I had BAK cages put in my L5-S1 to fuse. That was in 2000. It took a long long time to recover from it. I don't know if I would do it again. Where the Surgeon did it posterior (through the back) I had a lot of instability, so had to have rods and screws from my l4 To l5 to make it more so. Plus others.
Activity,...totally life changing. There are good days and bad. Good days consist of going outside,, walk around a bit, sitting out there is no problem, but where not all ground is level it a chore most days. The winter, it's an experiances. I can do dishes maybe 2 loads of laundry, and sweeping around house, but there's a point where even good days I do hurt. I stretch about 5 times a week for about 25-30 minutes a day. That is the key keep moving. Not straining but keeping Mobil. Even on bad days, keep moving.
My life before, very active, worked full time in contracting and h/vac. played in 2 softball leagues, active momma of a young child, basically never stopped. My life is a lot different now. Lucky to make it to the mailbox now. Im not saying i wouldnt do it again, but expect the best-prepare for the worst.
Strengthen your core, that helps a lot.

Not sure if this is the same thing, but I have neuropathy and severe lower back pain that kept me from walking more than down the hall to the bathroom. My doctor used radiofrequency and burned the nerve endings in my back. It had been a little more than six weeks and I can now walk three blocks and back home without pain.

@A MyChronicPainTeam Member so far the radiofrequency ablations are doing good. My pain right at the moment is my s.i. joints. I hope to find out about them tomorrow

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A MyChron...

The year I was injured I was in a construction accident where a large amount of heavy pipe fell on me the first thing they did was to stabilize my lower spine with a stuffy Fusion from coccyx Up 3 I have six pedicle screws and two rods last year I had an MRI done it showed five additional bulging disc three in the neck to above the original Fusion. It has been a miserable existence since the doctors took my pain medication away I have gone through years of physical therapy they just don't want to help me anymore I've never had issues with substance abuse never came up with the incorrect number of medications when asked to bring them in for Counting and monitoring

How is the radio frequency done? Does it hurt? What kind of doctor does it?