Four-level laminectomy, foraminotomy and decompression (looking at XLIF)

**Kiki** · 05-20-2010, 12:15 AM

I am Kiki and have been looking for a place like this for quite a while. Seems like lots of information here and people ready to help. Maybe I can help someone else who is looking at having the type of surgery I have had.
Well, where do I start? Having had a fairly successful outome of a four level laminectomy, foraminotomy and decompression, I thought it was all over and I would never have another surgery. Gee, is it once you have one of these things are you doomed to have another, and another etc.????
I now have another issue. Apparently I have 'instability' in the L2/3 &L3/4 areas and need a fusion and discectomy which scares the hell out of me, frankly. My toes are going numb and I feel like I am walking in sharp sand 24/7. The sacrum is on fire all the time and it hurts to jump down from rocks when I creek hike. So my doc has suggested the XLIF approach to this operation.

...
So I have to do something about this but is this the best thing? How does one go about making a decision like this? I know the insurance covers some of it/ most- in fact but, what am I losing in exhange? I have already lost my strength & athleticism, no more running/tennis which I adore and now can hardly move without pain. Will I not be ever able to be athletic again? Then why bother doing this surgery if I am not going to be able to live my life as before anyway. Has anyone here had positive or negative outcomes with something like this? I would like to hear them. One person I have spoken to here has had this and things are going well with her afterwards and I so appreciate her input.
My bone density is 0.0 apparently very good for a sixty year old female at 126 pounds. Everyday I still walk,

but it really does nothing for me in terms of keeping the weight off and the endorphins going to make me happy. And it hurts. I have to think whether I even want to go out and 'hurt walk' today. Power walks really are deadly! So I 'hurt walk'... What drag!!
Any thoughts from anybody? Any knowledge you would wish to share? Maybe you all have had these thoughts before a big decision like this?
Thanks All!
Kiki
=^..^=
( )

**KBear** · 05-20-2010, 11:02 AM

Welcome to the forum. I'm sorry you are facing another surgery, it is a very scary thing to sign up for. I highly recommend getting 3 or more surgical opinions, asking why they recommend a particular procedure. Also, research like crazy. Then, all you can do is make the best decision you can with the information you have. Ask any questions you may have and someone will jump in and have some knowledge on it, or point you in the right direction.
Kathy

**linda** · 05-21-2010, 06:52 PM

Hey Kiki,
Welcome to the site. I am so sorry you are having more problems with your back and possibly another surgery. My main problem is L5-S1 with arthritis. My feet hurt like crazy and both sides of my butt are on fire. I love your description of "hurt walk!" That describes me to a tee. Last week an annoying coworker shouted out "you have your pimp walk on today." I wanted to hit him. If he only knew how bad I hurt. Once again welcome to the site and good luck with your situation.
Linda

**Kiki** · 05-21-2010, 08:36 PM

Originally Posted by linda

Hey Kiki,
Welcome to the site. I am so sorry you are having more problems with your back and possibly another surgery. My main problem is L5-S1 with arthritis. My feet hurt like crazy and both sides of my butt are on fire. I love your description of "hurt walk!" That describes me to a tee. Last week an annoying coworker shouted out "you have your pimp walk on today." I wanted to hit him. If he only knew how bad I hurt. Once again welcome to the site and good luck with your situation.
Linda

HI Linda,
Thanks for your kind welcome! Sounds like you are having nast spine issues too. I am sorry that any of us has to go through this garbage.

And I wish the coworker could understand but obviously is clueless. And if he or she knew , she/he would have more manners and not tease like that. I hope you get some good relief from the ADR if that is what is line for you. Yeah ,my butt, feet and legs are on fire too most the time. The feet mostly feel like they are touching sharp sand and get numb and then hurt too. I used to be so active and now it is another story. I am due to see the surgeon in a few days and we decide if surgery is the only thing we can do. I have tons of questions.
Oh, I noticed that you and others have a list of things that have had done for your spine but I have not figured how to put that there under my name. What did you do to secure that info and get it in the rightplace. I looked at 'profiles' but there is not place in there to enter that info. that I could see.
Thanks for your post here!
Jill

**linda** · 05-22-2010, 03:46 PM

Hey Jill,
I am not sure how to do the signature because I did mine under the old format. The site got a complete makeover a while back and I'm still struggling with it a bit. I do know there is a sticky when you go to forums and click new members and it says how to create a signature. Hope this helps. The guy who said that to me is kind of one of those loud know it alls and constantly rags me. I work at a hardware store/lumber yard as a secretary and most of the time it is very noisy. I work really hard too while others are just standing around joking, texting on their phones or just doing nothing. I am so stressed out there and I am convinced this stress makes my back hurt more. Most of all the old brick floor that is crippling me. I've been there 10 years now and in the summer I used to wear sandles but now I have to wear tennis shoes. All shoes hurt my feet now. I have spent a fortune on various tennis shoes. One day I will find the right shoe but I need more money. I live close to work so I change shoes at lunch often. Enough about me. Do you work? How long ago did you have that surgery and what kind of pain were you in prior to that? I wish you luck on your surgical decision.
Linda

**Carmen** · 05-22-2010, 04:22 PM

Hi Kiki,
Many of us here will be having the same surgery that you may have. Many have just had it. Search or go under surgery outcomes, spinal fusion, or minimally invasive. You could also try the names of Rob, Greg, or myself,
Carmen. Rob is one of the recent graduates. Greg and myself will be undergoing our surgeries next month. Greg can walk but I can't. In some ways I am looking forward to the surgery so I can be again walking and doing everything I
used to do. I am a very active person so not doing all my activities makes me kind of crazy. I think everyone has just about read my threads so it would be better if you could search for my name, or Greg or Ron. Ron does a nice job of explaining everything. He has helped me a lot. Read everything and do your research like Katie has mentioned so you
will know what you want. You will be so much better off. I am so glad that I did that. When I first mentioned the problems with my back, many of the members told me to do the research. You can also read everything on here and that will certainly help and you will know what words to search under or Google. Good luck to you. Cautious in Chicago, Carmen :thumpup:

**KBear** · 05-23-2010, 10:16 AM

Kiki, I was just having issues with trying to figure out how to change my signature (that is the thing at the bottom that lists all of our spine history/problems). You have to go to Settings at the top right corner of the forum, click it, then on the left you will have an option to 'edit my signature', click it and put in your history, click save and you are good to go. This is also where you can add an avatar, edit your information or anything else you need to do.

**Cindylou** · 05-23-2010, 10:51 AM

Welcome Kiki, I'm sorry you are looking at the possibility of another surgery. You have come to a great place though, to ask questions, research, etc. As a middle aged female myself, I feel what you are going through....as I used to be very athletic myself. I have given up so many of my passions....tennis, running, high impact aerobics, to name a few. Down hill skiing is my biggest passion, and even though I haven't skied a few seasons, I hope to be back in the saddle this winter. I had a second arthroscopic hip surgery 3 weeks ago and am coming along quite well. My surgeon released (cut) my psoas tendon which has taken a huge amount of pain out of my back. I am crossing my fingers on how good I feel in the back area. Obviously, I still have pain in my hip but am doing my physical therapy twice a week with my therapist and making progress. Enough about me. Keep asking questions and again, welcome to SPS.

**Kiki** · 05-24-2010, 12:07 AM

Originally Posted by KBear

Kiki, I was just having issues with trying to figure out how to change my signature (that is the thing at the bottom that lists all of our spine history/problems). You have to go to Settings at the top right corner of the forum, click it, then on the left you will have an option to 'edit my signature', click it and put in your history, click save and you are good to go. This is also where you can add an avatar, edit your information or anything else you need to do.

Hi KBear!
Thanks for your help! I will try what you suggest and then I can get the history out there. I am new at this!
Take Care!
Kiki