I had a multi level lumbar fusion in 2023. My back x-ray looks just like his. 4 screws, rods, a metal cage and bone graft. It was in no way, shape or form as painful as the first fusion I had (in exact same spot) in 1989. I now have nerve damage down my left leg from the last surgery - I have had permanent nerve damage down my right leg from the first 3 lumbar surgeries I had in 87, 89 and 93. Anyone who thinks they'll come out after a back surgery with 100% recovery - like they didn't have a spinal injury - is not intelligent. Best you can hope for is improvement. I've lived with chronic pain for 35+ years and been denied some care for dumb ass reasons. It still not an excuse to go kill someone.
You know they say, that one shouldn’t have surgeries on one’s back as it will not ever be really successful. Would you do the surgeries all over again?
If I could go back to 1987? No
I had no choice on the last one. Deterioration from the first three caused issues. I would completely lose my right leg. Like it wasn't even there. I put it off for a year but had to cave finally.
Years ago, I got sucked into pain MGMT. In 80's there weren't too many options besides pain meds. 12 years ago, I had enough and stopped. I can take pain meds now, I just keep close watch, my primary is aware and I have put the majority of the other crap I was taking on the "I'm allergic" list. Your mind DOES deal with pain but it takes a while.
Right there with you. I have a disease called OPLL. I was offered a complete fusion of my cervical vertabrea but refused and cold called UofM. Because OPLL is very rare in white females rather than those with Asian decent, I'm in a medical journal somewhere. UofM installed titanium bridges at each vertabrea. Its not perfect but I have full motion. I have nerve damage, pain or nueropthy but I count my blessings every day that I was on of the lucky ones.
Oof I'm sorry to hear that! Yeah sometimes just pain is a win. I've found that over time, my mind learned to deal with it but when it first started it was a doozy. Prayers for you 🙏
I had a multi level lumbar fusion in 2023. My back x-ray looks just like his. 4 screws, rods, a metal cage and bone graft. It was in no way, shape or form as painful as the first fusion I had (in exact same spot) in 1989. I now have nerve damage down my left leg from the last surgery - I have had permanent nerve damage down my right leg from the first 3 lumbar surgeries I had in 87, 89 and 93. Anyone who thinks they'll come out after a back surgery with 100% recovery - like they didn't have a spinal injury - is not intelligent. Best you can hope for is improvement. I've lived with chronic pain for 35+ years and been denied some care for dumb ass reasons. It still not an excuse to go kill someone.
You know they say, that one shouldn’t have surgeries on one’s back as it will not ever be really successful. Would you do the surgeries all over again?
If I could go back to 1987? No
I had no choice on the last one. Deterioration from the first three caused issues. I would completely lose my right leg. Like it wasn't even there. I put it off for a year but had to cave finally.
I am sorry that you had go through such hardships. What got you through all of it?
Years ago, I got sucked into pain MGMT. In 80's there weren't too many options besides pain meds. 12 years ago, I had enough and stopped. I can take pain meds now, I just keep close watch, my primary is aware and I have put the majority of the other crap I was taking on the "I'm allergic" list. Your mind DOES deal with pain but it takes a while.
Right there with you. I have a disease called OPLL. I was offered a complete fusion of my cervical vertabrea but refused and cold called UofM. Because OPLL is very rare in white females rather than those with Asian decent, I'm in a medical journal somewhere. UofM installed titanium bridges at each vertabrea. Its not perfect but I have full motion. I have nerve damage, pain or nueropthy but I count my blessings every day that I was on of the lucky ones.
Oof I'm sorry to hear that! Yeah sometimes just pain is a win. I've found that over time, my mind learned to deal with it but when it first started it was a doozy. Prayers for you 🙏