[wpbaviper]

#5128

Good evening Dr. Corenman,
I am seeing a surgeon for my back next week. I have had numerous injections that have helped but they are wearing off sooner then when I first started them. I have seen another surgeon whom mentioned that I was born with L5-S1 crooked and underdeveloped since birth and recommended a level one fusion. Now put 15 years of playing professional billiards and I live in misery!!

My question is, what kind of mobility will I have after surgery? Will I be able to bend over to rest my cue on my chin again? My whole life, career has been immersed playing pool. But I can not live in pain anymore?? Any help??

thanks
Melissa

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#5129

Let us assume that you have a degenerative L5-S1 segment and that all your other segments are normal. The L5-1 segment is now painful and a fusion will be beneficial.

More likely than not- your range of motion now is limited by pain at endpoints of motion (flexion and extension). In addition, this degenerative segment is also very limited in motion by the significant loss of disc height and wear of the facets.

What is surprising is that your motion may improve with a fusion of this segment. The loss of motion from fusion is normally minimal because of the preexisting limited motion of the degenerative segment. In addition, the reduction of pain with fusion may allow greater motion of the segments above than previously existed without the fusion.

Dr. Corenman

[Author]

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