Update for those interested instead of me posting a long winded video. It seems one surgeon thinks my back did fuse at L4/L5 but is suggesting my pain is L5/S1, he wants to have another MRI but says he can do a L5/S1 Disc Replacement device even though I am fused at L4/L5. My original surgeon thinks I did not fuse at L4/L5 and suggest a revision going in from the front but will not touch L5/S1. I guess what I am searching for now is did I fuse or not. CT Scan is vague? Also is L5/S1 causing the pain? I am curious if I did not fuse at L4/L5 then would an epidural injection help or not help? I am just trying to figure out how to diagnose what is causing the pain? Non union at L4/L5 or L5/S1?
Follow-up consultation showed annular tears in L5/S1 so looks like in about 5 or 6 months I will be having a fusion at L5/S1. At this point seems like the only thing that is going to get me back to being able to move normally without pain.
It's awful. That pain is insane. If it calms down, you only stay okay if you do nothing, but that is no life. I am waiting for surgery but am afraid it is not going to work and I will not be able to ever really do anything.
Update that might give you some confidence Patriciajump. I had a revision of the original fusion I mentioned in this video in April of 2023 and I am 90% better. Like you said get more than one opinion and find a surgeon that you trust. I say ask them if this was your wife or husband or daughter and they were in the pain I am in right now what would you do for them? For me surgery was the only thing that worked.
Sorry to hear that things didn't work out the way you hoped. I just found this video. Did they go in through the front or back? I just had a fusion L4-5 and the doctor went in to the front, I understand that there is a number of advantages. Hope you are back on your feet soon.
I’ve been following your story for some time. Have you looked into artificial disc replacement? If it’s just the disc that’s messed up, and not the vertebral body or facet joints, they can place an artificial disc in that retains full range of motion. I had two, L4L5 and L5S1 2 years ago. I traveled to Germany and man, I’m finally myself again. They do it in the states but it’s hard to get insurance to pay for it so I traveled.
I actually asked my surgeon about the artificial disc. They don’t do it at his place but I am looking into second opinions at this time. Thanks for the reply! How Do they get the disc to stay in place do they fuse the vertebrae or just screw the disc in and not have to fuse?
@@KBradAdams The discs have initial fixation which consist of either keels, or small spikes, depending on the model. This keeps the disc in place while the bones grow into the endplates. Then overtime the hydroxyapatite titanium coating on the outside of the titanium endplates bond with the bone, same as dental implants, hip replacements, knee replacements, etc. It’s a very reliable, well documented tech. The difference between the different disc models is mostly and how the cores function, some are just like a ball and socket, while Some have a viscoelastic core that acts more like a natural disc. However these are much easier to come by overseas, as they tend to be ahead of us in prosthetics. Which is another reason why I traveled. The main discs in the US are the ProDisc, and the ActivL. The best disc overseas is the LP-ESP.
Thanks for the video brother, I’m dealing with bad sciatica pain now in my left leg. Bulging disc hitting my nerve. Trying disc decompression treatment now, not sure if it’s going to work.
Good luck. I would try everything you can before having surgery. The decompression made mine worse but everyone is different, so I hope it works. Inversion table I hear works for some as well. I tried everything before having the miscrodiscectomy which worked for about a year or so, but eventually it ruptured again. 15% chance of rupturing which is not too bad, hopefully you can solve your issues with out surgery. Good luck keep me updated.
I had to have surgery, I was at the end of my rope. Pain had only gotten worse, I couldn’t walk or move anymore and was in constant 24-7 pain. Rushed to emergency room several times cause pain was so severe. surgery was my only option. good as new now, back riding motocross and mountain bikes, working out etc. I just have some foot numbness left over that seems to slowly go away. But sitting to long still hurts when I get up just for few seconds. But pain that comes now is nothing compared to what I was dealing with so I’m grateful. The amount of pain I was in before surgery was life ending so I’m really happy now. Only way I can explain it was it felt like on a good day my leg and hip was being stabbed with a knife and and on a bad day it was like my leg was s being cut off.
@@IndustMachWerksofTX Great to hear, so your surgery can you tell us what type it was? Was it a discectomy or fusion did they go in from the front or back? Thanks and glad to hear you are back to normal, that is awesome!
Im 63 I had l5s1 fused in 2016 been suffering bad last 3 years . L4 disc completely blown into the nerve l4 vertebrae slipped grade 1 facets joints all loose now. 🤣🥶🥵 the thought of another fusion just terrifies me. OH I also have 3 vertebrae fused in my neck. So life is good . I'm single male so pretty much on my own with this drama 🎭
Hey John, I hate to hear you have been suffering with more back issues. In April of 2023 I ended up trusting my surgeon to try and do the revision and not touch L5/S1. They came in this time from the front and removed all the hardware and put in a new cage etc and screws in the back. The biggest issue I had was some stomach pain where I think the vascular surgeon messed up a nerve or got it trapped or something. It was bugging me for a year but my back felt much better. I think I finally fused at L4/L5. Now around 15 days after the surgery I had awful sciatic pain on the right side and thought I crap it is my L5/S1 disc and I should have just done both while I was under... well I asked the surgeon for a medrol or predisone pack and on day 2 the pain was gone. I have not had that bad sciatica since in the right leg. Long story short I feel 90% better now than I have since this all started. I can lift weights no dead lifts nothing heavy and not squats or anything bending over. I can run a little and walk as much as I like. Car rides don't bother me anymore either. I hope this continues. I am almost 59 and want 15 more good years and after that don't care what happens.. Well I say that now so we will see... Its crazy my wife just had a discectomy for L5/S1 so dealing with her back issues now. Good luck and I hope you find someone that can fix the L4 disc and facet joints or whatever they need to do. Post surgery you know is not as bad as what you deal with day to day... I was in so much pain when I ruptured the L4 disc the first and 2nd time that I was off all pain meds immediately waking up from surgery... It will be worth it if you can get it fixed... 63 is still young.. get back out there and do what you enjoy and find you someone to spend your life with... Good luck and keep me updated..
He'd brad .I have l5 s1 herniated.l4 l5 ,l3 l4 bulging bad creating spinal stenosis I can't do anything very limited.you should look into adr ,disc replacement.dr Guyer did tiger woods at TBI.also try Dr rasouli in LA.good luck my friend my life came to an end 2020 .
I hate to hear that! What are you doing for you back now? I am going to have to have a revision, as I had a fusion and it did not fuse, but might have to also have L5/S1 done at the same time. ADR is not an option any longer since I had the fusion. I hope you can find some relief or someone that can look at your back. Did you talk to Dr. Guyer or Rasouli?
@@KBradAdams I spoke with rasouli and he's great 👍.he wants to do adr on l5 s1.but I'm looking for other options I would like to repair everything 1 time if possible.. other specialist tell me I need to wait it out cause of my age .I'm tired 😩 of living life like this I had a good active life now I can't even tie my shoes
@@LuisLopez-nk7fj How old are you roughly...if you don't mind me asking.. I always think I am getting older every year! Would I be better off doing it asap so my body is young enough to recuperate! Its almost like they think you are just going to wake up one day and say oh I am not hurting now. I even asked my surgeon if my back didn't fuse, would it fuse on its own if I did nothing or if I tried to do more and injured it more would it try and fuse itself. Unfortunately he said no... I hope you find some relief... My mom waited on knee surgery eventually they said you are too old.. then why did you make her wait.. I dont get it something... Good luck to you and keep me updated if you do anything or find any relief.
@@KBradAdams I'm 35 been in the gas industry for 17 years hard work.i hurt my spine working,I have tried spine decompression, phisycal therapy,chyropractic therapy,pain management,I even lost 30 pounds and nothing has worked.i need to get better I'm not done yet but the results aren't always good.people get l5 s1 fused then adr on l4,l5 to stop the domino effect on the rest of your spine.i feel like our medical system is way too behind and don't address the problem correctly.all the drugs I take are hurting my organs not good .and yet they spend millions on silly stuff I wish there was a real cure for damage spines .
@@LuisLopez-nk7fj Oh Man 35.... so sorry to hear that. I am like you it is 2022 they should have better scans and ways to tell what is really causing the problem or pain. I wish they could tell you based on where you pain is which level it probably is.. and do that. Are you getting leg and sciatic pain? Where is it exactly?
Have you had surgery yet? I just recently had a revision fusion. I’m from PA, but found a dr in Baltimore, MD. He’s known as the best neurosurgeon on the east coast. Let me know and I’ll send you info. Best wishes. (I had a dr that fused me 10 years ago and it was a complete mess. TEN YEARS OF AGONIZING PAIN!).
Hi Nirvana, I have not had the revision surgery yet, Long story short I saw several surgeons and 2 said they would do the revision and also fuse L5/S1 but the guy I really liked left the practice and I just found out in Sept he started his own place and took 4 other doctors with him. I saw him recently and he said he would not fuse L5/S1 and made it seem like he did not want to do the revision on L4/L5 now but would do it if I pushed. I am curious what type of symptoms did you have from the initial surgery not fusing? I did find another surgeon who said he would do the revision and go in from the front and put in a bigger cage so it grows the bone needed to support my spine. I also sent my CT scans and MRI to a doctor who I found on youtube in CA and he said it looked like my spine only fused about 20% and that is why I am so much pain when I do anything physical at all. I tried to wash the car the other day and just bending and cleaning had me in a hot bath and recliner the rest of the day. Now I am getting really bad hip pain so going to a hip Dr to hopefully tell me if its my hip or my back causing it. This is so frustrating. You get fused no one wants to touch you after that. I even asked if it could fuse with time, he said no... after a year and a half you are probably about as fused as you can get. Would love to hear what your symptoms were to let you know you didn't fuse. Thanks
@@KBradAdams Hi Brad. I had my first 2 discectomies due to pregnancies. Lost the first baby, but gave birth with our 2nd child with a herniated disc. Yeah, that was real fun. I also had a cervical fusion. 10 years ago I had an L5-S1 fusion. I lifted a special ed. girl weighing over 350lbs and blew out my back. The fusion was sloppily done. He screwed my pedicle screws in way too tight and a screw was laying on my SI Joint. I had constant pain. The following year I had a hip replacement. I was 43 at the time. No neurosurgeon would touch me! I found a new pcp last year. He recommended this one in Baltimore, MD. He couldn’t believe how bad I was. He fused me from L3-S1. He changed my life. That was 9/13/21. I had done quite a bit of physical therapy which really prepared me for the fusion. My ex pain mngt dr took me off Percocet in 3 1/2 months after being on them for 9 years. I was bedridden all of 2020. (I desperately wanted to be off opioids, but not that fast). I could barely walk. PT helped big time as well as preparing me for my fusion. I stayed only 2 nights in the hospital instead of 3, plus I really missed my husband. I stupidly lifted something weighing in at least 40lbs. My SI joint hurts again, but is starting to settle down. The dr in MD is the best on the east coast. He built a spine center. His name is Dr. Paul McAfee. His office is located in Timonium, MD. 10 mins away from Baltimore. I feel like I actually have a life again though I do suffer from depression bc of the whole mess. I feel the other dr took part of my life away. Need to get over that. I wish you nothing, but the best! I so hope you become pain free soon! 😊
I just realized I didn’t list my symptoms. I had sciatica pain down my left leg, pain in my SI joint, and my thighs felt like a million bees were stinging me constantly.
@@UpFromUnder6 So glad you are doing better and found a great surgeon that seems to care about you. Keep us posted and I am sure you are headed for even more pain free days and will improve each week. Thanks for sharing that information!
I tried CBD Oil a high concentrate with the THC in it but I did not try smoking any. I didn't get any pain relief from opioids or muscle relaxers. As you know when you are in extreme pain you are willing to try anything. I am not a drinker but my next form of pain relief would have been jack Daniels I didn't try it only because I knew I was scheduled for surgery so I tried to stop all pain meds leading up to surgery. I did not want to mask the pain I wanted it gone. Right now 7 months after fusion surgery, I only hurt in certain positions so pain management is not even a concern because it is not constant like it was before surgery. I believe I will hurt in those positions until L5-S1 is addressed. Like when I stand from sitting, as I am standing up my back kills me.. but once upright the pain is gone. If I bend over slightly to pick something up even an inch or so, my back kills.. but once I am back up the pain is gone. Same with rolling over in bed. Once I get to my side or back the pain is gone. I am getting referrals right now from some disc replacement doctors and trying to weigh the options of having L5-S1 fused or even just cleaned up or an ADR. It's only been 7 months since my L4-L5 fusion but I believe based on pre surgery MRI the L5-S1 is causing my pain. I have a few surgeons looking at my MRI's and CT scans right now and I will try and make the best decision based on those. Good luck and I get the paranoid and not wanting to be on something where you don't feel like yourself or it changes who you really are. Have you had an MRI Frank and if so what does it show? or what do they say it shows?
@@KBradAdams MRI showed me L4 barely starting to bulge,but L5 and S1 herniated and I'm in constant pain since Covid quaritine started 9 months ago.Im so tired I've asked God to take me away.What keeps me fighting it is I have 3 kids so I'm waiting for what the doctor says.
@@frankmata1812 Curious why you are waiting to have the surgery? I know how you feel Frank! I have a wife and 2 kids although they are in their early 20's. I used to keep a handgun by my night stand and I told my wife to hide it from me and move all the pain medicines from me because the pain was that bad. I would go ahead and schedule the surgery if you have insurance. Where is your pain, down the butt hips thigh and leg or just back? I would see if your doctor can do a discectomy and I bet like me you would have immediate relief. If you surgeon said I can do the surgery but there is a 50% chance you will not be able to do much other than walking but you will not be in pain would you do it? My surgeon told me I would be doing what I was before surgery, but if he had said I would only be able to walk but I would be able to sleep and not in pain, I still would have done it. That is pretty much where I am now... anything like jogging or riding a bike or yard work hurts and I pay for it the next few days but I could not do anything but lay in bed and hurt before. I am not a doctor but I would go ahead and do it. The post surgery pain for me after discectomy was a joke nothing compared to pre surgery pain. If you look at ruclips.net/video/XC1KHMfJngk/видео.html This is me day 2 after discectomy. Off all pain meds.
I agree the injections did nothing for me... I always asked will it heal the disc, no.. then why do it.. if it aint hurting I am going to really mess it up if I dont feel the pain...
Spinal fusion is a big big money generator for the hospital and doctor 😷 you're done as far as any active sport's or doing any major work on your car it's just not worth the pain you will suffer the next day or 3.
![Lil Uzi Vert - Chill Bae [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/D7F42F_JM3U/mqdefault.jpg)
Update for those interested instead of me posting a long winded video. It seems one surgeon thinks my back did fuse at L4/L5 but is suggesting my pain is L5/S1, he wants to have another MRI but says he can do a L5/S1 Disc Replacement device even though I am fused at L4/L5. My original surgeon thinks I did not fuse at L4/L5 and suggest a revision going in from the front but will not touch L5/S1. I guess what I am searching for now is did I fuse or not. CT Scan is vague? Also is L5/S1 causing the pain? I am curious if I did not fuse at L4/L5 then would an epidural injection help or not help? I am just trying to figure out how to diagnose what is causing the pain? Non union at L4/L5 or L5/S1?
Follow-up consultation showed annular tears in L5/S1 so looks like in about 5 or 6 months I will be having a fusion at L5/S1. At this point seems like the only thing that is going to get me back to being able to move normally without pain.
It's awful. That pain is insane. If it calms down, you only stay okay if you do nothing, but that is no life. I am waiting for surgery but am afraid it is not going to work and I will not be able to ever really do anything.
Update that might give you some confidence Patriciajump. I had a revision of the original fusion I mentioned in this video in April of 2023 and I am 90% better. Like you said get more than one opinion and find a surgeon that you trust. I say ask them if this was your wife or husband or daughter and they were in the pain I am in right now what would you do for them? For me surgery was the only thing that worked.
Welcome to the club
Sorry to hear that things didn't work out the way you hoped. I just found this video. Did they go in through the front or back? I just had a fusion L4-5 and the doctor went in to the front, I understand that there is a number of advantages. Hope you are back on your feet soon.
Thanks and they came in from the back but if I do a revision they will do it from the front!
Update. I did have the revision and feel 90% better now!
@@KBradAdams Glad to hear, 90% is awesome
You're back pain will never go away
I’ve been following your story for some time. Have you looked into artificial disc replacement? If it’s just the disc that’s messed up, and not the vertebral body or facet joints, they can place an artificial disc in that retains full range of motion. I had two, L4L5 and L5S1 2 years ago. I traveled to Germany and man, I’m finally myself again. They do it in the states but it’s hard to get insurance to pay for it so I traveled.
I actually asked my surgeon about the artificial disc. They don’t do it at his place but I am looking into second opinions at this time. Thanks for the reply! How Do they get the disc to stay in place do they fuse the vertebrae or just screw the disc in and not have to fuse?
@@KBradAdams The discs have initial fixation which consist of either keels, or small spikes, depending on the model. This keeps the disc in place while the bones grow into the endplates. Then overtime the hydroxyapatite titanium coating on the outside of the titanium endplates bond with the bone, same as dental implants, hip replacements, knee replacements, etc. It’s a very reliable, well documented tech. The difference between the different disc models is mostly and how the cores function, some are just like a ball and socket, while Some have a viscoelastic core that acts more like a natural disc. However these are much easier to come by overseas, as they tend to be ahead of us in prosthetics. Which is another reason why I traveled.
The main discs in the US are the ProDisc, and the ActivL. The best disc overseas is the LP-ESP.
@@multikillgaming2639 all that sounds scary.
@@frankmata1812 it’s horrible. However, what’s worse is your spine falling apart. ADR is the best option for those with degenerating discs.
@@multikillgaming2639 Your right, I'll see what the doctor tells me.But I due think I'm going to consider surgery.Thanks
Get in touch with Barrow Institute in Phoenix, AZ. They will also review your latest MRI for a small fee.
I had a revision of L4/L5 in April of 2023 and now I am 90% better!
Thanks for the video brother, I’m dealing with bad sciatica pain now in my left leg. Bulging disc hitting my nerve. Trying disc decompression treatment now, not sure if it’s going to work.
Good luck. I would try everything you can before having surgery. The decompression made mine worse but everyone is different, so I hope it works. Inversion table I hear works for some as well. I tried everything before having the miscrodiscectomy which worked for about a year or so, but eventually it ruptured again. 15% chance of rupturing which is not too bad, hopefully you can solve your issues with out surgery. Good luck keep me updated.
Any updates on your back now?
I had to have surgery, I was at the end of my rope. Pain had only gotten worse, I couldn’t walk or move anymore and was in constant 24-7 pain. Rushed to emergency room several times cause pain was so severe. surgery was my only option. good as new now, back riding motocross and mountain bikes, working out etc. I just have some foot numbness left over that seems to slowly go away. But sitting to long still hurts when I get up just for few seconds. But pain that comes now is nothing compared to what I was dealing with so I’m grateful. The amount of pain I was in before surgery was life ending so I’m really happy now. Only way I can explain it was it felt like on a good day my leg and hip was being stabbed with a knife and and on a bad day it was like my leg was s being cut off.
@@IndustMachWerksofTX Great to hear, so your surgery can you tell us what type it was? Was it a discectomy or fusion did they go in from the front or back? Thanks and glad to hear you are back to normal, that is awesome!
Im 63 I had l5s1 fused in 2016 been suffering bad last 3 years . L4 disc completely blown into the nerve l4 vertebrae slipped grade 1 facets joints all loose now. 🤣🥶🥵 the thought of another fusion just terrifies me. OH I also have 3 vertebrae fused in my neck. So life is good . I'm single male so pretty much on my own with this drama 🎭
Hey John, I hate to hear you have been suffering with more back issues. In April of 2023 I ended up trusting my surgeon to try and do the revision and not touch L5/S1. They came in this time from the front and removed all the hardware and put in a new cage etc and screws in the back. The biggest issue I had was some stomach pain where I think the vascular surgeon messed up a nerve or got it trapped or something. It was bugging me for a year but my back felt much better. I think I finally fused at L4/L5. Now around 15 days after the surgery I had awful sciatic pain on the right side and thought I crap it is my L5/S1 disc and I should have just done both while I was under... well I asked the surgeon for a medrol or predisone pack and on day 2 the pain was gone. I have not had that bad sciatica since in the right leg. Long story short I feel 90% better now than I have since this all started. I can lift weights no dead lifts nothing heavy and not squats or anything bending over. I can run a little and walk as much as I like. Car rides don't bother me anymore either. I hope this continues. I am almost 59 and want 15 more good years and after that don't care what happens.. Well I say that now so we will see... Its crazy my wife just had a discectomy for L5/S1 so dealing with her back issues now. Good luck and I hope you find someone that can fix the L4 disc and facet joints or whatever they need to do. Post surgery you know is not as bad as what you deal with day to day... I was in so much pain when I ruptured the L4 disc the first and 2nd time that I was off all pain meds immediately waking up from surgery... It will be worth it if you can get it fixed... 63 is still young.. get back out there and do what you enjoy and find you someone to spend your life with... Good luck and keep me updated..
He'd brad .I have l5 s1 herniated.l4 l5 ,l3 l4 bulging bad creating spinal stenosis I can't do anything very limited.you should look into adr ,disc replacement.dr Guyer did tiger woods at TBI.also try Dr rasouli in LA.good luck my friend my life came to an end 2020 .
I hate to hear that! What are you doing for you back now? I am going to have to have a revision, as I had a fusion and it did not fuse, but might have to also have L5/S1 done at the same time. ADR is not an option any longer since I had the fusion. I hope you can find some relief or someone that can look at your back. Did you talk to Dr. Guyer or Rasouli?
@@KBradAdams I spoke with rasouli and he's great 👍.he wants to do adr on l5 s1.but I'm looking for other options I would like to repair everything 1 time if possible.. other specialist tell me I need to wait it out cause of my age .I'm tired 😩 of living life like this I had a good active life now I can't even tie my shoes
@@LuisLopez-nk7fj How old are you roughly...if you don't mind me asking.. I always think I am getting older every year! Would I be better off doing it asap so my body is young enough to recuperate! Its almost like they think you are just going to wake up one day and say oh I am not hurting now. I even asked my surgeon if my back didn't fuse, would it fuse on its own if I did nothing or if I tried to do more and injured it more would it try and fuse itself. Unfortunately he said no... I hope you find some relief... My mom waited on knee surgery eventually they said you are too old.. then why did you make her wait.. I dont get it something... Good luck to you and keep me updated if you do anything or find any relief.
@@KBradAdams I'm 35 been in the gas industry for 17 years hard work.i hurt my spine working,I have tried spine decompression, phisycal therapy,chyropractic therapy,pain management,I even lost 30 pounds and nothing has worked.i need to get better I'm not done yet but the results aren't always good.people get l5 s1 fused then adr on l4,l5 to stop the domino effect on the rest of your spine.i feel like our medical system is way too behind and don't address the problem correctly.all the drugs I take are hurting my organs not good .and yet they spend millions on silly stuff I wish there was a real cure for damage spines .
@@LuisLopez-nk7fj Oh Man 35.... so sorry to hear that. I am like you it is 2022 they should have better scans and ways to tell what is really causing the problem or pain. I wish they could tell you based on where you pain is which level it probably is.. and do that. Are you getting leg and sciatic pain? Where is it exactly?
Have you had surgery yet? I just recently had a revision fusion. I’m from PA, but found a dr in Baltimore, MD. He’s known as the best neurosurgeon on the east coast. Let me know and I’ll send you info. Best wishes. (I had a dr that fused me 10 years ago and it was a complete mess. TEN YEARS OF AGONIZING PAIN!).
Hi Nirvana, I have not had the revision surgery yet, Long story short I saw several surgeons and 2 said they would do the revision and also fuse L5/S1 but the guy I really liked left the practice and I just found out in Sept he started his own place and took 4 other doctors with him. I saw him recently and he said he would not fuse L5/S1 and made it seem like he did not want to do the revision on L4/L5 now but would do it if I pushed. I am curious what type of symptoms did you have from the initial surgery not fusing? I did find another surgeon who said he would do the revision and go in from the front and put in a bigger cage so it grows the bone needed to support my spine. I also sent my CT scans and MRI to a doctor who I found on youtube in CA and he said it looked like my spine only fused about 20% and that is why I am so much pain when I do anything physical at all. I tried to wash the car the other day and just bending and cleaning had me in a hot bath and recliner the rest of the day. Now I am getting really bad hip pain so going to a hip Dr to hopefully tell me if its my hip or my back causing it. This is so frustrating. You get fused no one wants to touch you after that. I even asked if it could fuse with time, he said no... after a year and a half you are probably about as fused as you can get. Would love to hear what your symptoms were to let you know you didn't fuse. Thanks
@@KBradAdams Hi Brad. I had my first 2 discectomies due to pregnancies. Lost the first baby, but gave birth with our 2nd child with a herniated disc. Yeah, that was real fun. I also had a cervical fusion. 10 years ago I had an L5-S1 fusion. I lifted a special ed. girl weighing over 350lbs and blew out my back. The fusion was sloppily done. He screwed my pedicle screws in way too tight and a screw was laying on my SI Joint. I had constant pain. The following year I had a hip replacement. I was 43 at the time. No neurosurgeon would touch me! I found a new pcp last year. He recommended this one in Baltimore, MD. He couldn’t believe how bad I was. He fused me from L3-S1. He changed my life. That was 9/13/21. I had done quite a bit of physical therapy which really prepared me for the fusion. My ex pain mngt dr took me off Percocet in 3 1/2 months after being on them for 9 years. I was bedridden all of 2020. (I desperately wanted to be off opioids, but not that fast). I could barely walk. PT helped big time as well as preparing me for my fusion. I stayed only 2 nights in the hospital instead of 3, plus I really missed my husband. I stupidly lifted something weighing in at least 40lbs. My SI joint hurts again, but is starting to settle down. The dr in MD is the best on the east coast. He built a spine center. His name is Dr. Paul McAfee. His office is located in Timonium, MD. 10 mins away from Baltimore. I feel like I actually have a life again though I do suffer from depression bc of the whole mess. I feel the other dr took part of my life away. Need to get over that. I wish you nothing, but the best! I so hope you become pain free soon! 😊
I just realized I didn’t list my symptoms. I had sciatica pain down my left leg, pain in my SI joint, and my thighs felt like a million bees were stinging me constantly.
@@UpFromUnder6 Thanks for that information. Keep us posted on how it goes as you improve! Good Luck
@@UpFromUnder6 So glad you are doing better and found a great surgeon that seems to care about you. Keep us posted and I am sure you are headed for even more pain free days and will improve each week.
Thanks for sharing that information!
Have you tried 🌱🚬.?I did do that just to see what it did and I did wake up with less pain but the thing I didn't like is it gets me paranoid.
I tried CBD Oil a high concentrate with the THC in it but I did not try smoking any. I didn't get any pain relief from opioids or muscle relaxers. As you know when you are in extreme pain you are willing to try anything. I am not a drinker but my next form of pain relief would have been jack Daniels I didn't try it only because I knew I was scheduled for surgery so I tried to stop all pain meds leading up to surgery. I did not want to mask the pain I wanted it gone. Right now 7 months after fusion surgery, I only hurt in certain positions so pain management is not even a concern because it is not constant like it was before surgery. I believe I will hurt in those positions until L5-S1 is addressed. Like when I stand from sitting, as I am standing up my back kills me.. but once upright the pain is gone. If I bend over slightly to pick something up even an inch or so, my back kills.. but once I am back up the pain is gone. Same with rolling over in bed. Once I get to my side or back the pain is gone. I am getting referrals right now from some disc replacement doctors and trying to weigh the options of having L5-S1 fused or even just cleaned up or an ADR. It's only been 7 months since my L4-L5 fusion but I believe based on pre surgery MRI the L5-S1 is causing my pain. I have a few surgeons looking at my MRI's and CT scans right now and I will try and make the best decision based on those. Good luck and I get the paranoid and not wanting to be on something where you don't feel like yourself or it changes who you really are. Have you had an MRI Frank and if so what does it show? or what do they say it shows?
@@KBradAdams MRI showed me L4 barely starting to bulge,but L5 and S1 herniated and I'm in constant pain since Covid quaritine started 9 months ago.Im so tired I've asked God to take me away.What keeps me fighting it is I have 3 kids so I'm waiting for what the doctor says.
@@frankmata1812 Curious why you are waiting to have the surgery? I know how you feel Frank! I have a wife and 2 kids although they are in their early 20's. I used to keep a handgun by my night stand and I told my wife to hide it from me and move all the pain medicines from me because the pain was that bad. I would go ahead and schedule the surgery if you have insurance. Where is your pain, down the butt hips thigh and leg or just back? I would see if your doctor can do a discectomy and I bet like me you would have immediate relief. If you surgeon said I can do the surgery but there is a 50% chance you will not be able to do much other than walking but you will not be in pain would you do it? My surgeon told me I would be doing what I was before surgery, but if he had said I would only be able to walk but I would be able to sleep and not in pain, I still would have done it. That is pretty much where I am now... anything like jogging or riding a bike or yard work hurts and I pay for it the next few days but I could not do anything but lay in bed and hurt before. I am not a doctor but I would go ahead and do it. The post surgery pain for me after discectomy was a joke nothing compared to pre surgery pain. If you look at ruclips.net/video/XC1KHMfJngk/видео.html This is me day 2 after discectomy. Off all pain meds.
@@KBradAdams Cause of Covid the appointments are far apart.i have the appointment next month to see if surgery is what they advise to do.
@@frankmata1812 What state are you in? I would try and find another surgeon or dr. I would call my insurance and see if they can find you someone.
If the two doctors disagree, you need a third opinion. You are not an easy case. You need two docs to agree.
Be careful with the injections for pain they made me a lot worse for weeks
I agree the injections did nothing for me... I always asked will it heal the disc, no.. then why do it.. if it aint hurting I am going to really mess it up if I dont feel the pain...
They lie to you to get you to do the fusion
Nice tent
Tent is an infrared sauna!
Spinal fusion is a big big money generator for the hospital and doctor 😷 you're done as far as any active sport's or doing any major work on your car it's just not worth the pain you will suffer the next day or 3.