Should I or Should I not have Surgery?

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Diagnosis: Spinal & Foraminal Stenosis at L4 & L5, right disc herniation at L4 & S1, synovial cyst

Procedure: Right L4-L5 hemilaminectomy, removal of synovial cyst, Right L5-S1 microdiscectomy

2

Lida29732,

Ok answer one question, can you live with the pain? If yes than don't have the surgery, if no then have the surgery, with technology today ( when I had mine 20 years ago) it's a big difference, I wish I had surgery now than 20 years ago but I could never have had been able to wait all those years, but now I'm back to square one where I might need another fusion, so now I have no dr stimulator out still in pain, and I don't know what I'm going to do, so if you can live with the pain do it if you can't than do something about it don't suffer.

Take care

Cynthia ( Cindy)

Hope you have some pain free days ahead of you and try to smile as much as possible 😉😁

3

Go for it. If it will assist you to be pain free you have to give it a chance.

I am onto my 4th Surgery in January. One thing I would say, if they offer you a double fusion in place of the above procedure then I'd do it. I had two microdiscectomy's, the second with a laminectomy thrown into the mix. I've since had those two levels fused and I'm I wish getting the reverse side fused as well. I really should have had them fused at the second op.

Explore all avenues available.

But, if you think the procedure is sufficient, go for it or spend a life on pain meds.

4

Hi Scott I'm just entering back pain world. Why 4 surgeries?  Is it because the others failed.  Neurosurgeon or orthopedic surgeon.  Linda

5

Hi Linda,

1st op was a microdiscectomy at L5/S1 and was a total success. 2nd op was a Microdiscectomy and Laminectomy in 2012 which failed at L4/L5. Over the course of the next 3.5 years my L4/L5 and L5/S1 deteriorated rapidly. Ended up with Spondylothesis, DDD and spinal stenosis. Had a double ALIF in April 2016 which was a partial success. The posterior of my L4-S1 was advanced arthritis so in effect it was crumbling and causing inflammation. Surgeons going back in to do a partial double PILF. I say partial as the discs are already out. He's putting in another 8 screws and 4 rods to secure the vertebrae that are damaged. They really should have fused me in 2012 but it was done as an emergency due CQ.

All this due to a lengthy career playing Volleyball, golf and football to decent levels. I'm also a PE teacher so lifting equipment all day didn't help. I'm currently on Morphine plus a load of nerve meds as I have no feeling in my right foot/ankle and left thigh, nerve damage from surgeries.

If I was asked to do it again, I still would. If the surgeons confident of helping your pain or standard of living then for me it's a no brainier.

Good luck

6

Hi Scott thank you for your informative response.  As I said I'm new to this and am at the cusp of figuring out what to do.  I read so many failures here people that have had surgeries and say they are worse off or no better after surgeries that I'm apprehensive to anything.  I guess I really gotta do my homework before I make any decision.  Thanks Linda

7

Cynthia,

Absolutely can not live with the leg pain if they could control that I wouldn't even consider surgery.  

thank you for your kind words

8

Thank you for the advise I will speak with the surgeon to see if fusion is an option.

9

Linda,

Than go for it sweetie, just because I didn't work out doesn't mean you won't get some kind of relief even if it's 25% I WOULD DEFINITELY TAKE IT!! lol anything to the edge off, good luck keep us posted

Best of luck

Cynthia ( Cindy)