53yo with increasing lower back stiffness and mostly left calf/foot pain .. symptoms come and go. worse with standing on hard surface. increasing over several years. I have Grade 1 Spondylolithesis (with spondylolysis defects at L5) with almost no disc left at L5. My L5 nerve root has always been swollen on MRI. I am advised to undergo a Gill Procedure, decompression , removal of facets and spondylolysis, foramenotomy , and posterior fusion. OK GUYS AND GALS> what can I expect after surgery? What are the odds that these surgeons can really cure your neurological symptoms of dysethesias, nagging foot pain and back stiffness. (My surgeon is actually very qualified, an author of a textbook on spinal disorders and a full professor of orthopedic surgery at a major medical school.) I am apprehensive probably cause I am a woose. (sp) I was so weak even after inguinal hernia surgery last year. Please give me the real poop as to what to expect. I would imagine that most patients do quite well , and that, like the hernia sounding boards, only the ones who have post op troubles sign on here for advice. THANKS FOR ANY REPLIES

Hello and welcome. I have not had my fusion yet, it is scheduled for 9/8. There are 2 threads on this board that will give you lots of information on what to expect...Good Fusion Outcomes Wanted and Pre-Fusion Mega jitters. Both of these threads are support for several of us that are going to have fusions in the very near future and we're getting lots of great info from those that have gone before us. Hope you'll join us there.

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Each and everyday you have the opportunity to Choose Your Attitude. Choose wisely.
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Grade 1 Spondylolisthesis for 26 years, recently progressed to Grade II
With marked canal and foraminal stenosis and severe compression of L5 Nerve root.
Scheduled for L5/S1 360 degree fusion on 9/8
DDD and bone spurs T11-S1
Herniated C3-C4
Disk/spur complex C4-C5
Significant bone spurs C5-C6
Can anyone say "just give me a whole new spine!"

Hello Drturf,

Welcome to the Healthboards. Before my fusion surgery it was made very clear to me that their was no guarantee of complete pain relief. There is only hope that the nerves will indeed repair themselves. Also fusion can take from 3 months to one year to begin, and there is no guarantee that you will indeed fuse. I have spinal stenosis, DDD, and disk deformity. Prior to my surgery I had so many problems with right leg and sciatica. I am having a very painful recovery. I also have pain in both my legs. My feet are so swollen you can’t even see my ankles. My neuro surgeon thinks I may have a problem with a muscle so I cannot start physical therapy yet. Still not sure if I will have a successful fusion as it’s to early to tell. But I will tell you that I am worried and in so much pain.

I have read many successful fusions stories. So don’t let my moaning and groaning scare you. I hope that you get many positive reply’s. Maybe a few months from now you will see me posting on how great I feel. I’ll never give up hope.

Take Care.


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Lumbar MRI 10/02
Lumbar Lordosis
L5-S1 disc herniation with moderate thecal sac deformity.
L4-5 disc desiccation with bulge which results in mild thecal sac deformity and mild bilateral foraminal stenosis.
L2-3 disc desiccation with Schmorl’s nodule of L3.
Lumbar Epidural 1/30/03
Lumbar Epidural 2/12/03
Lumbar Epidural 2/26/03
Lumbar Discogram 5/23/03
Lumbar CatScan 5/23/03
Posterior Fusion & Infuse on L4,L5,S1 6/30/03
Cervical MRI 10/02
Loss of cervical lordosis with reversal of the curvature.
C4-5 and C6-7 disc bulges resulting in flattening of the ventral margin of the cord.
C5-6 there is a left foraminal herniation which results in moderate foraminal stenosis In addition, there is flattening of the ventral margin of the cord due to bulging disc.
Cervical Epidural 5/19/03

Hello, I'm new to the board.

I had a fusion on July 1st. I had a recurrent herniated disc at l5-S1, herniated disc at L4-L5, osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis, ddd... I had already had a diskectomy in 1998 when I was 19-years-old. I had begun suffering from a lot of left leg pain again, and my right leg began to bother me as well.
My right leg problems were resolved with the surgery. I did not have a disc herniation on that nerve- I had an osteophyte(bone spur). Both L4 and L5 had movement in them, so I had a 2 level fusion with bone from my right hip.
I'm still having a lot of left leg pain. The dr put it bluntly to me 'the nerve was badly beaten up'. It could take 6 months to tell if the surgery was a success for pain relief. (Fusion has already begun) And I'm in a LOT of pain, just like pre-surgery. I take 2400mg of Neurontin and Vicoprofen for break-thru pain. He started me out on 1200mg of Neurontin, and that took the edge off but not enough. I have good days and bad days. I overdid it shopping with my mom yesterday, so I can already tell that this will be a bad day with my left leg already hurting this morning. Wish I could have slept in, but our toddler had other ideas...
I would be glad to answer in questions that you or anyone else might have about fusions, since it's obviously still fresh on my mind. You can email me at scrapbookworm@elmore.rr.com
Later,
Amy