Hi there all,
I have seen past posts (which I am unable to locate now - figures!) about studies regarding disc degeneration below a fusion within 5 years of spinal fusion surgery.
The reason I ask is that I am 13 months post-op from spinal fusion (t2-l3) for correction of a 90 degree kyphosis. Since surgery, I've had a great deal of pain in my lower back...under the fusion. At first I thought it was SI joint dysfunction, but that was ruled out after a cortisone injection didn't help...They didn't see anything in my x-rays at my 6 month, but said that if my pain continued, they'd do a CT scan. I had a CT scan done before my 1 year post-op appointment, which was two weeks ago. I explained my pain...hurts to sit longer than an hour...dull ache in lower back radiates toward hip and down legs...can't walk farther than a mile without pain and weakness in leg. So...
The Dr. saw some disc desiccation in my l4 and maybe l5 discs and brought up my pre-op MRI, which did show some darkening in those vertebrae, so it was an issue from before surgery (as I did have some of that pain prior to surgery)...but adding 3 lbs. of metal to those vertebrae has definitely aggravated it to the point where I am miserable....
I am scheduled for a new MRI on Nov. 11th and once I do that, Dr. Lenke said that he will most likely be recommending epidural cortisone injections. Which then will take more time to get an appt. with that Dr...so I am bound to be in pain for quite some time. I am also in physical therapy, but at the moment not focusing on low back pain...just shoulder and neck pain.
But I just wanted to see if anyone else has suffered from degenerating discs under their fusions....and if epidural cortisone injections helped? If I'm only one year post-op and I'm having this kind of pain, am I inevitably going to need a revision surgery fusing me all the way to the sacrum?
Thoughts appreciated!
Thanks
Hannah CP
I have seen past posts (which I am unable to locate now - figures!) about studies regarding disc degeneration below a fusion within 5 years of spinal fusion surgery.
The reason I ask is that I am 13 months post-op from spinal fusion (t2-l3) for correction of a 90 degree kyphosis. Since surgery, I've had a great deal of pain in my lower back...under the fusion. At first I thought it was SI joint dysfunction, but that was ruled out after a cortisone injection didn't help...They didn't see anything in my x-rays at my 6 month, but said that if my pain continued, they'd do a CT scan. I had a CT scan done before my 1 year post-op appointment, which was two weeks ago. I explained my pain...hurts to sit longer than an hour...dull ache in lower back radiates toward hip and down legs...can't walk farther than a mile without pain and weakness in leg. So...
The Dr. saw some disc desiccation in my l4 and maybe l5 discs and brought up my pre-op MRI, which did show some darkening in those vertebrae, so it was an issue from before surgery (as I did have some of that pain prior to surgery)...but adding 3 lbs. of metal to those vertebrae has definitely aggravated it to the point where I am miserable....
I am scheduled for a new MRI on Nov. 11th and once I do that, Dr. Lenke said that he will most likely be recommending epidural cortisone injections. Which then will take more time to get an appt. with that Dr...so I am bound to be in pain for quite some time. I am also in physical therapy, but at the moment not focusing on low back pain...just shoulder and neck pain.
But I just wanted to see if anyone else has suffered from degenerating discs under their fusions....and if epidural cortisone injections helped? If I'm only one year post-op and I'm having this kind of pain, am I inevitably going to need a revision surgery fusing me all the way to the sacrum?
Thoughts appreciated!
Thanks
Hannah CP
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