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Note: The answers given here are for the purpose of providing general information regarding spine treatment. They are not intended to replace evaluation and treatment by your physician. If you have questions regarding your specific spine condition, we advise you to see a physician.

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Subject: Problems 10 Weeks After Surgery?

Question: My fiancee had BAK surgery 2 months ago. She had one cage placed at L5-6 (she has a 6th lumbar vertebrae) She had a small herniation from lifting a patient off a gurney a year before her surgery. PT was no help at all. She had severe lower back pain and right leg numbness. It has been 10 weeks since the surgery and she feels no better. Actually , she feels worse. We went to see the surgeon and he reviewed the x-rays and said everything seems to look okay. H said she just needs to be patient. We don't buy it. I would expect "some" improvement after 10 weeks. Are we setting out expectations too high here? We have0 no reference point for this scenario. What should we do now? Should there be more in-depth testing to see what is going on? What kind of testing? Should we get a MRI or a more in-depth x-ray? Is PT warranted after a cage fusion?

What other options do we have here? She is very scared and so tired of the pain and we have lost faith in her surgeon. I just want to see her have some relief. She has suffered too long.

Thank you.

Answer: It is not as simple as you imply.

Firstly, it is rare to use just one cage at that level. Most of the time it is two cages placed side by side. A single cage does not stabilize the segment well. So are you sure it is one cage?

The cages can be placed from the back of the spine or from the front. We only do it from the front because it is much easier to do, much safer in terms of avoiding damage to the nerves.

We don't use the BAK system. There should be meaningful improvement by 6 months or something is very wrong. We use PT but not until the fusion looks like it is coming along well, three to four months.

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