Spinal fusion surgery

**AKFAN** · 10-12-12, 04:12

Hey guys, I'll make a long story short not to bore you to death. A couple of years ago I woke up with horrible back pain, could not get out of bed. I got an MRI and it showed I had a herniated disk that is also degenerated at L5-S1. All of my other disks are fine. I've tried many things and am currently giving physical therapy another try. I can live with the pain but it prevents me from running and doing more physical things. I have seen a bunch of surgeon and neurologist to get their opinion.The general conses is live with it if I can, if not then get a spine fusion at L5-S1. They give me a good chance due to my age and general good health.

My question is if anyone here had had a fusion performed (I know there are a lot of variables) and if you have any advice to give. Feel free to pm me if not comfortable talking about medical conditions on the board.

I just want to be able to live a semi pain-free life and be active again.

Thanks in advance

**panzerr** · 10-12-12, 07:44

I live with a herniation at L5-S1 as well (and at L2-3 and L3-4). I manage it through stretching exercises targeting all muscles attached to my pelvis and low back along with selective stretching exercises based on a functional analysis of my kinetic chain and chiropractic adjustments as needed. I still get flair ups from time to time, but considering the VA told me I needed to stop running five years ago and am currently planning a marathon I figure I am doing something correct.

The problem with spinal fusion is that it is not a fix. While some have complete resolution of symptoms, others will still have pain afterwards but most will likely need another surgery down the road.

The thing your surgeon likely won't tell you is that you aren't solving the problem -you are moving it. By taking away the motion at L5-S1 you increase the motion at the joint above and below and while they will be able to handle the extra stress for a time, they will degenerate quicker and eventually become your next problem. Fusion of L5-S1 you will predispose your L4-L5 (the joint above) and sacroilliac joints (the joint below) to premature degeneration. You end up trading one bad joint for two. It's kind of like taking a high interest loan. Would you do that?

I would advise giving another physical therapist a chance, or a chiropractor that does more than crack bones -one that will look at your kinetic chain (all of your joints AND the muscles crossing them). Adjustments will help, but really you need to stretching and strengthen select muscles according to how your body works and how it is dealing with the injury.

Putting up with the pain for a while longer may pay dividends in the future. Once you fuse that joint, you cannot go back and will have other larger problems in the future.

Edit:

One more thing. If your herniation is not responding to the above, you could also try a distraction table or cox flexion/distraction method. For this you will need to find a chiropractor that takes on disc patients. Getting that joint space distracted is AWESOME when it is pinching on a nerve root. It can temporarily relieve nerve root pain and can over time increase the amount of fluid in the disc making it softer and thus less likely to be an issue.

Without knowing the severity of your herniation it is hard to say exactly what you will respond to, but I hope I have given you some alternatives to think about.

**Mjolnir** · 10-12-12, 09:40

I have researched a company called Regenexx based outside of Denver, CO.

I'd suggest you take the time to research them (easily found online).

If you have any questions please PM me.

**NWPilgrim** · 10-12-12, 12:16

Do NOT get your spine fused.

I worked for Washington State Dept of Labor and Injuries (LNI) and worked with many of the claims managers, medical reviewers and investigators. The Dept as far back as early 1990s had refused coverage of spinal fusion because for all the resultant problems.

The spine is meant to flex. If you fuse a couple of discs then it puts more strain on others and most times you will end up with more spine injuries and get more discs fused. It was a an attept to fix discs back in the 1980s but was proven to cause too many and worse complications.

There are much more advanced treatments. If your doctor recommends spinal fusion than get a new doctor. I had a friend who had 5 collapsed discs from roofing and was on disability and crippled over like a 90 yr old man with severe pain. He went to a sport surgeon in Seattle (had operated on SeaHawks' injuries) and with surgery on the bad discs was able to stand upright and painfree. That was in 1994, so I bet techniques have progressed even further now.

If your discs are herniated then it should be an easy surgery fix. If they are collapsed then they can still be fixed but make sure you get the latest treatment such as disc replacement, etc. NO FUSED DISCS.

**Bluto** · 10-12-12, 21:30

Google Dr. Pauza at the Texas spine and joint hospital.

I am trying to get on the waiting list for his injectable treatment called fibrin sealant... It's still in the clinical trials stage, but looks very promising. I first saw it on CBS sunday morning...

**Robb Jensen** · 10-12-12, 21:43

In 2004 I had C5 through C7 fused in my neck due to a work related auto accident. I was a workmens comp paid surgery. Sure I'm sure itll cause me problems with C4 to C5 in the future possibly the one below it. It sucks and took me quite awhile to me somewhat normal. I was on a muscle relaxer and Neurontin for about a year and a half after surgery due to a constant muscle spasm in my right rhomboid muscle. Previous to surgery due to the accident I had a herniated disc and a bulged one the bulged one pressed on a nerve which passes trough that rhomboid muscle.

**calvin118** · 10-12-12, 23:07

DO NOT get it done unless 1) your spine is unstable 2) you cannot live with or otherwise tolerate your pain or 3) you have neurological changes associated with your pain. You should probably stop running and instead transition to biking, swimming, elliptical, or another low impact activity if the running bothers you. I have seen the aftermath of a whole lot of spinal fusions for back pain, and overall the outcomes are dismal (leg pain responds better). In fact, there is a chance that surgery could make things a lot worse.

**AKFAN** · 10-13-12, 02:56

Thanks for all the replies guys, I appreciate it very much.

Surgery is the last thing I want to do and have been putting it off for a couple years now. I have seen some of the top surgeon and neurologist in Chicago. Main opinion was try everything possible if I could not live with it to get a fusion. They explained the upper disks taking more stress if the ones below it is fused, might take 10 years or it might never be a problem.

Im doing core exercises and stretching at my physical therapist.
I have an inversion table but it did not do much for me.
The chiro I went to was not good at all but I will look in to cox flexion/distraction method.

I might try to hold out until something in stem-cell therapy comes along as that seems to be very promising.

Thanks again for taking the time to help a stranger out with some advice.

**Bluto** · 10-13-12, 16:21

Sorry, but going to a chiropractor is just like taking a big, fat placibo...

Again, check out Dr. Pauza's treatment. It's an injectable that places new cartilage between the vertabrea. Google it. It's an out-patient procedure with 1-day down time and a 95% success rate.

I saw it on CBS Sunday Morning and have been following it closely for months. I don't buy into snake-oil miracle cures, but this looks very promising, especially the fact that it's in the last phases of clinical trials.