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Back Fusion ?

dav1965
I currently have 6 disk that are bad enough to consider operation. S1 & L1 to L5.   L2 & L3 need operating on now and the rest the doctor told me every 2 or 3 years from then on.  I have had a lot of surgeries from stage 4 cancer to hernias, feet etc. Im not afraid of surgery or doing the work to recover.

However i will not lie and  i will say im scared of operating on my neck or back. I know for a fact i will not live in a wheelchair. When i joined the military in 1983 i made up my mind then i would never be paralyzed. Nothing has ever changed my mind about that. My wife took care of me about a year when i had stage 4 cancer but if it was permanent i would have checked out own my own.

What can i expect with back fusion and is it worth it? Would you do it?  I have osteoarthritis and i have had both knees replaced and now i have 6 vertebrae in my back, hands, left shoulder and neck that are killing me. Me ankles and feet are just starting to hurt now also.  However they are not bad as of now.

I take 120mg of morphine/oxycodone a day and its like taking asprin. Not very helpful. When i go to the pain doctor she apologizes because she can not do more to help me. She does not want to give me more pain medicine because the government is on her for giving me the amount she is already giving me. She told me that they do not want her giving more than 60mg unless you are dying.

I do get a lot of injections that do help for a week or so but they dont want to give them to me but every 90 days. She will make an exception if i ask but i know that is a limited option so i use it sparingly any ideas?
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Comments

8 comments

Date Votes
  • danielgage
    I have always tried everything else besides surgery on my back
    they even burned some nerves in mine that seemed to help(they told me they could not fix the cause of the pain from my back so they just did away with the nerves that made me feel the pain)
    I know they are a lot better at the back surgeries than they used to be though 
    sorry I'm not much help 
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  • montanajoe
    • Community moderator
    Dav, First I'm glad to see you back in here posting.
    I'm sorry for your continued suffering.  If there is anything they can do to better the quality of your life, ease some of the pains,then yes go for it.  I wish you the best.  

    3
  • jimdeere
    Dave, only you can make that decision. Maybe try L2 and L3 and see if it gives any relief?
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  • JimmyJack
    Before I would consider it I would have a couple of second opinions.  Too serious to not use more than one doctors expertise.
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  • BobJudy
    Back fusion has become quite common. The biggest drawback is the long recovery time. Plan on not driving, twisting, or lifting for at least 3 months. I do know one person who felt so much better he rushed back into his normal routine - BIG mistake. Those that stayed sedentary until the doc said they were healed did quite well. Bob
    3
  • notnow
    I had S-1 L-1 L-2 fused. I needed it bad. It took 3 months of recovery but the last month I was getting around alright. I was told by others that it'll take 1 year to fully recover. Like a hip replacement. I'm 66 yrs old and had the surgery in January. So far it passed the fishing test, stumbling and slipping on rocks in streams without any incident. The constant pain I was in before the surgery is mostly gone.  The mornings are tough.
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  • RobOz

    Nice to see you posting

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  • Chief Shaway

    Yes, good to see you posting.

    I have no advice or experience in what you are going thru but, you are in our prayers.

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