this treatment it's just fairly new to the uk and the NHS doesn't support or recognise it which is ridiculous. 

    Please do call them and your journey to your life back will have begun. 

    Good luck 

    • amanda59745
      amanda59745 prev

      Posted

      Hi Prev i have been reading about this , they do it at one of the hospitals in sheffield at £60 a session. Can i ask how many sessions you had? how long ago did you have the treatment? Do they scan you? finally have you had anymore problems with your back since treatment finished?

    • prev
      prev amanda59745

      Posted

      Hi Amanda 

      Because my case was so bad I had alot of sessions. I think I had a few relapses because there were times when my usual Osteo was away and the stand in Osteo may have programmed a little too much weight on the pull. I lost count of how many times I've been because sometimes I still go back just to top up depending on what I've been up to like workwise or training which I couldn't do before. I think that the majority of people would have 10 to 20 sessions, mine was particularly bad, there would be times when I would almost crawl through that clinic door not knowing what day it was honestly. 

      I haven't heard of it being done at a hospital before because it's a private treatment but hey if it's available then go for it. 

      I had Mri scans first. 

      The only trouble I have now is a bit of numbness in my left foot and if I do too much lifting then I can expect some arthritic pain in my lower back when I try to get out of bed the next morning. No sciatica though at all. It's been a long tough journey to say the least. 

    • maggie301017
      maggie301017 prev

      Posted

      Hi prev

      IDD sounds great. They dont have the exact same thing in Australia but there is traction which is carefully controlled by an electronic machine but I dont think its computerised. They combine it with Laser therapy to stimulate healing. I am going to try it. Is the IDD computerised or just electronics to control the negative pressure or pull exerted on discs?

    • prev
      prev maggie301017

      Posted

      Hi 

      Yes it is computerised, it controls the weight of the pull on the oscillating table. Great news that you're going to try the one you mentioned it does sound similar. Good luck 

  • amanda59745
    amanda59745 dianaprincess

    Posted

    H diana, i do not know  anyone who has had this procedure so sorry but, i have looked it up and it has been used a few years with a fairly high success rate. Obviously there are risks with any surgery so i understand your worry. I am sad to read you have had sciatica for 2 years plus. I have had it for 3 months, it started in left leg and also moved to my right leg 7 weeks ago. My right leg is now much worse than the left. I  have been having physio since january as  in december i sat down and my back went into spasm and has not recovered from this. The sciatica started during physio and has got worse and worse. The gp just throws pills at me and i have nort been offered a scan. i have done yoga and swimming but now too painful. i am seeing a chiropractor (3 sessions had) no improvement yet. xx

     

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