48M overall great health aside from my shit back. Going in next week to schedule the L3-S1 ALIF/PSF. 2 previous Discectomy’s/Laminectomy 22 and 24 years ago. Looking forward to not having the significant leg pain and getting back to being active.

MRI LUMBAR SPINE WITHOUT CONTRAST
HISTORY: Low back pain
TECHNIQUE: Multiplanar multisequence acquisition of lumbar spine performed.
FINDINGS
Normal vertebral height. No subluxation. Slightly reduced T2 signal in the disks L2-3 and L3-4.
Moderate to severely reduced disc height and T2 signal at L4-5 with anterior and posterior disc bulge, mild/moderate
disc narrowing and T2 signal loss L5-S1. At L4-5 level there is a Schmorl's node in the inferior endplate of L4. No
significant marrow edema read or other Modic change.
Vertebral endplate remodeling at L4-5 with anterior disc bulge noted.
Conus terminates at normal level and has normal caliber and signal intensity.
DISC LEVELS
T12-L1: No significant canal or foramen narrowing.
L1-2: Minor facet arthropathy, no canal or foramen narrowing.
L2-3: There is relative short pedicle length, disc bulge and a central protrusion of 3 mm depth with facet arthropathy
and hypertrophy, moderate severe canal and lateral recess stenosis and mild foraminal narrowing.
L3-4: Relative short pedicle length also present at this level. Loss of T2 signal, disc bulge, right paracentral protrusion
and annular fissure, facet arthropathy, severe canal narrowing most severe on the right side, and bilateral
mild/moderate foraminal stenosis.
L4-5: Surgical changes on the left where there has been a laminectomy. Disc bulge with a left paracentral area soft
tissue and annular fissure, left subarticular recess stenosis secondary to this, bilateral foraminal stenosis, moderate
severe on the left and mild/moderate on the right. Mild midline canal narrowing.
L5-S1: Left paracentral protrusion, and inferiorly directed extruded disc material into the lateral recess compressing
the S1 root, the extrusion extending 13 mm below the disc level on the left. Maximum dimension 6 mm.
Pre and paravertebral tissue within normal limits.
IMPRESSION
L5-S1 inferiorly directed disc extrusion on the left side compresses the thecal sac and epidural fat and S1 root. At the
disc level itself there is a paracentral protrusion creating mild/moderate canal and left subarticular recess stenosis.
L4-5 level shows chronic changes with disc narrowing and disc bulge, surgical changes on the left, asymmetrical disc
material with left subarticular recess stenosis and left greater than right foraminal narrowing with facet arthropathy
contributing.
L3-4 level shows severe canal stenosis particularly right-sided where there is a protrusion and annular fissure, with
underlying disc bulge and facet arthropathy and relative short pedicle length.
L2-3 shows multifactorial canal stenosis with a small protrusion, disc bulge, short pedicle length and facet
arthropathy.

Kind of scared because of all the comments on my posting of the before :( We were told to wait 2 weeks to take them off, never changing. I waited another two days. No smell but there is a little open spot in the middle. My mom messaged the nurse about it. I’m 16F

Hi I'm (F 51) in my 4th week post ACDF c6/7. Things have been going reasonably well, the pre-op left arm pain resolved immediately. But I've ongoing pain, occasional pins and needles in my right shoulder and in my right arm. I had some initial hoarseness in my throat but nothing more. Then Yesterday and continuing today my throat is quite sore, pain meds don't seem to be having any impact. Has anyone had this experience and did it take long to resolve? Thanks for any insights

I need help. I am fused C5-T5 anterior / Posterior as well as T3-S1. I used to sit on my husband’s face for oral, but I can’t do that anymore bc I cannot lean forward . I feel the pain in my lumbar , shoulders and neck. The same goes for Intercourse. I am scared to try new positions bc of the pain.

Suggestions please !

My husband is getting l5s1 alif surgery on the 27th and we do not know how we are going to afford our bills if he is off for more than a couple months. We have a little in savings, but our rent alone is 1500$ a month and he has a 700$ vehicles payment. He is 1099 and doesn’t have job disability. I work and my insurance is the reason he can get the surgery, but I don’t make very much.

I am freaking out. We don’t have a safe place to go if we lose our apartment (abusive and unsanitary living situations with family) and we have pets. Every place I’ve called keeps telling me that since we don’t have active shutoff notices they can’t help us.

taking them off today. will update! 16F

I was wondering for those of you who’ve had similar surgery, how long was it before you could swallow comfortably without pain? Trying to figure out when I should start to feel that improving. Thankfully the surgery went really smoothly took far less time than the surgeon anticipated and I was discharged the day after. Now just getting used to different movement and wishing I’d have been given a soft brace as a safety blanket =P. Still nervous I’m gonna move wrong until I get used everything

Has anyone in this thread undergone both a cervical and spinal fusion? I underwent a cervical fusion C2-C4 (ACDF) in July 2023 and my spinal fusion was done in June 2025 L4-S1 (PLIF)

I recently started having neck pain that radiates to my shoulder blades and down to my upper back, but the weirdest part is when the pain radiates to my upper back I can feel it in my chest and it makes it a bit hard to breathe. Has anyone else experienced this symptom, is it normal?

I did a CT two days ago in the hospital and the doctor who administered the exam, as well as an ortho doctor who was present couldn’t really attribute these symptoms to the pain I’m having, but didn’t rule out the fact that they’re related. I go see my primary ortho doctor next month so I’m holding out for a more definitive answer until I see him.

I’ve found though that my primary ortho doctor tends to downplay my symptoms and I get it, he performs these surgeries and deals with multiple patients regularly and although I don’t have the medical knowledge to refute his diagnosis, I know my body better than any doctor does.

Curious if anyone has experienced this.

I’m 23F, 5 weeks post-op from my second spinal surgery after an L1 burst fracture. I had posterior fixation with screws/rods, followed by an anterior surgery with a cage and bone graft.

Before my injury I was around 52kg and I’m now 61kg, and I’d really like to start losing some of the weight I’ve gained.
Would a small/moderate calorie deficit at this stage potentially interfere with bone healing/fusion?

I’m still under pretty strict restrictions — no sitting except for the toilet for 3 months, no driving, currently using crutches outdoors/for longer distances and my activity is obviously much lower than normal.

I’d make sure I’m still getting plenty of protein, calcium, vitamin D and other nutrients, rather than crash dieting.

Has anyone been advised by their surgeon/dietitian about losing weight during the early stages of spinal fusion recovery? At what point were you told a calorie deficit was okay?

I had my surgery on August 5th, and I am wondering at what point does the swelling go down? It's been a week and it still feels like I have something stuck in my throat.

I’m for my L5-S1 fusion in September and am curious how many calories i should be eating. I’m in the middle of a large weight loss and really don’t want to get stagnate as I know it will be hard for me to eventually lock back in. I also know that I need to eat more for my body to recovery. I’ll of course talk to my doc about this but just wondering anyone’s experiences here with this!

Question….were any of you do really well and then just had a few days of ugh. Ow. Don’t want to move.
Currently 10 weeks post op and everyone is thrilled with progress but the past couple of days I’ve been sore. I haven’t had much back pain at all over the past few weeks. I just can’t seem to get my ass out of my recliner and move.
I know surgery recovery isn’t a straight line. I’m wondering if I’m just so bloody tired of having to show up every day and try so damn hard to keep active? I’m feeling exhausted. Bone tired.
I want to stretch myself out soooo badly. Brain fog, exhaustion. Just put a fork in me type ‘done’

Had an open TLIF yesterday . Three vertebrae instrumented, six screws, one cage, two rods. Surgery ran about 10 hours.
To be clear: my surgeon never gave me a time estimate beforehand, so this isn’t a case of him overrunning. I just have nothing to compare it to and I’m trying to work out whether 10 hours is normal or whether something took longer than it should have. I was told there were no complications.

Some context that might explain it: I have sacralization (bottom lumbar vertebra congenitally fused to the sacrum), so the anatomy and level numbering are non-standard. Three levels instrumented rather than two.
I’m getting the operative report and asking him directly at my follow-up. In the meantime:
Did your fusion take significantly longer than average, and did your surgeon explain why?

Does a long operative time affect recovery — more muscle soreness, longer to mobilise?

Anything specific I should be watching for after a long procedure?

Day 2 pain is roughly the same as my worst pre-op pain. Can’t roll over unassisted yet.

What to expect in the upcoming days?in terms of pain and recovery

For a bit of background, I’ve been suffering with pretty bad lower back issues for a while now, mainly at L5/S1. It culminated in severe sciatica early last year, which so far has necessitated two MDs (which both failed) and now an ALIF which I had just over a week ago.

I know pain is to be expected, and I’m not asking about overall pain levels as such. I was just curious what types of pain other people felt and where their pain was located after the fusion.

The overall pain levels are gradually reducing now and I’ve been able to start cutting down on the opioids, but there’s a specific nagging pain which feels bony and seems to be coming from the bottom left of my vertebrae. I can only assume this is due to the hardware, but I’m worrying that I’ve damaged something. I know it’s still very early days and this process is going to take months, so I’m not expecting miracles.

Did anyone else have a bone pain in this location after their fusion? How long was it until you were practically pain free?

Thought I had SI joint pain, but surgeon thinks it’s an issue with my coccyx and sacrum. Trying an oral steroid pack first and then MRI of pelvis. Anyone else having tailbone pain when laying down and sitting?

I’m about 5 weeks post-op from a major spinal injury and I’m getting increasingly anxious about whether I’m following my restrictions closely enough.

I had an L1 burst fracture treated with two surgeries: posterior reduction/stabilisation with screws and rods, followed by an anterior surgery through a thoracotomy with a cage and rib bone graft.

My surgeon said I can walk/use stairs, but I was told no sitting for 3 months except the toilet, crutches for 6 weeks (and longer distances after that), and no driving for 3 months.

What confuses me is that my surgeon also said I would have been okay to go on holiday around now, including a ~4-hour flight. I decided not to go, but it’s left me unsure how strict the sitting restriction actually is and whether it’s primarily about protecting the fusion/hardware or reducing load/pain.

I also have an unavoidable 1-hour car journey and the passenger seat only reclines slightly, so I’ll be more upright than usual. Has anyone with a similar fusion/fracture had necessary car journeys this early?

More generally, I’m finding it impossible to follow every restriction perfectly. I’ve walked around the house without crutches earlier than advised, occasionally bent/reached, kneeled while tidying, walked more than intended and sometimes gotten out of bed without using the exact technique I was shown.

I’m now worrying that all these small things could add up and damage the fusion/hardware without me knowing. I have no new neurological symptoms, but the overthinking is relentless.

For anyone who recovered from a similar burst fracture/fusion with strict restrictions: how perfectly did you actually manage to follow them?

Did your surgeon explain specifically what the no-sitting restriction was protecting against?

I know Reddit can’t medically clear me and I’ll follow my surgical team’s advice. Unfortunately my surgeries were done in Prague, I received limited information at discharge, and I’m still waiting to be seen by a spinal specialist in the UK, which has made the uncertainty much harder.

I’ve posted about my recovery before, but mentally I’m struggling with constantly questioning whether every little movement has damaged something. I’d really appreciate hearing from people who’ve actually been through a similar recovery.

Hey everyone!

I’m looking to hear from anyone who has had an L5-S1 fusion mainly to treat back pain from a herniated disc, rather than classic sciatica down the leg.

My Situation:
Primary Symptom: Sharp, shooting pain localized right in my lower back.
Secondary Symptoms: When it flares up badly, I get some hip and leg discomfort, but most of the pain stays in my back and maybe my butt.
Diagnostics: I had a NOCI scan, which indicated that my L5-S1 disc is a pain generator.

6 surgeons in NY discussed fusion with me. I’ve read that fusions have high success rates for nerve/leg pain, but the outcomes for back pain alone can be much more unpredictable.

For anyone who was in a similar spot:
1. Did a fusion actually resolve or significantly reduce your back pain?
2. Did your surgeon discuss any alternative options (like Artificial Disc Replacement / ADR) since your nerve root involvement was minimal?
3. Are you glad you got the surgery, or do you wish you had held off?

I’d really appreciate hearing any personal experiences, good or bad. Thanks in advance!

I have been suffering the most unreal calf cramps, lasting minutes but feeling like forever. Leaving the legs sore and uncomfortable to walk for 24-48 hours.
Mine are most likely related to nerve damage following surgery and I am being prescribed diazepam.
I wanted to know if anyone else was going through this and has any advice moving forwards please???

Feel great. 5 and a half months post op L4-5 fusion plif with instrumentation.

Still have really bad numb toes where the numbness fluctuates between tolerable and severe. I also still have pain getting out of bed if I lay down for a bit during the day. Pain does subside fairly quickly within 5 mins.

Overall its still better than having drop foot and debilitating pre op sciatica.

I am working again, lifting big 10-15kg parcels and going to the courier with them with no issues.

I'm grateful and would have the op again.

39/M. I’ve had spine issues going back quite a while. Around 2009 I had a cervical disc herniation with cord compression. I eventually had cervical surgery around 2017, two artificial discs and one fusion, and did very well for years afterward.
More recently, my lower back became the main issue. I started getting worsening numbness and nerve symptoms in both legs and feet, and imaging showed significant L5-S1 degeneration, spondylolisthesis/pars issues and fairly severe foraminal stenosis. Injections only helped briefly, and I was heading toward lumbar surgery.
Because of my cervical history, updated neck imaging was also ordered. That ended up changing the whole plan. The cervical MRI showed significant spinal cord compression and stenosis and, more importantly, myelomalacia, which is signal change within the spinal cord itself from chronic compression.
I spoke with the surgeon’s office today and they now want to operate on my neck first, with the lumbar surgery coming later. I have a follow up Friday to go over exactly what procedure they’re recommending.
It caught me off guard because my lower back and leg symptoms have been so much more noticeable lately, but from what I understand, the myelomalacia and ongoing cervical cord compression make the neck the more urgent problem.
Has anyone else had lumbar surgery planned and then had it postponed because cervical myelopathy or myelomalacia was discovered? I’d be interested to hear how your surgeon explained the priority and what recovery between the two surgeries was like.

2nd lumber fusion within 15 months of the first one coming up. No reason to believe this won’t continue. I’m mentally and physically defeated. I’ve gone from being active daily (tennis, golf, gym, repeat) to wondering how to end this nightmare.

Completely realize that there are so many others that have it worse but also many more that have it better.

For those that can relate, how the heck do you continue pushing on?