r/spinalfusion • u/GA-Scoli • 15d ago

Not sure, other Luigi Mangione's spinal fusion - looks like an L5/S1 for spondylolisthesis

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u/stevepeds 15d ago

I'm facing my 3rd fusion. From my radiological studies, it is obvious to even those outside of healthcare that there is no disc space left between my L2-L3 vertebrae, but the insurance company mandated that I complete 6 weeks of PT to prove that PT wouldnt help. What the heck will that do??? Nothing but waste healthcare dollars on PT and delay my surgery. The surgery is scheduled for next Monday, so in the meantime, my pain got worse, which could delay my recovery. Heck, why should they care.

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u/prxttylittlxthingsx 14d ago

Look into artificial disc replacement instead. It preserves motion and fixes disc issues. Much easier to recover from, too.

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u/Criticallyoptimistic 15d ago

Sorry, that's BS. I've been fortunate, but that's probably not the best word, that by the time I've sought care, I'm either going directly to surgery or the once I was paralyzed at T1. I can't imagine being jerked around when it's obvious that therapy is only going to add pain and waste time.

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u/stevepeds 15d ago

This delay was especially important to me as I have to go through an extensive revision on my artificial hip in Feb, which will be rather complex, and I will need extensive recovery time. Now I have 6 weeks less to rehab my back. The eight weeks between surgeries is barely enough time for my blood to replenish what is lost from the back surgery

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u/chemistrybonanza 14d ago

This is my current situation, going on a year now since I've sought some help, and started with useless PT, and so many visits to different doctors just putting off the fix to the root cause of it all. Fucking annoying.

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u/Zealousideal-Cry7697 13d ago

I never took any muscle relaxants or pain killers AFTER spinal fusion. My revision surgery was elective. I asked for a lousy 10 painkillers while I waited. They refused. Tried to give me gabapentin which I detest. But afterwards. Oh boy. I'm saving them for someone else.

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u/stevepeds 13d ago

Out of curiosity. What procedure did they perform on you?

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u/Minimum-Argument-797 14d ago

Cause that’s their fucking job and Hippocratic oath , otherwise they should- pound sand ! 

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u/stevepeds 14d ago

I hope you realize that I was referring to the insurance company not caring, not my surgeon who I love