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July 20, 2008, 6:12 pm
Flag as Inappropriate lilbit  

I had L5S1 fusion surgery Dec 19th 2005. I have had problems ever since. I am currently fighting for disability. My surgeon wants to take the hardware out. Has anyone had this done? if you have what were the results? I am very unsure of what to do. I have to wait until I get disability before I can do anything. But I don`t know if going through another back surgery is worth it. If it helps and I can go back to work great. If not then forget it.

Can you get a 2nd opinion from another doctor? Why exactly is this one telling you he/she wants to remove the stuff? I would be asking a ton of questions but that would be my main one.

I would agree that a second opinion is vital. There were obviously reasons that you had the fusion surgery in the first place, and if you have the hardware removed then I would imagine that you will face a continued deterioration in that same route.

Have all alternatives been exhausted?

I would definitely get a second opinion. My mother has had back surgery too, a fusion (not sure which vertabrae) to treat a collapsed disc and she has had nothing be trouble since then. I think it is a fairly high percentage who don't get relief after surgery.

my hubby had a C456 done and it relieved his problems for a long while, until he fell off a ladder. OOpsy!

anyway, the nurosurgeon that he has is great.

I think if the grafts, plates of bone that are inserted are not setting properly that coudl be a problem. I can tellyou hubby had a year of chronic pain then it went away.

from what I remember Dr. Dabvis explained that a whole lot of problems could arise if teh healing process was not followed exactly including diet change.

julie

Getting a second opinion is something I would look very close at as it will help you decide which course of action is best.

Lilbit-- why does the doctor want to take this out now?

I would get a 2nd opinion also. Will the insurance pay for it?

I also would make sure they are taking it out for a good reason- you already have enough problems with your back.

Good luck!

I have no insurance now so I can`t do anything at the moment. He wants to take it out because he thinks the hardware may be shifting and causing the pain or the screws have come loose. he is one of the best surgeons around so I trust him.

I would get a second maybe a third opinion first of all. Back surgery is so scary to me, I am supposed to have back surgery too.. Not gonna happen in this lifetime.