Spinal Problems Archives

Lower back surgery: L5-S1 Fusion

Trying to update my education on L5-S1 Cage Fusion. Due to ruptured disk in combination with moderate spondylolisthesis,and consequential drop foot,and sciatica,have been advised to have Cage Fusion operation. Due to relative young age and athletic lifestyle, was further advised to have anterior and posterior fusion. Concerns and questions:
1) Current success rate, and what percentage of those unsuccessful surgeries are due to poor physical therapy followup by patients.
2) Pros and cons of anterior + posterior vs. just posterior.
3) Anything better in the near future?
4) Is surgery a necessity to stabilize and for pain relief?
5) Any feasable alternatives to pulling bone graft material out of the hip?
6) Anything better than the cage?
6) Any nurses want to come to Sun Valley Idaho for a two week vacation (some work required)?

Follow Ups:

• Re: Lower back surgery: L5-S1 Fusion (How to go about learning options.) ARCHIVE in spinal. Walt Stoll 09:49:48 1/18/00 (0)

In Reply to: Lower back surgery: L5-S1 Fusion posted by Gordon Gammell on January 16, 2000 at 01:21:22:

Gordon,

This 'site is set up to make it as convenient as possible for people to find the basic information they need. My purpose is then to answer any questions they might have about that information. The action you are contemplating surely is worth a few hours of your time to learn of your options. They are in the archives for spinal.

ALL of the questions you have asked here are about the surgery you are contemplating which tells me that you have not considered your options---which is what this BB is all about.

Only your surgeon can answer the actual questions you have asked here. Orthopedic surgeons make an average of $500,000.00/year. One of the reasons they make so much money is that the word "doctor" means "teacher". The surgeon is NOT just supposed to cut and run with the money. It is his responsibility to explain this to you to YOUR satisfaction and NOT just to HIS!

If he knows the answers why has he not explained it to you? If he does not, why is he doing the surgery?

IF, you do take the time to educate yourself about your options, and you still have questions, write again.

Walt