Hi I'm a New Member (Lumbar Spine Problems)

[Katie]

Suzanna, can you explain more about the comment you received about the fusion not relieving the pain?

How many doctors gave you that advice?? Because I was given similar opinions, that doing anything with my C5/6 would not make a difference to the neurological issues I had. All of them were wrong. Right after my surgery (ADR at C5/6 and fusion at L4/5, L5/S1) in March, my problems disappeared.

I still have a bit of pain in my lumbar levels, but nothing like before. I just hadn't found the right surgeon

I had consulted with at least half a dozen surgeons...some very good, some terrible, but I wouldn't have recognized the bad until I talked to the good ones. The more research the better. I know how exhausting it is, especially when you are in such pain. Most of us here have done our homework for several years before finding the right answer. We'll try and help you as much as possible...please try not to get too discouraged.

[Susanna]

Whoops I just tried to post and it disappeared. Will try again!

Katie,
thanks for responding. The doctor that I have is highly regarded. He lived in Seattle for a while and traveled and worked in Alaska and there for a while and then finally moved here. He does both fusion and Pro-disk C and L. He is very frustrated that my insurance won't approve the ADR. But is willing to do what ever I want. He just feels that I would do better with the ADR. He said that with the Fusion I would still have back pain. He didn't feel I would have it with the ADR.

But the point is mute if I can't get the ADR. If I'm going to have a fusion, I need to figure out what is the best. Are there different kinds of methods? Approaches. I believe he approaches from the back. Right now I am scheduled to have the remaining disk removed on the 18th of Aug. He was going to do this surgery regardless as the disk has leaked out and would need to get it from the back either before or after the ADR placement. He said it is too difficult to be sure you get it all from the front. So we are hoping that this surgery may give me some relief while we figure out the rest. But if I am going to end up with a fusion, I may just call it off and just do the fusion. So I need to figure things out.

Susanna

[Katie]

Well, just from my own experience, I highly recommend the XLIF (a minimally invasive surgery), which can be done from L4/5 upwards. I had an ALIF done on my L5/S1, only because he could not access my disc there without going around and behind my hip bone. The difference in recovery time and pain between that level and the L4/5 was substantial.

The incision on the L4/5 was on my left side and only about two inches long, a horizontal line. The lower one was on the front of my belly, starting about three inches below my belly button, and going left from there. Compared to many others, I had very little residual pain with any of my incisions unless I moved the wrong way. I had trouble getting up when laying down in bed of course, but the XLIF site seemed so insignificant that I would have probably left the hospital after two days.

If you have more questions I'd love to help. Just send me a PM