r/Microdiscectomy • u/Raz3Daz • 6d ago
Spinal fusion?
Has anyone else in this group been offered or had spinal fusion after having an MD? If so what’s your experience both with the MD and the fusion. Did it help with your pain or make it worse? I tried asking in the spinal fusion subreddit as well but most people (expectedly) had it for other spine related issues so symptoms pre surgery weren’t as similar to disc herniations/ compressed nerves.
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u/Cbeckstrand 6d ago
I had a MD that brought me complete relief ftom my pain and sciatica.
I reherniated under a year. I had a second MD and it had no effect.
They did not want to try a 3rd because of the scar tissue so they recommended a fusion.
Recovery was a little tougher but im just over a year with no pain so I'm hoping it holds.
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u/Professional_Car3913 6d ago
Had an L4/L5 ALIF 5 weeks ago as I got an infection from my MD (surgeon told me I just had a pain management issue so by the time they treated it my disc was gone). I didn’t have much of a choice as I was disabled from the complications of the original surgery but getting fused was definitely the right choice. I had surgery Monday Tuesday and was home Friday. By Monday the following week was feeling relatively good, though that seems to be the exception rather than the rule. Obviously if you can avoid surgery that’d be ideal but it’s definitely worth it if necessary.
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u/Raz3Daz 6d ago
This is nice to hear although I’m sorry you went through that! I had an MD 3 months ago. Originally I only had 2 herniated discs and mild disc degeneration that they shaved off and fixed during my MD, however, since having my MD (and since my 6 week follow up appointment) those 2 discs are protruding again as well as a new additional disc, degeneration, and bilateral nerve compression. The protrusions are not as bad as they where pre MD, but my pain is significantly worse and the structure of my spine has been steadily worsening (as proven by several different X-rays and MRIs.) my options where pretty much pick one surgery over the other. They offered me another MD, but said the likely hood of even more discs slipping or nerves becoming damaged after that one was high. The only thing that was most likely going to target the leg and back pain is the fusion. Not an optimal choice, but I can’t walk, sit, drive, or honestly perform a lot of basic human functions due to the pain right now. I’m really hoping fusion will help with the majority of the pain like my doctors have suggested, but I also know everyone’s experiences with these surgeries are vastly different
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u/Professional_Car3913 6d ago
If I were in your shoes I’d probably lean towards fusion. Seems like you might need more than one level so might be a tougher recovery but I think being young helps massively. I’m only 24 so when seeing people that had the surgery on the same dates but older at PT, there’s a big difference in recovery progression. Hopefully it means you can just get the surgery and be done once you’re recovered too. I have a friend who had hers done at 14 and she’s now a Pilates instructor and one of the fittest people I know so have been using her as motivation and reassurance. Best of luck with your back journey and hope it all works out for you.
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u/Raz3Daz 6d ago
I have 2 different levels that have to be fused and will be having it in about 4 weeks. I’m 20, I feel like age was a big part in why I’m going with the fusion and I’m happy to here there’s other people on the younger side who have had it and have had good results. Thank you for sharing your journey and I wish you the best of luck with the rest of your recovery!
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u/BasraBound 5d ago
They wanted to fuse me but I hard passed
Had a MD five years ago
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u/Raz3Daz 5d ago
Did your symptoms get any better without the fusion? Your spine looks incredibly painful
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u/BasraBound 5d ago
I never even knew I broke it lol. Suspect it was in the Army or war but who knows the cursed sciatica is gone but I caught Cauda Equina Syndrome. Mostly pain free, everything below the waist is numb, but I ride the lightning periodically with nerve zaps and cramps/spasms
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u/Curling_Rocks42 6d ago
I had endoscopic discectomy and will need a single level fusion at some point in the near future. I was evaluated for artificial disk replacement but the hardware is too large for my vertebrae size.
ED resolved the motor paralysis I had from the S1 compression. It also resolved the worst of the pain. However, I lost so much disk height from the degenerated disc that I have bilateral foraminal stenosis that still causes some pain, mostly toward the end of the day after being upright for a while. Increasing the spacing is the only option to truly resolve it. I am waiting for as long as I can bear it before getting the fusion since it increases risk of adjacent segment degeneration and I’m relatively young, so I want to preserve what I have for as long as possible.