Multilevel fusion for degenerative disc disease-am I nuts?

Question

I am 29 with really bad degenerative disc disease on three levels S1-L4-5. I have tried everything, physical therapy, pain killers, exercises and nothing works. I'm scheduled to have a multi level fusion at the end of the month and I'm scared out of my mind. From what I have read this extensive surgery is rarely done, but my doctor thinks it will help. I just want to feel my age and be able to walk around . Am I crazy for doing the surgery?

I have done TENS in phys therapy. I got three opinions, two said they would support the surgery though it is very extensive, and one said no doctor in america would do the surgery.

I had a discogram and I have three bad discs (they are ruptured). I have lost height at the L4-5 level.

Answer 1

DDD or Degenerative Disc Disease is not a Disease but part of the normal aging process. At 29 the process has just started and I am shocked to read that you need fusion! You do not have a prolapsed disc, the discs are in tact and are dehydrating, which we all have by the time we are 60, but as it is normal aging process, at 60 we do not have fusion, we just keep going. The discs dehydrate, become solid and as we approach 70-80 the vertebra can fuse normally. I find it hard to accept they have offered to fuse you, when what you have is normal. Good Luck

Answer 2

I had 3 laminectomies,(ruptured disc repair surgery) 2 in 1980 and 1 in 1982. Had 3 different ruptured disc, each repaired with the surgery meaning they opened me up, scraped away the disc material that had come out and closed me back up. I currently have a bulging disc that bothers now and then if I over do. The pain before surgery was horrid and the surgeries were great but I don't know if they dot hat any more, after all, that was a long time ago. Never had the spine fusion thing, the thought of that scares me. I don't want anything fused! I do have permanent nerve damage from the ruptured disc. I cannot lay flat without extreme pain and cannot sleep except in a hospital bed so I can adjust the position to suit me. No one wants to fix the bulging disc as I have lots of scar tissue from the other surgeries so I cope. Good luck.

Answer 3

I would seek another opinion. Spinal fusion at a very young age doesn't make sense to me for degenerative discs, especially if there's sufficient height (you didn't mention the condition of your discs). Here's the problem, once you fuse a spinal joint that's designed to move, the segments above will compensate and move a lot more than it's suppose to. Over time, L3/L4 disc will degenerate, and you'll need to fuse that. Then L2/L3 disc, so on and so forth. You'll have spinal fusion surgeries every 10 yrs. It's one thing for a 60yr old, but not for a 29yr old.

I recommend to see a special type of chiropractor. They know how to help put the discs back into alignment and let them heal. The discs won't be restored into their normal height, but they can stop them from getting worse. I highly recommend them, they saved my back from surgery and my career from forced early disability retirement.

http://www.gonsteadseminar.com/referral.aspx

Answer 4

The only other thing I can think of is pain management. There are anesthesiologists that have pain management clinics to help people with chronic pain. I don't blame you though for being concerned. Spine surgery is scary. Especially in someone as young as you are. Are you a candidate for massage therapy? Have you considered accupuncture. You may laugh but it really can work for many conditions.

Answer 5

No, you're not crazy for wanting the pain and endless cycle of doctoring to stop.
If it were me, I'd certainly get a second opinion about the surgery. See what another surgeon would suggest.
Also, have you seen a pain specialist working with or in a pain clinic?
Have you tried a TENS unit?
Hope you find relief.
Good luck.

Answer 6

answergr please try every avenue and other drs. opinions. i have a bad neck they want to fuse my whole neck this was a top drs. opinion i said no, i told him it is like chasing your tail then they would do below more veretabre and more fusion in my opinon from others. believe it or not i have got into exercise and strenghtened my neck very much. i know your in emence pain but hang in there. wish you the best!