What was your spinal fusion like? Good/Bad? Should I do it? HELP!

[needadvice195]

Hi All, I would greatly appreciate any responses.  I would like to hear from anyone who has had a spinal fusion.  I would like to know if you thought it was worth it?  Would you do it again?  What was recovery like, how long, how much pain?  What if any restrictions do you have after completely healed?  What is your flexibility/motion like?  

I am in my early 40's.  I have untreated scoliosis that continues to progress.  I have about a 45 degree S curve in the thoracolumbar region and the spine is rotated about a quarter turn where it curves the most.  I have a hump on my right back which I hate.  The pain has become significantly worse over the past 2 years and keeps me from doing things.  It hurts almost all of the time unless sitting on a heating pad.  I would love to get rid of the pain and have a straighter back without a hump.  I saw a spinal surgeon who said my options were to either let it go, meaning more pain and more curvature with age or fix it - straighten/fuse/harrington rods - eliminating most pain and being straight instead of crooked.  He also said he might be able to get rid of most of the hump.  The surgery sounds rough though, so I am trying to get opinions from those who have had done it.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated!  Thanks so much!

[cynnabear]

Hello! I was looking for a support forum regarding fusions when I came across your post. I know you posted back in December, but I figured I would respond anyway. I was diagnosed with kyphoscoliosis and as I was getting older, the pain was getting worse. I was also starting to lose some height. I know the hump you speak of - mine is on the left. I was told that surgery was an inevitable option for me and that it would be better to do it earlier rather than later. In March of 2004 at the age of 29, I underwent 9 hours of surgery. I was fused from T3 to L2, complete with rods and screws. I was in the hospital for 7 days and home recovering for about a month. It was a slow and intense recovery, with several really awful days along the way.

I am not trying to be negative, but I wish I had found others to talk to who had underwent the procedure before having mine done. I long for the pain I was in prior to the surgery, because it was honestly nothing compared to what I have dealt with since. It used to be that I would have some really bad days, but many good ones in between. Not anymore. It's chronic pain now. I still have a hump too. I can't tell you how many times I have wished I could travel back in time and choose another course of action. Maybe it's just my situation, but I wanted to at least share my story with you in case there were still other avenues for you explore. That said, if you have already had the surgery, I can offer the following advice:

STAY ACTIVE! Walk every single day. Do the exercises recommended by your surgeon/physical therapist. Starting out in the pool is a great option, as it offers wonderful full body support.

YOGA is a Godsend. Do it as often as possible. Start slowly though and respect your body. I have found that Bikram Yoga, aka Hot Yoga, is the most effective for me, because it helps loosen the muscles in my back.  With all of the hardware, I deal with a lot of stiffness and many spasms.

Find a good muscle relaxer that works well for you. Personally, I hate muscle relaxers, but if it gets bad enough, I suck it up and take one. Surprisingly, Valium is a great relaxant, but take it sparingly, as it can become addictive.

Consider working with a pain management doctor. If possible, find a multi-faceted practice - a doctor well versed in the medications available for treatment, but also an advocate for integrating other treatment options, i.e., regular massage, physical therapy, acupuncture, etc...  You don't want a doctor who is just going to keep prescribing the latest and "greatest" pain meds to you. Look for a comprehensive approach.

And, as I am FINALLY learning, find a network of support from those who truly understand what you are dealing with. Friends and family are wonderful, but it's so nice to be able to vent to someone who really gets what you are going through.

I don't mean to preach or ramble, but for some reason, I felt strongly compelled to respond to your post. I wish you the best of luck!

[needadvice195]

Thanks for the reply noneck!  Sounds like you have been through a lot!  My surgeon is an ortho surgeon at a spine clinic in NYC, I'm looking for more opinions but I believe he is one of the best in the field.  Hope you are getting along better by now.  Thanks again and good luck to you!

[noneck]

Go page 2 of the back and neck forum and click on "loss of voice" post, read noneck response, it will give you my info without rewriting it. Yes, I would do them all again because I'm convinced that at the time I needed the surgery. Sometimes they need to be redone that's one of the problems with fusions, also fusions can cause the need more fusions. Anybody with serious problems like you and all the others is, we will always have pain, sometimes worse than others. The surgery you may need will require significant recovery, it's going to hurt, but it sounds like you need it. You will have some restriction like I do, but on the lighter side it gets you out of a lot of things you don't want to do anyway. What kind of work do you do? Flexibility has been greatly reduced and it is more noticeable at times to others. But I have a theory that if it don't move it don't hurt. It's been about three months after my neck reconstruction where they removed the back of my neck and installed rods. I'm still not completely healed and have pain, I think, no I know I going to be better than before. What kind of surgeon neuro or ortho? It sounds like it's going to get worse instead of stabilizing. I would do it.

Hope I Help

[denise dp]

Well first my problem I have  ddd in neck and L4-L5 and S1. I suffered with neck problems first. It was so bad my neck would be stuck to the left for weeks at a time,one move of an inch hurt so bad I can't even explaine it. And I had the surgery. It was like day and night. I also had to have a second surgery 8 years later and still on lots of pain meds. But as long as I take them as perscribed I have a great amout of movment in my neck but I still have ddd in my back and pain and at this time no surgery is needed. But I do have a lot of pain in both mostly form mussles,as I'm sure you know all about. So I do under stand. As for you I would get a second opionion to see what they have to say,like will the things you will have to go through will be worth the pain and rehab you will have to go through. There are no easy yes or no to your questions. I will keep you in my thoughts.and I hope you the best.




























































a s for you I hope  not aff