Hi all. I just joined today and wanted to say hi. I am 43 and have 3 kids. I have been suffering with L5/S1 spondylolisthesis since 17 years of age. I have also been suffering with neck/shoulder pain for the last 7 years. In the last year or so, my lower back problems have dramatically increased and I now have all the usual problems with my right leg and, to a lesser extent, my left leg. I will be undergoing L5/S1 fusion on 9/8, using both an anterior and posterior approach. Needless to say I am scared to death and trying to learn all I can. After doing much homework, I have chosen a surgeon in New York City that has been recommended as one of the best in the country and I am hopeful that his expertise will help lead to a good outcome. The posts and replies on this board are some of the most intelligent, level-headed, compassionate and insightful that I have found on any board. I look forward to sharing information with all of you. I would really like to hear from others that have been, or are going through, the same sort of thing. For now, I have just one question...I have seen several references here to a 360 degree fusion. Is that the same thing as the anterior/posterior surgery that I will be having?

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Each and everyday you have the opportunity to Choose Your Attitude. Choose wisely.

Welcome.

Who is your doctor in New York?

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27 years old computer programmer
April 1996 - Bulging L4/L5 disk from car accident.
October 2002 - Low back pain and pain in left leg.
October 2002 - See chiropractor with minimal relief.
November 2002 - MRI shows L4/L5 moderate disk herniation (left and center)
January 2003 - Try PT for a couple of weeks some relief until chiropractor visit.
February 2003 - Chiropractor does traction, resulting in first instance of numbness in foot.
Late February 2003 and still going - New Physical Therapist, not much relief yet...
March 2003 - Very light pain in right leg in addition to left, EMG suggests nerve damage/irritaion in both legs.
March 2003 - Second MRI shows L4/L5 moderate disk herniation (left and center), slightly larger
April 3, 2003 - Epidural Injection, slight pain relief, more tingling in left leg and right.
April 17, 2003 - Going for second epidural injection.
April 22,2003 - Feeling some relief, started doing exersices from the McKenzie book.
May 1, 2003 - Third epidural injection
May 7, 2003 - Still in pain, less numbness and tingling
June 21, 2003 - Fell in the house, ten times worse.
July 14, 2003 - Had laminectomy / micro-discectomy, decompression of nerves on both sides all done from the left side.
July 23, 2003 - Lots of burning in both legs.

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In the journal Neurosurgical Focus, there is an article entitled Circumferential Fusion for Spondylolisthesis in the Lumbar Spine. In that article, a posterior approach to execute a 360 degree fusion is discussed. So a surgeon does not have to use both an anterior approach and a posterior approach to do a 360 degree fusion. The exact reference for the article is Neurosurg Focus 13(1), 2002. You can read it online at www.medscape.com/viewarticle/439167_1 (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/439167_1) . Online registration for the articles posted on medscape is free.

JohnnyBravo...my doctor is Thomas Errico, Chief of the Spine Service at NYU Medical Center and the Hospital for Joint Diseases.

HNP: Thank you so much for the information!

Hi Sharon,
I just wanted to welcome you to the boards!
I think you are in the most excellent hands with Dr. Errico. I have scoliosis and may need revision surgery at some point and he is listed as one of the "top doctors" in the US for fusion and revision surgery on a scoliosis forum that I am a member of. I will be traveling almost 8 hours to see him when I schedule my appt. I have heard a ton about him!
I wish you lots of luck!
God Bless,
Christina

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27 years old
1993: T1 to L1 fusion due to scoliosis at age 17
2000: Tore and ruptured L4 L5 & L5 S1-it finally got better after about a year. Did really well for about a year.
June 2002: Had a relapse and tore disc again. It is going on a year and my disc pain has subsided now I am faced with facet joint and bone problems restricting my movement.
Not sure what is next!
Still waiting to go into remission again but I think the damage is done!!
Current doctor say to wait it out.
Going for second opinion in July.

ChristinaD, thank you for the welcome. If you have not already done so, I suggest checking out Dr. Errico's website: www.erricospine.com. (http://www.erricospine.com.) He has an excellent, very graphic presentation of scoliosis surgery on the site. In terms of seeing him, be warned. When you call, you will be told that he does not accept new patients. I had to use connections (my step-mother is a Dean at the UCLA Medical School)to get him to see me. One of the spine surgeons at UCLA trained under Dr. Errico and sent him a note asking him to see me. The office then had me send them all of my records, before calling me to schedule an appointment. I am a little embarassed at pulling strings like that but, I firmly believe in seeking out the best possible medical care one can find. I truly hope that you do not have to undergo a revision but, from everything I have seen, Dr. Errico's are the best hands to be in.