I have a failed fusion l5 S1 in 1992 and have been suffering ever since. This story is so similar the Dr. denied that anything else was wrong. Later they figured out that they mis read my MRI and all I had was a pulled muscle.. Now I am tread like a criminal due to the pain meds I have been on. I am so hopeless now that I am just on gabapentin. My pain haunts me day and night. sever sciatic pain. Thanks for your video I hope people really think about surgery before undergoing the knife. I was 27 yrs old and have been permanently disable ever since.
Try Topomax instead of gabapentin. It helped me. Start very slowly. 12.5 mg at night and work up to 200 mg bid. Positive side effect it helps you lose weight instead of gain weight.
@@milekrizman sciatic pain usually does go across the butt cheek and down the leg. I have severe pain from sciatic pain everyday after having failed fusion from L4/5 & L5/S1 fusions. Both failed. Was told from 5 different surgeons that nothing more can be done! Been stuck in bed for a year now. I’m on pain pump with fentanyl now and still in severe pain. No relief.
I watched "the spine guy channel" and thank goodness I did. Highly recommend, very conservative recommendations. Recovering from a L4/5 cortisone injection and trying to avoid surgery. Feel better!
@@Just_MHO_thomasinacortisone injections can cause adhesive arachnoiditis. a lifelong soul crushing condition. not worth the risk for temporary relief. this affliction happens more often than the medical community wants to admit and most cases are undiagnosed. those reading this PLS avoid any kind of injection into the spine at all costs.
Excellent video, with excellent reporting. I have laminectomey some 50 years ago. Ret law enforcement now 71 had fall now groin pain into both thighs buttocks can’t walk far burning pain I have also T 11,12, fractures Cervical 5,6,7 done spurs Nuro advised pars fracture to L4/5 S 1 needs cage with done in. I am very worried now waiting for operation but with all the of the above I am very concerned now.
Very sad. There are incompetent doctors in many places, but this patient has clearly had one of the worst. I hope he can be seen buy a team of doctors that can repair or at least reduce the damage. Whoever did this to him should face criminal neglect charges and no longer be allowed to do any surgery.
I wish you were closer to Los Angeles. I’ve been living with UNBELIEVABLE pain after failed C2 to T1, anterior/posterior surgeries in 2012. Everything you mention for this man resonates with me. I’ve tried everything including swimming, acupuncture, massage, etc. 4 neurosurgeon consults... life just isn’t worth living anymore.... waiting for a nerve test to be approved. There’s nothing else and I can’t get my insurance to approve the psych testing for a spinal cord stimulator.... sigh...
Dr. I can tell you how much your candid attitude lifted my sprits and the no “BS” call. Like a referee at a basket ball game, you see a foul or out-of-bounds activity, you call it out! As a 6’3” Farm kid the grew 7” at age 11, I was always given a man’s chores and worked my behind off as everyone else was younger or stepfather & his dad, sat in the truck and had beer while I did all of the chores for 1.5 hrs. or longer if cold. Either way, I knew only hard work with no allowance. My mechanical aptitude was everything, apprenticed at a good 2 man shop, honed my skills. I went 25 miles to the city to have benefits. I went right into a dealership and took test my boss asked for an was awarded ASE Master certification. Years later at 28, a shop tried hard to get me to quit and work for them. I did. They built a gas station/shop on a hill and did not pack the dirt. A slab of concrete sunk 8” and the three techs (Including myself) cut 2X8’s at a slant to be able to drive a normal car into and out of the shop. The boss lost his case and bought a huge backhoe and found out I could run it. Removed concrete and down 4 feet so drain pipe could be fixed. It rained in late summer. They put tarps over it then removed to dry. Two weeks or so passed and my boss asked me to run the rented earth compaction machine. I said no and argued for 20+ minutes. My pay per hour went way up and I am running this gas engine, that jumps up & down. The dry soil turned to mud, picked it up and drug it to a new location. Same problem. I knocked it over after 5 hours, locked my tool box and went home with a sore back. I woke up with the sensation of the worse sunburn I ever had. I had a surgeon with 30+ years and after laminectomy, mylogram and dropped in screaming pain. Now the fall and 29 years old. He took donor bone from hip and explained what became true. (R.I.P. / Nice guy) He told me out of 5 major muscle groups, I tore three of them near the bottom. He said these are scar tissue. 20 years pass and had a fusion using the “Harrington” procedure with pedestal screws, bars and bracket five year before. No longer could work bad elbow, torn rotator cuff, just a sum total too much. About 2 years later, dorsal nerves trapped in scar tissue and burns after bending to wash hands or work at the bench. Had an RF oblation but low, 3 bilateral. It became worse and come on quicker, but an L3-L2 epidural eliminated the pain and burning twice. Same 2005 Doc. got in and did not like what he saw. He did a good job but have the screws in S1-L5-L4-L3 and won’t go higher for the obvious reasons. Going back to have an epidural at the L3-L2 again, but if good, the only thing I can do is radio frequency nerve oblation that may help a little because it’s been soo long. Repeat again every two years or more. I can’t sit on my butt, and I have to bend for everything. Just want to stand like a man at 62, and walk to my mailbox without my abnormal long cain. I hope this works as quality of life has dropped to #2 w/10 excellent. I want to get off hydromorphone 8mg X 4 (Was 5 for 6 years) & diazepam 10mg X 4. It helps but for 20-40 minutes, then tick-tacs. Anyone reading this after April 30th, 2021. If asked by work to do heavy work, even if you are built like a bull. 28-30 is your peak!!! Stop, say no, walk away and quit if need be. It is not worth it! There are other jobs, could be hard at first, but better than a lifetime of being young and looking like your 85 years old, in pain. It is really hard to cut your caloric intake from 2,000 to 500 calories per day. In pain, you can’t burn calories so you gain weight. 5 lbs. per month X 12 = What? 160 lbs. 170 lbs.? Now close to diabetic, heart problems 25 years early! Don’t do it ever. You look after you! Know-one else will. I can’t mow my own yard. Takes 4 tries and this year, no garden! First time ever. Sad, but life is hard, don’t make it harder! I am P. O.! Omaha.
Hope you feel better eventually man, I hear you. Very sad and fcked up world out there. I wish I wasn't such a working horse through my 20s and then got rear ended by some idiot who wasn't paying attention at 40mph. It's crazy to think that these ppl can get to Mars, but can't help those who are in need of relieving their back pain. Hope you're well, hang in there and great advice to young guys out there.
@@RolandElliottFirstG I think my maternal grandfather told me that “Hard Work Will Get You Everything!” I am not sure if he mentioned when to start or how hard to work! All I know is, they spent sometime at a small garage drinking from a jug with 3 X’s on it. lol. Have a good Thanksgiving for 2021. I am waiting for spinal electrodes at the L1 level. Live lumbar nerves trapped in scar tissue that use to be muscles. The Dr. in 1987 told me that much. Hoping for 50% or more relief so I can bend (6’3” tall) and walk like mowing my yard without a cane. Even to get the mail. 3 epidurals where perfect but lasted 1 1/2 day with non-particulate steroids. Fingers crossed as few Dr’s do not want Medicare patients.
@@RolandElliottFirstG Wow, you are tall and we are both living in a 5’2” world. My lumber burning only after bending started over 11 years ago. Been getting worse and more becomes more intense as the day progresses. Now in my early 60’s, I have a lot to do and have no intention to stop now! I will keep you and everyone in my prayers. Someone always has it worse but how much will you mind let you take. I look at things I want to do in my garage and cry. It wears you down. I tell myself to keep going, just to get one thing done. I refuse to watch my neighbor mow his yard as I have to use a cane! I have to keep cardio, muscles even though my son would do it. I couldn’t sit and watch TV all day, unless real sick, that would be torture! Best of luck.
I have a surgeon here in Toronto, Canada, Dr. Jhas of Trillium Spine Center, that has been “so busy” that I’m still trying to get in for my “6 month follow-up” 11 months later, and I fear I have a hardware issue because of new shooting nerve pain in the opposite leg and ongoing chronic pain around the hardware site of a different quality than originally. Unfortunately, in Canada we have such a critical shortage of surgeons that you have to wait a year just to get the first consultation, and another year for surgery (more if it’s not “urgent”), so if feels hopeless if you need to have revision surgery done to correct work in a time sensitive window. I’ve already had one revision surgery due to infection obtained in the hospital, what happens if you have hardware out of alignment during the healing process and you wait t too long to fix it? Thank you for these videos, it really helps to be informed, and to see there are surgeons out there than are such compassionate patient advocates 🙏🏻
That’s crazy. Do you have socialized medicine in Canada? In the United States, I was able to see my spine surgeon within two weeks and part of why it took so long is my work schedule so I had to make the appointment for the following week. I hope you get some relief. Back pain is miserable. It wears people down physically, mentally, and emotionally.
100% agree!! And it is not as simple or straightforward as it should be! It’s a really really long in-depth journey of research to find an excellent surgeon whom you can trust. I’ve watched hours of TH-cam on surgeries, education, and testimonials. So glad I found Dr. Spiro Antonaides on here. I contacted him several years ago and he did a very complicated cervical spine surgery for me and he will be doing my L5 S1 surgery as well
@@mickypoole9226 yes. I would rather avoid but I’ve done that already for too many years. So, taking the leap of faith and hoping it improves my quality of daily living. Pain is so grinding.
This is very scary. I had a fusion @ L4/L5 where they came in from my right side. They only put a bracket on this side which would probably be ok but the spacer that they put is metallic and my new doctor can’t see if the bone graft took or not. No bone graft on outside part of fusion. The reason I got a new doctor is because I still have pain and even have new additional pain. All my doctors involved believe that L5/S1 failed shortly after surgery. First doctor had me get a round of shots to be sure that was the problem but then just threw his hands up and said that there was nothing he can do except for a pain stimulator so I went see a neurosurgeon. He got me going to three months of therapy and then surgery to fuse L5/S1 and tie in L4/L5 on my left side with additional bone graft. I’m praying for a miracle that I won’t need the surgery but I am doubtful. When I woke up from my first surgery my right leg was completely dead. No feeling or control whatsoever. You could have amputated it and I wouldn’t have felt it. The feeling and movement slowly came back and that was like the most painful dead leg I ever had. That’s why I think my first doctor is scared to work on me anymore. He said I had bad arthritis and ligaments and the bone was too brittle. I don’t think he was being honest at all. He went from being one of the nicest doctors to being completely distant. I’m tired of being on pain meds and being in pain all the time and I’m hearing horror stories with that pain stimulator.
How long ago was the fusion? I had fusion at 4/5 and I wasn’t looking at the 11 month X-ray because mine failed to fix pain- there’s no bone around the metal spacer. Maybe there’s bone inside it.. I’m just wondering if they do the surgeries different now. Maybe they don’t remove enough of the disc for the bone to connect the vertebral bodies. I’m just theorizing
Honestly after seeing this I no longer feel that my lumbar spine is that bad and I’m greatful for having only one fusion revision and 4 other lumbar surgical procedures dealing with herniated disc and stenosis issues, I do have some pain issues, but over all my spine is stable but complex as far as treatment of symptoms , and I’d rather be me than him!!
Wow, this has got to be Canada!!! So sorry for this young man. I completely empathize with what you’ve had to go through. I really hope you’ve found help and are doing better now. I’m going through a very similar situation with a botched fusion, been trying to navigate our joke of a medical system since 2018. Same deal, Surgeon refuses to take accountability, and all other Surgeons that have assessed me refuse to help . I’ve went to NYC, and Germany on my own $ seeking help. Had half the revision surgery I need in Germany , now I can’t afford any more personal loans. Sent my images to multiple institutes in the states and Germany and they all agree the hardware is misplaced, screws , cage and all. It all Needs to come out in order to heal. They refuse to acknowledge that here, help me , or send me to someone that will help me. It’s beyond hopeless and frustrating. I don’t know what to do at this point. I’m only 29 and just want my life back.
Hang in. Be careful of blood pressure and sleep deprivation. Chronic Pain that is severe can cause heart attacks and strokes. It can cause suicidal depression. Sleep deprivation affects mood too. All the best to you. Hope you got some relief.
Hello Penny how are you? have you found help for your health problem ? Where do you live, have you seen doctors in Texas? I am having my surgery on the 17 and I am terrified but the pain I go through on a daily basis is out of control. the neurosurgeon here in Texas seems like he has a heart compassion for humans. If you like I can share your story with him and see what happens?. I hope you are ok considering the circumstances. God bless you ! 🙌
hello Penny. I just got my fusion done on the 17th of this month. right now I'm at the rehab and I'm supposed to leave back home on 12 /02 on. can tell you that these surgeries from my personal experience were the worst pain that I have ever experienced throughout my whole life. nothing that I would say will changed their mind or even feel my pain through my explanation. still on rehabilitation and recuperating, I don't really have strength to talk or to say anything else other than I'll be back in a few weeks and give you a more detail explanation. to help how you know how my surgery is going one thing that I dId notice right away, you know like when we holding our phones and typing I feel like my fingers are doing their own thing and typing for me, before I even touch them key pad. like they are tweaking . and I don't know if is something related to the surgery but I'm assuming it is. I'm going to talk about that with my surgeon next time when I go for a follow-up. other than that right now that's about as much as I can tell you and I'm hoping that after I heal well first I'm hoping that I will heal without complications no infections and no relapse and then my second desire is that I will notice with my daily activities if the surgery really got me stronger and pain free from that specific health problem that I have thank you
I’m so sorry this happened to you. I’m a young Canadian woman who also had a bad lumbar fusion at Mississauga hospital in Canada, the trillian spine institute is supposed to be one of the”our best”, but the cocky know-it-all young surgeon I had, (Dr. Jhas for anyone watching in Canada) ignored my concerns and gaslit me, tried to say my emergency revision surgery was “as unnecessary precaution”, refused to make time to book my 6 month follow up for 11 months, at which point the hardware had set in the wrong place. I have been considering going back to Germany, where I lived in 2019, for a third revision surgery to have the hardware removed, I’m curious to know where you went for consultations and what kind of rates they were quoting you to perform the surgery? Wishing you all the best in your healing journey, I’m saying a prayer for you now to find relief. I hope things have finally started to turn around for you, solidarity sister🙏🏻❤️
How sad, I went through a similar situation back in 2005, the first surgeon messed my lower back up, the pain was worse after the surgery, I kept telling him something was wrong, I was going numb from my lower back all the way down both legs to my feet, I finally was able to go back and see said Dr, only for him to say nothing was wrong, I funny had enough of his B.S. and went to the emergency room at the university of Chicago, they set me up with an appointment with the head of neurosurgery for the hospital. He sent me for all kinds of x-rays, mri's and ct-scans, finely the Dr found out the first surgeon left a big hunk of bone on my nerve, so, he set me up for surgery to remove the bone fragment and fix whatever he could. He was able to remove the bone fragment, but kept telling me how sorry he was that he couldn't do anything else, because my spine fusion was a mess, it took him over 2 hours just to remove the bone fragment on my nerve, he told the bone fragment almost severed my nerve in half, and he told me there was no surgery or grafts that he could do to fix the nerve, he sent me up with an appointment with a pain Dr, who, said she could only give me pain meds to help with the pain, and that was all. It is December 29 2019, and I still have to take pain meds to help me with the pain and help me be able to get around and do things, I will never have a quality of life (as she put it), even taking the meds, I won't, she said it's something I will have to deal with, I still have really bad pain, the medication helps, but not I wish it would, she said she could give me stronger meds, but I refused, because they are highly addictive, even the meds I take now are addictive, but not as bad as the meds she was talking about. How I wish I could go back in time an either never have the surgery or had a better surgeon do the operation, even if it meant going to another state. That was the first surgery I had ever had, I didn't know any drs, so I called my insurance company to help me out, they were the ones who referred me to the first surgeon........
Sorry to hear about your pain and issues. I've had 4 spine surgeries that never did any good to stop leg pain and now I am going to have a total hip replacement and who knows how that may affect my nerve pain, so I really understand what you have been through. Pain meds have never done my any good so no point in taking them. Hope you can get some relief.
I work in construction and I can see the big mistakes. I don't need to be a doctor in other to see that , I've been watching MRI in lumbar discs for couples days . Poor kid , I feel sorry for him
2008 L4_L5 disc herniated, 1 failed Epidural injection. 2 failed SPINAL BLOCKS , WALACE IMPLANT IN 2008 . WAS SUPPOSED TO REDUCE MASSIVE PAIN I WAS MAXED OUT ON FENANL. AND OXCONTION . ... DURING OPERATION NEUROSURGERY DRILLED OUT NERVE ROOT, VERTIBRA TO REDUCE PAIN ,,, IN SIATIC NERVE RIGHT HAND SIDE .... FAILURE ... IMPLANT COLLAPSED , IT WAS SUPPOSED TO LAST 25 YEARS , 2009 SAME DOCTOR OPENED ME UP AGAIN TH SAME QUACK ! OF A DR DID SAME PROCEDURE-AGAIN REMOVING more Bone from VERTEBRA L4_L5 .... AGAIN EPIC FAILURE OF IMPLANT COLLAPSED IN ONTOP OF ITS SELF ... THEN I WAS LEFT IN PAIN FOR 12 MONTHS BETWEEN SEPSIS - KIDNEY DISEASE DIABETES AND CHRONIC HEART DISEASE DUE TO A FAILD MICRODISECTOMY 2011, CAUSED A CAUDIA EQUINA SYNDROME. 2011 . IN HOSPITAL FOR CHRISTMAS...2013 NEW MAN . DID GOOD JOB FINALLY RESEARCHED THE DOCTOR.... GOT A FULL SPINAL FUSION . . LIVE WITH FAILD BACK SYNDROME AND CAUDIA EQUINA. AGED 44 . PAIN 4 REST OF MY LIFE , UNTIL I GET THE COVID-19 .... ILL BE CHECKING OUT ....
Went through the same crap after my first fusion, their even suggested I see a psychiatrist.. I found a REAL Doctor here ( not US) who fixed it as well as he could, replaced the infected screws and installed a cage to support the screws.. I am pretty ok now...
Hello, this is a good question and confusing for people. The L3 nerve root runs down the lateral spine and courses right in front of the root of the anterior part of the transverse process of L4. So that misplaced pedicle screw could indeed be rubbing the L3 nerve root.
what will you do for a disk that is 11 milimeters out of my spine and also have a fractured on the same place this young man has. the doctor who will perform surgery on me say fusion a metal plate and screws with a braket holding it in place to help with the fusion. L5 S1 I don't like the idea of having hardware in my body but the pain is horrible 25 year and counting can't take it anymore. also the fact I won't be able to bend forward or turn side to side is scary thought.
That is staggering I am a carpenter and i would ashamed if i failed to hit my mark that badly with a screw its staggering, I also have a fairly rare and interesting spine condition that started as the result of a 40ft cliff fall in 1970 at the age of aged 15 years old, I sustained a compression fracture dislocation of my lumber spine Dislocated the lower 3 cracked the 3rd in 3 places and compression fracture between 3rd and 4th, I had almost no neurological deficit at the time; and have had no surgery it all self fused, I had a fall in 2015 broke 5 ribs and a scan at that time, I also have the rare bone L6 for interest, to the situation and i have a full copy of the scan, It appears on the scan that I am developing some real problems with my thoracic spine though am having some difficulty gettting this confirmed, Thank You for a most informative video,
I feel so sorry for this patient, I myself have had two spinal fusions in my lumber spine seven and a half years ago that was a complete failure after visiting my surgeon so many times and told there was nothing he could see that would be causing my extreme pain, he refused to do anything about it now after seeing another surgeon Im having more surgery to rectify the original surgery I have been diagnosed with a collapsed disk and servere flat back syndrome The hospital is a training hospital The Royal North Shore Public Hospital. The original surgeon who is a top surgeon at this hospital his name is Dr Hartin.
I would love for you and your friends to look at my case to see what you think. After watching this video i became worried about where I am standing with my fusion and laminectomy, because I've become decreasingly worse since my surgery. I went back and looked at the findings and it talked about screws being out of place like you described in this video, it also said something to the affect FINDINGS: 1. There are postoperative changes of posterior segmental fusion with screw and rod construct at L4-L5. The left L4 pedicle screw breaches the outer cortex of the left pedicle. The left L5 pedicle screw breaches the anterior lateral cortex of the L5 vertebral body. There is lucency surrounding the left L5 pedicle screw raising concern for possible loosening of the screw. The hardware is intact. 2. There are decompressive laminectomies of L4 on L5. 3. There is a persistent grade 1 anterior spondylolisthesis of L4 on L5. This is stable from prior imaging. No new malalignment is seen. 4. Imaging was performed from the lower aspect of T11 through the S2 segment. The imaged vertebrae maintain their height. No fractures are noted. There are no osteolytic nor osteoblastic lesions identified. 5. The sacroiliac joints appear normal. 6. No paraspinal soft tissue abnormalities are seen.
T11-T12: No posterior disc abnormality, central canal stenosis, or neural foraminal narrowing. T12-L1: No posterior disc abnormality, central canal stenosis, or neural foraminal narrowing. L1-2: No posterior disc abnormality, central canal stenosis, or neural foraminal narrowing. L2-3: No posterior disc abnormality, central canal stenosis, or neural foraminal narrowing. L3-4: No posterior disc abnormality, central canal stenosis, or neural foraminal narrowing. L4-5: There is a decompressive laminectomy defect. There is significant streak artifact from the orthopedic hardware. The normal soft tissue planes are disrupted due to the surgery. The spinal canal and the foramina are not adequately evaluated at this level. L5-S1: There is no significant osseous encroachment on the spinal canal at this level. Degenerative endplate osteophyte and facet arthrosis is causing mild to moderate left and mild right foraminal stenosis. _________________________ IMPRESSION: There are postoperative changes of posterior segmental fusion with screw and rod construct at L4-L5. The left L4 pedicle screw breaches the outer cortex of the left pedicle. The left L5 pedicle screw breaches the anterior lateral cortex of the L5 vertebral body. There is lucency surrounding the left L5 pedicle screw raising concern for possible loosening of the screw. The hardware is intact.
You need to go to Another Neurosurgeon and and have him read your M.R.I.and help you. The Dr. Who caused this will not help you cuz they won't admit they did anything wrong.Find a good Neurosurgeon and make and appointment with him and go see a good Neurosurgeon.It looks like your current Neurosurgeon didnt know what hes doing. Do it quickly because this is dangerous. Having a screw poking through the bone and hitting soft tissue where you have blood vessels is not good.
@@Imaghostfreak67 Where do you live? What City and State and what type of insurance? I will try to find someone to help you. I'm very good at finding good Doctors and Neurosurgeons and Surgeons. You deserve the best care that there is. You are Gods Child and God wants the best for you. You must not give up.
I live in Newaygo, MI the 2 closest cities for me are Grand Rapids, and Muskegon. My original Neurologist was Dr. Ali out of spectrum health neurology in Grand Rapids. I'm so frustrated.
There is something that may need to be checked. I also have a failed fusion than nobody will address. I've been back and forth with doctors and even got a new surgeon to look. My original surgeon suggested that he take out the hardware, but I refused because my pain was so bad with my original fusion surgery it required a 7 day hospital stay and 10 day rehab stay. That was 2019 In the July 2022, I severely dislocated and broke my ankle. After 4 months and so far 10 hyperbaric oxygen treatments, we are finding I may have a hardware problem. I still have open sores over my screws which won't heal. No predisposing conditions that would cause this. Every step I take is painful. Still have periods of shooting severe pain I have asked to have my hardware removed as soon as it's feasibly possible. The soonest they will do it is April 2023. Anyway, if that stops the pain, it may be my back still hurts because of the hardware. I'm going to ask for it to be removed.
I had a back fushion of the L4 L5 SEPT 3rd 2021. I ended up with a back infection and have had nothing but problems since. I now found out 3 of the screws are broke and the 4th screw is on the verge of breaking. I also have a grade 1 1/2 almost 2 slippage. Im in severe pain. My doctor said I need emergency surgery but he can't seem to get me in until July 29th. Today I'm debating going to the ER for the pain. Im so worried about my back.
If you could help me, I'd be greatly thankful. Had a fusion 10/2018. Can't do too much without pain. Not much different & even worse after surgery. Had laminectomy, fusion of L4 & L5 with cage graft and decompression.....still feeling horrible.
Hello. Hope you are feeling better. It happened to me also..bad back surgery. Loss use of my left leg..etc etc.. looking for a good back Dr. In Maryland.. to maybe fix my problem..
I had 2 failed spine fusions in 2010 and 2011. The first one had to be repeated due to a screw coming loose. I'm in worse shape now than I was prior to ever having the first surgery.
Dude, I mean Dr., I wanted to see the video but couldn’t take my eye off that beautiful rig behind you. I love PRS guitars. Mesa Boogie isn’t too shabby either. Well done! After watching this video, I’m absolutely terrified of my upcoming ALIF for L5-S1 in a few weeks. Having a great level of mechanical ability is important to drive a screw into the right spot. I waited for a long time to do this surgery with back pain on and off for 15 years or so. I’m going to be 55 yrs old in a month which is why I went ahead and decided to do it. Hopefully I’m not a case study for you in the future.
So scared. After multiple epidural injections, nerve root blocks and multiple spinal fluid leaks and three spine surgeries later the horrific problems continue now I’m being faced with these nerve ablation procedures. I’m highly concerned because the aftermath of epidural injections in my neck left me with Essential Tremors since 2017. I’m highly concerned now having anyone get that close to my nerves in my spine. “Is it just me or is there anyone else out there experiencing such a huge amount of bad luck with their spine”
That’s terrible. I live in the United States and I asked around to nurses and patients which spine doctor I should get. He is the same one that operates on the other surgeons in my area when they have a spine problem. I got an appointment within two weeks. I’m not a good candidate for surgery though…still a lot of back pain. A lot of people complain about the American Healthcare system but there are worse ones. Free doesn’t always mean better. There are definitely some surgeons I wouldn’t want to touch me.
I had the alif procedure @ L5/ S1 in Nov 2020. Sciatica is worse in my left leg now, and has even moved into my left arm. Constant pain in my left back along with muscle spasms in my left leg and unbalanced at times. Ugh...
I need advice please. who decided what kind of metal will be used for the fusion on the lumbar? I have been told that the only material that the body doesn't reject is platinum or something like that. help me .......!
Had a back surgery in 2003. Went though the front then the back..l5 S1. Loss the use of my left leg. Got 65 percent of it back. Loss muscle mass. My leg is so skinny...worse mistake of my life..Dont know what to do after 19 years..
I have 8 screws,3 rods cage , fusions pushed out of my back I cannot walk upright sense my surgery . I’m in so much pain and now I’m told the upper back is collapsing and no one can do anything. There’s isent help and I’ve have pain down both legs neck but I could just give up I became disabled because of my surgery. Doctors around here will not see a patient until 3 years after a failed surgery if ever. I waited many years and now I’m pretty much done
I had terrible left leg pain, the neurosurgeon said I had to have a laminectomy to correct. Went for surgery on 2/2021 but he did a fusion on l2-l5 and s1. In recovery I felt losing mobility in my RIGHT leg. I was told that during surgery that blood pressure dropped in my leg and damaged my nerves. Now I have drop foot, my toes are numb on both feet, the skin on my left leg is numb along with the skin on my lower right side and butt cheek plus my bowels now have a mind of their own. After 2/12 mos. of rehab to no avail I had an EMG 9mos.later and was told the nerves in my leg were fine but the problem is in my l5 from surgery. I was scheduled for more surgery on 11/2021 but my vascular surgeon stopped it and my primary didn't recommend it because I could end up in worse shape that I am now. So I guess I'll be a cripple for the rest of my life.
Oh my! I'm really sorry to read this. I would get a second opinion from doctors not associated in any way (and far away from) with the surgeons who apparently created this mess. Good luck!
Hi my name is Ramiro Del bosque I have had several lower back surgeries and my screws keep loosening I have 10 screws in my lower back. What can I do because I’m still having a lot of pain.
Well, that was scary. Just had a consultation with an orthopedic surgeon today about my L5 S1 problem and chronic lower back pain. Last scan was two years ago so he has ordered another. Now I am frightened.
I am passing that same thing my doctor tells me that the surgery went well but now I have more pain and now I am passing out frequently it has been almost 2 years from my surgery he won’t take a second review
CDaeda i have had extensive back surgeries (23). I had a friend I referred to one of my drs at the time, who had fixed another dr's screw up. He did this approach and had a hard time recovering. I had had an anterior approach that went horribly wrong. Just like any risks of going anaesthesia, there is always a certain percentage that that approach could have issues. My anterior approach is a 3% chance that my bowels would shut down. Well I was that 3%, for 14 days no food and had an NG tube up my nose down to my stomach bringing up anything that went down. They had knicked just above my umbilical and caused a hernia. That I can't get a dr within a 100 mile radius of that dr to fix it. Also they never sewed my muscles back properly so I can barely stuck in my stomach- I've invested in a lot of spanks. I'm not sure where your from but if you're in Florida, I can give you the top neurosurgeon in the world and one of the leading Orthopaedic. He used the Mazor* robot on my back that was the largest back surgery done at that time. Ibe had more success have posterior approaches than anything. They all say these OLLIF,TLIF,ALIF approaches are better. Safer. Less recovery etc. But having had these different approaches,also my mom, have had problems versus the original surgery they all learned, the posterior approaches have had as much if not better recovery. I wish there was a way to post a photo of my back with all my hardware and scars. Always get a second opinion and that you're dealing with the BEST surgeon in your state. Both of mine I reccomend are over 3 hrs away. And its worth every minute, mile and gas money I spend.
CDaeda good luck in which ever surgery you have. I hope I didn't scare you but after what I have been thru I make sure people are educated in making the best decision with a 2nd or 3rd opinion, without the other drs opinions.
I have undergone a similar operation on the 25th of April 2023.. Right after the operation i have been suffering from burning pain on my outer right thigh. The doctor advised me that the pain will disappear with time. The pain is still there. Please advise me what to do. I live in Africa, in Namibia.
Hello I had the same complain both legs on pain for a year 6 months de infuse my back cause my bone weee shifting. But I still have pain on legs and now new pain on my buttock .please help what should I do I’m always on pain pills .I can’t work ok because of pain.
Radiculopathy is a diagnosis made when the neurological examination is positive (i.e., decreased reflex, decreased sensation, and/or decreased muscle strength). Radicular pain is an adjective which describes a pain that radiates down either the upper or the lower extremity in a fairly narrow band. Its often dermatomally located.
I have spondyloloptosis.I started years ago,with grade 2 spondy. I did not want many surgeries ..adjacent issues etc and I am a life long steroid dependent asthmatic. I live in pain daily
Here we are in 2023, My surgeon definitely thinks my L4/L5 fusion did not get enough bone growth and that is causing the pain since surgery. I will say all the leg pain and sciatic pain was gone day 1 after surgery, but I have had pain and still have pain anytime I bend forward. My question is the original surgery was done from the back but this time he wants to do the revision at L4/L5 but coming from the front, How will he remove the screws? Can it be done from the front or will he have to do that from the back and do the rest from the front?
Thanks to you, I was able to diagnose my husband's cervical problems, and got a surgeon whom fixed the problem, from a previous neurosurgeon that should not be practicing medicine.
I would like to know what the symptoms are for a Lumbar Disc not fusing? How would you know if that was the case? I had a CT scan and my doctor still can't say for sure if it fused or not?
Hello, if you had a good quality thin-sliced CT scan, you can definitely tell whether or not fusion has occurred, so your doctors should know the answer to the question.
@@douglasgillarddcprofessoro5285 I have no idea what type of CT Scan they ordered, CT of lower back without dye. I would assume my surgeon did the standard CT after Fusion. He said he saw no halos, and the CT looked good, but keeps thinking it did not fuse for some reason. I had the fusion April of 2020 so its been 1 year and 4 months. I keep saying I think my pain is from L5/S1 and he even did a diagnostic injection at L5/S1 with Anesthetic Injection, non steroid, to see if that would give me relief for about 4 to 5 hours. It actually was the closest I have felt to normal since surgery but he still thinks L4/L5 was not fused and his plan was to do surgery in mid August and check the fusion at L4/L5 and redo it if he felt movement, then to fuse L5/S1? He was worried about fusing L5/S1 saying what I have now is a floating fusion and if the does L5/S1 it could cause other problems? What is bad is he left the practice last week so now I am scrambling to appointments with other surgeons now.
PLEASE HELP - I AM FINDING SOMETHING DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND 11:35: isn't it the L4 exiting nerve root? Given this is the L4 vertebrae. How can it be L3? I thought at L4-L5 disc level you have the exiting L4 nerve root flowing and traversing L5 nerve root in the thecal sack. ??? 26:25: Same thing. If we are looking at the L3 vertebrae. Shouldn't it be the L3 exiting nerve root next to the screws in the extra foramin? 16:48 - It made sense to do a fusion in my opinion, because he had an annular tear in the disc at L3-L4. Although it could be argued because his disc looks healthy. ALIF - is a great fusion for a patient becaues you don't end removing bone or tampering with the CE nerve. A posterior fusion can be quite destructive not to mention scar tissue formation around the CE nerve
Yikes!!! So sad and scary. I've been told I'm a candidate for lumber spinal fusion. One Dr was ready to do it immediately and another Dr said I wasn't in enough pain to do it. Both recommended PLIF? It seems they still do this procedure in the U.S. I'm going to put surgery off as long as I can.
I am 72 years old and have undergone spinal surgery in september 21 for spinal stenosis and L3-L4-L5 listhesis.My pain and leg problems have remarkably improved.but I have developed bladder hypotonia .I have to do self caterization twice a day.i would like know the chances of recovery.
I've had three back operations and am still in hellish pain. I would bet that my MRI would look like this or worse. Much of the time my life is not worth living and the doctor says, "Well, I fixed you." Oh hell yes.....he fixed me, all right.
Sorry , I feel your pain I had a Trifusion in 2015 on L4 L5 S1 and the same here , they can’t shut the pain off so the put a implant in me , a spinal nerve stimulator , so between the implant tv music and my computer is some of the things I have to do to help me not think of the pain I live in everyday of my life . Now they want me to take this test to run the dye through my spine to see all of the damage that is there .
If you got care that is less than what could be provided by a similarly trailed and qualified person and it resulted in harm to the patient then yes it is malpractice. People can’t guarantee outcomes but you should be getting care that would be expected of a similar professional. Nowadays, the screws are guided in real time with a program that synchronizes with a CT scan of the spine. Then xrays are taken to confirm placement. Maybe other countries don’t have that technology but the United States does.
to me, the the second MOST HORRIFYING thing in this video is that this doctor won't tell us what country and what hospital/doctor botched this surgery... that information will save countless people from having to go through the same thing!!!!
You mentioned drs can be sued for what they did. What if you didn’t know that’s what they did and the statute of limitations was expired? Drs shouldn’t get away with things like this. At the very least they should get their asses kicked!!!
Hi Dr Gilliard. Very informative video. I feel so bad for this patient. I know what is to be in constant pain. I had a two level neck fusion in 2020 that I am still suffering from pain. I had multiple imaging done and no Dr has been able to tell me what’s wrong. It’s frustrating how a person in pain is dismissed by these surgeons.
Had a Fusion in April after I ruptured the same disc about 4 years after a microdiscectomy, and the doctor says at 12 weeks my bones are not fusing? Don't smoke drink or have diabetes? What happens if my bones don't fuse? Any ideas to help with this? Immediately after fusing no more leg and radiating pain but after 12 weeks don't feel any better than I did 3 weeks after? Back feels painful when I lean forward slightly or try and lift anything?
Thanks Kickdog69, the surgeons assistant seemed a little concerned and I was thinking man its only been 3 months but I could see it in his eyes.... I started taking Vitamin D and drinking more milk and Magnesium supplement and hope in the next 2 months some fusion starts on my end. I have only been walking mostly. Started doing some assisted lunges between two chairs hoping to strengthen the glutes which may help the lower back? He told me no motorcycle because of the vibration, and no jogging.
I had the same surgery on 01/08/2019, after a year, I have more pain than I did before the surgery, my 3 hour surgery turned in to a 5 hour surgery because the membrane around my spinal cord was torn during surgery. I wish I had never had it done, I had severe nerve pain on my right leg all the way to my big toe. I cannot enjoy the life I had even before surgery, I used to play golf 4-5 days a week, Now I cannot play 2 days in a row or I end up on the couch with my foot and let on a pillow. My insurance company denied my claim, they paid the facility but would not pay the surgeon in full, it went through 3 appeals and denied because the surgeon's decision to fuse my l5-S1 was not "Medically Necessary" so that tells me the surgeon messed up, I ended up having to pay the surgeon's bill myself or they would of sent me to collections. I cannot believe my pain I have in the right hip clear to my toes, it's horrible. I am lost and don't know what to do about it.
I am in the same boat. Had 360 spinal fusion in 1997. S1 L5 L4. Bone graph taken off left illact joint. Now I have unstable SI joints. 2003 they took our hardware because pedicle screw in spinal nerve. Now I have 2 more herniated disc above fusions. Pain so bad. Also 2 herniated in middle of back. Pain doctor said he want treat me anymore if I don't get into a surgeon. I have been trying to but workers comp is holding it up. Then this pain doctor cut my pain meds to two hydrocodone break through instead of three. What happened to do no harm on to heir oath. I'm 64 and the pain is getting so bad. God help us
Hi can you read my MRI ,I had S1/L5 fision in 2004 and since 2012 Im in the bad back pain ,left and right leg pain I got a Arachnoiditis .How can I contact you and send my MRI scan tu you ???can you hellp me ,thanks .
I would get another opinion to validate that arachnoiditis did NOT exist before fusion. I think that diagnosis is often made by NS when they can;t find anything else on films. Because that diagnosis is NOT curable with surgery, it gives them an out. If it was there when fusion was done, it's not likely to be pain source now. Good luck. In general, I have read that fusions are more successful with leg pain than back pain.
Why do Some doctors not listen??? I've been going through this pain hell for three years. No doctor will listen and help. I was told I needed a revision five years ago. I can barely walk but they don't seem to be concerned! Does anyone have any ideas on getting a doctor to help you
Hi, I have a question. I had my scoliosis surgery when I was 12, Im now 26. Im thinking about getting it removed since its been so long and Im having muscle strain and my back Is tired all the time. My hips joints are starting to as well.. Do you think the spine is fused enough to get it removed without recurving in the future. Thanks
In 2006 I had a car accident that left me very bad. My first surgery was to extract the fluid from the disc and push the disc since it was very close to the spine. I was 21 years old. If you saw that my bones were not strong to withstand this type of surgery and unfortunately I have lived with pain because everything collapsed puncturing nerves and everything is stuck I took hydrocodone 10 mg 325 which at least helped me control the pain for more than 4 years I didn't even go back to check my back because in fact they took away all the medications. Sometimes I can go weeks without sleep because I get anxiety in my legs that I don't feel them I fist my legs because it's frustrating to live with that feeling. They recommended that I wear a stimulation machine with morphine and another with electricity but I don't want to continue having surgeries that are not going to give me back my joy living with back pain is not living and the depression it causes you is worse 
Same , they took me of the pain medication because of opioid hysteria no matter if you live in agony and pain every second that is our stupid Canadian government.
Can I ask u doc I had hemilectomy and microdisectomy l3 4 and l4 5 .does it mean I lost posterior bone removed on two vertebrae what else could be the other option.thx pLs ans for me
Yes I will be getting a hold I would like see your thoughts on a spine stimulators. The pain centers are pushing these on patients. Like they are working for them and I just feel they have a kick back putting these in and are they worth it when you had 8 surgeries and still have bone problems ? And been living with adhesive arachnoiditis. I will email you thank you
In 2 last years i did 3 spine surgery,1st one Orthopedic surgery and he make me worse ,i saw couple other doctor & they recommend i should see neurosurgeon,i find one & 11 months ago i did my surgery all the way from L1 to L5 & he install 5 screw to my spine,after couple months all the screws loosing & my pain killing me,he recommend to another surger for changing the hardware, sep 2018 i did my 3rd surgery & this time he install 4 bigger screws,now after 4 months again screws loosing & i dont know what i have to do ? my pain get worse & worse,can some body tell me what i have to do ?
19:51 ummm I really think the cause of leg pain is actually foreign objects within the foramina or the area that nerves travel through the facets from the spinal cord/nerves
I kept going back to my Drs and surgeons to say my left prosthetic cemented hip was painful, down the front of my leg and groin, when I walked. It took 7 years before the did anything and had to redo the hip, it has now started again the same symptoms they are telling me the same thing again, that it is fine. ?? So I will just wait until I am crippled before I go back to them, one physiotherapist said basically it's all in my mind.
I had a lower lumbar fusion 23 years ago it failed in 2019 I was in an accident it screwed up my back never had 3 mails read to me because of covid now I'm in excruciating pain still no mails read my surgeon /friend wants to help please help me
This is me to a T. Exactly same situation my main pain is in the outside of my right calf it feels like someone is giving me a chairlie horse every step. Also had a tib/fib put back together and the 2 screws are busted in half on the same leg. And having no family or friends or money living on PWD ( Vancouver B.C. Canada ) 🇨🇦 is just over 1200 a month . Rent for a 1 bedroom apt goes for around 1200 to 1800 .I went to school yo become a pipe fitter and obviously that's out the window. Now 42 think I'll try to become an outreach worker part time. So we'll see.......Cheer's.
I was used as a ginniepig for a double lumbar fusion in 2014 that has been and is a nightmare, pain has taken over my life, please consult with me as No one seems to be able to stop this Nero surgeon from doing this to people 😢 I never needed the surgery to begin with and have mri reports showing before an after , I didn't sign up for this off lable surgery, parts , he's still practicing 2022 help in Michigan
Good luck. I have had 4 spine surgeries and no cure for severe left leg pain, now over 9 years. The nerve system in the spine is a very complicated system, so until the day when they can 100% accurately pinpoint the cause of nerve pain there are going to be back surgeries that do little or no good, or worse create more pain. Medical research has come a long way, but spine problems need more research. Fortunately many patients get great results from spine surgeries, you and me, I guess not. Sorry.
I also have congenital stenosis. I had a fusion in late 2018. Since the fusion I have been in severe pain. Just found out I will need another surgery. I’m really considering seeking council regarding my situation.
I have a failed fusion l5 S1 in 1992 and have been suffering ever since. This story is so similar the Dr. denied that anything else was wrong. Later they figured out that they mis read my MRI and all I had was a pulled muscle.. Now I am tread like a criminal due to the pain meds I have been on. I am so hopeless now that I am just on gabapentin. My pain haunts me day and night. sever sciatic pain. Thanks for your video I hope people really think about surgery before undergoing the knife. I was 27 yrs old and have been permanently disable ever since.
Try Topomax instead of gabapentin. It helped me. Start very slowly. 12.5 mg at night and work up to 200 mg bid. Positive side effect it helps you lose weight instead of gain weight.
does your pain go into leg?
@@milekrizman Yes. I have very bad nerve pain that goes down my left leg all the way to my foot. Its been horrible to deal with.
@@NickysMind before the surgery I had only pain in my left lower back. No pain in leg
@@milekrizman sciatic pain usually does go across the butt cheek and down the leg. I have severe pain from sciatic pain everyday after having failed fusion from L4/5 & L5/S1 fusions. Both failed. Was told from 5 different surgeons that nothing more can be done! Been stuck in bed for a year now. I’m on pain pump with fentanyl now and still in severe pain. No relief.
I'm so sick of doctors who claim the patient is crazy because they don't know what's wrong.
I watched "the spine guy channel" and thank goodness I did. Highly recommend, very conservative recommendations.
Recovering from a L4/5 cortisone injection and trying to avoid surgery. Feel better!
They just want you hooked on pills
Me too😢
@@Just_MHO_thomasinacortisone injections can cause adhesive arachnoiditis. a lifelong soul crushing condition. not worth the risk for temporary relief. this affliction happens more often than the medical community wants to admit and most cases are undiagnosed. those reading this PLS avoid any kind of injection into the spine at all costs.
They want to "avoid lawsuits."
I'm not a medical professional but Dr Gillard explained this so well I'm horrified that a qualified surgeon could make these mistakes.
Excellent video, with excellent reporting. I have laminectomey some 50 years ago. Ret law enforcement now 71 had fall now groin pain into both thighs buttocks can’t walk far burning pain I have also T 11,12, fractures Cervical 5,6,7 done spurs Nuro advised pars fracture to L4/5 S 1 needs cage with done in. I am very worried now waiting for operation but with all the of the above I am very concerned now.
Very sad. There are incompetent doctors in many places, but this patient has clearly had one of the worst. I hope he can be seen buy a team of doctors that can repair or at least reduce the damage. Whoever did this to him should face criminal neglect charges and no longer be allowed to do any surgery.
I agree 100%!
Government controlled medical care
@@cindyjohnson5242 Canada.
its performed by Taliban, so...lol
you lucky they leave you alive on the new surgery
@@cindyjohnson5242 They use pain against us to kill us.
The poor soul. As someone with a not entirely successful L4 - S1 fusion, I sympathise. I hope he can find some help as suggested.
Need help
Dr. Thorne at Scripps in La Jolla. He is a master at repair.
I just had that surgery. What do you mean " not entirely successful"?
I wish you were closer to Los Angeles. I’ve been living with UNBELIEVABLE pain after failed C2 to T1, anterior/posterior surgeries in 2012. Everything you mention for this man resonates with me. I’ve tried everything including swimming, acupuncture, massage, etc. 4 neurosurgeon consults... life just isn’t worth living anymore.... waiting for a nerve test to be approved. There’s nothing else and I can’t get my insurance to approve the psych testing for a spinal cord stimulator.... sigh...
Dr. I can tell you how much your candid attitude lifted my sprits and the no “BS” call. Like a referee at a basket ball game, you see a foul or out-of-bounds activity, you call it out! As a 6’3” Farm kid the grew 7” at age 11, I was always given a man’s chores and worked my behind off as everyone else was younger or stepfather & his dad, sat in the truck and had beer while I did all of the chores for 1.5 hrs. or longer if cold. Either way, I knew only hard work with no allowance. My mechanical aptitude was everything, apprenticed at a good 2 man shop, honed my skills. I went 25 miles to the city to have benefits. I went right into a dealership and took test my boss asked for an was awarded ASE Master certification.
Years later at 28, a shop tried hard to get me to quit and work for them. I did. They built a gas station/shop on a hill and did not pack the dirt. A slab of concrete sunk 8” and the three techs (Including myself) cut 2X8’s at a slant to be able to drive a normal car into and out of the shop. The boss lost his case and bought a huge backhoe and found out I could run it. Removed concrete and down 4 feet so drain pipe could be fixed. It rained in late summer. They put tarps over it then removed to dry. Two weeks or so passed and my boss asked me to run the rented earth compaction machine. I said no and argued for 20+ minutes. My pay per hour went way up and I am running this gas engine, that jumps up & down. The dry soil turned to mud, picked it up and drug it to a new location. Same problem. I knocked it over after 5 hours, locked my tool box and went home with a sore back. I woke up with the sensation of the worse sunburn I ever had. I had a surgeon with 30+ years and after laminectomy, mylogram and dropped in screaming pain. Now the fall and 29 years old. He took donor bone from hip and explained what became true. (R.I.P. / Nice guy) He told me out of 5 major muscle groups, I tore three of them near the bottom. He said these are scar tissue. 20 years pass and had a fusion using the “Harrington” procedure with pedestal screws, bars and bracket five year before. No longer could work bad elbow, torn rotator cuff, just a sum total too much. About 2 years later, dorsal nerves trapped in scar tissue and burns after bending to wash hands or work at the bench. Had an RF oblation but low, 3 bilateral. It became worse and come on quicker, but an L3-L2 epidural eliminated the pain and burning twice. Same 2005 Doc. got in and did not like what he saw. He did a good job but have the screws in S1-L5-L4-L3 and won’t go higher for the obvious reasons. Going back to have an epidural at the L3-L2 again, but if good, the only thing I can do is radio frequency nerve oblation that may help a little because it’s been soo long. Repeat again every two years or more. I can’t sit on my butt, and I have to bend for everything. Just want to stand like a man at 62, and walk to my mailbox without my abnormal long cain. I hope this works as quality of life has dropped to #2 w/10 excellent. I want to get off hydromorphone 8mg X 4 (Was 5 for 6 years) & diazepam 10mg X 4. It helps but for 20-40 minutes, then tick-tacs.
Anyone reading this after April 30th, 2021. If asked by work to do heavy work, even if you are built like a bull. 28-30 is your peak!!! Stop, say no, walk away and quit if need be. It is not worth it! There are other jobs, could be hard at first, but better than a lifetime of being young and looking like your 85 years old, in pain. It is really hard to cut your caloric intake from 2,000 to 500 calories per day. In pain, you can’t burn calories so you gain weight. 5 lbs. per month X 12 = What? 160 lbs. 170 lbs.? Now close to diabetic, heart problems 25 years early! Don’t do it ever. You look after you! Know-one else will. I can’t mow my own yard. Takes 4 tries and this year, no garden! First time ever. Sad, but life is hard, don’t make it harder! I am P. O.! Omaha.
Hope you feel better eventually man, I hear you. Very sad and fcked up world out there. I wish I wasn't such a working horse through my 20s and then got rear ended by some idiot who wasn't paying attention at 40mph. It's crazy to think that these ppl can get to Mars, but can't help those who are in need of relieving their back pain. Hope you're well, hang in there and great advice to young guys out there.
You are so correct, if you do heavy hard work , lifting etc while young it WILL catch up with you down the track.
@@RolandElliottFirstG I think my maternal grandfather told me that “Hard Work Will Get You Everything!” I am not sure if he mentioned when to start or how hard to work! All I know is, they spent sometime at a small garage drinking from a jug with 3 X’s on it. lol. Have a good Thanksgiving for 2021.
I am waiting for spinal electrodes at the L1 level. Live lumbar nerves trapped in scar tissue that use to be muscles. The Dr. in 1987 told me that much. Hoping for 50% or more relief so I can bend (6’3” tall) and walk like mowing my yard without a cane. Even to get the mail. 3 epidurals where perfect but lasted 1 1/2 day with non-particulate steroids. Fingers crossed as few Dr’s do not want Medicare patients.
To add to my other comment, i am 6'7 and have similar issues with my back.
@@RolandElliottFirstG Wow, you are tall and we are both living in a 5’2” world. My lumber burning only after bending started over 11 years ago. Been getting worse and more becomes more intense as the day progresses. Now in my early 60’s, I have a lot to do and have no intention to stop now! I will keep you and everyone in my prayers. Someone always has it worse but how much will you mind let you take. I look at things I want to do in my garage and cry. It wears you down.
I tell myself to keep going, just to get one thing done. I refuse to watch my neighbor mow his yard as I have to use a cane! I have to keep cardio, muscles even though my son would do it. I couldn’t sit and watch TV all day, unless real sick, that would be torture! Best of luck.
I have a surgeon here in Toronto, Canada, Dr. Jhas of Trillium Spine Center, that has been “so busy” that I’m still trying to get in for my “6 month follow-up” 11 months later, and I fear I have a hardware issue because of new shooting nerve pain in the opposite leg and ongoing chronic pain around the hardware site of a different quality than originally. Unfortunately, in Canada we have such a critical shortage of surgeons that you have to wait a year just to get the first consultation, and another year for surgery (more if it’s not “urgent”), so if feels hopeless if you need to have revision surgery done to correct work in a time sensitive window. I’ve already had one revision surgery due to infection obtained in the hospital, what happens if you have hardware out of alignment during the healing process and you wait t too long to fix it?
Thank you for these videos, it really helps to be informed, and to see there are surgeons out there than are such compassionate patient advocates 🙏🏻
That’s crazy. Do you have socialized medicine in Canada? In the United States, I was able to see my spine surgeon within two weeks and part of why it took so long is my work schedule so I had to make the appointment for the following week. I hope you get some relief. Back pain is miserable. It wears people down physically, mentally, and emotionally.
I remember reading on your website . Surgeon selection is the most important factor in spine surgery .
100% agree!! And it is not as simple or straightforward as it should be! It’s a really really long in-depth journey of research to find an excellent surgeon whom you can trust. I’ve watched hours of TH-cam on surgeries, education, and testimonials. So glad I found Dr. Spiro Antonaides on here. I contacted him several years ago and he did a very complicated cervical spine surgery for me and he will be doing my L5 S1 surgery as well
@@angelaclark5916 fusion ?
@@mickypoole9226 yes. I would rather avoid but I’ve done that already for too many years. So, taking the leap of faith and hoping it improves my quality of daily living. Pain is so grinding.
@@angelaclark5916 have you thought about total disc replacement ?
@@mickypoole9226 I haven’t
This is very scary. I had a fusion @ L4/L5 where they came in from my right side. They only put a bracket on this side which would probably be ok but the spacer that they put is metallic and my new doctor can’t see if the bone graft took or not. No bone graft on outside part of fusion. The reason I got a new doctor is because I still have pain and even have new additional pain. All my doctors involved believe that L5/S1 failed shortly after surgery. First doctor had me get a round of shots to be sure that was the problem but then just threw his hands up and said that there was nothing he can do except for a pain stimulator so I went see a neurosurgeon. He got me going to three months of therapy and then surgery to fuse L5/S1 and tie in L4/L5 on my left side with additional bone graft. I’m praying for a miracle that I won’t need the surgery but I am doubtful. When I woke up from my first surgery my right leg was completely dead. No feeling or control whatsoever. You could have amputated it and I wouldn’t have felt it. The feeling and movement slowly came back and that was like the most painful dead leg I ever had. That’s why I think my first doctor is scared to work on me anymore. He said I had bad arthritis and ligaments and the bone was too brittle. I don’t think he was being honest at all. He went from being one of the nicest doctors to being completely distant. I’m tired of being on pain meds and being in pain all the time and I’m hearing horror stories with that pain stimulator.
So sorry you are going through this! Have you had any resolution?
How long ago was the fusion?
I had fusion at 4/5 and I wasn’t looking at the 11 month X-ray because mine failed to fix pain- there’s no bone around the metal spacer. Maybe there’s bone inside it.. I’m just wondering if they do the surgeries different now. Maybe they don’t remove enough of the disc for the bone to connect the vertebral bodies. I’m just theorizing
Honestly after seeing this I no longer feel that my lumbar spine is that bad and I’m greatful for having only one fusion revision and 4 other lumbar surgical procedures dealing with herniated disc and stenosis issues, I do have some pain issues, but over all my spine is stable but complex as far as treatment of symptoms , and I’d rather be me than him!!
you just need to get a new spine fusion :)
Wow, this has got to be Canada!!! So sorry for this young man. I completely empathize with what you’ve had to go through. I really hope you’ve found help and are doing better now.
I’m going through a very similar situation with a botched fusion, been trying to navigate our joke of a medical system since 2018. Same deal, Surgeon refuses to take accountability, and all other Surgeons that have assessed me refuse to help . I’ve went to NYC, and Germany on my own $ seeking help. Had half the revision surgery I need in Germany , now I can’t afford any more personal loans.
Sent my images to multiple institutes in the states and Germany and they all agree the hardware is misplaced, screws , cage and all. It all Needs to come out in order to heal. They refuse to acknowledge that here, help me , or send me to someone that will help me. It’s beyond hopeless and frustrating. I don’t know what to do at this point. I’m only 29 and just want my life back.
so sorry 😞
Hang in. Be careful of blood pressure and sleep deprivation. Chronic Pain that is severe can cause heart attacks and strokes. It can cause suicidal depression. Sleep deprivation affects mood too. All the best to you. Hope you got some relief.
Hello Penny how are you?
have you found help for your health problem ?
Where do you live, have you seen doctors in Texas?
I am having my surgery on the 17 and I am terrified but the pain I go through on a daily basis is out of control.
the neurosurgeon here in Texas seems like he has a heart compassion for humans. If you like I can share your story with him and see what happens?.
I hope you are ok considering the circumstances.
God bless you ! 🙌
hello Penny. I just got my fusion done on the 17th of
this month.
right now I'm at the rehab and I'm supposed to leave back home on 12 /02 on.
can tell you that these surgeries from my personal experience were the worst pain that I have ever experienced
throughout my whole life.
nothing that I would say will changed their mind or even feel my pain through my explanation. still on rehabilitation and recuperating, I don't really have strength to talk or to say anything else other than I'll be back in a few weeks and give you a more detail explanation.
to help how you know how my surgery is going one thing that I dId notice right away, you know like when we holding our phones and typing I feel like my fingers are doing their own thing and typing for me, before I even touch them key pad.
like they are tweaking . and I don't know if is something related to the surgery but I'm assuming it is. I'm going to talk about that with my surgeon next time when I go for a follow-up.
other than that right now that's about as much as I can tell you and I'm hoping that after I heal well first I'm hoping that I will heal without complications no infections and no relapse and then my second desire is that I will notice with my daily activities if the surgery really got me stronger and pain free from that specific health problem that I have thank you
I’m so sorry this happened to you. I’m a young Canadian woman who also had a bad lumbar fusion at Mississauga hospital in Canada, the trillian spine institute is supposed to be one of the”our best”, but the cocky know-it-all young surgeon I had, (Dr. Jhas for anyone watching in Canada) ignored my concerns and gaslit me, tried to say my emergency revision surgery was “as unnecessary precaution”, refused to make time to book my 6 month follow up for 11 months, at which point the hardware had set in the wrong place. I have been considering going back to Germany, where I lived in 2019, for a third revision surgery to have the hardware removed, I’m curious to know where you went for consultations and what kind of rates they were quoting you to perform the surgery?
Wishing you all the best in your healing journey, I’m saying a prayer for you now to find relief. I hope things have finally started to turn around for you, solidarity sister🙏🏻❤️
How sad, I went through a similar situation back in 2005, the first surgeon messed my lower back up, the pain was worse after the surgery, I kept telling him something was wrong, I was going numb from my lower back all the way down both legs to my feet, I finally was able to go back and see said Dr, only for him to say nothing was wrong, I funny had enough of his B.S. and went to the emergency room at the university of Chicago, they set me up with an appointment with the head of neurosurgery for the hospital. He sent me for all kinds of x-rays, mri's and ct-scans, finely the Dr found out the first surgeon left a big hunk of bone on my nerve, so, he set me up for surgery to remove the bone fragment and fix whatever he could. He was able to remove the bone fragment, but kept telling me how sorry he was that he couldn't do anything else, because my spine fusion was a mess, it took him over 2 hours just to remove the bone fragment on my nerve, he told the bone fragment almost severed my nerve in half, and he told me there was no surgery or grafts that he could do to fix the nerve, he sent me up with an appointment with a pain Dr, who, said she could only give me pain meds to help with the pain, and that was all. It is December 29 2019, and I still have to take pain meds to help me with the pain and help me be able to get around and do things, I will never have a quality of life (as she put it), even taking the meds, I won't, she said it's something I will have to deal with, I still have really bad pain, the medication helps, but not I wish it would, she said she could give me stronger meds, but I refused, because they are highly addictive, even the meds I take now are addictive, but not as bad as the meds she was talking about. How I wish I could go back in time an either never have the surgery or had a better surgeon do the operation, even if it meant going to another state. That was the first surgery I had ever had, I didn't know any drs, so I called my insurance company to help me out, they were the ones who referred me to the first surgeon........
Nerve problems, I need to find out why I still have nerve problems
Sorry to hear about your pain and issues. I've had 4 spine surgeries that never did any good to stop leg pain and now I am going to have a total hip replacement and who knows how that may affect my nerve pain, so I really understand what you have been through. Pain meds have never done my any good so no point in taking them. Hope you can get some relief.
Ok thanks.
Life time situation😔
@@rizzlerazzleuno4733 why did you have so many spine surgeries?
@@imveryhungry112 In attempt to stop nerve pain.
I work in construction and I can see the big mistakes. I don't need to be a doctor in other to see that , I've been watching MRI in lumbar discs for couples days . Poor kid , I feel sorry for him
2008 L4_L5 disc herniated, 1 failed Epidural injection. 2 failed SPINAL BLOCKS , WALACE IMPLANT IN 2008 . WAS SUPPOSED TO REDUCE MASSIVE PAIN I WAS MAXED OUT ON FENANL. AND OXCONTION . ... DURING OPERATION NEUROSURGERY DRILLED OUT NERVE ROOT, VERTIBRA TO REDUCE PAIN ,,, IN SIATIC NERVE RIGHT HAND SIDE .... FAILURE ... IMPLANT COLLAPSED , IT WAS SUPPOSED TO LAST 25 YEARS , 2009 SAME DOCTOR OPENED ME UP AGAIN TH SAME QUACK ! OF A DR DID SAME PROCEDURE-AGAIN REMOVING more Bone from VERTEBRA L4_L5 .... AGAIN EPIC FAILURE OF IMPLANT COLLAPSED IN ONTOP OF ITS SELF ... THEN I WAS LEFT IN PAIN FOR 12 MONTHS BETWEEN SEPSIS - KIDNEY DISEASE DIABETES AND CHRONIC HEART DISEASE DUE TO A FAILD MICRODISECTOMY 2011, CAUSED A CAUDIA EQUINA SYNDROME. 2011 . IN HOSPITAL FOR CHRISTMAS...2013 NEW MAN . DID GOOD JOB FINALLY RESEARCHED THE DOCTOR.... GOT A FULL SPINAL FUSION . . LIVE WITH FAILD BACK SYNDROME AND CAUDIA EQUINA. AGED 44 . PAIN 4 REST OF MY LIFE , UNTIL I GET THE COVID-19 .... ILL BE CHECKING OUT ....
Went through the same crap after my first fusion, their even suggested I see a psychiatrist.. I found a REAL Doctor here ( not US) who fixed it as well as he could, replaced the infected screws and installed a cage to support the screws.. I am pretty ok now...
Wow, what's your doc's name & address?
Elaina Weeks Doctor Hertlein Sana Klinik Munich Germany, also known as OCM Munich... they are the best here.
Hello, this is a good question and confusing for people. The L3 nerve root runs down the lateral spine and courses right in front of the root of the anterior part of the transverse process of L4. So that misplaced pedicle screw could indeed be rubbing the L3 nerve root.
what will you do for a disk that is 11 milimeters out of my spine and also have a fractured on the same place this young man has.
the doctor who will perform surgery on me say fusion a metal plate and screws with a braket holding it in place to help with the fusion. L5
S1 I don't like the idea of having hardware in my body but the pain is horrible 25 year and counting can't take it anymore.
also the fact I won't be able to bend forward or turn side to side is scary thought.
That is staggering I am a carpenter and i would ashamed if i failed to hit my mark that badly with a screw its staggering, I also have a fairly rare and interesting spine condition that started as the result of a 40ft cliff fall in 1970 at the age of aged 15 years old, I sustained a compression fracture dislocation of my lumber spine Dislocated the lower 3 cracked the 3rd in 3 places and compression fracture between 3rd and 4th, I had almost no neurological deficit at the time; and have had no surgery it all self fused, I had a fall in 2015 broke 5 ribs and a scan at that time,
I also have the rare bone L6 for interest, to the situation and i have a full copy of the scan, It appears on the scan that I am developing some real problems with my thoracic spine though am having some difficulty gettting this confirmed,
Thank You for a most informative video,
What's with the shiners? That docters is hungry!!!
I feel so sorry for this patient, I myself have had two spinal fusions in my lumber spine seven and a half years ago that was a complete failure after visiting my surgeon so many times and told there was nothing he could see that would be causing my extreme pain, he refused to do anything about it now after seeing another surgeon Im having more surgery to rectify the original surgery I have been diagnosed with a collapsed disk and servere flat back syndrome
The hospital is a training hospital The Royal North Shore Public Hospital. The original surgeon who is a top surgeon at this hospital his name is Dr Hartin.
I would love for you and your friends to look at my case to see what you think. After watching this video i became worried about where I am standing with my fusion and laminectomy, because I've become decreasingly worse since my surgery. I went back and looked at the findings and it talked about screws being out of place like you described in this video, it also said something to the affect
FINDINGS:
1. There are postoperative changes of posterior segmental fusion with screw and rod construct at L4-L5. The left L4 pedicle screw breaches the outer cortex of the left pedicle. The left L5 pedicle screw breaches the anterior lateral cortex of the L5 vertebral body. There is lucency surrounding the left L5 pedicle screw raising concern for possible loosening of the screw. The hardware is intact.
2. There are decompressive laminectomies of L4 on L5.
3. There is a persistent grade 1 anterior spondylolisthesis of L4 on L5. This is stable from prior imaging. No new malalignment is seen.
4. Imaging was performed from the lower aspect of T11 through the S2 segment. The imaged vertebrae maintain their height. No fractures are noted. There are no osteolytic nor osteoblastic lesions identified.
5. The sacroiliac joints appear normal.
6. No paraspinal soft tissue abnormalities are seen.
T11-T12: No posterior disc abnormality, central canal stenosis, or neural foraminal narrowing.
T12-L1: No posterior disc abnormality, central canal stenosis, or neural foraminal narrowing.
L1-2: No posterior disc abnormality, central canal stenosis, or neural foraminal narrowing.
L2-3: No posterior disc abnormality, central canal stenosis, or neural foraminal narrowing.
L3-4: No posterior disc abnormality, central canal stenosis, or neural foraminal narrowing.
L4-5: There is a decompressive laminectomy defect. There is significant streak artifact from the orthopedic hardware. The normal soft tissue planes are disrupted due to the surgery. The spinal canal and the foramina are not adequately evaluated at this level.
L5-S1: There is no significant osseous encroachment on the spinal canal at this level. Degenerative endplate osteophyte and facet arthrosis is causing mild to moderate left and mild right foraminal stenosis.
_________________________
IMPRESSION:
There are postoperative changes of posterior segmental fusion with screw and rod construct at L4-L5. The left L4 pedicle screw breaches the outer cortex of the left pedicle. The left L5 pedicle screw breaches the anterior lateral cortex of the L5 vertebral body. There is lucency surrounding the left L5 pedicle screw raising concern for possible loosening of the screw. The hardware is intact.
You need to go to Another Neurosurgeon and and have him read your M.R.I.and help you. The Dr. Who caused this will not help you cuz they won't admit they did anything wrong.Find a good Neurosurgeon and make and appointment with him and go see a good Neurosurgeon.It looks like your current Neurosurgeon didnt know what hes doing. Do it quickly because this is dangerous. Having a screw poking through the bone and hitting soft tissue where you have blood vessels is not good.
@@whendis.roberts9903 I agree I've tried seeing others but no one will take me
@@Imaghostfreak67 Where do you live? What City and State and what type of insurance? I will try to find someone to help you. I'm very good at finding good Doctors and Neurosurgeons and Surgeons. You deserve the best care that there is. You are Gods Child and God wants the best for you. You must not give up.
I live in Newaygo, MI the 2 closest cities for me are Grand Rapids, and Muskegon. My original Neurologist was Dr. Ali out of spectrum health neurology in Grand Rapids. I'm so frustrated.
There is something that may need to be checked. I also have a failed fusion than nobody will address. I've been back and forth with doctors and even got a new surgeon to look. My original surgeon suggested that he take out the hardware, but I refused because my pain was so bad with my original fusion surgery it required a 7 day hospital stay and 10 day rehab stay. That was 2019
In the July 2022, I severely dislocated and broke my ankle. After 4 months and so far 10 hyperbaric oxygen treatments, we are finding I may have a hardware problem. I still have open sores over my screws which won't heal. No predisposing conditions that would cause this. Every step I take is painful. Still have periods of shooting severe pain
I have asked to have my hardware removed as soon as it's feasibly possible. The soonest they will do it is April 2023. Anyway, if that stops the pain, it may be my back still hurts because of the hardware. I'm going to ask for it to be removed.
I had a back fushion of the L4 L5 SEPT 3rd 2021. I ended up with a back infection and have had nothing but problems since. I now found out 3 of the screws are broke and the 4th screw is on the verge of breaking. I also have a grade 1 1/2 almost 2 slippage. Im in severe pain. My doctor said I need emergency surgery but he can't seem to get me in until July 29th. Today I'm debating going to the ER for the pain. Im so worried about my back.
27:18 is his L5s1 ok? Why is the posterior so thin compared to the front
If you could help me, I'd be greatly thankful. Had a fusion 10/2018. Can't do too much without pain. Not much different & even worse after surgery. Had laminectomy, fusion of L4 & L5 with cage graft and decompression.....still feeling horrible.
Dr. Roger Thorne at Scripps in la jolla fixed my failed fusion. Recommend 100%.
Hello. Hope you are feeling better. It happened to me also..bad back surgery. Loss use of my left leg..etc etc.. looking for a good back Dr. In Maryland.. to maybe fix my problem..
I had 2 failed spine fusions in 2010 and 2011. The first one had to be repeated due to a screw coming loose. I'm in worse shape now than I was prior to ever having the first surgery.
Dude, I mean Dr., I wanted to see the video but couldn’t take my eye off that beautiful rig behind you. I love PRS guitars. Mesa Boogie isn’t too shabby either. Well done! After watching this video, I’m absolutely terrified of my upcoming ALIF for L5-S1 in a few weeks. Having a great level of mechanical ability is important to drive a screw into the right spot. I waited for a long time to do this surgery with back pain on and off for 15 years or so. I’m going to be 55 yrs old in a month which is why I went ahead and decided to do it. Hopefully I’m not a case study for you in the future.
So scared. After multiple epidural injections, nerve root blocks and multiple spinal fluid leaks and three spine surgeries later the horrific problems continue now I’m being faced with these nerve ablation procedures. I’m highly concerned because the aftermath of epidural injections in my neck left me with Essential Tremors since 2017. I’m highly concerned now having anyone get that close to my nerves in my spine. “Is it just me or is there anyone else out there experiencing such a huge amount of bad luck with their spine”
I'm really sorry to hear. How are you doing after a year later? I'm going through some difficult times myself
Can a loose pedicle screw reattach with nutrition and exercise? Or a relief of pain?
No, it's not likely.
L5 pars is the what I figured he needed fixed with fusion and it wasn’t addressed!?
This was done in Canada, right? We don’t get second opinions or choice of doctor here.
Hello, I was actually done in India.
That’s terrible. I live in the United States and I asked around to nurses and patients which spine doctor I should get. He is the same one that operates on the other surgeons in my area when they have a spine problem. I got an appointment within two weeks. I’m not a good candidate for surgery though…still a lot of back pain. A lot of people complain about the American Healthcare system but there are worse ones. Free doesn’t always mean better. There are definitely some surgeons I wouldn’t want to touch me.
I had the alif procedure @ L5/ S1 in Nov 2020. Sciatica is worse in my left leg now, and has even moved into my left arm. Constant pain in my left back along with muscle spasms in my left leg and unbalanced at times. Ugh...
I need advice please.
who decided what kind of metal will be used for the fusion on the lumbar?
I have been told that the only material that the body doesn't reject is platinum or something like that. help me .......!
Had a back surgery in 2003. Went though the front then the back..l5 S1. Loss the use of my left leg. Got 65 percent of it back. Loss muscle mass. My leg is so skinny...worse mistake of my life..Dont know what to do after 19 years..
I had 2 failed fusions in 2010 c4-c7 and 3rd c3-c4 in 2015. Live in constant pain!!
I have 8 screws,3 rods cage , fusions pushed out of my back I cannot walk upright sense my surgery . I’m in so much pain and now I’m told the upper back is collapsing and no one can do anything. There’s isent help and I’ve have pain down both legs neck but I could just give up I became disabled because of my surgery. Doctors around here will not see a patient until 3 years after a failed surgery if ever. I waited many years and now I’m pretty much done
I had terrible left leg pain, the neurosurgeon said I had to have a laminectomy to correct. Went for surgery on 2/2021 but he did a fusion on l2-l5 and s1. In recovery I felt losing mobility in my RIGHT leg. I was told that during surgery that blood pressure dropped in my leg and damaged my nerves. Now I have drop foot, my toes are numb on both feet, the skin on my left leg is numb along with the skin on my lower right side and butt cheek plus my bowels now have a mind of their own. After 2/12 mos. of rehab to no avail I had an EMG 9mos.later and was told the nerves in my leg were fine but the problem is in my l5 from surgery. I was scheduled for more surgery on 11/2021 but my vascular surgeon stopped it and my primary didn't recommend it because I could end up in worse shape that I am now. So I guess I'll be a cripple for the rest of my life.
Oh my! I'm really sorry to read this. I would get a second opinion from doctors not associated in any way (and far away from) with the surgeons who apparently created this mess. Good luck!
Is that scar tissue in the skin covering the epidural and facets?
Hi my name is Ramiro Del bosque I have had several lower back surgeries and my screws keep loosening I have 10 screws in my lower back. What can I do because I’m still having a lot of pain.
Well, that was scary. Just had a consultation with an orthopedic surgeon today about my L5 S1 problem and chronic lower back pain. Last scan was two years ago so he has ordered another. Now I am frightened.
just get a new spine fusion :)
I am passing that same thing my doctor tells me that the surgery went well but now I have more pain and now I am passing out frequently it has been almost 2 years from my surgery he won’t take a second review
I’m going to now watch your video on reading an mri
Thanks for teaching us sir.
What can go wrong with fusion? Any information on the minimally invasive procedure called OLLIF.
CDaeda i have had extensive back surgeries (23). I had a friend I referred to one of my drs at the time, who had fixed another dr's screw up. He did this approach and had a hard time recovering. I had had an anterior approach that went horribly wrong. Just like any risks of going anaesthesia, there is always a certain percentage that that approach could have issues. My anterior approach is a 3% chance that my bowels would shut down. Well I was that 3%, for 14 days no food and had an NG tube up my nose down to my stomach bringing up anything that went down. They had knicked just above my umbilical and caused a hernia. That I can't get a dr within a 100 mile radius of that dr to fix it. Also they never sewed my muscles back properly so I can barely stuck in my stomach- I've invested in a lot of spanks. I'm not sure where your from but if you're in Florida, I can give you the top neurosurgeon in the world and one of the leading Orthopaedic. He used the Mazor* robot on my back that was the largest back surgery done at that time. Ibe had more success have posterior approaches than anything. They all say these OLLIF,TLIF,ALIF approaches are better. Safer. Less recovery etc. But having had these different approaches,also my mom, have had problems versus the original surgery they all learned, the posterior approaches have had as much if not better recovery. I wish there was a way to post a photo of my back with all my hardware and scars. Always get a second opinion and that you're dealing with the BEST surgeon in your state. Both of mine I reccomend are over 3 hrs away. And its worth every minute, mile and gas money I spend.
CDaeda good luck in which ever surgery you have. I hope I didn't scare you but after what I have been thru I make sure people are educated in making the best decision with a 2nd or 3rd opinion, without the other drs opinions.
ترجمه
I have undergone a similar operation on the 25th of April 2023..
Right after the operation i have been suffering from burning pain on my outer right thigh. The doctor advised me that the pain will disappear with time. The pain is still there. Please advise me what to do.
I live in Africa, in Namibia.
Hello I had the same complain both legs on pain for a year 6 months de infuse my back cause my bone weee shifting. But I still have pain on legs and now new pain on my buttock .please help what should I do I’m always on pain pills .I can’t work ok because of pain.
Hi Dr. Whats the difference between radicular pain vs radoculopathy
Radiculopathy is a diagnosis made when the neurological examination is positive (i.e., decreased reflex, decreased sensation, and/or decreased muscle strength). Radicular pain is an adjective which describes a pain that radiates down either the upper or the lower extremity in a fairly narrow band. Its often dermatomally located.
I have spondyloloptosis.I started years ago,with grade 2 spondy. I did not want many surgeries ..adjacent issues etc and I am a life long steroid dependent asthmatic.
I live in pain daily
Here we are in 2023, My surgeon definitely thinks my L4/L5 fusion did not get enough bone growth and that is causing the pain since surgery. I will say all the leg pain and sciatic pain was gone day 1 after surgery, but I have had pain and still have pain anytime I bend forward. My question is the original surgery was done from the back but this time he wants to do the revision at L4/L5 but coming from the front, How will he remove the screws? Can it be done from the front or will he have to do that from the back and do the rest from the front?
Do you have time to look at my case?
Thanks to you, I was able to diagnose my husband's cervical problems, and got a surgeon whom fixed the problem, from a previous neurosurgeon that should not be practicing medicine.
Was his name. Dr Citow? Same thing happened to me. Had to have a huge revision surgery to fix it.
Those x-rays from 2015 and you noticing it now did you crack is back by chance
I would like to know what the symptoms are for a Lumbar Disc not fusing? How would you know if that was the case? I had a CT scan and my doctor still can't say for sure if it fused or not?
Hello, if you had a good quality thin-sliced CT scan, you can definitely tell whether or not fusion has occurred, so your doctors should know the answer to the question.
@@douglasgillarddcprofessoro5285 I have no idea what type of CT Scan they ordered,
CT of lower back without dye. I would assume my surgeon did the standard CT after Fusion. He said he saw no halos, and the CT looked good, but keeps thinking it did not fuse for some reason. I had the fusion April of 2020 so its been 1 year and 4 months. I keep saying I think my pain is from L5/S1 and he even did a diagnostic injection at L5/S1 with Anesthetic Injection, non steroid, to see if that would give me relief for about 4 to 5 hours. It actually was the closest I have felt to normal since surgery but he still thinks L4/L5 was not fused and his plan was to do surgery in mid August and check the fusion at L4/L5 and redo it if he felt movement, then to fuse L5/S1? He was worried about fusing L5/S1 saying what I have now is a floating fusion and if the does L5/S1 it could cause other problems? What is bad is he left the practice last week so now I am scrambling to appointments with other surgeons now.
im having a fusion in 4 days time. After watching rhis, i dont know if i should proceed or not.
PLEASE HELP - I AM FINDING SOMETHING DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND
11:35: isn't it the L4 exiting nerve root? Given this is the L4 vertebrae. How can it be L3?
I thought at L4-L5 disc level you have the exiting L4 nerve root flowing and traversing L5 nerve root in the thecal sack. ???
26:25: Same thing. If we are looking at the L3 vertebrae. Shouldn't it be the L3 exiting nerve root next to the screws in the extra foramin?
16:48 - It made sense to do a fusion in my opinion, because he had an annular tear in the disc at L3-L4. Although it could be argued because his disc looks healthy.
ALIF - is a great fusion for a patient becaues you don't end removing bone or tampering with the CE nerve. A posterior fusion can be quite destructive not to mention scar tissue formation around the CE nerve
Yikes!!! So sad and scary. I've been told I'm a candidate for lumber spinal fusion. One Dr was ready to do it immediately and another Dr said I wasn't in enough pain to do it. Both recommended PLIF? It seems they still do this procedure in the U.S. I'm going to put surgery off as long as I can.
I am 72 years old and have undergone spinal surgery in september 21 for spinal stenosis and L3-L4-L5 listhesis.My pain and leg problems have remarkably improved.but I have developed bladder hypotonia .I have to do self caterization twice a day.i would like know the chances of recovery.
Good explanation Dr Wright after I fall my MRI revile all of that problem L3 L4 L5 Moore in Moore I can I get contact with you
I'm sorry to hear about your disc problems. You can contact me at chirogeek@chirogeek.com.
I've had three back operations and am still in hellish pain. I would bet that my MRI would look like this or worse. Much of the time my life is not worth living and the doctor says, "Well, I fixed you." Oh hell yes.....he fixed me, all right.
Sorry , I feel your pain I had a Trifusion in 2015 on L4 L5 S1 and the same here , they can’t shut the pain off so the put a implant in me , a spinal nerve stimulator , so between the implant tv music and my computer is some of the things I have to do to help me not think of the pain I live in everyday of my life . Now they want me to take this test to run the dye through my spine to see all of the damage that is there .
I set my reports and scans to Dr. Roger Thorne at Scripps in La Jolla CA. He Saved my life.
Would this be malpractice in USA?
If you got care that is less than
what could be provided by a similarly trailed and qualified person and it resulted in harm to the patient then yes it is malpractice. People can’t guarantee outcomes but you should be getting care that would be expected of a similar professional. Nowadays, the screws are guided in real time with a program that synchronizes with a CT scan of the spine. Then xrays are taken to confirm placement. Maybe other countries don’t have that technology but the United States does.
is there any age limit of patient for spinal fusion
to me, the the second MOST HORRIFYING thing in this video is that this doctor won't tell us what country and what hospital/doctor botched this surgery... that information will save countless people from having to go through the same thing!!!!
Obviously a communist country, you know, just like they are trying to turn America into......
Do what we say or we will call you crazy.
You mentioned drs can be sued for what they did. What if you didn’t know that’s what they did and the statute of limitations was expired? Drs shouldn’t get away with things like this. At the very least they should get their asses kicked!!!
Hi Dr Gilliard. Very informative video. I feel so bad for this patient. I know what is to be in constant pain. I had a two level neck fusion in 2020 that I am still suffering from pain. I had multiple imaging done and no Dr has been able to tell me what’s wrong. It’s frustrating how a person in pain is dismissed by these surgeons.
Had a Fusion in April after I ruptured the same disc about 4 years after a microdiscectomy, and the doctor says at 12 weeks my bones are not fusing? Don't smoke drink or have diabetes? What happens if my bones don't fuse? Any ideas to help with this? Immediately after fusing no more leg and radiating pain but after 12 weeks don't feel any better than I did 3 weeks after? Back feels painful when I lean forward slightly or try and lift anything?
Be patient my friend.
It takes 6 to 8 months for a fusion to take place...
Thanks Kickdog69, the surgeons assistant seemed a little concerned and I was thinking man its only been 3 months but I could see it in his eyes.... I started taking Vitamin D and drinking more milk and Magnesium supplement and hope in the next 2 months some fusion starts on my end. I have only been walking mostly. Started doing some assisted lunges between two chairs hoping to strengthen the glutes which may help the lower back? He told me no motorcycle because of the vibration, and no jogging.
@@kickdog6934 Well a year and a half and no better now. I was patient but still in pain.
Took me 12 yrs to get a mri again in 2015. Been on ss supplement want to put screws an bolts in my lower back
can the patient sue ?
General cutaneous syndrome. I had the same exact thing. If he has burning like fire and knife pain. They hit the nerve.
I didn't even get far enough for you to show the screw going into the nerve. I've had 23 back surgeries, 5 drs royally screwed up.
He’s had triple bilateral facet fusion with screws????
I had the same surgery on 01/08/2019, after a year, I have more pain than I did before the surgery, my 3 hour surgery turned in to a 5 hour surgery because the membrane around my spinal cord was torn during surgery. I wish I had never had it done, I had severe nerve pain on my right leg all the way to my big toe. I cannot enjoy the life I had even before surgery, I used to play golf 4-5 days a week, Now I cannot play 2 days in a row or I end up on the couch with my foot and let on a pillow. My insurance company denied my claim, they paid the facility but would not pay the surgeon in full, it went through 3 appeals and denied because the surgeon's decision to fuse my l5-S1 was not "Medically Necessary" so that tells me the surgeon messed up, I ended up having to pay the surgeon's bill myself or they would of sent me to collections. I cannot believe my pain I have in the right hip clear to my toes, it's horrible. I am lost and don't know what to do about it.
im really sorry to hear about this! Whats been your experience with physical therapy? might that help?
Start taking CBD Hemp Oil, Thc Edibles, Thc Liquid. Should zap your pain away onc get you get into a good process of taking it
you might just need a new fusion :)
I'll pray to God for you. May he reduce your pain?? And heal your nerves??
What a nightmare. Be Very Careful.
I am in the same boat. Had 360 spinal fusion in 1997. S1 L5 L4. Bone graph taken off left illact joint. Now I have unstable SI joints. 2003 they took our hardware because pedicle screw in spinal nerve. Now I have 2 more herniated disc above fusions. Pain so bad. Also 2 herniated in middle of back. Pain doctor said he want treat me anymore if I don't get into a surgeon. I have been trying to but workers comp is holding it up. Then this pain doctor cut my pain meds to two hydrocodone break through instead of three. What happened to do no harm on to heir oath. I'm 64 and the pain is getting so bad. God help us
Poor thing the pain must be unbearable
Can I ask which country is this patient from?
If memory serves, I believe he's from India.
I dig your Mesa Boogie and PRS Doc!
Hi can you read my MRI ,I had S1/L5 fision in 2004 and since 2012 Im in the bad back pain ,left and right leg pain I got a Arachnoiditis .How can I contact you and send my MRI scan tu you ???can you hellp me ,thanks .
I would get another opinion to validate that arachnoiditis did NOT exist before fusion. I think that diagnosis is often made by NS when they can;t find anything else on films. Because that diagnosis is NOT curable with surgery, it gives them an out. If it was there when fusion was done, it's not likely to be pain source now. Good luck. In general, I have read that fusions are more successful with leg pain than back pain.
Sir how can I send you my MRI and CT scan too look at it 🤗 after 2 fusion surgery L4 L5 & S 1 .! I'm still not comfortable and have pains
Who is the doctor???
Why do Some doctors not listen??? I've been going through this pain hell for three years. No doctor will listen and help. I was told I needed a revision five years ago. I can barely walk but they don't seem to be concerned! Does anyone have any ideas on getting a doctor to help you
Thank you for the. very informative video. I have a botched laminectomy. Not sure how to proceed. Constant pain even with an SCS
Hi, I have a question. I had my scoliosis surgery when I was 12, Im now 26. Im thinking about getting it removed since its been so long and Im having muscle strain and my back Is tired all the time. My hips joints are starting to as well.. Do you think the spine is fused enough to get it removed without recurving in the future. Thanks
I have my records an cd of my last test they pushing i need to get a joints screws bolts to support my back in l5 l4 s1
In 2006 I had a car accident that left me very bad. My first surgery was to extract the fluid from the disc and push the disc since it was very close to the spine. I was 21 years old. If you saw that my bones were not strong to withstand this type of surgery and unfortunately I have lived with pain because everything collapsed puncturing nerves and everything is stuck I took hydrocodone 10 mg 325 which at least helped me control the pain for more than 4 years I didn't even go back to check my back because in fact they took away all the medications. Sometimes I can go weeks without sleep because I get anxiety in my legs that I don't feel them I fist my legs because it's frustrating to live with that feeling. They recommended that I wear a stimulation machine with morphine and another with electricity but I don't want to continue having surgeries that are not going to give me back my joy living with back pain is not living and the depression it causes you is worse

Same , they took me of the pain medication because of opioid hysteria no matter if you live in agony and pain every second that is our stupid Canadian government.
I'll pray to God for you. I hope he lessens your pain and heal your nerves. Amen
I am going through this right now .
Can I ask u doc I had hemilectomy and microdisectomy l3 4 and l4 5 .does it mean I lost posterior bone removed on two vertebrae what else could be the other option.thx pLs ans for me
Yes I will be getting a hold I would like see your thoughts on a spine stimulators. The pain centers are pushing these on patients. Like they are working for them and I just feel they have a kick back putting these in and are they worth it when you had 8 surgeries and still have bone problems ? And been living with adhesive arachnoiditis. I will email you thank you
In 2 last years i did 3 spine surgery,1st one Orthopedic surgery and he make me worse ,i saw couple other doctor & they recommend i should see neurosurgeon,i find one & 11 months ago i did my surgery all the way from L1 to L5 & he install 5 screw to my spine,after couple months all the screws loosing & my pain killing me,he recommend to another surger for changing the hardware, sep 2018 i did my 3rd surgery & this time he install 4 bigger screws,now after 4 months again screws loosing & i dont know what i have to do ? my pain get worse & worse,can some body tell me what i have to do ?
So sad. Legal action required
Where are you at
Me too I have exit spinal last month am in pain need help pls
who was the mans surgeon? did he sue them ?
Incredibly well articulated video, thank you.
Ha.... I didn't even catch the joke.... well articulated video, terribly articulating vertebrae.
19:51 ummm I really think the cause of leg pain is actually foreign objects within the foramina or the area that nerves travel through the facets from the spinal cord/nerves
I kept going back to my Drs and surgeons to say my left prosthetic cemented hip was painful, down the front of my leg and groin, when I walked. It took 7 years before the did anything and had to redo the hip, it has now started again the same symptoms they are telling me the same thing again, that it is fine. ?? So I will just wait until I am crippled before I go back to them, one physiotherapist said basically it's all in my mind.
I had a lower lumbar fusion 23 years ago it failed in 2019 I was in an accident it screwed up my back never had 3 mails read to me because of covid now I'm in excruciating pain still no mails read my surgeon /friend wants to help please help me
Please tell me it’s not Australia 🇦🇺 as they want to do an anterior Interbody fusion on me for L5/S1. Shitting myself
Australia is not 3rd world ,,,
This is me to a T. Exactly same situation my main pain is in the outside of my right calf it feels like someone is giving me a chairlie horse every step. Also had a tib/fib put back together and the 2 screws are busted in half on the same leg. And having no family or friends or money living on PWD ( Vancouver B.C. Canada ) 🇨🇦 is just over 1200 a month . Rent for a 1 bedroom apt goes for around 1200 to 1800 .I went to school yo become a pipe fitter and obviously that's out the window. Now 42 think I'll try to become an outreach worker part time. So we'll see.......Cheer's.
I was used as a ginniepig for a double lumbar fusion in 2014 that has been and is a nightmare, pain has taken over my life, please consult with me as No one seems to be able to stop this Nero surgeon from doing this to people 😢 I never needed the surgery to begin with and have mri reports showing before an after , I didn't sign up for this off lable surgery, parts , he's still practicing 2022 help in Michigan
How can I get in contact with you
Got 2 time lumbar microdisc and 1 time lumbar spine fusion of l4 l5 level but still pain present in left leg don't know what I do next please help me
Good luck. I have had 4 spine surgeries and no cure for severe left leg pain, now over 9 years. The nerve system in the spine is a very complicated system, so until the day when they can 100% accurately pinpoint the cause of nerve pain there are going to be back surgeries that do little or no good, or worse create more pain. Medical research has come a long way, but spine problems need more research. Fortunately many patients get great results from spine surgeries, you and me, I guess not. Sorry.
I also have congenital stenosis. I had a fusion in late 2018. Since the fusion I have been in severe pain. Just found out I will need another surgery. I’m really considering seeking council regarding my situation.
Are you in pain worse now than before your first spine surgery? They want to do a cervical fusion on me :(
Could he possibly have hip arthritis?