What are the disadvantages of spinal fusion?

There's a small risk of bleeding, infection, blood clots, or nerve damage. This is true for any surgery. Spinal fusion risks include a chance that you may feel pain at the spot where the bones are fused. And sometimes the fusion doesn't take because there's not enough bone formation.

Why you shouldn't get a spinal fusion?

Spinal Instability and your pain issues

We don't like to recommend spinal fusion because it does not, in many cases, correct the underlying problems of lumbar spinal instability as many people would think it would. In fact, spinal fusion surgery may increase spinal instability and degeneration.

Can spinal fusion cause problems later in life?

Spinal fusion can cause problems later in life, namely hardware failure, adjacent segment disease (ASD), or spinal muscle injuries. All of these problems can lead to new or reoccurring back pain and neurological symptoms.

Can you live a normal life after spinal fusion?

Even people requiring bigger surgeries like spinal fusion are 90% likely to return to work and stay at work long term. While most people recover from back pain through exercise and healthy lifestyles, those who require surgery can expect to return to work and "get their life back" too.

What are the long term problems with spinal fusion?

The long-term side effects of spinal fusion involve non-union, hardware failure, Adjacent Segment Disease, and spinal muscle injury. All can require additional surgery. The best way to avoid these complications is to avoid spinal fusion surgery.

What Are The Long Term Effects of Spinal Fusion?

When Is spinal fusion not recommended?

The biggest risk for spine fusion procedure is continued pain, meaning that the surgery did not substantially reduce or eliminate the patient's pain. The number one reason this occurs is that the fused disc was improperly identified as the cause of the patient's pain, so fusing the disc was unnecessary and irrelevant.

Are there any permanent restrictions after spinal fusion?

The spinal fusion procedure permanently fuses the targeted vertebrae of the spine. This process also permanently eliminates all motion at the affected segment. So, patients do experience permanent restrictions on their mobility, such as an inability to twist, bend, and lift heavy objects.

Can you ever bend again after spinal fusion?

Once the surgeon confirms on x-ray imaging that the fusion has completely solidified into one bone, a full return to an active lifestyle—including bending, lifting, and twisting—is permitted. This approval typically occurs about 6 months after the surgery, but sometimes it may take closer to 12 months.

Does spinal fusion shorten life expectancy?

The mean survival time was higher in patients who underwent fusion surgery (95.86 months [89.8–101.92]) compared to laminectomy (79.17 months [71.82–86.52]) (p = 0.03).

Is your back stronger after spinal fusion?

CONCLUSIONS After PLIF, strength in back muscles decreased until 3 months postoperatively but significantly increased after that period. The patients who regularly underwent postoperative LSE had significantly improved back strength, less pain, and less functional disability at 12 months postoperatively.

Are spinal fusions worth it?

Spinal fusion often works no better than nonsurgical treatments for back pain with a cause that's not clear. Even when spinal fusion relieves symptoms, it doesn't prevent future back pain. Arthritis causes much of back pain. Surgery doesn't cure arthritis.

What is the alternative to spinal fusion?

Cervical Disc Replacement (CDR), especially in the cervical spine, is an excellent alternative to a fusion. Like a fusion, artificial disc replacement alleviates nerve pressure from disc degeneration or herniation.

Is spinal fusion a permanent disability?

Those who get spinal fusion surgery do see permanent restrictions due to the fact that the surgery fuses the targeted vertebrae of the spine.

Who is not a good candidate for spinal fusion?

You may not be a good candidate if: You have been having back or neck pain or symptoms for less than six months. Your spine condition affects discs or vertebrae at multiple levels of your spine. Treating multilevel disease with spinal fusion can result in losing too much spine flexibility.

Which is better spinal fusion or disc replacement?

Artificial disc replacement offers some advantages over spinal fusion. The biggest advantage is that disc replacement preserves motion and mobility in the spine while fusion does not. This is especially important for people who want to live active and not just pain-free lives.

How much mobility do you lose with spinal fusion?

Depending on the area of the fusion, mobility is decreased by roughly 5-10%. That being said, the action of bending over to pick something up is primarily a function of the hip flexors, rather than the spine. Most patients who undergo a spinal fusion do not find the loss of mobility to be debilitating.

Why does my back hurt 10 years after spinal fusion?

A patient may experience recurrent pain many years after a spine fusion surgery. This can happen because the level above or below a segment that has been successfully fused can break down and become a pain generator.

What to expect 6 months after spinal fusion?

6-12 Months Post-Surgery

At this stage, you will visit your orthopedic specialist to confirm the surgery was successful and that your vertebrae have fused as expected. Once you've got the go-ahead from your orthopedic specialist, you can start returning to normal life, including bending, twisting, and lifting!

Will spinal fusion set off metal detectors?

This increase in security has led many patients to wonder if the instrumentation used in their spinal surgery could set off airport metal detectors and require them to undergo additional screening. The most basic answer for individuals undergoing spine surgery is: no, this scenario is unlikely.

How do you wipe after back surgery?

While wiping, bend from the knees rather than at the hips. A long- handled device may help to reach all areas. 4. The use of pre-moistened, flushable wipes is strongly recommended.

What is the age limit for spinal surgery?

If you're in good health for your age, spine surgery may be perfectly safe in your 70s or even 80s. Comorbidities – Similarly, the doctor will also look at any health comorbidities that could complicate your procedure.

What exercises not to do after spinal fusion?

Exercises to Avoid After a Spinal Fusion:

Activity after a spinal fusion shouldn't include any heavy lifting, deadlifting, or anything else that might twist or bend your back too far.

How many hours is spinal fusion surgery?

Spinal fusion surgery usually takes four to six hours, but the time varies according to the individual patient. The surgeons will take as long as they need to do the job well.

What percentage of spinal fusions are successful?

Depending on the condition the surgery is treating, spinal fusion has a 70 to 90% success rate.

How long is bed rest after spinal fusion?

You should tell your employer you will be out of work for approximately 8 to 12 weeks but may be able to return earlier than that. Walking is the best activity you can do for the first 6 weeks after surgery. You should start out slowly and work up to walking 30 minutes at least twice a day.