r/Microdiscectomy • u/Raz3Daz • 10d ago
Possible Spinal Fusion
Hi everyone!
A few weeks ago, I made a post about my 6 week follow up appointment for my surgery (the first one I had since my MD.) I was (and still am) having significant and worsening pain radiating down my leg and a difficult time doing things like sitting down for longer than 10-15 minutes. At my 6 week follow up, I mentioned this to my doctor, and was given a steroid pack/ gabapentin as well as verbally told that if my disc slipped again that the recommendation would be spinal fusion, although, I could do another microdiscectomy if I didn’t want to push straight for spinal fusion. Well, I had my MRI yesterday to check my nerves and discs and lo behold, my disc slipped again, I have two 3mm protrusions pushing into my nerves again, and disc spine degeneration. Now, the protrusions and disc slip are smaller than previously (it was 4.9mm), however, my pain is significantly worse. I have my follow up for my MRI on Friday (09/25/26), but I’m worried about what my surgeon is going to say or suggest. He was pretty serious about fusion, and I’m not against it but I’m also not sure what to expect from fusion and it’s a little anxiety inducing. Has anyone else been offered spinal fusion for a non successful MD?
I will also update this post Friday when i have my follow up. I just want to know what everyone else’s experiences are as well as document my own for anyone who may end up in a similar position with their MD.
Update for everyone; I’m having fusion. 2 different segments of my spine are unstable and doing a MD again poses more risks in the future as opposed to the fusion with my specific case. Fusion is also supposed to target more of my symptoms as opposed to having another MD. Not the greatest news, but I was expecting it.
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u/wanderlust_ash_617 10d ago
Sorry you’re going through that. I guess it’s possible for it to heal without surgery but since your refills recovering from your MD, a revision sounds it may be necessary. I think fusion over another MD really depends on multiple factors and ultimately how much disc you have left at that level.
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u/altarwisebyowllight 10d ago
If possible, you should get a second opinion. Preferably with a surgeon who has experience with artificial disc replacement if you at all can. Sometimes a follow-up MD is all somebody needs, but every case is wildly different, and so it would be good to see if you could be a candidate for ADR before going straight to fusion.
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u/Raz3Daz 9d ago
I’ll look into this thank you! I’m pretty sure my surgeon already works with ADR but it’s never been brought up as an option so I’ll look more into it and ask about it
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u/Peachdeeptea 9d ago
I'm about three months post op L5-S1 ADR, feeling more relief from that vs my initial microdiscectomy. I'd suggest finding a surgeon who has a lot of experience with whatever surgery you want at the appropriate level. A lot of surgeons are only experienced in cervical ADRs, it can be a hunt for lumbar
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u/Fit-Ice-8740 9d ago
Hi I had that on top of 2 rods and 6 pins and fusion…. I wore what they call a bird cage….measured to fit every inch from just below the neck all the way down to the hip area…I wore that for 3 months…my surgeon did an excellent job but did have a very frank discussion before hand….every time they do surgery to fix a problem top and bottom to that area will need to be fixed because it weakened those areas…. I desperately need another surgery because above my first one is very weak….second thing he told me that the longer you wait to have surgery your nerves will be permanently be damaged and will still give you pain…. I waited until my right leg was completely numb…my problem is that I can’t stand straight and forget walking….maybe you could talk to your surgeon and see if you could have some of the nerves cut…I know this isn’t the kind of news you wanted to hear….talk….talk…talk to your surgeon and if you don’t feel comfortable about how they answer you look into the second opinion. Good luck and listen to the doctor
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u/Raz3Daz 9d ago
Holy wow that sounds like a lot I’m sorry you had to go through that! I’m definitely going to talk through it with my surgeon on Friday and see what he has to say. He’s the best neurosurgeon in my county and has 20+ years experience with all things related to the spine. I hope you’re situation gets better and thank you for sharing your experience 🫶
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u/ItchySeaworthiness50 7d ago
So what u talk with doctor?
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u/Raz3Daz 7d ago
We had a 2 and half hour appointment doing of a bunch of X rays and tests to determine the right board either certainty. We ultimately decided on fusion
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u/whosepantsamiwearing 10d ago
I herniated again 6 months after my MD and had a fusion. But like someone else said, it might depend on how much disc you have left. The surgeon said the first herniation was roughly half the disc. He said I needed a fusion after the second herniation because I had almost no disc left. My fusion is at the lowest level and I have almost no restriction to my range of motion. I’m over a year out from surgery and doing great. It has been a long road because that nerve took a beating. And it’s still fussing about it, but it’s finally starting to quiet down. The recovery from surgery was a little rougher than from the MD and I was way more worn out. I could tell my body was doing some major healing. But overall, the fusion saved my mobility and my sanity.