Back surgery

Herniated L5-S1 disc in my back. Scheduled for surgery. The doctor wants to replace the disc with an artificial disc. Anyone have this surgery or know someone that did? Or thoughts of whether I should have the surgery? Also they are going to cut my stomach to get to the disc they claim it is better than cutting the back muscles. Thanks

I have 2 blown out in my neck. They wanted to slit my throat and go in that way, I asked what their success rate was, 60%, no thanks!
GOOD chiropractor and an inversion table and no pain for 18 years!!!

Surgery should be an absolute last resort. Live with it if you can. He's right about going through the front. The disc is in front of the spinal cord and there are lots of nerves, muscles and tendons behind it. Easy to move the innards aside to work.

I have had 2 back surgeries and 4 sets of back injections. I have a spur and a bad disc at the same level in my neck and am going to put it
off for as long as I can. I don't like the idea of going through front of neck.

60% might be a bit high from what I've heard. I talked with my doctor a week ago on that very subject. He said that the success rate for such surgery is clearly under 50%!

I know two person that have had this done and both had a 100% recovery but went through a lot of pain for about a month during recovery.They could hardly talk for a week because they had such a sore throat.

last winter i had L4-L5-S1 surgery for a lamenectomy with instrumentation---they went thru the back

I would get a second or third opinion. Even then I would wait as long as you can without doing further damage. Now do not go too long if your having nerve damage now. The nerves will not grow back/heal very well. Mt Father waited too long and he has permanent numbest in his foot because he waited too long. Back surgery is a touchy thing. It is different with every person too. Some come thought great and others have permanent pain after.

The total replacement sounds "new". I would really research that more. The top thing is go to someone with a proven track record and that you trust 100% to do the surgery. You do NOT have to go with the first referral from your personal doctor.

Very few times will i comment on what people post but this time i have to. I have worked on a neuro icu for over twelve years now in the state of ky. Yes they go with the abdominal approach on that surgery. For us that is a very simple surgery with over a 99% success rate. If a neuro surgeon tells you his success rate is less then 99% run.And for the guy that stated that they was going to split his neck, they make a small incision around three and half inches on the side of your neck, have surgery most people go home the next day some times will spend two days in hospital. And yes i have had back surgery a few weeks ago a large steer stomped me and busted up my back, the neuro surgeon in the hospital i worked at took me straight in and fixed my back four weeks later back and work and feeling great.

Artificial disc are not new the have been around for about 30 years> The first one where not for everyone. The first ones didn't work(hold up) if you did a lot of heavy lifting. But the new ones have to be a lot better than the first ones.

a bit confusing from some of the answers,...L4-L5-S1 is now where near your neck,...I had the same surgery you are talking about,l4-l5-s1...difference is they fused mine and it was the best thing I've done in years,haveing a little discomfort now but it's been 7 years and I have abused it so no one to blame but me

I have had the cervicle spine deal , spacers , plate on front , severe spinal stenosis with bone spurs protruding into spinal cord. Yes, little 2-3" slit in side of neck , no muscles disturbed, healed great. SUCCESS ??? depends on ones definition of success I guess. If I hadn't had this done, I would be in a wheel chair forever right now AND with no continence to go with it. Yes we all wait too long.Neurologist took one look at my MRI and called work and told them to send me HOME immediatly and put collar on me and scheduled surgery within one week. That's never done. No you won't get back nerve damage already done. I have some limitations and nerve damage...but NOT from the surgery itself. I don't really care for a wheel chair. I had no choice. What I had, every upright walking human will eventually have. Most don't have it until they are 80 + and everyone just calls it old age. I had it at 62. I thank my Neurologist/Surgeon and am thankful my limitations are as relatively minor as they are. Don't mess around with numbness !!

It's the bottom of your back, I've had eight back operations and both of my SI joints are fused. As far as having it done only you
Can answer that. Myself, I probably would not unless I needed to take meds for the pain. FredWi

I had a laminectomy for herniated L4-L5 disc in 1968. A nationally known neurosurgeon (now deceased) did the operation. All he did was go in and remove all of the pieces of the disc. He didn't put an artificial disc or anything else back in. As he described it, when it healed the area where the disc had been filled in with scar tissue. X-rays since have confirmed this. The vertebrae are spaced properly, but the space between L4 and L5 is white instead of gray like the others.

I can't say I haven't had occasional aches and pains over the years, but the basic structure has remained solid.

Like with anything else, the skills of the surgeon have a significant impact on the success of the operation. At the time I had this done, there were two local orthopedic surgeons who did the same operation. My family doctor said he wouldn't say anything against the orthopedic surgeons, but if he had to have the same thing done he'd prefer the neurosurgeon. That was enough for me.

My neck and lower back are in pretty bad shape, neck was caused by a bicycle wreck at age 24 in 1986, herniated 4 discs, unemployed and no insurance at the time. Started going to chiropractor and kept working (manual labor and water skiing) I hurt but monthly adjustments kept me going. In 1996 I had first of three surgeries (so far) to remove and fuse disc spaces, also had to have decompression (removal of back side of vertebra)due to severe narrowing of spinal canal. I am in a lot of pain again and go see my surgeon Thursday to look at neck and see what's going on, I'm pretty sure it's time to fuse the lowest level...
My lower back after 5 surgeries to remove and fuse disc spaces is tolerable IF I don't overdo things.
I have waited as long as possible before each surgery. When being diagnosed for second neck surgery my Dr. got MRI results before I left his office and INSISTED that I NOT go to work and limit travel until the following Tuesday when he could do surgery, this was Thursday afternoon! He said if anything shook me up my neck was so unstable I could die.
All surgeries have been done in Houston, TX. at Texas Orthopedic Hospital by four different surgeons in the Fondren Group. People come from all over the world to see these orthopedic specialists, I am blessed to live close enough to use them. My current surgeon is the top dog for spine surgery in this practice and will not use artificial spacers!
I said all that to say this; it's up to you and your Dr. when to do surgery AND you need to and should have a VERY high degree of confidence in your Dr.! ALL of my lower back surgeries have been from the rear approach and your Dr. wanting to go through the front raises red flags to me.
God Bless and best wishes to you.

My L-5 and S-1 are one big unmovable piece. I had a different problem but yes they went thru my belly,& I was one of the first to go thru my back the same day. You want a doctor who does back surgery only the more they do the better they get. Washington University Spine Center, St Louis MO It has been 15 years and I have done great.

I had my L-5-S-1 done back Jan 5th 1996. Doctor said I would be back to 100% but I did not even get close. Doctor said 1.5 inch cut but ended up with a 5.5 inch cut. He removed part of th disk and tha twas it. Been in pain ever since but at least I can walk again. Lost the use of my left leg almost completely and could not get out of bed with out help

I have had 2 major back surgeries. Mine were very different from yours, but some things I learned.

Do your homework. Find the best spine specialist Doctor in your area. Then live by the rules and restrictions they give you. Don't go to a shopping mall back center.

You do not need, or want, to do it twice.