Jess,
John Dietz at OrthoIndy (top orthopedic hospital in Indiana and he's an SRS doctor) said that about the pain after fusing to L4-L5. I have also read studies that suggest there is a high probability of pain after fusing to that area (but not lower). Also there's an almost certainty of disk degeneration.
Right now I don't much disk degeneration or pain, hence the waffling. However, Dr. Bridwell convinced me that this is likely to come (sadly)! He wants to fuse to sacrum with pelvic fixation. And I think that is the difference. Assuming you don't fracture your fixation there, I think fusing that low is supposed to relieve the pain, though you give up more flexibility.
Actually, I would like to start a new thread on the L5 vs. sacrum debate, but I need to do a search first. It's an interesting question that even the doc seem to still be debating.
But, bottom line for you is it sounds like surgery WOULD reduce your pain. The fact that you have more to begin with and that they're definitely fusing to sacrum make the difference (I think!).
Evelyn
John Dietz at OrthoIndy (top orthopedic hospital in Indiana and he's an SRS doctor) said that about the pain after fusing to L4-L5. I have also read studies that suggest there is a high probability of pain after fusing to that area (but not lower). Also there's an almost certainty of disk degeneration.
Right now I don't much disk degeneration or pain, hence the waffling. However, Dr. Bridwell convinced me that this is likely to come (sadly)! He wants to fuse to sacrum with pelvic fixation. And I think that is the difference. Assuming you don't fracture your fixation there, I think fusing that low is supposed to relieve the pain, though you give up more flexibility.
Actually, I would like to start a new thread on the L5 vs. sacrum debate, but I need to do a search first. It's an interesting question that even the doc seem to still be debating.
But, bottom line for you is it sounds like surgery WOULD reduce your pain. The fact that you have more to begin with and that they're definitely fusing to sacrum make the difference (I think!).
Evelyn
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