I am 67 years old. They say I need surgery on my back. They want to do five fusions. Thoughts?

I’m not sure that the first positive answers or the later negative ones would help you much. One of the problems with this is the difficulty in getting a second opinion. Orthopedic surgeons can act like you are questioning God if you don’t go along with what they tell you (another reason why I'm not keen on them).

Here in Oz there are suggestions about how to check. How many of these surgeries have you done? What has been the result? How do your results compare with other similar surgeries elsewhere? Will you be doing the surgery yourself, or will it be done by someone junior under your supervision? What is the recovery time? Can I talk to someone who has already had this procedure done by you? And the suggestions include getting the answers in writing.

These suggestions first came up here particularly related to IVF procedures, where it was revealed that different clinics had totally different success rates. Knee surgery also got serious criticism, when it was shown that ‘success’ was often no better than exercise and ‘putting up with it’.

I don’t go along with all the criticisms, I just wanted to share my own experience of facing a similar issue. You have to be quite brave to ask the questions! Sympathy, Margaret

I find it terribly difficult not to give a sarcastic answer. "67? Ohmygod no. Obviously your surgeon has had no regard for your age, state of health, level and causes of pain, potential for successful post-op rehab or the serious risks involved in major back surgery..."

Look. You are absolutely right to think carefully before you consent to any treatment or procedure. Indeed, it is impossible to give informed consent to a procedure if you have not been helped by your surgeon to understand the risks involved both in having the recommended treatment, and in not having it, so that you can compare them.

So write down your questions, and put them to your surgeon, and don't make your decision until you are satisfied that you have all the information you need. But other people are not you, and what is true for them may not be true for you. How does it help you to hear that X in Alberta was fine, but Y in Zanzibar was never the same again?

My friend realized 3 surgeries out of 7 or more were not necessary.. where she lives, there is no insurance, out of pocket.

so if someone is desperate.. and in pain, they usually jump into the hoop.

do yourself a favor... do your homework... and if insurance will not pay for extra opinions... pay out of pocket if you can...

look for other options on internet,,, find people who have gone through these surgeries...

so,, the last time my aunt was in hospital.. doc told me " this is her new baseline".

so, now when I visit her every day... "this is her new baseline".

you are 67.... aunt is going on 90.

my friend who has gone through multiple surgeries (note: some were not necessary) is going on 72... and her freezer is packed with ice packs. she is not comfortable....

this really does come down to you and your physical issues.....

I have known many people going through surgeries.. one man said he that he wished got his hip surgery years earlier, and he would not wait again for the 2nd.

another said he would not wait for total knee replacement again, the first was great.

another got both knees done at same time, told insurance company, and they placed him in a nursing home physical therapy place so he could get the right care he needed.
surgery nowadays are better than years ago, but our bodies react differently.
And if they say you need 5 infusions... upper, lower, in a row,, closer to neck or farther down? one relative described a back surger: "like they were pulling out pieces of crab meat to release then tension on the spinal cord.."
I am not a surgeon or in medical field what so ever... can't give advise... But is there an urgency for this? if so, try to get another professional opinion and see what your insurance will pay... my friend paid over $70K for something she didn't need...

so you remember that old song... the neck bone is connected to the shoulder bone, which is connected to the back bone, which is connected to the hip bone..etc etc...

someone I know... had a back surgery that was connected to the hip surgery that was connected to the knee surgery.. don't know if the issues were related...

and then I know only one person who had a :::: TOTAL ANKLE REPLACEMENT !!!!

UCK... AND YIKES... AND YUCK..

Is he ok? Not much better than it was prior........ REALLY????

and he had to have it fixed 3 days in a row... that means going into surgery under anesthesia 3 days in a row.. got out of surgery.. sorry, youre going down again, it didn't hold,,, oops we got to put you under, the angle is not quite right.. and his answer is,,, ya,,, it didn't help much...
so they perfected hip surgeries... and knee replacements are as normal as hips now,,, and ankle ones are new..... and from the hip to ankle the space and bones seem to get more delicate...
do your job, and get professional opinions about your surgery.. take your xrays and other important info and ask... some doctors may not want to answer due to "legal issues", but do seek advice...
Good Luck!

You are asking an internet forum of laypeople if you will be able to undergo back surgery? You are best off speaking with your orthopedic surgeon about such a thing as he has access to your medical history and is certainly more qualified to answer such a question. We don't even know what part of your spine requires surgery, your current pain level, mobility issues, health issues and 100 other details too numerous to mention.

I had cervical spinal fusion surgery in 2008 with 100% success and no pain afterward but terrible spasms beforehand. The herniated discs were protruding into the spinal cord area so I had no other choice but to have surgery or face paralysis if I fell or had a car accident.

My cousin had lumbar spinal fusion surgery at the lowest vertebrae where they met the tailbone and her recovery was long and terribly painful requiring an extensive stay in rehab.....2 months if I recall. It took many months for her to recover completely. She was about your age at the time of her surgery. She was plagued with sciatica beforehand and the surgeon assured her he could fix her up like new, neglecting to mention what the recovery process would look like so she was totally blindsided. She did ultimately get rid of the sciatica once she finally recovered.

So, there are all sorts of back surgeries out there, all sorts of outcomes, and all sorts of scenarios which are impossible to comment on. You have to know what the recovery will look like, what the chances are you'll have less pain afterward than beforehand, and be able to weigh the pros and the cons of the risk. Mostly though, you have to trust your surgeon to tell you what to expect and not blindside you so you be prepared to have the best outcome and arrange the best support.

Good luck!

I can only tell you about my situation. Three years ago age 70 I was offered surgery and rods for my back pain (scoliosis since adolescence), and told I had a short window before I would be too old. I wish I had known about the new options years ago, but there wasn’t any follow-up after adolescence. I decided against it, for several reasons. I was scared – surgery could have made it worse, not better, and I know that it sometimes does (particularly rib removal). I don’t have much trust in orthopedic surgeons, for various reasons including their enthusiasm for invasive surgery. Next, I couldn’t work out how I could recuperate, which would have involved quite a time on my back in bed. DH doesn’t cook, and the logistics of help on an isolated farm are very hard. Last, I was coping OK most of the time at that point. I’ve got better at pain management, and it hasn’t really got worse. One coping method has been sitting in a good chair by the computer, answering queries on this site!

I still don’t know if I did the right thing. I can understand your hesitancy only too well. Is there any chance of a second opinion? You have my profound sympathy in a difficult decision. Margaret

Have you had more than 1 opinion about the condition you have, the surgery and the expected outcome?
If you have had 2 consultation and they each say different things get a 3rd opinion. If you have had 2 consults and they say the same thing probably no need to muddy the waters with a 3rd.
Next is to make sure you are as healthy as possible prior to the surgery.

67 is quite young in this day and age. Why do you suppose that you will not do well? Are there underlying issues that concern you? Some spinal fusion work is done minimally invasive in these days. Have they fully shown you your xrays and told you what they plan? Do they tell you what rehab and aftercare you will need?
I would suggest get all the facts. I am assuming you are in a good deal of pain and have really no choice in this matter to speak of?

Before you have a major surgery it’s normal to go through cardiac and other testing to see if you’re healthy enough to tolerate the procedure. The tests will give your doctors good info about moving forward. I hope you’ll have help at home after surgery