So i'm 33 and yesterday scheduled a back surgery in 2 weeks. The surgeon is going to do a disc fusion on my L5 and install 2 rods and 2 screws. Has anyone else on this board been through this and if so what should i expect for recovery/pain. I know the dr said about 4 weeks laying down and 3-4 months therapy and recovering before going back to work. I'm just wanting some advice from someone who has been through this. Thanks
OT: question about back surgery
- Thread starter trvs_game
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I have no idea why you need such a surgery and I haven't had one myself. That said I worked at the University of Florida hospital system on the neurosurgery floor for five years as an RN.
One thing surgeons like to do is surgery.
Hopefully you have had a second opinion. Hopefully you have looked at non-invasive solutions to your problem. The surgeon will tell you that he has great outcomes with 99% of his patients. I'm sure that may be true. But if you were part of that 1% that statistic will suck for you.
One thing surgeons like to do is surgery.
Hopefully you have had a second opinion. Hopefully you have looked at non-invasive solutions to your problem. The surgeon will tell you that he has great outcomes with 99% of his patients. I'm sure that may be true. But if you were part of that 1% that statistic will suck for you.
Dude I don't know anything about such other than I have the very same issue coming up sometime within the near future. The ruptured discs that are the most painful within mine own spine are L1, T12 and then another up between my shoulders that I cannot recall the exact initials of at the moment. I wish you the very best, and by all means please keep us posted!!
Yes, get a second opinion. You have miles to go and you want to do it without pain.
If you can endure any measure of exercise to strengthen areas around the surgery, prior to the procedure it will help.
to give everyone a background, I've dealt with this pain over 10 years, the neurosurgeon I've been seeing in those 10 years has done in my eyes everything he can to put it off, I've have 6 total spinal injections, been on prednisone 50mg several times, I've done physical therapy on and off. Also I've been hospitalized twice(4 day stay each time) because I lost feeling in my legs and the only way of getting around was a walker or crutches for support. I haven't had a second opinion. I just want to be done with the pain. Dr Lal is the surgeon that will be doing the operation and from things I've read on him is very respected. In saying that, like someone stated surgeons like surgery.
Aged mother in law was having pain in her back, referred to a specialist who at first put her in a "shell". Finally he said she needed immediate surgery, like within the next two weeks. Family convened in his office to ask questions about the surgery because of her age and health. Asked to get a second opinion. Come to find out that the immediate surgery was needed because he was scheduled to go on vacation for two weeks.
Second opinions are invaluable.
Second opinions are invaluable.
Don't do it. I had lots of problems with L5 12 years ago and dr. was a surgeon and a good friend. He advised me never to have back surgery unless I was crawling on my hands and knees. They do not work good luck.
Please do a couple of things for yourself first...
Tell your surgeon you want to hold off for a while. You should have the surgery confident that it’s the right thing to do. Asking opinions here indicates you have some doubt.
Seek a 2nd, even a 3rd opinion. Ask your surgeon for your MRI’s, scans, etc so you’ll have them in hand when visiting another physician. Google, inquire, whatever you can about non-surgical options. Something may be out there.
At the end of the day, make an informed decision as to what you decide to do and if it’s surgery, who will do it.
Tell your surgeon you want to hold off for a while. You should have the surgery confident that it’s the right thing to do. Asking opinions here indicates you have some doubt.
Seek a 2nd, even a 3rd opinion. Ask your surgeon for your MRI’s, scans, etc so you’ll have them in hand when visiting another physician. Google, inquire, whatever you can about non-surgical options. Something may be out there.
At the end of the day, make an informed decision as to what you decide to do and if it’s surgery, who will do it.
I would get a second opinion w/o a doubt. 25 years ago my wife tore her ankle up playing tennis. The Ortho fixed & it held for several years then about 10 years ago she fell again. The Ortho "specialist" in Greenville repaired it ...less than a year later it tears away again.. Same Dr. does ANOTHER surgery & says all is well. That also fails. The same surgeon then recommends that we fuse her ankle. I ask about a surgery that I had done some research on. Dr. says that I don't do that & the guy in Charlotte does. The "guy" in Charlotte is Dr. Bob Anderson who happens to be the NFL's ankle Dr. . Dr. Anderson did the surgery in 2011 & we have had NO regrets but if we had done what the Dr. in Greenville wanted my wife would have her entire Ankle joint fused 
. ..Get another opinion w/o ANY doubt. A good Dr. will not mind at all. ( BTW -any one needing ankle work...Dr. Anderson is the MAN ! & a nice guy to boot ! )
. ..Get another opinion w/o ANY doubt. A good Dr. will not mind at all. ( BTW -any one needing ankle work...Dr. Anderson is the MAN ! & a nice guy to boot ! )
Get a second opinion from Dr. Scott Boyd. A few guys I know who have/have not had surgeries under his care. They were very happy w him.
OK, I had the same surgery about 11 years ago preceded by the spinal shots and so forth. An MRI showed the spinal cord essentially pinched off in the same area as yours. The spinal pain shots did no good at all, were expensive and hurt like hell.
I opted for the operation but was much older than you at 75 so your case may be different. The operation consisted of some material removal from around the spinal cord some bone grafting, which was more painful than the rest, Nylon rods and titanium screws to spread and anchor the joint completed the operation.
The big issue for me was recovery. Six weeks with a hard cast all day every day with me living in a chair with the occasional excursion and the cast removed at night. The hard cast was replaced with a softer version that laced on tight for another six weeks. I still wear this one occasionally when needed. I am mostly pain free and, as long as I watch what I'm doing, normal activities are no problem. If I get sloppy with my posture, especially when sitting on a couch or such, some pain lets me know to change position.
I concur with advice to move carefully and get another opinion from a doctor you trust who does not have to be a back surgeon but is familiar with the procedure. I definitely do not agree with advice to totally dismiss spinal surgery as a good option as I remain glad that I did it.
One last thing. If possible have the surgery in cool weather. Wearing a cast in hot weather with sweating possible is not my idea of a fun time. Mine was done in winter just by luck.
I opted for the operation but was much older than you at 75 so your case may be different. The operation consisted of some material removal from around the spinal cord some bone grafting, which was more painful than the rest, Nylon rods and titanium screws to spread and anchor the joint completed the operation.
The big issue for me was recovery. Six weeks with a hard cast all day every day with me living in a chair with the occasional excursion and the cast removed at night. The hard cast was replaced with a softer version that laced on tight for another six weeks. I still wear this one occasionally when needed. I am mostly pain free and, as long as I watch what I'm doing, normal activities are no problem. If I get sloppy with my posture, especially when sitting on a couch or such, some pain lets me know to change position.
I concur with advice to move carefully and get another opinion from a doctor you trust who does not have to be a back surgeon but is familiar with the procedure. I definitely do not agree with advice to totally dismiss spinal surgery as a good option as I remain glad that I did it.
One last thing. If possible have the surgery in cool weather. Wearing a cast in hot weather with sweating possible is not my idea of a fun time. Mine was done in winter just by luck.
Can’t speak for anyone else, but I had the surgery in 2007 at age 41. It was an L5-S1 laminectomy/discectomy spinal fusion. I have 2 rods and 3 screws, and mine was done anteriorly and posteriorly, as I was on an inversion table. Had spondylosisthesis with bilateral par defects, as my spine was unstable. My disc between between L5-S1 was in very bad shape also. I chose to have the surgery in order to have a better quality of life, and I’m glad I did. Mine was done at Eisenhower Hospital on Fort Gordon by a very good surgeon.
I’m not going to lie- The recovery is rough and long, but you’re a young man. You’ll get through it. It’s certainly doable, as is the physical therapy.
Find a good surgeon that has done the procedure numerous times- (the more the better), and you should be fine. I went from being severely debilitated and in constant severe pain, to having a normal life again- mostly pain free. I have minimal limitations, and I have no regrets. Best of luck to you.
I’m not going to lie- The recovery is rough and long, but you’re a young man. You’ll get through it. It’s certainly doable, as is the physical therapy.
Find a good surgeon that has done the procedure numerous times- (the more the better), and you should be fine. I went from being severely debilitated and in constant severe pain, to having a normal life again- mostly pain free. I have minimal limitations, and I have no regrets. Best of luck to you.
You are going to the right Dr he invented the imaging machine they use. He did surgery on my classmate and he said it's the best thing he's ever done. Bill t old me he knows 6 people that had unsuccessful back surgeries. Then they went to the group in Greenwood and had theirs redone and they all wish they had gone their 1st
I'm going to Dr Lal after i have knees replaced. Bill said they wanted him to walk, walk, walk after surgery. Thus I have to get knees fixed 1st.
You have a great surgeon and due to their imaging machine they are highly successful in Greenwood compared to others.
Bill is back to playing golf. They didn't fix his duck hook or slice.
After years of dancing etc my daughter went through the same type thing. Ended up having a microdisectomy in Dec of 2016. Dr said she was the youngest he ever had come through with that problem. Her disc came out in a 'bunch' of pieces. Long, hard recovery but she is currently a Carolina Girl. So if you ever see them dancing and all of them flip on the floor but one, that's her.
She also went to Greenwood for the surgery. Her's turned out great.
She also went to Greenwood for the surgery. Her's turned out great.
