23F L4-L5 fracture/slip, scared of surgery. HELP!
Hi everyone,
I’m a 23 year old female from India and I’m feeling extremely scared and overwhelmed right now.
Around 1.5 months ago I developed severe lower back pain and since then I’ve mostly been on bed rest. After MRI + X-rays and consultations at multiple hospitals (ISIC Delhi, Max Healthcare, Medanta etc.), almost all spine surgeons are recommending surgery.
My diagnosis includes:
L4-L5 spondylolisthesis (Grade 1)
pars fracture/lysis type issue
disc degeneration/bulge
nerve narrowing
I also get:
leg pain/numbness sometimes
pain while sitting
back instability feeling
difficulty staying in one position
Doctors are saying conservative treatment may not be enough now because the “gap/slip” has increased and surgery is needed for stabilization. They told me screws/rods/stitches may be involved.
I’m honestly terrified because:
I’m only 23
scared of spine surgery and stitches
scared about future mobility and normal life
scared whether I’m rushing into surgery
I’ve already done around 1.5 months of bed rest and still symptoms persist.
I’ll attach my MRI/X-ray reports in comments.
I really want honest advice from people who:
had similar L4-L5 surgery
avoided surgery successfully
recovered well after fusion/stabilization surgery
know good conservative spine specialists anywhere in India
Questions:
How painful was recovery?
Were you able to walk normally again?
Any regrets after surgery?
Did anyone improve without surgery in a similar condition?
How do you mentally prepare for this?
I’m mentally exhausted and crying almost every day because of fear. Any real experiences or advice would mean a lot. Thank you.