The literature shows excellent results for lumbar spine fusion. 90%+ successful fusion rates are frequently reported in large randomized controlled trials and same with patient satisfaction. A three level fusion is more difficult than a one or two level but still shows decent success. The product and technique used will also play a role. My advice is to ask your surgeon for the name of the technique he would use and then Google it. Look for the studies and read the results. That will give you an idea of the typical success rates and patient satisfaction with that particular procedure.

Quote Originally Posted by piedlover79 View Post
I haven't had the surgery but I work as an occupational therapist for patients who have had fusions and I'd say a soild 9 out of 10 are happy they did it and wish they'd done it sooner rather than later. The few that don't get relief tend to be medically complicated in other ways. Just do your homework on your surgeon and his outcomes and the hospital's infection rate. There are website that are government sponsored that will give you all those numbers.
Right on. smoking has been shown to have a negative impact on healing.


Quote Originally Posted by Stingray74 View Post
Anyways, he told me that the spinal fusion is a 33/33/33%, meaning 33% get better, 33% get worse, and 33% have no change. He said this is documented by the Mayo clinic and any doctor that says differently is not giving the facts. So, based on the 33% of getting better, I'm holding off on any surgery until I'm stuck crawling on my hands and knees. So, I'm 66% het to stay the same or get worse....no thanks. Good luck to you.
Really? I think either you might have misunderstood or your doctor is misinformed. I'm not even sure what documented by the mayo clinic means... that they published a study? This is easy to disprove, simply read through the studies online to see the average success rate for lumbar fusion in large patient population is much higher than this. Again a 3 level will have a lower success rate but recent literature should put it at around 70-80% successful fusion with low pain reported.