Posted on 09/25/2001 4:26:46 PM PDT by ChemistCat
I have a terrible chronic back problem myself and I finally ruptured a disk a few years ago while working out. If it hadn't been for my wife talking me out of it, I definitely would've gone under the knife. But I'm real glad now that I listened to her and didn't do it; my back is much better now . . . I just have to be real careful not to re-injure it.
Of course, your situation may not be at all like mine and I'm definitely not a doctor. So I'm not trying to give you medical advice. However, a second opinion is a good idea, I think. My advice: talk to a really good doctor who is NOT a surgeon (surgeons are perhaps a little too eager to start cutting). Go to a teaching hospital. You'll find some of the best docs in the world there. Best of luck to you.
Yes, if *you* can see it, it is bad! And MRI, myleogams, and X-rays may not reveal the true extent of the damage inside- this is what happened with Emily, it was far, far worse when the surgeon got in & could actually observe the site.
Cut to the chase-- what makes the difference in the outcome of this is the surgeon.... you need to start asking Doctors until you find one or two who have had this same proceedure done on them, with sucess, and use the Doc who did their surgery.
This is what my wife did, and it has worked out fine.
Nothing will fix this problem except mechanical repair- like pinning a broken bone to speed its setting, vs. "just letting nature take its course," there's little choice. Left untreated, the cord will get damaged and it will be grim.
We looked at the non-surgical alternatives, but when I saw the myleogram, I *knew* I had to convince E to get it fixed, fast!
I'm trying to do 10 things at once this AM, so excuse the terseness & maybe lack of coherence, but to summarize:
1- find the Doc that treats the other Docs- sucessfully! Get the one with the best track record of satisfied patients.
2- the surgery is not all that bad- honestly, I've had a harder time, for longer, with some dental proceedures- but it's still a major trauma to your body- expect to take longer to heal than the "ideal" you'll be told; and if you do better faster, count your lucky stars.
3- OK, I just finished with one of the 10 things.... taking Taffy the Fierce out to clear the yard of possums, rats, & terrorists, without barking & waking her Momma up.... the key is getting a good Doc- get that, and all else will fall into place. It really is routine surgery- if you get a careful & competent surgeon.
Oh! and FWIW- Em's doctor started out as a veterinarian before "moving on" to people later--
This is my second time trying to get this to go thru.... one other thing- judging doctors? I place great store in
1- a doc who lets your signifigant other stay with you during exams... shows he's not afraid to have another observe what he's doing, and that he is interested in the part the SO plays...
2- is he quick, thorough, yet gentle? A medical guy who isn't raises warning flags with me.... and medical people who are reluctant to touch you are in the wrong line of work, IMO.
FWIW, my mother swears by this stuff. Apparently, it will effectively reverse (not just prevent) a lot of degenerative damage, even in late middle-aged and elderly folks...
(as always, of course, your results may vary)
Ya warm my heart :>)
Tsk, tsk. Naw, I don't know your age (and a gentleman doesn't ask), I just wanted to emphasize that doc's recommendation of glucosamine has had effective restorative (not just preventative) effect even in folks who were presumed to be a bit too advanced in years for effective self-repair. My Ma probably falls into the "late middle-aged" camp, and she could list you a whole range of physical activities which have become easier for her since she started taking glucosamine. Although I'd add that the six-month timeframe mentioned by the_doc is probably realistic, the effects were not immediate.
Of course, your results may vary.
My 6th baby shares your birthyear...UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM..she is expecting baby #1 soon....is that a general hint *grin*
He has been treating me for a year and a half, and I see gradual improvement all the time! God bless him! He's a Mormon (I am not) and is very faithful with trying to make the procedures as non-invasive as possible. He did tell me at first that I might have needed either the cortisone shots or surgery, so he's not a fanatic or anti-MD practices!
I would echo the chiropractic visit as an alternative. An Osteopath would also be a thought.
God bless and good luck!
g
Go see a reputable chiropractor in your area and give him 3-4 weeks of treatment before you decide if he's helping or not.
I would also get the physician who is managing your lupus to give an opinion on whether or not that condition rules you out as surgical back candidate.
In a prior profession, I handled injury claims for an insurance company. In the surgical back cases I managed, there were some that got better after surgery, some did not improve, and a few got worse. I felt the patient's motivation to get well along with the surgeon's skill had alot to do with the result.
Another recommendation: After the MRI, if the orthopedist feels surgery is indicated get a second opinion from another orthopedist from a different medical group and if possible one who works out of a different hospital. If I think of any other recommendations, I'll freepmail you a note.
But nowadays, the reverse is true- more end up better than worse. They really have improved & refined the proceedures.
The real key is getting a good, competent, and caring surgeon, and the rest will fall into place. Six weeks & 2 days have elapsed since Emily was carved on, and she is getting better each day- but it is slow, and frustrating. However, before the surgery, she was getting noticably worse with every day- to the point where I wondered how she could bear living- the loss of motor control was of course frightful to a professional musician whose life's work is speed & dexterity- but almost worse was the draining, progressive, and profound fatigue. One hour a day up, the other 23 curled in a ball of agony. Life like that is hardly worth living. It did make the choice of treatment very starkly obvious.
Good luck!
John R
The brands I take are Enzymatic Therapy 500mg glucosomine sulfate and Source Naturals 400mg chondroitin sulfate. Enzymatic Therapy has reputation for making the best glucosomine. Source Naturals is just a very good vitamin company. I want companies I can trust for this stuff.
I agree w/ doc, natural vitamins and minerals will help your body's defenses. I will keep you in my prayers as well that you will find the best help out there.
There is also a new kind of chiropratic care I have just recently started. It's called upper cervical (www.uppercervical.org) They adjust the "atlas" bone which is directly under the skull the brain stem enters there and ALL the nerves pass through the atlas. If this bone is tilted even 1/2 a degree it can cause many health problems as ALL your organs are affected by the nervous system. Some of the problems are: fibromyalgia, migraines epilepsy, ADD, some forms of arthritis, immune system disorders, herniated disks, neck, back, arm and feet pain, sciatica to mention a few. I have just had my first adjustment and it is very gentle, hardly felt it. My atlas apparently has been tilted 1 1/4 degree for a long time. One leg was 1/4 inch shorter than the other (that was remedied immediately). It's too soon for me to know if my shoulder pain will be irradicated but I'm goin for it.
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