Gary Cooper8 said:Man, that sounds like a total uphill battle; seriously, mad respect for sticking it out and grinding through all that.
I’m really hoping I can dodge this whole mess, but hey, we'll just see what life throws at me.
Just had a few more things I wanted to pick your brain about... Like, what kind of range are we talking about when you're standing up and trying to lean forward—say, to touch your toes? How much does it limit you, knowing those two moles are basically joined at the hip?
And what was the verdict from the doctors? Did they act like it’s just some routine, "in and out" procedure, or were they treating it like a high-stakes operation? I mean, is this something a person should actually be losing sleep over?
I honestly can't see any reason why I would ever need to bend over like that. I didn't really do it back in the day during gym class in middle school, and I don't see why I'd start now. Like I mentioned before, if there's something I need to pick up off the floor, I do it by bending my knees and keeping my back straight, which has just become a natural habit for me now.
As for those screws and rods, I don't feel them at all—literally nothing.
I don't recall asking any of the four neurosurgeons whether the surgery was "routine" or not (though I assume it isn't), but I did ask all four of them how often they personally perform these specific procedures, and more importantly, who they would trust with their own lives if they had my exact diagnosis and symptoms. Not every neurosurgeon has the same level of experience with this; some are specialized in entirely different areas.
Of course I was scared, because every surgery carries a risk and it wasn't like I was indifferent to the whole thing. I couldn't find much information online, though I did stumble upon an international forum and a Facebook group specifically for spondylolisthesis, where most of what I read were negative stories. What I didn't realize back then was that there are countless people who had successful outcomes; they just don't post on forums or Facebook groups anymore because they aren't looking for help—they're just living their lives. Eventually, I got a bit too restless and ended up searching on YouTube to watch the actual surgery (please, don't do 😁 ). In the end, I told myself enough is enough and decided to put my trust in one of the top neurosurgeons in the country, the one the other three specialists recommended as the person they would go to if they were in my shoes. I figured if anyone truly knows what they're doing, it's him, so I just had to accept whatever happened. Because the way I was living before wasn't really living at all.
Just remember that doctors don't operate on an MRI scan, they operate on a person, so that doesn't necessarily mean you will eventually need surgery. There are plenty of people who live for years with spondylolisthesis without any pain or neurological issues, living completely normal lives.
Along with my spondylolisthesis, I was also diagnosed with spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease.
And unlike you, I actually couldn't walk at all; the pain shooting down my leg felt like someone was slicing me with a knife, and I was even dealing with neurological issues.
I’m certainly no medical expert, so I’ll just describe the surgery in plain English: they installed screws, rods, and a titanium plate at my L4-L5 level.
I'm not quite sure what you mean by pre-op preparation, but once I finally accepted that surgery was my only real option, I did everything I possibly could to stay active—swimming and cycling whenever it wasn't too acute—just trying to maintain enough muscle strength to make the recovery process a little smoother.
The actual procedure took quite a while, as I remember being wheeled into the OR before 8:00 AM and not waking up in my room until around 4:00 PM. The pain during those first two days is absolutely brutal, but it’s a different kind of pain than what I had before; it’s the surgical pain from the incision, the bone work, and the muscles being moved to make room for the hardware.
Recovery was such a long haul, and my neurosurgeon always reminded me that this is a marathon, not a sprint. While the nerve pain in my leg vanished almost immediately after the operation, the back pain faded much more gradually. I focused on walking short distances, swimming laps on my back, exercising, and visiting some wellness spas; for those first six weeks before I headed to the spa, I basically did nothing but sleep, walk, and rest. Once I got to the spa, I started exercising more seriously and spent three weeks swimming backstroke every single day. I kept up with the walking, swimming, and exercise long after my formal rehab ended. Even though I felt better pretty quickly, you have to give your body time to heal internally and reach full fusion, which is when that new bone grows around the hardware. For me, that process took about six good months.
I don't really have "side effects," per se; I've just learned how to live with certain limitations. I've adapted most of my daily routines—for instance, I don't lift anything heavy anymore, and if I have to, I'll do it in multiple trips rather than all at once, always lifting from my knees to protect my spine. It’s become second nature to avoid twisting my waist, and for years now, I’ve slept with a pillow between my knees if I'm on my side, or under them if I'm on my back. I still lead a very active life, though; I walk a ton, bike, travel frequently, and even though my job requires sitting at a computer for eight hours a day, I make sure to stand up and pace around for a few minutes every hour.
Gary Cooper8 said:Noticed this thread has been pretty quiet lately, so I figured I'd stir the pot a bit—anyone else here living life with spondylolisthesis willing to share how you handle it?
I’ve been dealing with my diagnosis for about a year now. My L5-S1 slip is sitting at roughly 7.5mm.
Honestly, being more active over the summer helped a little, but mostly I’ve just gotten used to managing a constant baseline of pain throughout the day. Now that we're heading into the fall and winter, I'm planning to get serious about a workout routine to see if I can actually stabilize things. What’s your take on exercise? Any specific advice or success stories? And seriously—is recreational running even on the table when you're dealing with this?
I was diagnosed about ten years ago; it started with just a 3mm slip, but eventually, it progressed to 9mm—degenerative unstable spondylolisthesis. I ended up having surgery eight years ago at the Mayo Clinic on my L4-L5 via a TLIF procedure. For two years, I tried everything—exercise, various therapies, swimming religiously, and all sorts of physical therapy, both through private clinics and using my Medicare coverage—but nothing seemed to work. The pain was so intense it would make me want to scream, feeling like someone was slicing a knife from my lower back all the way down to my feet; there were times I couldn't even get out of bed for days, and acute phases could last months. I couldn't walk for more than a few minutes without having to sit down or limp every 300 yards just to get some relief, and I even dealt with neurological issues. Throughout all of that, I tried to stay as active as possible; for example, while I couldn't walk, I didn't feel pain while cycling, so I’d get on my bike as soon as an acute flare-up subsided. I’m certainly no expert or doctor, so please take my advice with a grain of salt, but for me, backstroke swimming and gentle stretching exercises helped (though absolutely nothing involving extensions). Eventually, I found a great physical therapist and worked extensively with them on improving my posture. Based on what I went through ten years ago, it seems like very few physiatrists or physical therapists really understand the nuances of spondylolisthesis, at least among those I saw back then (though maybe your experience has been different). I was terrified of the surgery and visited four different neurosurgeons hoping that just one might tell me it wasn't necessary, but they all said surgery was the only way. I don't regret it; things will never be exactly the way they were before, but I have a decent quality of life now—for instance, I went on a hike last weekend and walked 11 miles, which used to be completely unthinkable for me.
On the other hand, my primary care physician at the time also had spondylolisthesis but experienced zero pain, so he didn't believe me at first when I told him how much it hurt. His experience was just completely different.
Are visits allowed at the Mayo Clinic? I haven't been able to find anything on their official website regarding any restrictions, and when I try searching on Google, I just keep running into news stories from last year, so I can't tell if those bans are still in effect or not.
Maybe try reaching out to your local Red Cross? A colleague of mine actually managed to get one for her mom through them. Honestly, if I remember correctly, she didn't even have to pay anything upfront, she just returned it later on. That was a few years back, though, so who knows if every city still offers those kinds of options or if they even still do things that way.
wearysailor3 said:I'm not entirely sure if it's within a month, but they tend to be pretty quick at the hospital in El Paso.
I have a question of my own... In a few days, my boyfriend is heading in for surgery—it's for his spine, under general anesthesia—at the major hospital in Washington, D.C., specifically at the Rib, and I was just wondering what the typical procedure is regarding getting updates right after everything is finished? Am I allowed to wait somewhere while the surgery is actually happening? I honestly have no idea what the standard protocols or rules are for situations like this.
You can definitely wait there. Maybe ask a nurse to let you know once the operation is done, and see if they'll let you speak with the surgeon or if they might allow you to step into the room for just a few minutes once he's been moved back. It might also be a good idea to get a rough estimate of how long the surgery takes, just so you aren't stuck waiting there for six hours.
restlessmason4 said:Hey everyone. I have an appointment this Wednesday at 9:00 AM with a neurosurgeon over at Rebro Hospital. Has anyone been there lately, and how early should I show up to get checked in at the main desk?
I really struggle to stand for more than ten minutes, so it’s super important for me to find a seat quickly after I get out of the car. :-)
I'm not entirely sure what the Wednesday schedule looks like or which doctors are running the clinic that day, but I do know that on Tuesdays, when Stancic is seeing patients, the place is absolutely packed. People used to start showing up as early as 6:30 in the morning—some even earlier—and once the nurse arrives at 7:00 to hand out numbers, the wait begins, and honestly, the crowds can be overwhelming.
Regarding your trouble standing for long periods, isn't it always okay to ask someone nearby to give up their seat for you? That happened to me quite often, where I could manage about ten minutes on my feet before the pain became just too much to handle. If nothing else, you could always ask the nurse if there's a spot to sit or even lie down for a moment in the clinic area, because the staff there is truly kind.
Grace Davis77 said:I'm also looking for a physical therapist in Chicago who doesn't just run everyone through the same generic exercises, but actually tailors everything to the patient's specific needs.
I'm not quite sure what you're dealing with specifically, but I found that Ivan Golubiček was incredibly helpful; he works privately over at Abargo Rehab in Queens. Maja Cesarec is also an option since she practices there as well. You might just want to check on how much availability Golubicek actually has, because he stays so busy traveling around with all our pro athletes.
I was over at the JPMorgan Chase on Main Street in Chicago earlier today trying to process a larger transaction, and the teller told me they couldn't move forward unless I filled out some kind of questionnaire. He started grilling me about where I work, how long I've been there, what kind of company it is, who owns it, my specific job title, my duties, my monthly salary, any side hustles, and all sorts of other things... I wasn't really comfortable answering everything, so he ended up calling over a manager, who then just repeated the same thing, saying they couldn't complete the request without those answers. 😲😕
Amanda Howard84 said:I really need some quick advice—how long is the wait usually for a spinal X-ray at a hospital in Chicago?
If you head to the medical center on West Madison, it’s usually just a five to ten-minute wait. You don't even need an appointment; you can just show up and get in line immediately.
I'm not entirely sure what specific help you're looking for, but I found Ivan Golubiček to be incredibly helpful; he works privately over at Abargo Rehab in Lanište.
Facing a major surgery is such an overwhelming thing, isn't it? And as the date gets closer, I can feel my anxiety just steadily climbing.
The initial shock hit me about two years ago when I first got my diagnosis. After that first wave of crying and wondering why this was happening to me, I eventually found a way to settle into the reality that surgery was my path forward. In the time since, I’ve sought out several different specialists, and every single one of them has confirmed the diagnosis and recommended the procedure. I’ve always been a naturally upbeat and optimistic person, and I stayed pretty active right up until this illness showed up. Even after the initial blow of the diagnosis, I kept telling myself that everything would turn out fine once the surgery was behind me. Staying positive and keeping a smile on my face is just who I am. There have been those rare, truly rare moments where I’ve broken down, but mostly I try to stay hopeful and view this operation as a necessary step toward getting back to my old self after a long recovery.
But now, with only a few weeks left before the scheduled date, the nerves are really starting to take over. I can't sleep, and I just can't find any peace. I try to distract myself with all sorts of things, but my mind just keeps circling back to the surgery. I start spiraling into "what ifs"—what if it doesn't work? What if there are complications? What if the pain stays the same or even gets worse? I’ve even noticed I’m becoming snappy with my family, which is so unlike me, and I just don't have the patience for people anymore. It feels like I've lost control over my own life, and I want so badly to change that. My inner sense of balance feels completely shattered, and it seems to get worse every day. I try not to burden the people around me with these thoughts and attempt to deal with it on my own, but it’s proving to be incredibly difficult. I’m actually terrified of whether the procedure will even be successful. I’m feeling so depressed and worried lately, and I honestly can't tell if this is a normal reaction or not.
Does anyone know how to dial down this kind of stress? How can I make this easier on myself? Is there any way to reclaim that positive mindset I used to have?
I wasn't sure if this belongs in this specific subforum or the psychology section, so I'll let the moderators move it if it's in the wrong place.
That was great. McConaughey definitely earned that nomination. I have to admit, I wasn't expecting quite this much from him, but he ended up completely blowing me away. That kind of transformation is just something else, isn't it?
boldnomad45 said:So, if I put myself on the waiting list and end up waiting over a month, does that mean they won't accept the referral I used to sign up since it'll be older than thirty days?
I don't think so, because when I got my referral for the neurosurgeon back in September, they actually canceled my appointment twice already, and I have yet another one scheduled for tomorrow. Every single time, the nurse just assured me that my referral was still perfectly valid and that there was no need for me to go back and get a new one, so why would it be any different now?
Is there a strike happening over at the Mayo Clinic? Or does it just depend on which doctor you're seeing? I've been waiting about ten days now for my appointment with the neurosurgeon, and since I've been waiting for such an incredibly long time already, I can't help but wonder if this strike might finally wrap up soon so I can actually get my exam done.
I have a quick question, though if this is in the wrong place, could a moderator please move it to the right thread?
Does a patient actually have the right to request a referral for a second opinion from a specialist, or are we just limited to one single opinion? Is there a specific list of diagnoses where a primary care physician is required to provide such a referral, or does it really just come down to their own individual discretion?