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My MIL is considering back surgery to repair a disk. I don't know all the details but the physician is telling her it's a 2-day procedure where they will have a matrix on disk where it can regenerate bone and easy recovery. She is 80 and pretty good health, few medications. She has had racing heart, blood pressure in the past and mild diabetes which she tests daily for and controls with diet. She has suffered with her hip, sciatica and lower back pain for many months, trying exercise, ice packs, pain relievers but feels like surgery is her next step.

Should we be concerned? Has anyone had similar back surgery? What are considerations for someone this age and what can we expect for recovery? She wants husband and daughter to come and help and thinks it will be short recovery....further my FIL has ALZ, has had more falls lately, and requires full time supervision pretty much which my MIL has all the responsibility.

Thanks for any insights and thoughts.

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As an RN, I would just say, remember to ask about local anesthesia or spinal anesthesia. I do not believe these would affect brain functioning down the road. My 89 yr old Mom had an emergency hip replacement 5 years ago, so at 84 with general anesthesia. And, yes....just as I am reading this, I realize that two years after this, we noticed enough changes in her to get the neuro psych eval and to learn she had early Alzheimer's. In the years since, she is declining more rapidly each year. Now, my Mom had a back fracture two years ago, and doctor refused to do ANY surgery on her spine then, due to severe osteoporosis. He said her spine would be like powder and no assurance, as compared to the risks, that he could do a repair that would be good. So she got PT and a walker for 3 months but she is now still 'going' and 'going'....So for spinal surgery, I would also be sure to assess for osteoporosis or ask about that if part of the history.
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My wife had a hip replacement at age 65. No dementia signs prior to surgery. 6 months after surgery the signs of dementia started to show up. I have always (however, I am not a medical person)felt that the anesthesia was involved in the start of her current condition - Alzheimers. If I had to do it again, I would try all other methods before I would try surgery.
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Amen to JimmyW's response.

Mom's prosthetic hip wore out but her doctor said the elderly don't come through surgical anesthesia well so we did not have it repaired. Plus there are other risk factors with surgery at that age.

You might want to get a second opinion anyway, from a non-surgical practitioner. I had a disk injury and it healed itself, after a great deal of pain of course, with only a five percent disability.

Good luck and God bless.
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You should research the possibility of her developing dementia as a result of the anesthesia. My mom had a hysterectomy when she was 80 because of uterine cancer. Following the surgery her cognition changed drastically. While she had signs of dementia before the surgery, her memory seemed to decline rapidly in the months following. Was it because we paid more attention while she was sick? Or was there really a significant decline? We will never be able to answer that question.

Mom's hubby had a hip replaced atthe age of 83 which was followed by about three months of rehab. We were all concerned about the cogitive difficulties that he had following the surgery. He did bounce back to where he was before the surgery within a few weeks.

Anesthesia can have a profound effect on cognition, especially in the elderly and it is unpredictable. Rehab will most definitely be required as the elderly take much longer to regain their level of activity. What is a quick recovery for someone in their 50's or 60's is not going to be the same as for someone in their 80's.

Since she is caregiver for her husband it would be best if facilities for his care are shopped for now, as she may very well not be able to provide for his care following the surgery. Think this through very carefully.
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As a certified registered nurse anesthetist, I know for a fact that general anesthesia causes cognitive problems in the elderly. The longer they are under general anesthesia, the greater the cognitive decline. My 80 year old mother had general anesthesia for 2 rather large surgeries in 2009, and she was never the same after that. She is good for her age right now, but I did definitely notice that she developed a loss of short term memory that never went away.

There are many far less invasive treatments for lower back pain, and surgery should be the very last option. If she has only been having pain for a few months, it is worth it to look into spinal epidural steroids, and something called a "M.I.L.D." procedure (minimally invasive lumbar decompression). In some states, it is covered by Medicare. In some states it was not approved for Medicare reimbursement yet. It is a VERY effective treatment, done under light IV sedation, & a one-day, ambulatory procedure with not much pain afterward.

Surgery should always be the last option, for anything. The fewer doctors you see & the least amount of time in a hospital you can spend is the best way to live. And I am saying this as a medical provider.
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My mom had hip replacement at age 83 . She is diabetic among other health issues. I was against it at first but after reading a lot and talking to other caregivers I became more at ease about it. After surgery and a month of rehab she is home and more active than she has been in years. It was not easy. It took a while to get all the meds regulated , especially her slight addiction to pain pills but overall it was a success. Of course each case is different, but apparentlybits not uncommon these days for elders in their 80s to have major surgical procedures.
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To add to the chorus, I do hope your mom would consider other methods before surgery. Has she tried injection shots? My personal, non-medical belief is that the surgery hastened my dad's cognitive decline, he just wasn't the same after the surgery (78 years old). He broke his hip so we didn't have an option. I hope she will consider getting a second opinion from another doctor.
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I know I'm just piling on top of the answers you've already gotten, but please consider the risk of dementia. The medical team doesn't. They see a patient as the condition they're 'fixing' and often ignore the risks to quality of life; I think, because they don't deal with the aftermath. My FIL, who was completely sharp mentally, had surgery at 79 and quickly declined cognitively immediately following. His surgeon considered his case a 'success'. The problem was fixed. However, he was discharged to a nursing home and died shortly thereafter.
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My dad, who was somewhat disabled by a stroke, fell while trying to get into the car. He began to have back pain of increasing severity. After a few weeks, he began to lose weight as a result of the pain affecting his appetite. He went to a back specialist who suggested a minimally invasive procedure where a substance was injected into his spine under ultrasound guidance to separate the affected disks and relieve pressure on the nerve. We were concerned because of his age (early 80's) and his stroke related disability, but we saw it as a quality of life issue. He came through the procedure fine, and I took mom to lunch and to run a couple of errands while the hospital staff got dad moved from the recovery room to a room and settled in. When we got back to the hospital I was amazed. Dad was sitting up in a chair and his face was noticeably relaxed. The pain relief was immediate. He suffered no cognitive effects from the anesthesia. The procedure was definitely the right thing to do.

My mom, already suffering from mild to moderate dementia, had surgery to repair her broken ankle, and the anesthesia greatly increased her confusion, but the effect was relatively short-lived. The pain meds following surgery were also an issue. It took six to eight weeks before she was back to her pre-surgery level.

If your MIL is in a lot of pain, it may be worth the risk to have the surgery.
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My father was 83 and in good health when he had a cervical laminectomy with fusion. He had lost some use of his left arm and the surgery was performed to stop any permanent damage. My dad was active, no heart issues, no HBP, no diabetes. He died 3.5 years later of complications from a staph infection. He never fully recovered. I went to the rehab facility 10 days post surgery to bring him home. His doctor was baffled why he wasn't improving. A tech ran in yelled STAPH! Dad was whisked off by ambulance back to surgery. Two months later he developed C-Diff while in rehab facility. We could have let him go at this point but he was SO determined to make it and would NOT sign a DNR. A ileostomy was performed. I saw him have adverse reactions to anesthesia (after 2nd surgery) and medications. Nine months later dad made it home. Back surgery unsuccesful. His kidneys shut down for 7 months and he went on dialysis. I remember that poor soul being transferred from nursing home then his home on a stretcher back and forth to dialysis. He never complained. He was thankful. He appreciated all the care he was given. Caring for him almost killed my mother. She developed a staph infection after she came home from hip replacement 6 weeks before his 1st surgery. Staph entered through blisters from allergy to surgical tape. She didn't have any problems with the her antibiotic (vancomycin). No matter what age and state of health there is always the risk of infection. I pray that you and your family find wisdom in your decision.
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