[Maria]

Good for you on scheduling your surgery w/Dr.B.
I was thinking about my back (as I do when it's problematic) and reviewing my options as to why I've done nothing yet..
Proposed surgery: ADR at L4 and fusion at L5S1 here in US

1. Had a really decent year re less pain, more active.
2. WC won't pay for surgery in Germany and there will be no more benefits (even pain management) should I have surgery there.
3. I have osteopenia in my lumbar spine, osteoporosis in at least one hip and think that I may well be a candidate for vertebroplasty.
(the above is why I'd want to have surgery in Europe).
4. I have an annular tear at L3. Thus far has been non concordant for pain on discograms however, give me a fusion at L5S1 and ADR at L4 and then my whole spine is different so I worry that L3 will act up and give me grief.
(this is about L5S1 fusion and L4 ADR only leaving L3 alone as current surgerical proposal stands).
5. I know my recovery time pretty much from flare ups now as well as activities I have to avoid to increase pain. I get pain relief with lo dose pain med (tho "big guns" med).
6. I'm afraid of screws at any level. They can move. I'm wondering if I've autofused at L5S1 as it feels like I'm experienceing L4 probs the last week since my back went out.

Ok, this isn't to say I won't have surgery, just brief run down of why I've not done it yet. Have I felt worse in the last few years? No. Do I think that structurally I may have worsened such as with facets and such.. Probably so.

The thing that's important here is up until last February when my last pre op visit was, I was good to go for a 2 level surgery per the surgeon I was consulting with that WC approved the L4 ADR and L5S1 fusion with. Now, as time goes on am I screwing myself up because what if L3 annular tear becomes something more drastic and I actually need this level done as well.. tho I've physically functioned so much better over the last year and was much more active with fewer flare ups and lasting much less time (not the one I'm having now tho).

Anyway, you know you're worse, you feel worse so you go get 'em and have a great surgery and recovery!!!

BTW, I had severe severe severe gnawing burning pain in buttocks and bilat in legs for nearly 5 years post op my 2nd spine surgery. Was deemed Arachnoiditis by several surgeons tho has not shown up as such on MRIs for years now..

I take Neurontin for neuropathies and have been told I will be on this the rest of my life most likely due to nerve damage post 2nd surgery.

Ok, so I too wonder about rekindling that kind of pain which is a BIG "OH NO" in my book as that was the most hellish pain I've ever felt/imagined. And it lasted way way too long for my liking. Some of it comes back if I forget my Neurontin which I almost never do since that burning pain is really terrible...

Just so you know, I've had my reasons for not having surgery yet....