Disk Replacement VS Spinal Fusion VS Steroid Injections?

Question

What's the good and bad points about back surgery?
I'm considering 3 alternatives. 1. Steroid injections for as long as they'll work 2. Spinal Fusion 3. Disk replacement

Can anyone give me some really good points on the pros and cons of each decision? I'm really all over the place in what to decide. I'm afraid of steroids and the quick fix and brittle bones but I'm also afraid of surgery. So which is the lesser of 2 evils?

Please be as specific as you can with personal experiences if you can and I'm not interested in Chiropractic care so please just stay with those options. Such a hard decision for me!

Thank you Annie D. According to the doctor who diagnosed me with the bulged disks physical therapy won't do much good because there's several right in a row. I wish it was an option!

Thank you. Yes, one of them is pressing heavily on a nerve, which is why the option is there for surgery and one of the suggestions from the doctor.

Answer 1

I have a bulging-ruptured disc at L5-S1. Here are the treatments I've tried with NO relief...TENS unit, physical therapy, pain pills, lumbar traction, steroid injections, 2 cortisone injections, 2 lumbar shots, lumbar rhizotomy (killing the nerves in your back surrounding the disc) and exercise. NOTHING has worked for me. The only relief I got from the shots was actually from the numbing medicine used during the procedure. I've spent a ton of money even AFTER our PPO insurance. I figured that it was better to try everything to avoid surgery and then have it only if it was my last, best option. At the beginning, my pain management doctor said "We're not going to rush into the operating room..." I said, "No, but let's rush into pain relief!"

Surgery is now my only option and I feel good about it. I HAVE to get out of this pain! I've never had chronic pain before and I am shocked at how much it changes your life! My surgery is December 27th and will include a discectomy, fusion and a plate with 4 screws. I have 3 kids, a husband and 2 part time jobs (I'm on disability now.) The bright spot in this whole thing? I have a temporary handicapped placard that gets me "rock star" parking for 6 months!!!! All you have to do is ask your doctor for one. Good luck to you! This is tough stuff.

Answer 2

If you have several discs that are bulging in a row, no way they will operate. How can they? If they fuse the spine, then that will results in immobility problems and problems later in life. Steroid Injections will assist but you can only have so many and risk Osteoporosis. I am surprised they have not started you on Fentanyl Pain Patches like they did with me? As we age the Discs dehydrate, therefore the bulge will be no more and this is the reason why they are not keen to replace or operate. Unless the discs are pressing on the spinal cord, leave well alone. Good Luck

Answer 3

Go see a Neurologist(Neurosurgeon) and give them your MRI test results.They will guide you on what to do. Of course you only do this if you are fed up with the pain your back is giving you. I had a disc removed and it was replaced with bone screws made from a cadavers bones. The screws fused with the vertebrae and that is called spinal fusion.My back feels a whole lot better than before the operation so I do not regret having it done. Just try and find the most popular neurosurgeon at the hospital to perform the surgery.Good luck! If you're a smoker your back will take longer to heal.

Answer 4

surgery should be your LAST resort.. i am a physical therapy student and would highly HIGHLY recommend you going to see a physical therapist. however.. it really depends on your diagnosis and how far along it is. chiropractic care will only be a quick fix (temporary as well). steroid injections are great... but as you know.. they are temporary also. spinal fusions will limit your mobility. i have not heard too much of disc replacement so i cannot give you any info there. in summary... there are no real good points to back surgery.. your back will not be the same. take a good look at your diagnosis.. and ask your doctor to send you to the physical therapist! it won't hurt to try it out.

Answer 5

I would amke any surgery my last option. I had the epidural steroid injections, and it worked for about a week. I have 5 herniated discs, and I have just decided to live with it. The thought of my spine being operated on didn't sit well with me. My sister had the spinal fusion, and it kills her with pain when it rains, etc. It is a choice you have to make. Good luck to you!

Answer 6

there is another option
regardless of what you have been told. see a physical therapist for traction on your low back. you can purchase on Rx a device for traction at home ($100). My son had a completely ruptured disc at L4-L5. He used traction at home and does anything he wants to do except play basketball. He works on roofs, goes to gym 3 times/week. The tough part is he had to use the home unit daily for 1 hour for almost a year.
The pain was under control in 2 weeks. MRI 14 months later showed the disc rupture was smaller but still there and pain free.

Answer 7

i had spinal fuson with NO problems.

ummmm steroid injections....i dont understand how that could help.

disk replacement could work.....but you could need spinal fusion WITH that

oh...if your disk is bulging......id say fusion....
but if it's deteriorating.....id say replacement

Answer 8

I'd go for the titanium vertebre replacement, cyborgs are cool.