Can Spinal Fusion Lead to MORE Spine Surgery? #shorts

Adjacent Segment Disease is a condition caused by spinal fusions where the level above or below the fused vertebrae degenerate (because they are make up for the lack of movement at the level that was fused). The human spine is built for movement, when one of more levels are fused together it disturbs its normal movement. #Spinalfusion surgeries use bone grafts and/or hardware to permanently “lock” together two or more #vertebrae. The idea is to make the section of the spine thought to be causing pain immovable. After a #fusionsurgery, the spine loses the ability to move at the place where the procedure was done. Limiting the ability to bend forward, arch back, twist or tilt at the specific level or levels fused. “Locking” of the spine’s segment can force adjacent segments to compensate and try to keep the spine flexible. Unfortunately, this stresses and overloads those upper and lower vertebrae, forcing the intervertebral discs to break down and causing nerve compression and pain after back fusion leading to a condition known as #AdjacentSegmentDisease (ASD). ASD is most likely to occur in the motion segments of the spine used most often, such as L4/L5 and L5/S1 near the highly mobile lower lumbar region. They also tend to occur at the C5/C6 and C6/C7 near the highly mobile upper cervical region.
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Overloading of the adjacent #spinalvertebrae can result in a number of conditions in the adjacent segments, including:
- Bone spurs
- Spondylolisthesis
- Herniated discs
- Degenerative arthritis (facet joints)
- Stenosis (narrowing of the spaces for the nerves)
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These conditions can pinch the nerves in the spine, causing Radiculopathy (pain that radiates into the arms or legs) and Myelopathy (pain that travels along the spinal cord). Up to 25% of patients who have had fusions develop Adjacent Segment Disease about 5 years post-surgery (with higher risk in patients with 3- or 4- level fusions #discreplacement #spinalfusion #backsurgery #backpainrelief

[madmatt]

100% true. I've known far more people that have ended up just as bad or worse off after having spinal surgery than have had a good outcome.

[shenanigans-love]

I had a spinal fusion in 2017. And now I am on pain management due to a failed fusion. I wish I would have never had the surgery.

[pasgassafe]

I had spinal stabilization in 2012 & I have 5 vertebrae connected with 2 rods & 8 screws, after a car accident.
I'm a self employed plumbing and heating engineer & I've been very fortunate that so far, things are absolutely fine at 61 years old.
Anyone who suffers with the spine, my thoughts are with you🙏

[bugsbugsbugsbugsbugsbugsbugs]

my spine is effed up but doc literally told me "one surgery will just lead to more surgery, id say deal with it" so i believe this guy

[skippy]

Orthopedic surgeons turned me away. Said there was nothing they could do due to the nature of the damage. Went through much physical therapy, did all the stuff religiously, did some lifestyle changes which got my weight down to my supposed ideal. Got to walking miles and mile. And miles…. Then actually got back into jogging after a few months. Somehow, and I really dont know how, that was 10 years ago and at 73 I’m still walking 4 miles a day and jogging about 12 per week with almost no flareups of painful inflammation! I was very fortunate they turned me away. I think losing the weight and getting flexible was a big help. Thank God, no matter what the reason!

[MrStrayaura]

Had a spinal fusion in 2017.. one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Best surgeon in Tx cut me open and fused my c5-c7. Took away 98% of my pain.

[laurenperdue]

True. Had my entire spine fused with Harrington rods in 1999.... the bars are broken in half in 2 separate places and doctors cannot remove them without paralysis...im only 40 and have to walk with a walker now... ive been leaning to more surgery to help with the pain. Ive been taking 30 mg Morphine and several Percocets daily, for 21 years 😢😢😢

[Nuclear]

Mine is fused and hurts all the time so sick of it

[KingFergus]

The faster you get it fixed the better the recovery. The issue in most cases is nerve damage not the surgery

[airpodz]

I had a discectomy three years ago. I ruptured the L-5/ S-1 disc. It landed right in my S-1 nerve. Worst pain I’ve ever had in the entirety of my 50 years. It was quite literally killing me. Though I’m not completely free of discomfort, the pain that was killing me has subsided. My initial consult with my surgeon (Dr. Hope in Reston, VA) was alarming. He said to me after viewing my MRI, ‘this looks very underwhelming.” He was astonished by the totality of disc the had to be removed. My point is, MRI and X-rays don’t alway tell the whole story. I strongly suggest if you are suffering from back pain be your own representative. Also, go see Dr. Hope I’m Reston, VA. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! Life is manageable now. Thanks be to God!

[taze]

I wish I had the gift of being a great spine surgeon that can fix all spine ailments forever. 🏥

[chrisduncan]

S1, L5, L4 fusion with foraminotomy in 2013. Still doing well today with limited pain.

[Lousy-Looter]

Be careful lots of quacks out here, many will push unnecessary surgeries, our bodies have amazing healing abilities all by themselves, therapy and exercise and time to heal is often better than opting for surgery

[joancottam]

I had spine surgery in 2011 and I was in excruciating pain. I was wheelchair-bound. I had a walker I had to sit in the shower and since I had my surgery and all that went away I’m walking again. I can drive. I don’t have the pain I had running down my leg so it’s not all bad if you get the right doctor and you listen things can get better for you. I got off all my pain medication on my own. Doctors don’t know everything for me it worked.

[erykl]

A friend who worked in an OR doing neuro-monitoring during spine cases said two of the surgeons used to race each other to see who could finish a case first. No thanks.

[christopherhigginbottom]

I had c5 c6 fused 4 years ago due to a ruptured disc, and severe nerve pain in my shoulder and arm. On the preop MRI c6 c7 was found to be herniated as well. Since I had my surgery 4 years ago, which gave me instant relief, Everything has been great aside from some mild arthritis. Not everyone has a bad experience.

[xanhhang]

He made sure he made a caveat of “we hope there will be less damage”. Take care of your back people, be aware of how you are using it and build the muscles around it for better support.

[ElZamo]

My mom had spine surgery like 15 years ago and she’s 100% fine. She’s 60 btw.

[bobbellendovich]

People who do NOTHING (NO exercise, therapy, drugs) are doing better at 5, 7, and 10 years after bad-disc-diagnosis, than people who got surgery. THINK about that.

[Nille]

I'm definitely one of those people! I had MRSA in my spine and it damaged everything. I have 4 levels of fusion and I'm much worse off now than before the 5 surgeries I had. I'm disabled and mostly bedridden because I can feel the metal rubbing on a nerve and the pain from walking upright is HORRIBLE!!! I use a walker now and have since I was about 33. I have been in pain management since 2007, and I've had it decreased to the bare minimum for a touch of relief compared to being fairly functional before the crisis. It's miserable. At 43 I feel 93.