I'm still having back pain after a lumbar fusion. The X-ray shows a solid fusion. What could be causing this?
No one knows the reason for this. There are some ideas, based on current research. Fusion does put increased pressure on the disc material between the vertebrae. Over time, increased intradiscal pressure (IDP) may affect the life and health of the disc. The disc may start to break down, releasing chemicals that irritate the nearby spinal nerves. It's also possible that mechanical factors within the fused disc are the cause of continued pain in patients with a lumbar fusion. More studies are needed before we know the answer to this question.
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