my spinal fusion has broken apart, has anyone else had this happen?

Question

They want to do a minimal invasive surgery on me to fix this and put in screws and plates and clean me out and redo my spinal fusion. I am scheduled for May 9th and very very scared and unsure if i should go ahead with this at all. Does anyone have any advise or knowledge of having this happen to them?

Answer 1

Yes, unfortunately this has happened to other people. I hope you have the best orthopedic doctor in your area doing this surgery this time. Do not let the doctor who did the previous surgery near you.

Best wishes,
Billie77

Answer 2

I have had two neck surgeries, both were fusions. First surgery went fine, second one failed, but the plate is holding things in place, so they said no worry. I would be hesitant about undergoing a surgery to correct something the doctor didn't take care of the first time. If the doc had put the plate in, in the first place, you wouldn't be having this problem. As I said, the plate is what is holding my neck together, where the fusion failed. I understand this is common in multi level fusion surgery, I have three of seven levels fused. Having the plate put in now is not minimally invasive, it is just as invasive as the first surgery, and puts you in a difficult position of trust with the doc. If you are not having severe symptoms, I would wait and see how things progress. I would also get a second opinion from a doctor of your choice, not the doctor's choice. Good luck, I know it's scary, but you have to maintain control over who is cutting on your body, you will be the one that suffers if things go awry.

Answer 3

I have had the same surgery. I had screws loose and the fusion broke. They rescheduled me for surgery two years later. I was also dealing with a spinal cord leak. When they did the surgery the took out the screws cleaned up the bone(where they blew the bone over the screws and plates) and put in longer screws and fixed my spinal cord leak. It was the best thing I could have ever done. I have minimal pain now and all I have from the surgery is a longer scar. I have also cut way back on the pain meds. I am glad I did it. Hope this helps you.

Answer 4

I understand what you are going through. I have had 7 spine surgeries and at only 30 years old, I've had to put my career on hold. You have 2 options: 1- You do nothing about it. You go back to work. The pain continues to debilitate you. Scar tissue continues to build around the failed fusion and the screws. You start missing days at work because of the pain. You go back on disability, you lose your job. 2-You have surgery. The failed fusion is corrected. The screws are replaced. It takes you 6 months to recover, you lose your job. You have no health insurance. But eventually, you recover and you will be able to look for a new job. I am telling you these things because, unfortunately, this is the decision you are facing. You don't specify how old you are, or if you have a strong support system. If you decide to have the surgery, ask your physician to help you get Social Security Disability benefits for the duration of your rehabilitation. It can help with expenses and you will have Medicare, which pays for 80% of medical cost. I know this is a difficult step to take, especially if you are young, but I pray that you can make the right decision and that everything works out well.

Answer 5

I had one over a year and a half ago and no problems so far but they had put the screws iand plate in then. My twin brother had the same thing without the screws and plates and they had to go back in a redo his. He came through fine the second time too. Hope it helps from our experience. (it seems to be hereditary in our family, I had another brother with the problem and he is fine. He had the plate to begin with too)