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Should I or Should I not have Surgery?

Posted , 6 users are following.

lida29732
lida29732

Diagnosis: Spinal & Foraminal Stenosis at L4 & L5, right disc herniation at L4 & S1, synovial cyst

Procedure: Right L4-L5 hemilaminectomy, removal of synovial cyst, Right L5-S1 microdiscectomy

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • cynthia70714
    cynthia70714 lida29732

    Posted

    Lida29732,

    Ok answer one question, can you live with the pain? If yes than don't have the surgery, if no then have the surgery, with technology today ( when I had mine 20 years ago) it's a big difference, I wish I had surgery now than 20 years ago but I could never have had been able to wait all those years, but now I'm back to square one where I might need another fusion, so now I have no dr stimulator out still in pain, and I don't know what I'm going to do, so if you can live with the pain do it if you can't than do something about it don't suffer.

    Take care

    Cynthia ( Cindy)

    Hope you have some pain free days ahead of you and try to smile as much as possible 😉😁

    • lida29732
      lida29732 cynthia70714

      Posted

      Cynthia,

      Absolutely can not live with the leg pain if they could control that I wouldn't even consider surgery.  

      thank you for your kind words

    • cynthia70714
      cynthia70714 lida29732

      Posted

      Linda,

      Than go for it sweetie, just because I didn't work out doesn't mean you won't get some kind of relief even if it's 25% I WOULD DEFINITELY TAKE IT!! lol anything to the edge off, good luck keep us posted

      Best of luck

      Cynthia ( Cindy)

  • scott17436
    scott17436 lida29732

    Posted

    Go for it. If it will assist you to be pain free you have to give it a chance.

    I am onto my 4th Surgery in January. One thing I would say, if they offer you a double fusion in place of the above procedure then I'd do it. I had two microdiscectomy's, the second with a laminectomy thrown into the mix. I've since had those two levels fused and I'm I wish getting the reverse side fused as well. I really should have had them fused at the second op.

    Explore all avenues available.

    But, if you think the procedure is sufficient, go for it or spend a life on pain meds.

    • Zapamania
      Zapamania scott17436

      Posted

      Hi Scott I'm just entering back pain world. Why 4 surgeries?  Is it because the others failed.  Neurosurgeon or orthopedic surgeon.  Linda

    • scott17436
      scott17436 Zapamania

      Posted

      Hi Linda,

      1st op was a microdiscectomy at L5/S1 and was a total success. 2nd op was a Microdiscectomy and Laminectomy in 2012 which failed at L4/L5. Over the course of the next 3.5 years my L4/L5 and L5/S1 deteriorated rapidly. Ended up with Spondylothesis, DDD and spinal stenosis. Had a double ALIF in April 2016 which was a partial success. The posterior of my L4-S1 was advanced arthritis so in effect it was crumbling and causing inflammation. Surgeons going back in to do a partial double PILF. I say partial as the discs are already out. He's putting in another 8 screws and 4 rods to secure the vertebrae that are damaged. They really should have fused me in 2012 but it was done as an emergency due CQ.

      All this due to a lengthy career playing Volleyball, golf and football to decent levels. I'm also a PE teacher so lifting equipment all day didn't help. I'm currently on Morphine plus a load of nerve meds as I have no feeling in my right foot/ankle and left thigh, nerve damage from surgeries.

      If I was asked to do it again, I still would. If the surgeons confident of helping your pain or standard of living then for me it's a no brainier.

      Good luck

    • Zapamania
      Zapamania scott17436

      Posted

      Hi Scott thank you for your informative response.  As I said I'm new to this and am at the cusp of figuring out what to do.  I read so many failures here people that have had surgeries and say they are worse off or no better after surgeries that I'm apprehensive to anything.  I guess I really gotta do my homework before I make any decision.  Thanks Linda

    • lida29732
      lida29732 scott17436

      Posted

      Thank you for the advise I will speak with the surgeon to see if fusion is an option.
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