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Spine Surgery

Jim550

Registered User
Oct 26, 2012
555
0
16
Hey fellas haven't been on the board for a bit, hope everyone has been doing good. I've been dealing with a bad back, its been pretty crippling. Unfortunately I'm going to need spine surgery, my disc from my L4-L5 is very thin, worn out and protruding. My L-5-S1 there no longer is any disc there at all and is bone on bone and my Spine has shifted forward in this location by full cm. It's been real painful, in the MRI pics you lose sight of the spinal canal when you get to L5/S1 and I have a narrowing of the spinal canal which causes some horrific nerve pain. Had some spinal injections about a month ago but they didn't help.

So I have gone to two different surgeons, one is talking about going in from the front lower ab***en as well as my side/flank area. The other which is a neurosurgeon think going in from the back would most likely be better because it will allow him to properly align my back which he said going in from the front sometimes the spine gets locked into place and doesn't allow for proper alighnment. both are talking about putting implants in between the vertebrae and fusing my spine.

Do any of you guys have experience with this or have any recommendations?
 

bbuck

Registered User
Dec 28, 2007
189
8
18
L4 though S1 were collapsed. All the disc in the lumbar above were bulging.spondylolisthesis stenosis as well. Had L4-5 fused and a couple metal rods put in to pull the spine back in place. I had the minimally invasive surgery which I recommend. Studies show that spine surgery is effective 50% of the time. But that depends on what expectations you have.
 

*Bio*

Super Moderator
Oct 30, 2012
2,454
5
38
Go with a Spine Specialist not the Neuro. I have L4-5 and L5s1 fused. They went through the front. General surgeon opens you up, moves stuff out of the way, gently moves the two main arteries and then the spine surgeon will come in and do his/her part. The general surgeon will put the arteries back and seal you up!

While they have you opened up, they're looking at you under flouroscopy (x-ray) and making sure you're lined up. Also, going from the back, they have to work around the spine. I wanted the specialist who only works on spines.
 

bbuck

Registered User
Dec 28, 2007
189
8
18
With the minimally invasive surgery they make 1 fairly small incision on either side put in a tube that they can expand out so they have to disrupt very little and barely cut through any muscle. I finished the surgery and was released the next morning which they said was unusual. I took pain meds for 5 days, probably could've stopped them sooner, but they kept me from wanting to do anything. Back in the gym moving next to nothing but activity helps healing.
 

AGGRO

Registered User
Oct 25, 2012
976
1
0
I have no experience with spinal surgery but just want to say good luck with everything. It sounds like it will be a big operation.