| Re: Major Back Problems
In making the decision to have my one-level fusion, I talked to a co-worker's mother, who had been fused through her mid-back in high school due to severe scoliosis. Years later, her lumbar spine had deteroriated, and she waited for two years struggling with pain before she took the leap to have the rest fused. This resulted in a very long, very complicated surgery with multiple surgeons scrubbing in and out. She had complications and had to go through a revision surgery while still in the hospital and was not released for 32 days. Frankly, she went through a worst-case scenario.
She now reports that she cannot golf or jump from elevated surfaces. Also, since she is fused from shoulder blades down, she's not terribly limber. However, those are her only limitations. She only rarely takes ibuprofen for pain. When I asked her if, knowing everything that she had to go through, would she have had the fusion without waiting the two years, she stated an unequivocal YES!
I am only seven weeks post-op, so I'm still recovering, but I hope that my outcome is as good as the co-worker's mom.
| 
Major Back Problems 
