Opening Statement:
As some of my readers know, I was diagnosed with Scoliosis at the very young age of 12-years old. Just before I turned 13-years old, I had a necessary Spinal Fusion to correct my 87-degree curve in my spine. In most cases, a spinal fusion is usually postponed until a young adult reaches their later teenage years (around 18 or 19 years old) and a back brace is given to help support the back curve. In my case, my spine surgeon could not postpone my spinal fusion because my curve was compromising my breathing. Therefore, I had a spinal fusion from the bottom part of my neck to just above my tailbone surgically inserting and fusing 2-rods, and 30 screws holding my spine as straight as possible. Recently, I’ve had various problems with my lower spine and neck causing a tremendous amount of pain. So of course, I needed to see an Orthopedic Surgeon, once again. I wasn’t’ happy that I couldn’t go back to the surgeon who performed my spinal fusion (because his practice did not accept my insurance) but I did find an excellent spine surgeon who explained everything to me on why I was feeling so horrible and in pain almost every day. The reason he explained was, I had a spinal fusion and my spine discs/joints that were not fused, over the past several years, have been working double and triple the work causing my discs to deteriorate above and below my fusion. My new surgeon told me I needed an MRI to determine if I had “Adjacent Segment Disease,” or was on the onset of developing this disease. As usual, I couldn’t go immediately to have an MRI, due to my insurance company insisting on me having to go to physical therapy first. Well, that plan backfired because physical therapy worsened my pain, therefore, my PT sessions were stopped abruptly.
Listed below are some important facts on Adjacent Segment Disease as well as the risk factors of a spinal fusion. All the information below I found online with various articles from certified Orthopedic Surgeons specializing in the spine as well as Neurosurgeons. I have also had numerous conversations with my Spine Surgeon and my Pain Management Doctor to fully understand how the future looks for me with being on the onset of Adjacent Segment Disease, managing my pain, and the probability of an extension done to my existing spinal fusion.
What is Adjacent Segment Disease?
• Adjacent Segment Disease (ASD) is a broad term encompassing many complications of spinal fusion, including listhesis, instability, herniated nucleus pulposus, stenosis, hypertrophic facet arthritis, scoliosis, and vertebral compression fracture.
What Causes Adjacent Segment Disease?
• Adjacent Segment Disease (ASD) is defined as degeneration that develops at mobile segments above or below a fused spinal segment and usually develops after spinal fusion or other back surgeries.
What Are the Common Problems Years After a Spinal Fusion?
• Spinal fusion can cause problems later in life, namely hardware failure, adjacent segment disease (ASD), or spinal muscle injuries.
• These problems can lead to new or reoccurring back pain and neurological symptoms.
Is Adjacent Segment Disease A Disability?
• The adjacent segment syndrome is defined as the changes in the adjacent structures of an operated spinal level that produce symptoms of pain and disability, which worsen the quality of life of a patient.
Important Finding and Facts
• Given the number of spinal fusions performed annually, concerns have increased over the potential for adjacent segment degeneration (radiographic changes of degeneration at levels adjacent to a spinal fusion) and adjacent segment disease (development of new symptoms correlating with adjacent segment degeneration).
• Over the past several years there has been documented evidence on adjacent segment degeneration and disease as it relates to cervical and lumbar arthrodesis.
• There appears to be an incidence of adjacent segment degeneration and disease after arthrodesis that may be related to natural degeneration or the adjacent fusion.
• It remains to be seen whether restoration of motion with disc arthroplasty will alter the rate of adjacent segment degeneration or disease.
What Is Arthrodesis of The Spine?
• Lumbar spinal fusion is surgery to join, or fuse, two or more vertebrae in the low back. The surgery is also called arthrodesis. There are different methods of spinal fusion. Bone is taken from elsewhere in your body or obtained from a bone bank
What Is the Difference Between Fusion and Arthrodesis?
• Arthrodesis, also referred to as a joint fusion, the uniting of two bones at a joint, is typically completed through surgery. In simple terms, the orthopedic surgeon manually straightens out the damaged joint, removes the cartilage, and then stabilizes the bone so that they heal together.
Closing Statement:
I cannot begin to even explain how horrible I feel almost every day. The pain management sessions (Medial Branch Block injections) I’ve received, is only a temporary fix for my pain. To date, I have received two sessions and now I’m awaiting the approval from my insurance company for me to have a “Radio Frequency Ablation” performed that should relieve my pain for at least 9-months. After my neck is done and under control, my pain management doctor will hopefully then start working on my lower spine with the same processes. As far as the future for me, my spine surgeon stated that an extension to my existing spinal fusion is not recommended until I reach at least 30-years old. This means, I have at least 4-years of pain management ahead of me. When the final decision is made regarding an extension for me, if I do have it done, it will compromise my already limited mobility in motion and normal things I am able to do. Currently, my photography has been put on hold except for when I have local exhibits with my already printed canvases and metal prints. Because of my pain, I am unable to carry/hold my camera and use heavy lenses. I am looking into purchasing a very light camera that is not a professional grade, but at least, I will be able to take some photos until I am able to use my professional full frame mirrorless camera, different lenses, and set up my equipment. As I try my best to remain positive and confident, I might have some luck and get a few good photo images using this camera as well as mobile photography that I can possibly print on canvas or metal and use at upcoming exhibits.
Source of Information: Various Google Searches and Personal Experiences
Until Next Week, Stay Safe and Well!
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