Hi Barbara,
Sorry to hear of your pains.
I have had fusion of L4-L5. IF I were to do it all over again. I think I would have just lived with the pain. My neurosurgeon did mention I MIGHT flare a BIT from the surgery. THAT was an understatement. It was the worst flare of my life.
Went through 2 weeks PT and home in a wheelchair. I fought my best and was shuffling in a walker within a month but it really caused me a lot of grief. Did it remove pain and cracking? NOPE. All it is done for in my situation is to prevent herniation and possible paralysis. I had and still have no movement in my left big toe and a couple of the little toes.
The put the plates and screws in buggie and although it's more stable the pain never went away.
I've thought that if you still have cracking then perhaps you are not fused yet and that's a good thing??? My upper back which is my most grief these days is cracking less and less and is so painful. It beats my lumbar pain.
What are you taking for pain relief?
Take care and hang in there...hopefully tomorrow is a sunnier day.
Adios!
Buggie
