Anyone had spinal surgery

It has been decided that I have to have the spinal surgery, has anyone had this done successfully pkease pos you comments . So nervous about this

It am new to this site I am writing an honest blog about my insight into pre and post operative procedure for a spinal fusion. I have advanced degenerative disease, I am 39 have 2 herniated discs S1/L5 and L5/L4 bulging and a tear with spondylosis. They are undertaking a spinal fusion for the S1/L5 disc and I would imagine removing the disc. I don't know the exact details until Monday, the day before my operation.

I'm nervous, excited, scared, optimistic but you never really know how well you are going to heal, whether it will be a success until after, there's a lot riding on the success. My biggest fear is that the disc above this area is ruined so how will it cope with a fusion but hey it has to be better than taking 20 meds a day, not being able to stand or walk for more than 5 minutes.

Hi, thanks for the reply. My husband says the same as you, I can cope with the pain it's the not walking.

I do hope your op goes well and you can get some relief, the meds can't be doing you much good, I have had the injections n my spine, hip and knee but didn't work, but I know some people swear by them.

I go see the neurosurgeon tomorrow (Friday) he says I will have you walking by the tine you take the grandchildren to Florida in June so he seems optimistic.

I live n france and my French is very limited and the hospital is a four hour journey away so hubby will not be able to visit as he has to work.

Every forum I go on all seem to say they wish they hadn't had it done, but I know what I am like compared to last year when I could ski and walk further than now.

What a dilemma.

Let me know how you get on please.

I'm positive the op will make a big difference as both the MRI and moving xray show I have spinal stenosis and spinal deformity ensue to a compressed disc I'm just worried as the disc above it is the same. I wonder how long that will last with the increased pressure.

I will not have injections I don't take the risk of side effects from cortisone and anti inflammatories into my dpibe, I'm allergic to anti inflammatory medicine, had too many stomach bleeds.

Keep positive. You don't get many people shouting from the roof tops with good news we just hear about the problems, human nature lol. I'm really hopeful abd I know without this op I would have to give up my job, as well as any personal activities.

Keep in touch

X

May I add a caveat to this?

Please, please and please again make sure you go into this with eyes wide open. Get all the information, in writing, preferably signed in person by your surgeon about all the potential benefits Vs risks. I say this not to put you off the surgery but to ensure that you have ALL the relevant facts about the procedures.

Why?

Well as I have detailed on this site previously over the course of May 2010 - Jan 2011 I had three surgeries on my lumbar spine. The first operation was routine, when I started asking questions about the surgery, my arrogant surgeon waved his hand and stated that he does many of these operations every week, in fact "I can almost do them with my eyes closed" As it turns out, I suspect he may well have done just that!

The first op in May appeared to go well until three weeks post op when I started getting pain, loss of sensation in my legs far worse than it was pre-op, I coped with it and returned to work on the last day of August, after one day I was whipped off to hospital as an emergency admission, things were going wrong quite badly. I was operated on again on 3rd September and to cut the long story short was admitted as an emergency again on the 9th January. A further operation was carried out but again it was far from a success.

Due to pain and loss of mobility I have been forced into retirement in my early 50s, life is a constant battle with pain and lost mobility. I am far worse off now than if they had not operated and if I had been aware of all the material facts including risk, something that was not even on my consent forms, I may well be living a better life today.

I am letting you know this as a warning to really do your homework before diving in to spinal surgeries. I am left now in a position where no surgeon in the UK or abroad would consider further surgery to try and improve my position, heartbreaking for me and my family. I do try my best to overcome this every day, I have a fighting spirit and refuse to give in to it all but there is always going to be the question what if.

I wish you every success with your surgery and trust you have a surgeon that cares about his patients, that was missing from my treatment.

I am in agreement with 1Daddyo. I have under gone 4 lumbar and 4 cervical fusion surgies. I am fused from C3/T2 and L3/S1, I am only 45 years of age. I was a successful business professionals, making excellent money. Now, I am on disability barely paying my bills. 

My surgeon also had a God complex, stating "I work on the brain if you can't trust me then find someone else", this was after he had already performed 2 surgeries. It is really difficult to find a surgeon once someone has touched you. It is also a good idea to take someone with you to take notes of every visit. Also, make sure that the PA or surgeon goes over your test results in detail.

I wish you luck, go into it knowing all you can. 

My first surgeon was in 2006, I'm in more pain 8 surgeries later.

Hi Lynn,

I had a teathered spinal cord l4/l5 when I was a baby and spina bifida occulta had the operation at 9 months old to un-teather which was successful at 20 I found out it jad re teathered at the same place and decided to go for the operation which I had to re learn to walk again but now at 27 I completed my first tough mudder and so glad I took the operation (re teathered at l2/l1 which isn't a major complication) so go for it I know it's a risk but if I didn't take it I'd be in a wheelchair right now so let us know how it goes

Hi,

Given the original post (s) were made some 5 months ago is there any feedback on the procedures?

I gave a view providing caveats to entering into any form of spinal surgery based on the awful experiences I had that have left me permanantly disabled, in pain, hugely reduced mobility and postural changes that have done my self esteem no good, (Quasimodo comes to mind). Thankfully I am old/mature enough to handle these issues fairly well but can't begin to think what this would do to a young person, boody image being a huge and growing issue for many.

It would be good to hear if the surgeries were undertaken and hopefully some good news on the outcomes.