Spinal Fusion Surgery.

[Maggs56]

I have spondylolisthesis.

Back in August, after a year of increasing pain and decreasing mobility, my GP finally refered me to a consultant surgeon.

Her immediate opinion was that I should have a minor operation, which would simply involve the placing of two small screws into my slipped vertebra in order to anchor it to the vetebra above.

Freedom from pain and restoration of mobility, she said......

However, she wanted me to have an MRI - just to determine exactly where she needed to place the screws.

I had the scan in September and returned to see the consultant in October.

The simple operation, she says, will not do the job.

Instead, she proposes carrying out Spinal Fusion surgery.

I'd heard about this before - and nothing I'd heard was good, so I researched it on-line and contacted a couple of people I know who'd had it.

The statistics for failure and anecdotal testimony make for very a scary prognosis.

I spoke to my GP last week and he agrees with my decision to refuse the operation.

In his experience, fusion surgery very rarely improves the quality of life of the patient and very often leads to further problems.

I feel very low right now, facing the prospect of never being free of pain and never being able to be active again.

[Pooka1]

(snip)

In his experience, fusion surgery very rarely improves the quality of life of the patient and very often leads to further problems.

I feel very low right now, facing the prospect of never being free of pain and never being able to be active again.

Hi.

I don't know about fusion for spondylolisthesis specifically but fusion cures certain adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients. In these cases, fusion stops the curve progression and does not predispose these kids to future back problems over and above the general population.

Did they say fusion is not often successful in any spondylolisthesis case or just yours for some reason?

I suggest you talk to some more spine orthopedic surgeons.

Good luck.

sharon

[CHRIS WBS]

Are you an adolescent with spondylolisthesis? That would be unusual since this is an arthritic condition of the spine. Perhaps you meant to post in the Adult Patients section. Have you been diagnosed with scoliosis? If so, I would highly recommend that you see an adult scoliosis specialist. In addition, many of these specialists are trained to treat conditions of the aging spine such as spondylolisthesis. Good luck.

Chris

[Maggs56]

Spondylolisthesis.

I'm a 51-yr-old woman, not a teenager!

My condition was diagnosed eleven years ago - after being treated as arthritis for many years before that.

My digestive system has been ruined by the drugs I was taking for all those years for the treatment of arthritis I didn't have, but now DO have.

I now cannot be treated for the arthritis.

Furthermore, I cannot be treated for this wretched spondylolisthesis!

[Scoliat11]

Hi my 11 year old daughter had fusion surgery for her spondylolisthesis last may. she is doing great and is now pain free. we tried bracing but it didn't help at all. she had a brace that was connected to her right leg to try to stabilize her back. She was in much pain and was loosing feeling in her right leg due to the pressure on the nerves on that side. from the time she was diagnosed to her surgery was very fast. her surgery was L4 L5 & S1

[LynnMarie74]

I have spondylolisthesis.

Back in August, after a year of increasing pain and decreasing mobility, my GP finally refered me to a consultant surgeon.

Her immediate opinion was that I should have a minor operation, which would simply involve the placing of two small screws into my slipped vertebra in order to anchor it to the vetebra above.

Freedom from pain and restoration of mobility, she said......

However, she wanted me to have an MRI - just to determine exactly where she needed to place the screws.

I had the scan in September and returned to see the consultant in October.

The simple operation, she says, will not do the job.

Instead, she proposes carrying out Spinal Fusion surgery.

I'd heard about this before - and nothing I'd heard was good, so I researched it on-line and contacted a couple of people I know who'd had it.

The statistics for failure and anecdotal testimony make for very a scary prognosis.

I spoke to my GP last week and he agrees with my decision to refuse the operation.

In his experience, fusion surgery very rarely improves the quality of life of the patient and very often leads to further problems.

I feel very low right now, facing the prospect of never being free of pain and never being able to be active again.

HI there. I dont have spondylolisthesis but like alot of others here, I do have Scoliosis & I did have spinal fusion surgery. I found that searching the web for info can lead to lots of bad, scary stuff & also good things to...for instance this web site. Your surgeon is saying that the fusion surgery is hardly ever sucsessful & makes quality of life worse is of course, just his opinion. I do understand that your condition is different that mine, but spinal fusion is spinal fusion...its just to what degree will one be fused. I know ALOT of men & women here & outside of here, that are proving the very opposite...myself included. Granted, Im only 5 1/2 weeks post op..BUT the pain that I had before my surgery is gone! Not only that but the annoying & painful headaches I would get on a regular basis are gone as well. Im still in the healing stages of my surgery, but I strongly believe that fusion was the right decision/option for me. And with that said, "for me"....you need to do whats in your heart. You've been living w/your condition for a long time and are dealing w/pain...Im confident that you too will do whats best for you. Good Luck!