Top answers from doctors based on your search:
what are the long term effects of a spinal fusion
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Dowling answered
39 years experience Orthopedic Spine Surgery
It depends on : Several factors: the diagnosis, age and health of the patient, the extent and type of surgery, if the patient is a smoker, if obese, presence of osteo ... Read More
2
2 thanks
Dr. David Lundin answered
26 years experience Neurosurgery
Degeneration: One of the most common issues young patients that have spinal fusion is the development of "adjacent level degeneration" which is the breakdown of the ... Read More
3
3 thanks
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:
A 27-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mark Weston answered
30 years experience Orthopedic Spine Surgery
Gradual worsening: Gradual worsening with foot drops if you have significant neurologic symptoms peotecting the nervesc with reconstruction has a better long term out co ... Read More
1
1 thank
Dr. Shuriz Hishmeh answered
20 years experience Orthopedic Spine Surgery
Spondylolisthesis: Difficult decisions. Laminectomy is usually not indicated for a spondylolisthesis b/c there is a high risk of progression, up to 35% in some articles. ... Read More
2
2 thanks
Dr. Thomas Dowling answered
39 years experience Orthopedic Spine Surgery
90% are treated: Nonop. Most do fine with no symptoms or symptoms controlled with exercise, medication, &/or injections. Surgery for most is a choice to relieve sympt ... Read More
2
2 thanks
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Pietro Seni answered
46 years experience Orthopedic Surgery
Healing spinal fusio: We need a lot more info to answer this question, they are many variables that determine when fusion will heal such as:location of the fusion, levels f ... Read More
2
2 thanks
Dr. Ken Yonemura answered
36 years experience Neurosurgery
Healing Time: The process involved in a spinal fusion involves the growth of bone across a disc space and is influenced by your metabolism, type of bone graft, dist ... Read More
2
2 thanks
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Seth Zeidman answered
32 years experience Neurosurgery
Depends: It depends on what is required at surgery and what type of work you do. Most people can return to most activities within 6 to 12 weeks.
1
1 thank
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Robert Kent answered
11 years experience Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Varies greatly: Healing can take up to six months, and sometimes people will continue to have pain. Acute, post surgical pain should subside by three to six weeks, bu ... Read More
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Roger Frankel answered
28 years experience Neurosurgery
How extensive?: Full bone healing can take up to a year, depending on the technique and materials used. Recovery from surgery can be in a few months for smaller, less ... Read More
1
1 thank
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Jonathan Hyde answered
28 years experience Orthopedic Spine Surgery
Weeks to months: Recovery from a spinal fusion can be considered in two phases. The first would be a recovery from the pain of the procedure, which varies based upon ... Read More
1
1 comment
6
6 thanks
A 28-year-old female asked:
Dr. Robert Replogle answered
28 years experience Neurosurgery
Adjacent level: It is not uncommon for levels adjacent to a fusion to demonstrate accelerated degeneration and need future surgery. This happens in 10-20% of cases wi ... Read More
A 60-year-old female asked:
Dr. Ronald Krauser answered
51 years experience Rheumatology
Whenever you want: Whenever the pain is reduced enough to permit you to do it.
1
1 comment
1
1 thank
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stan Lee answered
22 years experience Orthopedic Spine Surgery
Approximately 6mo: Similar to a surgically repaired extremity fracture, a spine fusion typically takes up to 6 months to fully consolidate. In a long fusion, such as in ... Read More
1
1 thank
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:
People also searched for:
Connect by text or video with a U.S. board-certified doctor now — wait time is less than 1 minute!
Unlimited visits
$10/month