My name is Alan Iam 40 and live in the u.k. I have had back problems for the past 10 yrs, In march 99 I had a fusion from L4 to S1 after having 3 injections in the facet joints and 1 epidural which did not work. For the fist 3 months after the op I was told I was making good progress but then the pain started again, it has deteriorated each month until now Iam in worse pain than before the op. I have been given different anti inflamatories and also had to where a plaster jacket for 1 month with no results, I was told that there was a 80% success rate for the fusion only to find out from a pain consultant that it was really 50 to 60%. My surgeon told me that he wanted to try to remove the prolapsed disc which he failed to do the first time due to loss of blood, But have been advised against it. Ive now got to take medication permanantly and attend a pain management program to help me cope with the pain. Im sure there are success stories but please be careful. 

Alan has been kind enough to offer anyone interested to e-mail him..

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