Spinal Fusion Surgery??

[mb3343]

Hello i am new here. I have been suffering from back pain for 6+ months now. My lower back started hurting after a swim practice and has been getting worse since. I tried physical therapy for 2 months and it only made it worse. I have been seeing a pediatric orthopedic surgeon and his diagnoses is:
Congenital complete sacralization of L5 with incomplete segmentation of L4-5 at the inferior facets, greater on right. Degenerative disk disease at that interspace.
He has advised me to get posterior fusion with pedicle screw from L4-L5 (though it would really be S1 due to sacralization). He has said it should fuse well since it is already partially fused and there is a lot of bone in that area.

I recently saw an orthopedic spine doctor and he took a very quick glance at my images (CT, Bone, Mri, X-ray) and said not to get the surgery and it will get better with time though it is currently getting worse everyday.

I am looking for advise, experiences (especially with younger people) and anything else you can offer

THank You
Marie

[Justin]

Hi Marie,

Welcome to the Spine Patient Society.

If I may ask, how old are you? I would keep the idea of surgery on the back burner if you are young. Surgery "burns" many bridges and it forever changes your anatomy. I understand that dealing with back pain for 6+ months is awful; however, most people feel better in 6-12 months with conservative therapy.

Personally, I would exhaust every conservative option you have before contemplating going under the knife. Surgery is unfortunately not a "fix all" and many people tend to do worse after surgery.

With acute injury or aggravation, spine problems may get worse in the short-term, but with conservative therapy (medications, exercise, strength training, maintaining a healthy weight, etc.) 90% of Spine Patients don't need surgery.

We are here to support you and, remember, the above comments are just my own

[WPKat]

Hello i am new here. I have been suffering from back pain for 6+ months now. My lower back started hurting after a swim practice and has been getting worse since. I tried physical therapy for 2 months and it only made it worse. I have been seeing a pediatric orthopedic surgeon and his diagnoses is:
Congenital complete sacralization of L5 with incomplete segmentation of L4-5 at the inferior facets, greater on right. Degenerative disk disease at that interspace.
He has advised me to get posterior fusion with pedicle screw from L4-L5 (though it would really be S1 due to sacralization). He has said it should fuse well since it is already partially fused and there is a lot of bone in that area.

I recently saw an orthopedic spine doctor and he took a very quick glance at my images (CT, Bone, Mri, X-ray) and said not to get the surgery and it will get better with time though it is currently getting worse everyday.

I am looking for advise, experiences (especially with younger people) and anything else you can offer

THank You
Marie

Marie,

Welcome! I am so sorry to hear that you are having so much pain. My last vertebrae is hemi-sacralized or partially fused at birth as well. From what I understand, it makes one more apt to develop major back problems later on in life.

I recommend obtaining as many surgical consults as you can ... in the U.S. and abroad ... and looking into as many options as you can. If they are talking fusion, has anyone discussed artificial disc replacement with you? What about minimally invasive surgical fusion vs the old fashioned "open" surgery?

If you don't have them already, I would optain a copy of all of your MRI, x-ray, Discogram, etc., reports from the doctors who ordered them and a copy of each disc with the images on them from the imaging facility.

Before you have any surgery done, look up all the terminology on the reports to get a good understanding about your condition and treatment options. Ask a lot of questions and as I said before, then obtain as many surgical consults as you can before making a final decision.

Good Luck!

K

[scduggan]

Dear Marie,
Welcome to the website. I cannot begin to top what Justin and K offered. I agree with their advice wholeheartedly. I just would like to relay my husband's story. He herniated L5/S1 at the gym on the Smith machine four years ago. He also tried all kinds of conservative therapies and was in horrible pain. I remember he would have to stand at work all day due to the pain caused my sitting. He dealt with the pain four months and ended up getting a laminectomy (which is outpatient). He is doing well but will always have to be careful....and will always deal with a precarious low back. In his own words he wishes now that he had waited a few more months to see what time and healthy, clean living would have dealt him. Marie, I know this might NOT be what you want to hear. My main goal was to welcome you and let you know you are not alone. The more opinions you get the better you will feel about your situation. Hang in there and keep us posted.
CD

[linda]

Hey Marie,
Welcome to the site and I am sorry you are having such back troubles. I am not that young anymore (48) but have also put off surgery because of Justin's statement above about some being worse off. My last disc is gone and it looks bone on bone on the MRI. I have been in pain for a couple of years now and feel like it is not going to get better on its own. It is so weird how one day I can't walk well at all and the next day I can but the pain is always there. If I were you I guess I would not jump into surgery without getting another opinion or two. I hope your pain subsides for you soon.
Linda