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Back and Neck Pain Exchange

What are the best treatments for back and neck pain? Who are the best doctors? ... more

Last Reply:

Worse pain after spinal fusion surgery

An_246003 posted:

I had an L4-L5 & L5-S1 fused 3 years ago and the pain now is 100 x worse. Can't believe this happened to me I am very depressed lately about this. I cannot provide for myself let alone my wife which is disgraceful. I was in a bad accident and thought what I had prior to surgery was severe pain until after surgery. This pain after the fusion is unbelievable and unbearable. I have to take meds that I cannot stand taking and barely work. The recovery was horrible. I compared it to having a leg cut off or having a large bone in your body completely crushed, it was so bad I was in and out of conciousness after surgery. They didn't know what to do my blood pressure was dangerously high and almost died. Now I want to die because of all this new pain. Good luck whatever you do but try to stay away from fusion..

1 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Worse pain after spinal fusion surgeryI had an L4-L5 & L5-S1 fused 3 years ago and the pain now is 100 x worse. Can't believe this happened to me I am very depressed lately about this. I cannot provide for myself let alone my wife which is disgraceful. I was in a bad accident and thought what I had prior to surgery was severe pain until after surgery. This pain after the fusion is unbelievable and unbearable. I have to take meds that I cannot stand taking and barely work. The recovery was horrible. I compared it to having a leg cut off or having a large bone in your body completely crushed, it was so bad I was in and out of conciousness after surgery. They didn't know what to do my blood pressure was dangerously high and almost died. Now I want to die because of all this new pain. Good luck whatever you do but try to stay away from fusion..

patientlyenduring responded:

I am very sorry about your distress and pain. Don't feel like you are alone, if that helps. My husband had his 4 lower vertebrae fused together this past May. It's been now just about 6 months. The doctor ASSURED him that he would feel SO much better. That he'd be able to ski and run, etc. Not at ALL how he feels. He is still in constant pain. He feels like something is "wrong". On top of this, he was fired 2 weeks after surgery, even though he hurt his back AT WORK! Workers Comp. denied him, and he is now having to sue for what he should rightfully receive! I am just now beginning to research about outcomes from this type of major surgery...so I came across your post here, and just wanted to offer my "hang in there" encouragement.

)

Report This| Share this:Worse pain after spinal fusion surgeryI am very sorry about your distress and pain. Don't feel like you are alone, if that helps. My husband had his 4 lower vertebrae fused together this past May. It's been now just about 6 months. The doctor ASSURED him that he would feel SO much better. That he'd be able to ski and run, etc. Not at ALL how he feels. He is still in constant pain. He feels like something is "wrong". On top of this, he was fired 2 weeks after surgery, even though he hurt his back AT WORK! Workers Comp. denied him, and he is now having to sue for what he should rightfully receive! I am just now beginning to research about outcomes from this type of major surgery...so I came across your post here, and just wanted to offer my "hang in there" encouragement. <img src="http://img.webmd.com/community/images/eek.gif" align="top" border="0">)

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