Of those you know who have had back fusions

postulater

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Thu Jan-28-10 03:18 PM
Original message

Of those you know who have had back fusions

how many are better after two years?

and how many are worse after two years?

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Ian David

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Thu Jan-28-10 03:26 PM
Response to Original message

1. I know one person who had it, and she got better and stayed better. n/t

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OllieLotte

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Thu Jan-28-10 04:35 PM
Response to Reply #1

3. Much better.

I had three vertebra fused. It was in my lower back over 4 years ago. It was life changing. I can play tennis again. Good luck to you friend.

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HelenWheels

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Thu Jan-28-10 04:02 PM
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2. I've had two

Although I still have back pain (not as bad as before surgery) I would be in a wheelchair without the surgery. My spine was collapsing and would have continued to do so without the surgery. I've had the lumbar fusion 5 years ago and have no pain in that area. I had the thoracic fusion a little over two years ago and I still have some pain there. The thoracic area has a lot of nerves running out of that spinal area and is taking longer to heal completely. The pain is less than before the surgery.

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uppityperson

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Thu Jan-28-10 05:44 PM
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4. Surgery should be the last thing to try, but everyone I know who has done it is happy

Try physical therapy, massage therapy, chiropractic therapy (all of these being aware of what your problem is to make sure they don't make it worse of course).

I know several people who have had it done, most cervical, and they are better after 2 yrs. The top 2 who spring to mind had severe pain, could do little except take drugs and suffer. Now they are not back to where they were before, but can function and are without the continual severe pain.

Are you asking for personal reference or taking a poll?

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postulater

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Thu Jan-28-10 06:59 PM
Response to Reply #4

6. A poll

It seems like I hear about a lot of bad outcomes. Good to hear there are some good ones.

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uppityperson

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Thu Jan-28-10 07:03 PM
Response to Reply #6

7. I do know of a cervical fusion that is still suffering

Had a lot of pain, lots of physical limitations before the surgery. Still has a lot of physical limitations but the pain is less.

I'd do it as a final treatment if needed, after the other stuff didn't work, but wouldn't avoid it because of fear of someone mucking about with my spine, if that makes sense.

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mopinko

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Thu Jan-28-10 06:26 PM
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5. mine worked pretty well.

c-5 to c-7. still have some nerve trouble in my hand, and have had neck pain since. but the pain is fibro related and has cropped up slowly in the 2 years since i had it done.
i blame the nerve trouble more on not getting it done quick enough. ended up spending 6 months in crushing pain trying to avoid surgery. i always urge people to just get it done. why suffer when you could be better.

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LeftishBrit

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Thu Jan-28-10 07:41 PM
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8. I know two (one of them my mother)...

and they both showed great improvement, though it took some time in both cases.

Overall, it's said that there is about a 70% chance of improvement. Deterioration is possible but rare. It's major surgery, however; and most doctors think that it should not be undertaken unless less drastic measures (e.g. physiotherapy) have been tried and failed.

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conscious evolution

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Fri Jan-29-10 09:17 AM
Response to Original message

9. I saw a study a few years back

that said it has about a 50-50 chance of working.
When my back went out a few years ago the ortho doc recommended I try a chiropractor or other non surgical alternatives first and save the surgery as a last resort.
As for people I know personally that had it-It worked for those who had it done on problems with the upper back.For those with lower back problems it seems to be around 50-50.The ones it did work for,however,all say it was 100% success.

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supernova

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Fri Jan-29-10 12:35 PM
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10. I've had surgery for scoliosis

back in the 70s. There are two steel rods in my back holding me up.

While it does give mel "flat back syndrome" (because it takes away the natural inward curve of the spine at the small of the back). I certainly don't feel any problems whatsoever with my back. I have used it to haul and push loads much heavier than a 5 ft woman would otherwise be able to do. ;-)

I do still do gym work and yoga to keep myself as limber as possible.

And no back problems whatsoever.

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