I had an L4-S1 fusion in 1984 for spondylolisthesis at age 17. I also wore a boston brace for two years in jr. high for scoliosis (32/33* curves). My back has been great for all these years.
Now at age 40, I have had a gradual onset of lower back pain, severe with prolonged standing, with some sciatica, but the most troubling symptom is now I have tingling in my legs.
My x-rays show that the fusion from L4-L5 is gone (probably never healed properly), and I have a new forward slippage of L4, as well as a lateral shifting of L3. I saw my local spine specialist (not SRS) and he basically said OMG your back problem is so complicated. He thinks I will need a "long fusion" of my entire scoliosis to stabilize the spine. I was shocked to say the least. I thought at worst maybe I just needed the fusion redone or something. I am having an MRI Monday.
I scheduled an appt in a couple weeks to see a spine specialist that the local ortho recommends, and a second opinion appt in May at Oregon Health and Sciences Univ in Portland with a SRS specialist.
My question is, what exactly is a "long fusion"? Also, I thought all "good" spine deformity surgeons should be SRS members--so if they are not, but are fellowship-trained in spine surgery and do only that, how do I judge their qualifications? I am just so overwhelmed at this point!
Now at age 40, I have had a gradual onset of lower back pain, severe with prolonged standing, with some sciatica, but the most troubling symptom is now I have tingling in my legs.
My x-rays show that the fusion from L4-L5 is gone (probably never healed properly), and I have a new forward slippage of L4, as well as a lateral shifting of L3. I saw my local spine specialist (not SRS) and he basically said OMG your back problem is so complicated. He thinks I will need a "long fusion" of my entire scoliosis to stabilize the spine. I was shocked to say the least. I thought at worst maybe I just needed the fusion redone or something. I am having an MRI Monday.
I scheduled an appt in a couple weeks to see a spine specialist that the local ortho recommends, and a second opinion appt in May at Oregon Health and Sciences Univ in Portland with a SRS specialist.
My question is, what exactly is a "long fusion"? Also, I thought all "good" spine deformity surgeons should be SRS members--so if they are not, but are fellowship-trained in spine surgery and do only that, how do I judge their qualifications? I am just so overwhelmed at this point!
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