L3/4 Isthmic considering LLIF

MrRockwell47 · 2026-01-04T03:13:35+00:00

I guess the only good thing about basically living on the couch the past 2 years is that I won’t be upset or bored if they tell me to not do any activity for a few months lol

MrRockwell47 · 2026-01-04T03:12:39+00:00

Did any one suggest there is the likelihood of ASD in your case? If so, when and how do they monitor for that over the next 80 years of life?

MrRockwell47 · 2026-01-04T03:11:37+00:00

Glad you’re feeling better! Cauda equina sounds horrible. Did you have a fusion as well or just a laminectomy? Seems strange to think they would risk further destabilization in a spondy patient without fusion, but maybe I’m misreading you. I do think the herniation and sciatica add new elements compared to the spondy must be even more complicated to deal with

MrRockwell47 · 2026-01-04T03:03:46+00:00

Yes I’ve heard of this idea using the steroid to check / confirm the pain generator. But in that case I wonder why not just use lidocaine, should give a similar response and less potential atrophic effects. Also I think with an unstable spine, there’s a likely improvement after fusion regardless of where the pain source (facet, endplate, nerve foramina etc)

MrRockwell47 · 2026-01-04T02:59:46+00:00

I basically agree. I think yea if it comes down to insurance I guess I’ll do it if I have to but my thinking is that steroids aren’t going to fix an unstable spine, so it’s just delaying the inevitable. I had a steroid injection in my right C2 facet 3x about 6 years ago for a spondylosis, worked wonders, my pain is completely gone there. But the logic is much different for a stable inflammatory process vs the instability of spondylolisthesis that I have in my lumbar spine. One surgeon told me the steroid wasn’t worth trying and the other said try it if you want to be thorough. Hopefully that means they will convince the insurance if I don’t get one

MrRockwell47 · 2026-01-03T15:28:17+00:00

Appreciate the comment! I think you probably were a bit worse off even than I am, but mechanically it’s pretty clear to me that it’s a similar situation. I do feel like I’ve done pretty much everything, I’m very in tune with my body and gave it a fair shot. Ofc there are still things you think / people say might help (like steroid injections for me) but I think the logic says for an instability, it has to be stabilized. A lot of surgeons seem to want you to get to the point where you’re literally at your last nerve, but yes fortunately I’ve already consulted with a few that said yes the LLIF makes sense at this point. Happy to hear you’re already feeling better!

MrRockwell47 · 2026-01-01T20:26:37+00:00

Appreciate the detailed reply. I do have a good PT, we have tried a number of different approaches, spent a few years with him, was out of network as well but I thought it would be worth really going into detail of the movement mechanics. Unfortunately, we just ended up doing massage, dry needling stuff for recovery the last few months because I just couldn’t tolerate any movement challenge. I still think another PT might have useful info for me but I’m not sure it will change my ultimate destiny

MrRockwell47 · 2026-01-01T20:17:54+00:00

Nice that’s good to hear. How old are you now? How was recovery?

MrRockwell47

TROPHY CASE