Xlif

[lionHeart60]

Maria I hear ya and totaly agree. I have been living with the pain at some levels since 85. I have all but crawled home or out of my truck at the end of the day. NOW that I have BONE on Bone Ithink taking pain meds strong enough to deal with this isn't safe I feel "something" has to be done and am trying to make the right dicisions. One good thing happened yesterday. My boss has a x BNL who is a retired ortho surgeon. She said write itall down email me and she would pass it on too him and see what he says. SO I did that last night. Dr Dewy is awesome guy I have met him. He told me 2 yrs ago when ONE surgeon advised the tens machine for me. He said DONT DO IT THAT is the absolute LAST resort anyone should take. SInce i wasn't willing to let them cut me from L4 thru L5S1 which is exactly where the last surgeon was in 94 I have lived with the pain getting increasing stronger. I it would seem is someone who devlopes extensive scar tissue . IT wasn't that the surgries were not successful the SCAR tissue caused as BIG a problem as the orginal issue. SO in THAT sesne the surgery didn't HELP. SO I am needless to say scared to death of them cutting my back AGAIN specialy in the SAME AREA.

right now at 60 I am about 13 pounds over weight but under neath that I am in pretty good shape physicaly. I am also pretty HEALTHY except my back., IF I MUST HAVE SURGERY I think NOW is the time to do it BEFORE I GET OLDER and maybe not as healthy Physical or other wise.
So even though I am expressing doubts deep down I KNOW I need (HAVE) to do something just second guessing myself BUT I have done that ALL MY LIFE in ALL aspects of my life I will see what Dr dewy has to say and decide from there. I dont HAVE to wlak into that OR room unless I want to and dont care how mad THEY GET if i change my mind

[Hooch]

Gday mate, ... I don't trust the buggers either.

You going to leave l5/s1 for the moment? It's not as bad a l4/l5? If you go through the front you could get both, no muscles are cut, there is risk of nerve damage but there is risk of nerve damage from the side as well.

Btw XLIF cuts through your psoas muscle, seen plenty of people say it hurts like all hell in the first few weeks post op as the muscle heals.

Make sure you're decision is well informed, you may need surgery but u don't have to rush into a choice.

Btw most people take longer that 3 months to get back to physical work from what I've seen, more like 6.

[Maria]

My bone on bone fused at L5S1 by itself and it really helped w/the pain at that level so I'm glad I waited however if I had been feeling way worse and doing much less I'm sure I would have pursued surgical options at some point or another. And not to say that I won't at remaining screwed up levels.

I'm not scared of needles at all thankfully just more spine surgeries (I'm 3 years away from 60). You're probably correct about doing something while you're in good health and there haven't been changes that would knock off a few options however still make decision that you have researched well and feel comfortable about.

Good luck w/whatever you end up doing and I hope you'll continue to keep us posted. take care!