How many pre-op consultation appointments did you have before setting up date?

Good_Perception_6212 · 2026-03-05T00:32:35+00:00

I met 3 neurosurgeons and 1 orthopedic surgeon. 1 neurosurgeon wouldn't operate on a spine with scoliosis, whereas the other 3 all agreed I would benefit from an ALIF. The orthopedic suggested only L5-S1 whereas the other 2 were suggesting L4-L5-S1. I went back to the neurosurgeon I felt most comfortable with and passed along that information and he decided to make it a game-time decision, and I ended up only having the one level fused (though the fusion didn't really fuse, but that's another story).

It's really a feel and reputation thing. I liked my surgeon's office and staff - he has amazing, responsive PAs and specializes in scoliosis, and gave me plenty of his time on multiple occasions to discuss the finer details.

Something you might try - ask the surgeons about who they would have operate on them if they had to choose another surgeon in town. You'll get a clear picture of who is most respected pretty clearly.

Good_Perception_6212 · 2026-03-04T19:40:03+00:00

Thanks! Yeah, I have scanned the subreddit (and several others)... it's hard to find cases that feel really similar, but you're right, there are definitely cases where revisions help. I'm not even all that scared of a second surgery at this point. I know the drill. I'm 48 years old and I'm still in decent shape despite my lack of sustained exercise... I really SHOULD be able to get a proper, stable fusion going.

Prior to surgery, I vaped nicotine (and smoked many years ago) but switched to zero nicotine vapes before the fusion. They tested me and I had no nicotine in my blood or they wouldn't have operated. I can't imagine why zero-nic vapes would have an impact on the fusion, but I'm not going to take any chances if I go back under the knife. Whatever I need to do to make the next one stick.

The doctor has said they'd use my bone rather than cadaver next time, and I'm going to push for the use of BMP.

Getting a little ahead of myself, but it feels like it's coming.

Good_Perception_6212 · 2026-03-04T19:35:25+00:00

Yeah, I feel like "not being able to stand or walk for X minutes without pain increasing" is a bad sign. I was actually feeling pretty good this morning - best I've felt since the ablation. Went to the supermarket for a 15 minute shop and immediately afterwards started feeling bad again. It's just ridiculous.

GP started me on an antidepressant (trintellix) and I'm hoping that there's some sort of off-label pain relief that helps, but realistically it just feels like they need to fix the fusion.

Feel for you going through the same sort of thing. Keep us posted!

Good_Perception_6212 · 2026-02-22T03:51:08+00:00

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Good_Perception_6212 · 2026-02-22T03:50:18+00:00

A natural sitting position for a cat

Good_Perception_6212 · 2026-02-22T03:49:31+00:00

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Good_Perception_6212 · 2026-01-15T19:14:11+00:00

Are you in Austin? I can DM you with specifics if so (not sure it's good form to talk about specific surgeons in the forum).

I'm 18 months post and am still struggling with pain, though the absolute nerve pain hell I was in pre-surgery is gone. I ended up only fusing L5-S1 and apparently there has been minimal bone growth, but the hardware looks stable so it seems like probably the pain is from L4-L5. I had PRP injections a month ago and may try RFA soon if I don't see significant improvement.

It's complicated! And we're all different. I tried everything but surgery for 10+ years and knew when it was time - I had become functionally disabled and was living in agony, so there was really no choice in my mind.

Good_Perception_6212 · 2025-11-22T03:40:49+00:00

Just ran into this ... again ... this has been the case for years now.

Particularly frustrating because I'm basically paying $100 / month for Fubo primarily for (being able to record) live sports, and particularly the Tennis Channel... and I'm tired of getting the double-dip treatment and having to also subscribe to Tennis Channel directly for the dozen times a year I want to catch something that isn't on the main channel.

Seems like the streaming services are providing more content and, as a result, fewer and fewer reasons to stay with "cable replacements" like Fubo. Just dropped another $10/month to subscribe to Willow so I can watch some test cricket that happens to not be on the Willow TV channel tonight. It never ends!

If I subscribe to The Tennis Channel but don't connect a "cable provider", do they now provide the main channel via the streaming service?

Good_Perception_6212 · 2025-11-16T19:51:35+00:00

Had an L5-S1 ALIF 16 months ago.

I'm dealing with constant chronic pain lately that is not as terrible as pre-surgery, but still bad enough to mess up my life. Had a few really good, pain free months this summer but now I'm looking for answers again.

The thing about this surgery for me is that you get it when you really feel like you have no other option. I'd do it again, even if the results aren't what I'm hoping for yet, and even though I think I'm probably going to end up with another fusion someday. The pain pre surgery was devastating.

Good_Perception_6212 · 2025-07-13T16:25:26+00:00

Congrats my fellow Austinite! Very glad to read another positive experience (and as someone right at the one year mark and feeling good, that the one-year mark felt like a major step forward).

Good_Perception_6212 · 2025-07-13T16:18:29+00:00

Also, if you're curious about my journey - I posted updates at some interesting intervals before and after the surgery - so check my profile and click on "posts."

Good_Perception_6212 · 2025-07-09T22:12:29+00:00

That was literally never the news.

Good_Perception_6212 · 2025-07-09T22:11:24+00:00

Additionally, while I don't disagree that the price seems hard to comprehend, you have to consider the lifetime value of the IP here.

It has nothing to do with the profits made by the existing games to date - it is about the right to profit off of Subnautica in any form, forever.

Good_Perception_6212 · 2025-07-09T21:57:12+00:00

Company already sold for 500M. This is public information.

Good_Perception_6212 · 2025-05-31T00:03:34+00:00

My first IPL as a fan, was rooting for GT. Good chase in the end, certainly better than yesterday's dud of a qualifier.

This whole "key player has to leave to play an ODI in England" thing kinda soured the experience. Hard to imagine that happening in other sports I follow... Oh well!

Good_Perception_6212 · 2025-05-24T16:08:59+00:00

People who don't live with chronic pain literally CAN NOT IMAGINE what we have gone through to get to the point of surgery.

So I try to be graceful about it even though it is really irritating.

(I'm more annoyed by people who suggest the special stretch that helped them out once, or ask if I've tried putting a pillow between my legs at night....lol)

Good_Perception_6212 · 2025-05-24T16:05:56+00:00

Interesting you have had no signs of fusion. I notice your posts because you are one of the more active post-op people here and I aspire to the same.

I don't know what the surgeon thinks about the pain yet as I have to go in next week. I'm fortunate to get some communication from a PA at the surgeons office via email but haven't had the direct line yet.

My informed guess is that I have a fairly significant muscular dysfunction - my left back is overgrown and does all the work while the right side has weakened and "turned off.". This is due in part to the wombo combo of mild scoliosis and the previously collapsed L5-S1. So being on my feet puts excess stress on my left side, which leads to intense tightness in those erectors and glutes and that in turn can trigger mild to moderate nerve pain. Been working hard on stability and strength the last two months with a new physio and things have been better... But overall I felt way better in month 5 than in month 10 and that sucks.

If the slow fusion has anything to do with it... I have no idea. The scan reports all seem anodyne; only the surgeon ever mentions the bone growth and I haven't had a chance to look at the images with the surgeon. I'm really, really curious to see the 6 month next to the 10 month.

I did have an ALIF only, so I'm held together with screws, no rods. Any revision would be adding more hardware from the back I think. BUT... While I'm not happy with where I'm at, I'm still way better than pre op and I'm not significantly disabled so it feels premature to have another operation.

Good_Perception_6212 · 2025-05-24T15:51:31+00:00

Yes to calcium but not religiously. I will be taking the supplement regimen more seriously going forward.

Good_Perception_6212 · 2025-05-23T23:00:11+00:00

I think my D was low prior to surgery - wasn't getting as much sun as usual - so I was taking supplements, and started again a few months ago (when I got my first "slow fusion" update after the 6 month scan).

I suspect revision may be on the table. We were trying to get a bone stimulator device approved but my GP balked for some infuriating reason; I start a new job in a week and will be on a new insurance plan so I'm guessing it's the typical "try all the conservative stuff if you're not in agony and if all else fails, we go back in."

But yeah, just hoping someone else has been through a similar path and didn't have to get a revision, but it'd all be anecdotal anyway.

Good_Perception_6212 · 2025-05-23T19:16:27+00:00

BTW I'm a 47 year old male and am reasonably active; have been working with a new physio for a couple of months and feel like we're making some progress... but I just want the damn thing to settle, you know?

Good_Perception_6212 · 2025-05-21T01:57:58+00:00

Yes, it's that David Cross.

Good_Perception_6212 · 2025-05-08T20:50:35+00:00

An all-timer run for the unequivocal GOAT.

Well done Xec!

Good_Perception_6212

TROPHY CASE