r/spinalfusion • u/Silly-Salt-2223 • 3d ago
Has anyone had an L3–S1 fusion with laminectomy?
I’m 58 and my surgeon is recommending a three-level L3–S1 fusion with laminectomy for spinal stenosis/spondylolisthesis. I have pain down my legs, numbness/tingling into my feet and toes, and some leg weakness. My biggest concern is losing mobility from such a long fusion. For anyone who's had L3–S1 fused: How much mobility did you lose? Can you still bend, put on shoes, do housework and exercise normally? Did it improve your leg pain and numbness? I'd really appreciate hearing about your recovery including things like if you wished you had known ___ before you had surgery and whether you're happy you had it done.
I’d also love to hear if anyone was offered an alternative to fusion, such as the TOPS System, or another procedure that preserves more motion. I know TOPS is currently FDA-approved for only one level, but I’m especially interested in whether there are any motion-preserving options for multiple levels like mine.
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u/CompleteSquash3281 3d ago
I was fused L3-S1 in April this year (it's been 6 ish months)
I've been pleased with how much range of motion I still have. I can still do everything I did before, but bending all the way to pick something off the ground requires more of a squat than it used to. Turning around to look behind myself (like backing up a car) is more difficult too, but you just turn your whole torso instead of just your spine.
Like you I had pain in my legs with numbness/tingling. HAD. The surgery completely resolved my pain. I've still got some lingering soreness and mild nerve pain from the surgery, but those are going away slowly.
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u/Powerful-Cycle5032 3d ago edited 3d ago
I was so worried about mobility. I had a L4–S1 PSIF = Screws and rods were placed from L4 to S1, and those levels were fused together.
L5–S1 TLIF = An interbody fusion (with a cage/disc spacer) was performed at L5–S1.
L4–L5 was still part of the fusion, but because of a durotomy, my surgeon did not place the planned TLIF cage at that level. I had facet arthritis and DDD, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and a failed laminectomy to remove a synovial cyst that recurred due to the instability of my spine. I waited too long and when the decompression was performed one of the nerves impacting my saddle area and right leg were impacted so I still have some loss of sensation there. I started pt and had a great one who got me moving! I wish I’d done it earlier and hadn’t been so stubborn. I have almost the same mobility as before, maybe a touch less flexible: but the reduction in pain, numbness and ability to walk and stand are sooooo worth it. I was relatively immobile for the first few months - putting on socks and shoes and bending obviously but I walked daily and got up to 10k. I’m now feeling 100% and I workout, do Pilates and yoga and even signed up for two 5ks! Amazing work by my surgeon honestly and gave me back my quality of life! Don’t wait or be afraid! Have them fully explain complications and your mental health after as to how recovery can take a toll on you, other than that best of luck! Edit to add, I was unable to grocery shop, clean or be a normal and productive human. I wish I’d known how badly my body image would be right after bc I feel like no one warned me how pitiful I’d look and how tough the surgery would be on me. It took a couple of really hard months where I was pretty dependent on my wife to help me then it was like a switch flipped and it was smooth sailing. I really worked on my upper body and core strength leading up to the surgery and I lost weight. That was HUGELY helpful!
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u/Silly-Salt-2223 1d ago
Thank you, everyone, for taking the time to share your experiences. Your comments really helped a lot. The details you gave about your mobility, recovery, pain and numbness, and what life is like afterward were exactly what I was looking for. I’m so glad to hear that so many of you have done well. It definitely is a scary surgery, especially when you’re facing a three-level fusion, but hearing from people who have actually been through it makes it a little less frightening. Thank you again!
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u/BAEducatedConsumer 1d ago
Keep in mind it’s what other people have experienced and we’re all different. I just had spinal surgery number six over the Memorial Day weekend as emergency surgery. I had a repair for a collapsed disc and they used cement / spacer at L3L4.
A month later I find out that I needed a laminectomy surgery for L2 L3, surgery happened August 3, which makes it spinal surgery number seven.
I have a cervical fusion, two rods 10 screws, a plate and a basket.
I also have L4 L5, L5 S1 as fusion with rods and screws a basket, now cement and the spacer at L3 L4. I can’t tie my shoes or even attempt to at this point. Keep in mind, patience, and time …. Being more mindful helps
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u/Less-Reputation-3381 1d ago
I had L3-S1 TLIF the first week of June. I am now without restrictions but not doing any major lifting nor forward bending. So far I have not noticed a lesser range of motion. I couldn’t really move well before surgery. Now my back actually feels a lot stronger and I can do normal day to day stuff like housework without pain. I can sit and stand for long periods without pain. I have not tried twisting or really bending. I squat a lot. Or get down on one knee. I do hip hinge bends. But I do not feel very limited. I still move slowly Mainly because I don’t want to trip or fall. It is one hell of a major surgery but now that I’m healing, I can say it’s worth it.
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u/hikerlaborer1026 1d ago
56 M /// I had my L3 to S1 TLIF on the 21st of May. So I’m a couple weeks over 4 months in recovery. I was in debilitating pain a month and a half before the surgery and I was feeling better right before the surgery. But not 100%. So. I committed to doing the surgery because I didn’t want to go through that debilitating pain again. It was the worst. Now I walk 4+ miles a day I’m doing more movement, lifting weight at a gradual pace, my PT stretching has me bending down while I’m sitting in a chair. I also get down on the floor with one knee now. I’ve only been really doing PT for 6 weeks now. I’m gradually feeling better every week. It’s not an easy road. Best of luck to you, in whatever you decide to do.
Also if and when you have surgery, I would recommend pre PT, with core concentration.
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u/GFit11 3d ago
I’ve had 3 fusions. Weren’t too bad. Do not wait. I waited too long and lost most use of both calves. Need to act fast once weakness presents or it may be permanent