surgery?

[zoey123]

I have had chronic back pain for 5 years.  I have not been working for 3.  I have seen two neurosurgeons in the past who have told me that I have too many problems with my back and our medical system will not allow the surgery I most need.  The pain has become worse and my g.p. doesn't like that he has to treat me with narcotics and wants me to go back to one of the surgeons.  Two years ago this surgeon told me that he would have to fuse too much and use too much hardware on my back, and that in a few years the scar tissue will give me just as much pain. He said that the surgery will weaken my back and it wouldn't be very flexible.  He said that even though I was only 50, I had the back of a woman in her 70's (arthritis being the main problem).  My latest MRI reports that "degenerative changes at the L4-L5 lvel results in severe spinal stenosis and moderate bilateral foraminal narrowing".    I cannot stand, sit or walk without pain, even with painkillers (epidural injections did not help).  I am not active and suffer from severe depression because of what I have become. I will be seeing the surgeon in March.  My question is this: if the surgeon gives me the option of surgery, knowing what he has told me in the past, how do I make the decision?    

[zoey123]

I am actually going to a pain center next week for an assessment to see if I could try that or a pain pump implant, but due to the cost factor (back to our medical system) I think they may say they will want to see if surgery will be offered to me.  (I think this, because it was the response I got from a different pain center.)

[tanglewood]

I am in a similar situation - I have too many issues for surgery. Right now I am going through a Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS) trial. The unit I am currently testing is made by Medtronics if you want to google them and check out what I'm talking about. I have to run, but long story short - they placed one lead in my upper back / neck area and it has helped with about 80% of my pain, even the pain in my low back, legs, and feet. I would look into the SCS before I had numerous disc fused. Good luck.