Spinal Fusion?

homealone_2

I have been sufferingback pain for years, then 14 months ago got beyond the joke. wont bore you with details but since then have had bed rest, physio, pain block injections, facet injection, mri's, catscans and even medication to put boots out of business. my husband actually leaves chemist with 2 carrier bags a month, now up to strenght of morphine and no joy. consultant at hospital said i needed a discogram to see if the pain was actually come from the slipped disc i had been diagnosed with. waited many months then had it done private. it said my disc had collapsed and was now a suitable candidate for spinal fusions!!! have read what i can on net and besides facts and figures have come to conclusion that it is something to be avooided at all costs!!! this even coming from surgeons... i dont know what to do. mind was decided on spinal fusion months ago and now i have been told will be going on nhs list am worried if i am doing the right thing? has anyone had this done or know anything about it? am getting desperate and really need some help?

Sarahsaver

My first husband had this procedure.
His health has been a lot better afterwards, much fewer back problems.
If your disc is collapsed this is possibly the only way forward unless you want to carry on as things are, which I know is bad, you sound like u r having an awful time, worse than my ex even.
Good luck, let us know what you do & how you get on.

16011996

wish i could offer you some advice, but don't know anything about it, but send you lots of love and hugs and let us know how you get on.

aussielle

Homealone

Firstly, I'm sorry to hear about your problems.

Your list is pretty exhaustive, so this is just a thought. Does your local hospital run a chronic pain management clinic, perhaps they may be able to help. You would need a referral from your gp/surgeon.

I have also seen consultant othopaedic surgeons, both of whom regard surgery as last resort. As that is what yours is proposing, they must think it'll be beneficial to you.

If you're worrying about it, could you arrange to have a chat with them? Take a list of your questions with you, then you won't forget what you want to know/clarify, it may help to put your mind at rest.

regards
Aussielle

scoob_2

Think very carefully before agreeing to a spinal fusion. I was in a lot of pain for years and finally decided I would go for the OP. BIG MISTAKE! I am now disabled with severe pain and will never work again at 40 years old. My surgeon told me the OP had a 70% success rate but after doing much research since the odds are actually nearer 50/50. There are so many complications that can go wrong to list here. My GP, physio and oesteopath all advised against the op but I thought I couldn't get any worse than i already was, but i got much worse. Good luck.

16011996

sorry to hear that scoob. lots of hugs to you.

System

Think very carefully before agreeing to a spinal fusion. I was in a lot of pain for years and finally decided I would go for the OP.  BIG MISTAKE!  I am now disabled with severe pain and will never work again at 40 years old. My surgeon told me the OP had a 70% success rate but after doing much research since the odds are actually nearer 50/50.  There are so many complications that can go wrong to list here.  My GP, physio and oesteopath all advised against the op but I thought I couldn't get any worse than i already was, but i got much worse. Good luck.

Lord thats awful!!! Big hugs to you from me.

johannamse

hey homealone,

i am a 25 year old female, who has had similar probs as you. DOne it all, physio, pain injections etc etc. I have a collapsed disc at T11/12. One month ago I had an operation called Dynesys (google it). I live in Surrey. I spoke to A LOT of people, and hardly anyone recommended fusion. Go onto healthboards.com. There are many knowlegable people around on the net. I am also home alone at the moment. It's the worst! I am so lonely (I'm also a good moneysaver!). It is a minefield when you first get back pain, and the biggest problem is that every professional just knows about their field. There is no one out there who can tell you about everything. If you need any info let me know!!

Freebie_Hunter_2

I know of someone who had his back broken after being whacked in the back by an aircraft hangar door.

He had the bottom of his spine fused and is now in constant pain. He can't stand straight and the pain fluctuates in severity.
He is now registered disabled and sometimes can't leave his house if his back is really bad.

A work colleague has regular silicon injections to pump up his almost non-existent cartridges between his vertebrae to avoid this operation as well.
This involves screwing a huge needle via a clamp into his back with only sedation. He can't have anaesthetic as he needs to know if he feels certain pain as that can be a warning.


There are people who have been 100% after this op but there are far too many people suffering from it too.

Plenty of research and even a chat with a few people who have been through the same may be prudent. Be well informed as this is a life-changing desicion.

Good luck.

kag65

Hi, I just a spinal fusion done sept 22, 2004 on two disk in my lower back, I wish I would never had it done, I am in so much pain, and the doctor has given me percadan and valium, I get no relief from these, my husband keep saying I will get better but I seem to get worse every day. I know they say it will take up to a year or more for complete recovery but I never dreamed it would be this bad, I did not think I could hurt anymore than I did before the fusion, Oh but I was so wrong!!! Please anyone thinking about doing this, consider your life as you knew it to be over, I am so depressed even because of the extreme pain I am in, that I have lost all interest in all the stuff I did before. I am trying to still be a wife and a mother to my two boys, but would rather go off and lock myself into a room and just be alone and cry. This sucks. I have always been a very active person and I am well educated, I am a business manager for a multi million dollar company, they are holding my job for me but I am beginning to wonder if I will ever be able to return to work. I pray everday for some relief from this pain. By the way, I am 39 years old. Thanks for reading this. Kim

libra10

I'm so sorry to hear about the terrible pains you are suffering. It must be so extremely awful that words can't describe, my best wishes go out to you.