Hi, I had a 2 level fusion l4,l5,s1 in Sept. 2006. I have never felt such pain afterwards in my whole life. I am still on pain meds daily. Of course I was 62 at the time of surgery and I don't think the doc prepared me enough emotionally about the recovery and all the pain associated with it. I have been going to a pain management doc ever since.

I'm Shane. I am having surgery in August. Is it worth it?

Hi there

I feel for you. I treat people that have undergone these type of surgeries and know what you feel.

The average success rate of a lumbar spinal fusion is approximately 75%-80%.
Failure of fusions, or laminectomy's to heal is associated with continued symptoms.
A spinal fusion at one level will decreased motion of the spine and having a spinal fusion at one or more levels will cause more stress to be transferred to adjacent levels.

The problem with the transferred stress is that it may cause new problems to develop at the other levels, which may also lead to additional back surgery.
I mentioned before on this website that in a review of 4,454 patients in 78 reports, it was found the average fusion rate was 85%, and the average clinical success rate (pain reduction) was 75%.
It was also found that a successful spinal fusion takes a relatively long time (3-24 months, average 15 months) for healing and recuperation, and causes more wear and tear on adjacent levels over time.
Premature degeneration at adjacent levels of the spine (Transition Syndrome) remains one of the main problems facing spinal or lumbar fusion surgery. Second spinal surgery usually leads to a 40% disablement
It is not only the surgery that poses risks, but also Xrays or MRI scans.
A recent report by Steve Ford in the nurses news magazine mentions that he safety of magnetic resonance imaging for nurses and other staff is to be investigated by the Health Protection Agency on behalf of the World Health Organization.

Professor Anthony Swerdlow, the Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation, said:
'There is a pressing need for a well-conducted study of mortality and cancer incidence in workers with high occupational exposures to static magnetic fields, particularly those associated with medical MRI scanners.

Good luck

Kinetico

Hi all I have been having back pain since 2006 and I have pain, numbness, tingling, weakness etc both legs... I have already had lamonectomy, decompression and been attending pain managment course but it was getting to painful and now have been recommended having fusion. Can people tell me their thoughts, what to expect, I have been recommended going through my stomach as apparently it's has best recovery time. Any info, links for more info would be grately appreciated. I look forward to hearing from people.......

when are you having surgery? I haven't heard of the stomach option. I have a lot of the same symptons as you. Except only in one leg.

Helll all,

I have had an Anterior & Posterior Fusion at L5-S1, and a cervical fusion at C5-C6. I have had back problems for a long time and was told that this was the way to go to fix it!! I believed that this was truly my only option since I had tried just about everything up to that point... If I would of known what excrutiating pain I was about to endure I would of remained in the pain I was in prior to the surgeries. I am 18 months out from my last surgery which was the posterior lumbar fusion. Not only do I look like the bride of chuckie from the scars of the surgeries, BUT I cannot walk for any long periods of time, spend most of my time in my bed on heat and ice, and the pain is so severe I cannot bend at all and likely to be on pain meds the rest of my life. I wish I would of known the full consequences that came with messing around with my spine, but now that I know them its too late!!! I have no life since this all happened, whats worse is that I was better off being in the pain I was in when I was at least able to still walk, sit and stand for longer than 30 mins to an hour! Anyone considering having this surgery performed should really understand what your dealing with before you let ANYONE cut you open..Good Luck to those who are considering it and I feel your pain to those who have been there and done that...I wish all well

I had posterior laminectomy and fusion of L4-5 in April 2008 for severe stenosis. I am a nurse and on my feet all day. 45 years old. Before surgery I couldn't stand or walk for more than 10 minutes without severe burning pain and numbness down my leg and into my foot. I researched the best spinal surgeon I could find and went for the surgery. I was out of work for 11 weeks and went through physical therapy for 4 months and am now doing things I haven't been able to do in years. I work 10 hour days and don't have to take any pain medicine to get through the day. Wish I had done the surgery sooner. Find a good surgeon and best of luck to all.

Thank you all for posting your questions and results from lumbar laminectomy and fusion surgeries. I am experiencing many of the same symptoms with severe pain in lower back and left leg with associates bilateral leg weakness. I've right(2004) and left(2008) lumbar laminectomy surgeries. The Right Lam. surgery went extremely well with a quick recovery time. However, the Left Lam. Surgery was completely different. The Left Lam. surgery was an absolute waste of time, effort and money. My symptoms worsened after the Left Lam. surgery and my surgeon said there was nothing else he could do. Recently, I was re-evaluated by another surgeon physically and by reviewing my medical images. I was informed that the only way to reduce or eliminate my pain and conditions with prolonged walking, standing, bending, swatting or sitting is to undergo a Lumbar Fusion of L4-5. I did not want anymore surgeries but my quality of life has decreased greatly since April 2008. I'm very tired yet very thankful of depending on others in helping me during this time of dispare. I want a better quality of life for me and my family. I have a 18 month old daughter and a 6 year old daughter that I'm unable to share the quality time they desire and deserve. Although, I was very hesitant about the Lumbar Fusion surgery, I have discussed it with my family; and more importantly, prayed about it and has placed it in GOD'S HANDS. I desperately need my life back for my daughters' sake. I'm 36 years old and my family needs me as well as I for them. If there are any comments, replies or questions pertaining to this blog, please writeme. I'm looking forward to hearing from anyone to share his or her experience with the same or similar matters. Sincerely, Andre'