re: Lumbar Spinal Fusion question..

I'd let the folks at the Laser Spinal Institute down in Florida have a shot at things first if you insurance will pay for it. Had a good friend who went down there and they did very well with him. He went down on a Monday, procedure done Tuesday, tweak procedure done Wednesday, then checked out and came back home Thursday. Been doing well ever since. Was about 18 mos ago.

Thanks for all the remarks...

I think for now, I am going to pass on the surgery and try the spinal shots along with more PT.

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used to work for him and he's the best most honest neurosurgeon you could ask for with a high success rate. That's why I don't get these people who are so anti surgery

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I am anti-back surgery because I have seen several of my friends ruined because of it. I would say do it as a last resort. If it's just because of your golf swing you better start collecting stamps. You are probably finished playing golf anyway surgery or no surgery.

Sounds like a simple radiculopathy. Why a fusion and not a micro laminectomy/discectomy?

If it only hurts during the golf swing and no other times, I'd run away from any surgeon who wants to cut on me, and recommend an extensive conservative plan, including ergonomics, PT, LESI, etc.

Honestly, I would never do a lumbar fusion without either leg weakness or bowel:bladder incontinence. Even with leg numbness, I'd choose the conservative route.

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I don't get these people who are so anti surgery

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Surgery for back pain with a lack of radicular signs usually has the same long-term benefit as not having surgery. The pain returns in a large number of the surgery patients. It also goes away in many of the non-surgical patients. With no acute neurological symptoms, i would recommend, at the absolute very least, 6 months of aggressive PT before even considering injections, much less a major invasive surgery. Surgery should be a last option after all others have been given their fair share of time and effort. Quick fixes almost never work for anything in life. It holds true for the human spine as well.

Even the best surgeons aren't immune to mistakes/bad outcomes. The small size and major consequences of operating in that area are well-known and accepted risks. The rate of mistakes will be lower with the better surgeons, but they still make plenty of them.

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If I need the fusion, can anyone say anything positive about it ?

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You might have less pain, but you also end up with more pain and need more surgeries.

ETA: it would probably be a good idea to stay away from golf.

My dad has had like 6 back surgeries. All trying to do what they can not to have fused his back. Well nothing worked. Cream, shots, clean outs, trimming calcium off vertebrae. Nothing. Electrical implants to disrupt pain signals...nothing until the fuse helped. Helped a lot. That's said its a bad arse recovery.

Your beat move is to give up your golf and not need the surgery until later.

Good luck. And don't forget your small Xrays to show people in the airport scanning for metal