Neck and low back problems

[Rosalia1]

Has anybody ever had neck or back surgery there’s instability and my S1 L 5 The pain is going down my left leg to the point to where I can’t walk on my ankle hurts as well burning sensation I just had another series of steroid injections bilateral in my little back they say they need a fuse so please help if anyone can let me know if their surgeries are successful thank you

[Annie_359]

Morning Rosalia1,

I have had back surgery, I had a discectomy in 2008 which was very successful, I like you had back pain, leg pain and numbness, the surgery was brilliant and my symptoms had gone completely, but in 2013 I started to have the same symptoms again only this time so much worse, I struggled with day to day life I had another discectomy in 2015 but this time the surgery wasn't so successful as the disc that had ruptured had wrapped round the sciatic nerve and during surgery the nerve was damaged. I had a few spinal block injections to try and help the pain but they never worked, so they referred me for a spinal cord stimulator. I had my stimulator fitted in June last year and it has been amazing, I'm not saying I'm pain free but the difference is about 80/90 % on a good day, if I overdo it it's a bit worse but at least I have my life back.

You have to do what you think is best for your life as it is you that is suffering, like everything surgery can go wrong and I'm sure your surgeon will tell you that, I decided to do the surgery as my life was just pain and I thought I had nothing to lose. I don't regret getting the surgery even though my second one wasn't successful. Wishing you all the luck in the world on your journey.

[waylay]

Hi there,

I had a microdiscectomy at L5/S1 in 2008. Worked great until about 6 weeks later. I started having stiffness, increasing pain, muscle spasms and mobility problems, and eventually developed nerve shortening in my right leg. Apparently I grew large quantities of scar tissue, some of it in my epidural space. It rubs on nerves, leaving me with chronic pain and disabling spasms.

Do your research. For some % of people, surgery makes them worse. You never expect it to be you, though.

[Emma2017]

Hi there, I cannot see why they would jump straight to a fusion. I have had 3 microdiscectomies of the L5/S1 joint mainly because it kept on ‘not behaving’. These operations however are usually quite successful and you will need just the one. They are not too bad to have either. However in my case that disc would not behave and it extruded yet again. So my surgeon said we cannot carry on like this and recommended a fusion. I had the fusion done in January and it is a much more invasive surgery , you take much much longer to recover fully. I am still recovering now but must say I can finally see success. But again please ask about the much lighter operation, the microdiscectomy or laminectomy first as these are easier to recover from.

[Delboy1]

It’s easier for you to read my posts as it’s a very long and unfortunate story, but I started off like you many years ago.

I’m now practically wheelchair bound 😫

I was the 1 in 100,000 that went wrong on a simple prolapse disc op. Just think very carefully before you have anything done. SIX opérations later I’m left like this with a Medtronic synchomed pump in my abdomen which pumps in Hydromorphine into a catheter in my back then drips direct into the spinal column. So please beware when they tell you it’s not a serious operation😡

You take care and stay safe, please I would love to know what you decide. Any advice on any operations to do with the back, you would like to know, I’m here ...

[Amkoffee]

You can ask the surgeon for percentages but I will warn you that the percentages are very poor. It's something like 50% success and then the other 50% is split between no improvement and worsening symptoms.

[subzerotemps]

I was refused a fusion as told it may take months to recover, then further few months I'd be right back where I started. Every professional I spoke to said don't have it.

[Rosalia1 in reply to subzerotemps]

So u did have the fusion or not sorry

[subzerotemps in reply to Rosalia1]

No I didn't have it. I am still suffering and coping with constant pain. I think you have to weigh up own options and consider how you could live with pain or take the chance on surgery working.