Anyone have lower back surgery?

[Cowboy Brian]

I suspect the chances of surgical success for repair are probably quite good but such a decision is very personal.

Has there been evidence of progression of the amount of slippage over time? Has there been evidence of instability in different postures? Have you really stretched out your hamstrings?

Anyhow, good luck with everything.

BTW, if you had colitis have you been on steroids? Did they do a spine DEXA? Is there still activity at the area on bone scan?

We are doing tests on all that this week, but he suspects not. I last did the tests in November, and from late December-Mid April was on virtual best red for the Colitis, spending nearly a month in the hospital. He said the fact that it did not heal with that means it will most likely not heal at all without surgery.


I was on high dose prednisone, at one point it was 60mg a day. Have not checked activity yet, and no spine DEXA.

 

[Cowboy Brian]

R2A good luck with the surgery. I would strongly encourage you to fix everything you can while you are young. You still have most of your entire life ahead of you so don't screw around with your health.

Thank you.

 

[Cowboy Brian]

Members like this and their willingness to contribute absolutely make this site one of the best sites going.

BTW, good luck R2A.

Agreed.


Thanks.

 

[Eskimo]

We are doing tests on all that this week, but he suspects not. I last did the tests in November, and from late December-Mid April was on virtual best red for the Colitis, spending nearly a month in the hospital. He said the fact that it did not heal with that means it will most likely not heal at all without surgery.


I was on high dose prednisone, at one point it was 60mg a day. Have not checked activity yet, and no spine DEXA.

The thing I wonder is if the healing process was delayed by the illness and steroids.

the other thing to consider is the bed rest and high dose steroids could have weakened the bones quite a bit so it might not be a bad idea to get a DEXA before the surgery to make sure bones are not too brittle.

The other thing about the bone scan is your ongoing symptoms may not be due to the spondylolisthesis but due to the steroid as you can get avascular necrosis or compression fractures from everyday activity. These conditions can often be missed on plain xray but bone scan, MRI and CT are usually pretty good at picking them up.

 

[Cowboy Brian]

The thing I wonder is if the healing process was delayed by the illness and steroids.

the other thing to consider is the bed rest and high dose steroids could have weakened the bones quite a bit so it might not be a bad idea to get a DEXA before the surgery to make sure bones are not too brittle.

The other thing about the bone scan is your ongoing symptoms may not be due to the spondylolisthesis but due to the steroid as you can get avascular necrosis or compression fractures from everyday activity. These conditions can often be missed on plain xray but bone scan, MRI and CT are usually pretty good at picking them up.

On Thursday I am getting a MRI & a CatScan, are there any other tests I should ask my doctor about?

 

[Eskimo]

On Thursday I am getting a MRI & a CatScan, are there any other tests I should ask my doctor about?

The only thing would be a bone scan. This can show how much ongoing bone activity there is at the site of injury.

The CT should sort out if there are any insufficiency fractures and both are reasonably good at looking for signs of avascular necrosis.

 

[Cowboy Brian]

The only thing would be a bone scan. This can show how much ongoing bone activity there is at the site of injury.

The CT should sort out if there are any insufficiency fractures and both are reasonably good at looking for signs of avascular necrosis.

Thank you, there has been no nerve damage as of November, and he said since I was relatively physically inactive it is not very likely there is now.


I greatly appreciate the help, how do you know so much about back surgerys?

 

[Eskimo]

Thank you, there has been no nerve damage as of November, and he said since I was relatively physically inactive it is not very likely there is now.


I greatly appreciate the help, how do you know so much about back surgerys?

MD by trade, but not a surgeon. However, I work in the neurology realm and often deal with people with spine issues.

 

[Cowboy Brian]

MD by trade, but not a surgeon. However, I work in the neurology realm and often deal with people with spine issues.

Very cool, and must be a very fulfilling career.

My spine doctor is the former surgeon of the NYGiants, he also is recommend to all injured NYPD/Nassau/Suffolk who get injured with back problems, he has pictures of all the athletes he has performed back surgery on, and from quick google searches all of them, every single one, returned to their sport if they were sill active at the time of the surgery. That is very impressive.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

Spondyolosos with 10% sponsylothis

I have a lower "spondylo"...and i never had back surgery, but I never fractured my back either.

We'll be thinking about you. Keep us up to date and let us know how you're recovering, bro.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

Yep, colitis just officially in remission Monday, same day I got this news. Can't catch a break medically at all

I had this as well. I got it from the antibiotics they gave me after my appendectomy... dude, that was no fun at all. Just yuck.

 

[Cowboy Brian]

I have a lower "spondylo"...and i never had back surgery, but I never fractured my back either.

We'll be thinking about you. Keep us up to date and let us know how you're recovering, bro.

Thanks man

 

[Cowboy Brian]

I had this as well. I got it from the antibiotics they gave me after my appendectomy... dude, that was no fun at all. Just yuck.

It is truly awful, no one knows how bad it can be unless they had it themselves or know someone who had it.


I spent over 3 weeks in the hospital in Jan, and a week in March.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Very sorry to hear you have back problems, especially at such an early age. I will pray that you make a full recovery. Back surgery is a big time decision but it looks like, from this thread, that your family has researched it, and done all they can to find out as much as possible before having the surgery, so good luck on it.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

Very sorry to hear you have back problems, especially at such an early age. I will pray that you make a full recovery. Back surgery is a big time decision but it looks like, from this thread, that your family has researched it, and done all they can to find out as much as possible before having the surgery, so good luck on it.

Hey, DBrave, long time...I'm still not on the 'ole xbox much lately, but i'm itching to be. Will drop u a line real soon.

Seriously, bless the guy's heart. Having these sorts of problems this young isn't fun, but in the long run it will make him stronger inside.

But yeah, the spondylo..er, something, thesis, i'm no dr. But that sucks. When it happens, it feels like someone hit you with the butt of a gun in your back. And you go around walking at a 45 degree angle.

One thing I find that does help it tho. Exercise. Yup. The good kind.

Might wanna give that a shot at "healing" your painful problem....

Nah, kidding aside. I can totally sympathize with him on both accounts. Although we're spoiled brats if we think things couldn't be worse.

 

[Cowboy Brian]

Very sorry to hear you have back problems, especially at such an early age. I will pray that you make a full recovery. Back surgery is a big time decision but it looks like, from this thread, that your family has researched it, and done all they can to find out as much as possible before having the surgery, so good luck on it.

Thank you, I appreciate the kind words.