Need comfort and support regarding back surgery

Well i saw a neurosurgeon on Monday for a 3rd opinion on back surgery and he concurred with the other two, i need back surgery. What has me scared is not necessarily the type of surgery, a fusion, but the amount of fusion needed. My L4-S1 is completely degenerative and the others are partially degenerate. So they think it would be best for me to have fusion from L1-S1. The complete lumbar portion of my back. That just seems scary to me. I understand that if i don't have it done like this and only have the lower lumbar done, i would be looking at another surgery later in life. 

I am to see the recommended surgeon next week. I have so many questions, so i thought I would ask for experiences here of those who had back surgery. 

First of all, did you have fusion done? How many disk were fused? What was recovery like? Do you know if recovery is the same regardless of number of disc fused? How long before you could do minimal exercising i.e. Walking around the neighborhood and so forth? 

Also for all to weigh in, when it comes to surgeons, would you rather have a surgeon who is the best in his field, but crude and arrogant or one that is decent in skill but has better bedside manners than the one that is better in skill. I think I want the one with the best skill, but I'm also big on bedside manners. This particular surgeon has no bedside manners whatsoever and his follow-up care is questionable. 

Please I'm looking for any and all information anyone has and would like to share. Thank you in advance!

Sorry I don't have any help or suggestions but wanted to let you know I'll be thinking of you and wish you the best. 

Thank you!

I've never had back surgery but having worked as an RN on a floor that specialized in back and bariatric surgery if you can believe it, I would always choose skill over bedside manner. Its nice to have both, but evidence shows better outcomes the more experience the dr has. Often times excellent surgeons are so concerned with outcomes that they come off as rude, but in the end they want the best outcome, which is what a patient wants as well. I have some personal experience with this as I had to pick a neurosurgeon recently because I have to have decompression surgery on my brain. I'm going across country because I needed a specialist.When will your surgery be? I'll be thinking of you. Mine is October 22nd.

 

 

Thanks for the info. I am kinda thinking the same thing. I want the best in the skill, I'll just have to deal with the bedside manners. I am waiting to hear from his office to talk about consultation and scheduling of surgery. I need to get it done as soon as possible because i want to be completely healed and off of any restrictions for vacation in May.

again thank you for your input in this matter.

Hi

My first discectomy / laminectomy was in 1993. No hardware was used. A lot of bone was removed. I developed "failed laminectomy syndrome".  The spine collapsed and pointed to the left. This Dr was an old school neuro.

My second surgery was a PLIF L2 thru S1 performed in 2007. Hardware was 2 rods, 10 screws and cages. I was walking (again) right away. I went to mild therapy. I can not lift more than 30 lbs. The surgery improved me a lot. My l leg and foot was weak and I was in great pain befofe the surgery.

My surgeon was Dr C Toumbis Crystal River, Fl. He is a spine specialist. Google him.

Good luck to you

Thank you for the information. I really appreciate it. How was your follow up care?

Followup was/is excellent.

I am 68 years old now. After the second surgery I developed some pain in my right hip area on the outside of the hip. Then I had a heart attack, got stents and went to cardio rehab. The rehab fixed my hip pain. 

My theory is - after the surgery and the hardware my geometry changed a bit adding some more stess on the hip.

Interesting, I have osteoporosis in my hips now and have hip pain as well, not sure I could take much more pressure on the hips. 

I had back surgery last June. I had herniated discs in my L4, L5, & S1. Not the same type of surgery but I will say I wish that I had gotten it 4 years ago when the initial pain started. It's the most miserable and debilitating pain. Recovery for me wasn't bad, I was out of work for 30 days. I hope it all goes well. Don't suffer through the pain bc you are scared of surgery. I did the same thing and regret waiting so long!