level one through four Fusion

[jen10283]

hi my name is jennie i am 27 and i have four disks in my back that need to be fused.  i have severe deg spine disease and i have see a bunch doctors.  i have some doctors and family members to have the surgery that i have one doctor trying to talk me out of this cuz  he says i don't need and says the pain is all in my head. i am frustrated. What should i do? they say a four disc fusion. i also have taken all kinds of meds to control the pain but nothing works. Thanks

[inga511]

Please ignore the Doctors that say it is all in your head. Only you know your body and how much pain you are in. Listen to your it about and follow your gut instincts what Doctor to listen to. It has never led me astray. I have DDD in L4 and L5 and fybromyalgia. I am dealing with horrible pain right now. I'm waiting to get epidural Dec 1. Good luck!

[sandiemas623]

I have had a one level fusio C6/C7 and a one level Discecomy.  I am 43 and it's been about 6 months.  I can say I am no worse to the fact that my stenosis is gone.  Pain wise  am about the same.  I have not gone back to back work yet due to start 4 hour days on Monday if they let me.  I don't feel up to workin and have Migraines which I never had before but we will see.  I would say if it a mater of loosig te se of your arms or leg vs just pain-which is horrible in itself.   I would start with therapy and a tene unit maybe decompression therapy before surgery so at least you can say you tried it all first.  Then surgery. Prepare a head of time, have all your meds and food/meals planed out everything above the waist so you don't have to bend for nothng.  Raised toilet seat too that helped me after the lumbar fusion. Best of luck to you.  Keep me posted to your decison and the outcome.  

[pstone]

Well I would forget the one that said the pain is inyour HEAD!!!  I had L3, L4,L5 S1 and spine disease and leg and hip pain. After surgery it does not get BETTER to be honest and it takes about 3 years to be where you can tolerate it if you have not done much. My brother has the same and his doctors told him no fusion because it would not help the pain. Now I went to a Neurosurgion and spine doctor for 2nd opinion after my surgerys and they told me that they would not have done what the doctor done to me. I did have a compression at L4 L5. Also I had C5 C6 C7 fused with cage had compression (bad car wreck). If more than one doctor told you that you needed it then I would say go for it. But be prepared coming home and first few weeks its horrible but it does take a while to get some what better. I hope I helped you some. I know honny what you are going thru.