[Chief845]

Hi,I suffer from degenerative disc disease and am contemplating fusion surgery
(L3-4,L4-5)and would like to hear anyone's success/failure stories.Thx.

[aqua@home]

Hi Chief, my husband had a bone in his foot fused. I know it isn't the same but I can tell you that most of his pain went away after the surgery. Really only the cold weather bothers him a lot and he doesn't have a lot of endurance. I think he was happy with it. I don't know if this is what you were looking for.

[RickJ]

Supplimental to any personal responses, here is an article you should find helpful:

Back Pain Radio transcript: lumbar fusion surgery

[c_patnode]

Hi Chief, I am going in for my 8th back surgery. I feel you pain. I have had Laminectomies, Diskectomies, Fusion of the low back, and a spinal stimulator, I am going in next month to have the stimulator revised. I can tell you that the fusion is hell for a while. You will probably be getting around with a walker for a while. Each doctor has their own procedures and their own ideas of recovery. If you haven't had one I don't see how you could possibly know what it feels like. My fusion was considered failed back surgery syndrome. They put in a spinal stimulator. The stimulator isn't charging because it's too deep, hence the revision. You might want to ask your doctor about the spinal stimulator as opposed to the fusion. It's less evasive then the fusion. It's been my understanding and experience that the fusions rarely work. I'm sorry I couldn't be more positive but I can only speak of my own experience.