My bf 33M was in a traumatic accident just over two years ago. He had some fractures throughout his cervical and thoracic spine. He ended up having a ACDF C4/C5 and he has been dealing with SEVERE chronic pain since. Once he started this current medication regimen, the pain has been more manageable but still severe. At times, he has what we refer to as “flare ups” where the pain becomes debilitating. Some flares result in his entire body feeling bruised (he describes as feeling as though he were beat with a baseball bat all over) and he will get acute head pain which he describes as being behind his eyes. When these flares happen, he often gets nauseous and it becomes nearly impossible for him to function at all.

Medication management:
Meloxicam (NSAID)
Tramadol (weaned from Oxy to this after a year)
Lyrica 150mg 3x daily (currently trying to wean, was previously on gabapentin)
Amitriptyline 50mg
Hydroxyzine as needed
Tylenol as needed
He’s tried muscle relaxers which he felt did not do much
Topicals (Voltaren, pain patches, etc)

He sees a chiropractor weekly which he finds relief in very briefly
He’s seen physical therapists
Has tried acupuncture and a steroid injection once
Heat therapy brings some relief

Does anyone else have flares that are extremely severe, debilitating and last anywhere from an hour to multiple hours?

Aside from the horrendous flare ups, he is always in severe, but manageable pain. We have researched a lot but I’m desperate to finally find something that will truly give him a break from the constant pain. Any advice would be great!

When I was deciding about scoliosis surgery, I found myself looking for people whose situation felt similar to mine, similar age, curve severity, location, or treatment/surgery, because their experiences felt more relevant to the questions I had.
Now I’m really curious whether other people did this too.
Before making a treatment decision for yourself (or your child), did you actively try to find people in a similar situation and learn from their experiences?

If you have 30 seconds, please tell me in the comments what you actually did. Where did you look? What made someone feel “similar enough” to you?
And if you voted No, I’m especially curious why. That answer is just as useful — no right answer here. 🙂

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As the title suggests, I’d like some feedback on Adjacent Segment Disease. Has anyone experienced ASD? I (70F) had fusion surgery L2 - L5 3 years ago. I’ve been doing so well, and felt back to my old self. But just recently, I’ve had some very troubling back pain just above where the scar begins. I do yoga, and wonder if I could have overdone the backbends, or is it my age and arthritis, or might it just be a strain?

I’ve be interested in how ASD shows up and what I need to be aware of. Thanks in advance!

Had a single level C5-C6 fusion done from a premier spine surgeon at Cornell Weill. I am very lucky, I had known I had a herniated disc at the region for a while and was managing (barely) through minimally invasive procedures and pt. This doctor ordered a CT scan, unlike most, and identified a 4mm OPLL growing at both vertebrate causing severe spinal stenosis that had not been there a year prior.

Recovery has been slow but great. I’m mid 20s male non smoker. I’m very curious/anxious as to what I will be able to do once the neck brace comes off. I’m concerned knowing myself that I may be a little too aggressive and eager. Obviously, I understand that anything I can do is barring the approval of my surgeon and whatever pt he refers me too, but curious as to what others have gone thru as well as if anyone has any recommended questions I should ask my surgeon on my imaging follow up in a couple of days. Thanks!

I'm a young guy with severe scoliosis and I'm currently planning spinal fusion surgery.

My current X-ray measurements are approximately:

• PTC: 55°
• Main thoracic curve: 67°
• TLC: 35°

My surgeon hasn't finalized the fusion levels yet. He said he needs bending X-rays first and said it will probably be L4, with L5 not being fused. So the current possible plan is roughly T2–L4, but this isn't confirmed yet.

One of my biggest goals in life is bodybuilding/building a very muscular physique. I'm not expecting to train exactly like someone without a fusion, but I want to know whether I can still build a seriously muscular body after I have fully recovered.

I'd especially like to hear from people who have had long thoracic-to-lumbar fusions, particularly fusions ending around L3/L4:

• Were you able to go to the gym after recovery?
• Were you able to progressively increase weights?
• Can you build significant muscle after fusion?
• What exercises did you have to avoid or modify?
• Can you squat/deadlift or do other compound movements?
• Did the fusion significantly affect your ability to train?
• How do you feel about your physical abilities years after surgery?

I'm looking for real experiences from people who have actually had spinal fusion, not just general medical advice.

Hallo zusammen,

ich bin jetzt 14 Tage postoperativ nach einer Mikrodiscektomie L5/S1 und möchte meine bisherigen Erfahrungen teilen und gerne eure Erfahrungen hören.
Leider habe ich weiterhin deutliche Nervenschmerzen in beiden Beinen, links etwas stärker als rechts. Vor allem im Liegen treten stumpfe, ziehende Schmerzen und Brennen auf, teilweise bis in die Füße und Zehen. Abends kommen teilweise Hitzegefühle an den Füßen bzw. Knien dazu. Seit gestern spüre ich die Schmerzen besonders entlang der Rückseite des Oberschenkels bis in die Fußsohle (S1-Bereich).
Ich kann mehrmals täglich für einige Minuten spazieren gehen, allerdings noch nicht schmerzfrei. Sitzen und längeres Stehen sind momentan am unangenehmsten.
Seit 4 Tagen nehme ich Pregabalin gegen die Nervenschmerzen, zusätzlich Ibuprofen und Novaminsulfon gegen die Schmerzen im unteren Rücken bzw. an der OP-Stelle.
Die Wunde fühlt sich noch empfindlich an, wie ein Bluterguss, vermutlich noch, oder wieder geschwollen ?

Meine Vorgeschichte:
Ich habe seit vielen Jahren eine Bandscheibenvorwölbung bzw. einen Bandscheibenvorfall L5/S1, den ich lange relativ gut im Griff hatte. Seit November 2025 entwickelten sich jedoch zunehmend starke Nervenschmerzen in beiden Beinen. Medikamente, Kortison und mehrere PRT-Spritzen brachten leider keine nachhaltige Besserung.
Mein Neurochirurg sah die MRT-Bilder zunächst nicht als eindeutig dramatisch an, erkannte aber meinen hohen Leidensdruck und entschied sich schließlich zur OP. Am 4. August wurde der Eingriff durchgeführt. Laut meinem Operateur war der Nerv deutlich bedrängt und konnte erfolgreich freigelegt werden. Gleichzeitig konnte er sich bereits vorab die Beschwerden im rechten Bein nicht vollständig erklären.
Jetzt, 14 Tage später, sind die Nervenschmerzen leider noch ziemlich präsent. Ich weiß, dass ein gereizter Nerv nach längerer Kompression Zeit zur Erholung brauchen kann und dass Verbesserungen teilweise erst nach Wochen oder Monaten auftreten.

Daher meine Frage an euch:
Wann habt ihr nach eurer L5/S1-OP eine spürbare Verbesserung der Nervenschmerzen bemerkt?
War es bei euch anfangs ebenfalls noch sehr schmerzhaft und wurde dann über die folgenden Wochen langsam besser?
Ich freue mich sehr über eure Erfahrungen und etwas Mutmachendes.
Vielen Dank!

Saw my surgeon to review my MRI today and he said surgery is probably my best option (getting a second opinion), but with what he explained and the research I've done, surgery seems to make sense.

My concern is he wants to do a single-level ALIF (best option for my anatomy) at L5-S1, but on an outpatient basis. From what I've seen of how difficult the initial post-surgery period can be, that makes me a little nervous. I'd love to hear from people who've had inpatient or outpatient fusions and if you would recommend having this as an outpatient.

I’ve been dealing with this new burning pain that goes down my legs, along with my lower back pain. What’s really frustrating is that I didn’t have this burning sensation like this before the surgery.
I’ve tried talking to my family about it, but their response is usually something like, “Just go for a morning walk, you had surgery, why are you still not okay?”
I know they’re trying to help, but it feels like they don’t really understand that surgery doesn’t mean you just wake up fine and everything goes back to normal. And honestly, it gets really frustrating when the only advice I keep hearing is “just walk more.”
I even started PT after surgery because I wanted to recover properly. My doctor had said I could just do the exercises at home since I’m not really into sports, but I thought having a physiotherapist would help me stay on track and recover more safely.
The problem is, even simple movement can trigger this burning pain for me. So when people say “just go for a walk in the morning,” it’s hard, because they’re not feeling what I’m feeling.
I’m really trying to do everything right—following rehab, staying active, doing what I’m supposed to—but I’m honestly exhausted. Some days feel like I’m getting better, and then suddenly the burning pain comes back and I feel like I’m back at square one.
On top of the physical pain, I’ve also been feeling really overwhelmed mentally. I’m 25, and I was supposed to be starting my career and building my life, but I had to turn down some good opportunities because I thought I should focus on recovering first. Now I’m still dealing with pain after surgery, and it’s honestly scary. I keep worrying that I might not fully recover or be able to move forward the way I planned.
Some days I feel really low and even a bit hopeless about the future, and it’s hard to deal with that mentally while also managing the physical pain.
Has anyone else gone through something like this after surgery—especially new burning or radiating pain that gets worse with movement? How did you cope with it?

First time ever posting. 31 year old male. I am staring a L4-S1 fusion in the face currently. Have a 3rd opinion appointment next month which I believe will be my last appointment before making a final decision. Currently have a L4-L5 and L5-S1 herniation, both lateral herniations as well. Also have DDD at both as well. I've lost every meaning of living my life. Been doing PT for around 6 weeks now and all it's done is make things worse. I was very active prior to this. Went from working out and running 30 miles a week to spending everyday after work on my living room floor. I know receovery is long. I'm already terrified of surgery and I have never been more scared of something in my life. I have cried more in the last week than I have in all of my life. Anyone out there with positivity for me, it would be greatly appreciated. Please no negative comments bc I don't think I can mentally take anymore negative things. Looking for all the hope and positivity I can get right now.

Hi all, I will be having a robotic-assisted lumbar five to sacral one laminectomy, facetectomy, and fusion instrumentation, minimally invasive in October. Has anyone had this surgery? How did it go from the moment you went to the hospital to the time u got discharged? How long where you in the hospital? How was the pain afterwards and anything you can share that will help with recovery both in the hospital and at home. Thank you all in advance for sharing 💜

Had my ALIF 4/20 so almost exactly 4 monrhs ago. I've had to take steroid packs twice because my exact pre surgical pain came roaring back. I just ended a pack of steroids like a dang month ago.

But the past few weeks I've has pretty much zero pain.

Yesterday, we had to drive out for one of my post ops (ive had 2 and 3rd is dec 7th). I noticed a bit of pain.

Well, today its PAIN - its at a 6.

My neurosurgeon told me yesterday its fine to have the same presurgical pain off and on but he thinks in the end, i wont be in pain. Then he literally said in the same breath that I might always have pain, just not as bad as it used to be. He reminded me i had a full collapse and was bone on bone at l5 s1.

Who the hell here has the same exact pre surgical pain that flares off and on?

He cleared me to go back to work. ROFL. sitting is my nemesis. I sit to work. Ive been working remote. At least I can lay down anx stuff here.

This is freaking me out about this pain. Expect flares? What?!

My husband had spinal fusion today, TLIF for L5/S1. He’s had so much pain chronically but now post op nothing is helping his surgical pain. He’s had fentanyl IV, among a few other things, and it’s just not touching it. His BP is through the roof, so that is being managed as well. I (30F) feel absolutely helpless because I can’t do anything to help him. I’m a nurse, and I just feel like I can’t help him. We have a 2 hour drive home tomorrow after discharge and I don’t even know how I’ll get him in the car. I’m trying really hard to be supportive but I don’t know what to do

Hi All, I’m 9 weeks post-op from L4/5 fusion and I’m sure a lot of you can relate to feeling depressed a bit or a lot, you know my friends and family work during the day, I’m still dealing with quite a bit of pain so being lonely and in pain is a unsettling combo. I realize what I need to do is to get out for walks more, do things that can keep me positive mentally and physically and I am sure this feeling with pass but maybe just keep this in mind for the pre-ops to make sure you prepare yourself with tools for whatever activity that makes and keeps you happy when you are in recovery. I’m wishing all of us in recovery more positive days than negative and by next year we may be living our best lives.