Trusting a Surgeon With Your Spine--Ever a Good Outcome?

none ^ | September 25, 2001 | Chemistcat

[ChemistCat]

I was informed today that I may need surgery on at least my #7 cervical vertebra. The words "urgent" and "severe" have been bandied about, and I was so upset (I didn't even go IN to see about this!) that I didn't ask any questions. I don't know anyone who has had a happy outcome from any kind of back surgery, and the upper spine is scarier still. This is definitely a small thing in light of world events, but like the tornado in Maryland, it's definitely added to the grief in my little corner of the world. Any input would be much, much appreciated. My gut feeling is NOT to let anyone cut on me up there. I've had tonsils and gall bladder out but I haven't missed those like I'd miss all bodily functions below the neck.

[Nuke'm Glowing]

One more thing....(sorry I forgot to add this!)

Ask each neurosurgeon (do not use an ortho for this, ever) how many ACDF's or fusions they've performed and their recover rate post surgery. The surgeon I chose had done over 6000 and said the standard success rate was over 90%. Good enough odds for me.

[tutstar]

Yes, there can be a good outcome depending on the symptons, amount of pain you are in, and if all other remedies have been tried. I had back surgery 8 years ago. My disk ruptured into my spinal cord and left me paralized from the waist down. The doctor gave me a 50/50 chance of walking again. It took laser surgery, 2 and 1/2 years of physical therapy, but I can walk. I have pain everyday, sometimes it hurts more than other days but I have learned to live with it. Your situation may not be the same as mine. However, when you have done everything else to relieve the pain and it hasn't worked, then surgery is an option, but only if you can't stand the pain anymore. I have a friend who had back pain so bad that she went and had the surgery and it relieved her of the pain. She told me the pain was worse than having her two children. All I can tell you is get all the facts, look at all the other remedies and then chose. My choice was to walk again. Even though there is still pain, it is not as bad as it was when my disk ruptured, so I live with it. I will pray for you.

[Ax]

In 1967 I exited from a hovering helicopter at a Special Forces camp in Vietnam. I landed wrong and the vertebrae compressed, cracking a disc. Some ten years later I was stationed in Rome, and in incredible pain. The Italian doctor performed a laminectomy, fusing L5/L4 (I guess).

In the ensuing 24 years I have never had a moment's pain and have literally put on enough miles walking and running to circumnavigate the globe.

Take heart, ChemistCat. Put your trust in God.

[aruanan]

I probably will find some of the shark cartilage stuff ;-) if my doctor doesn't feel strongly otherwise--I have arthritis in many joints and I doubt this can hurt.

Prog Drug Res 2000;55:81-103

Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfates in the treatment of osteoarthritis: a survey.

de los Reyes GC, Koda RT, Lien EJ.

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
School of Pharmacy,
University of Southern California,
Los Angeles, CA
90089, USA.

For more than 30 years, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been used as standards in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA). Serious and often life-threatening adverse effects due to these agents are common. Clinical findings have revealed that glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate are effective and safer alternatives to alleviate symptoms of OA. Experimental evidence indicates that these compounds and their low molecular weight derivatives have a particular tropism for cartilage where they serve as substrates in the biosynthesis of component building blocks. This paper is a literature review of the chemistry, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy and safety of these two nutraceuticals.

Skip the sharks and go directly to the active ingredients. There are many similar review of chondroitin available through PubMed.

[driftless]

Poor posture can cause many problems from back pain to weakness and numbness in arms and hands. Inwardly bent shoulders can cause Thoracic Outlet Syndrome by the nerves (brachial plexus) leading from your neck impinging on the subclavian artery around your collarbone. I straightened my posture and it improved my health enormously. Stretching is very important also. Keep those shoulders from sagging, keep your head level when you walk, and don't slouch when sitting!!!

[Jesse]

Uh, just curious, but without an MRI or CT contrast myelogram, how do they know you have bulging discs and need surgery?p> Have to know what they found, how they found it. But keep in mind that there is one huge difference between the cervical spine and the low back. The spinal cord is in the cervical spine and it is not uncommon to have direct pressure placed on the cord because of narrowing of the spine. This can cause injury to the cord. Chiropracters and shark cartilage won't do you any good if you have a severe enough spinal stenosis.

[democratsstealvotes]

FRIEND, DO NOT, I SAY, DO NOT LET THEM TOUCH YOUR SPINE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU SHOULD DO ABOUT YOUR PROBLEM, BUT IF YOU LET THE DOCS MESS WITH YOU, YOU WILL BE WORSE OFF. DO SOME MORE RESEARCH. LISTEN TO YOUR OWN THOUGHTS ABOUT IT. INQUIRE ABOUT ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE, BUT BE CAREFUL HERE, TOO! GOD, I FEEL SORRY FOR YOU.

[ChemistCat]

Ah...that's what I was going to do....was just too buzzed from so many loving and wonderful posts and from cramming over 100 Organic Chem reactions to want to mess around with spelling glucosamine sulfate and (especially) chondroitin sulfate...especially if I can cut and paste it from some kind soul who spells "chondroitin" for me. :-)

[ChemistCat]

I've been diagnosed with stenosis, lordosis, and bone spurs before by MRI. Today's diagnosis of the bulging disk came by X-ray and it was bad enough that *I* could see it. My rheumatologist and the orthopedic surgeon she practices with BOTH got pretty excited over the x-ray. The MRI is scheduled for next Tuesday and they're trying to get my insurance to let them move it up. I've lamented having Tricare on this thread before.....

[aruanan]

from cramming over 100 Organic Chem reactions

Ha ha ha. I remember doing that! And in the next few years I'll be doing massive data crams and dumps in med school.

[hollyweed]

Just read your post. I am a chiropractor and while I don't know your history, I would suggest you seek several opinions before surgery. Many asymptomatic people will have abnormalities visable on MRI, disc herniation etc. Radicular pain in the upper extremity is not uncommon in non surgical cases. If you haven't had an EMG done you are probably due for that next. In less severe cases of disc pathology home traction would also be an option. In 14 years of practice I have shelves full of case histories who were told surgery was the only option. I hate to dispense advise with limited knowlege but take control, investigate and make your own educated decision. It's your body.

[Old Professer]

Maybe you need a good endocrinologist...

[jwalsh07]

Roman Chairs

I wish you the best. I use the first one pictured.

[ChemistCat]

It's a rite of passage. Before you can become a doctor, you must thoroughly floss your mind clean with our bzillion strands of useless information! My GP says he never, never, never uses ANYTHING he had to study in college. GRRPH! I'm now surrounded by mostly premed students who HAVE to get A's. Poor saps. But it makes it harder for me to take advantage of curving when the chaff has all been blown away. :-)

I just wrote to the profs in Biochem and Organic Chem to tell them what's happening and that I'm still going to get As in their classes. I am dropping P-chem as the writing is on the wall in that one. (WORST TEXTBOOK I HAVE EVER USED. Full of errors and it has totally undermined my confidence with thermodynamics...and I got As in all of the prerequisites. 62% on the first exam. GRRPH.)

You all are in my prayers tonight. I've never ever in my life felt so close to so many people I don't even know personally. The pain and fear is so much less than it was--even the negative stories give me a more realistic view of what's happening to me.

[robnoel]

Been there done that.....NO!.....period!

[Old Professer]

What is a "briss?"

[aruanan]

What is a "briss?"

The celebration at which a Jewish boy is circumcised.

[aruanan]

You all are in my prayers tonight. I've never ever in my life felt so close to so many people I don't even know personally. The pain and fear is so much less than it was--even the negative stories give me a more realistic view of what's happening to me.

I'll be praying for you, too.

[Capt_Hank]

Don't give up on the P-Chem. You have job security right there in front of you. If you choose a career in the pharmaceutical industry, you have it made. I spent 31 years at DuPont as a thermochemist. The new instruments today make it very easy. Things have really changed; btu's to kcal to KJ. Reaction Calorimeters, Differential Scanning Calorimetry, Thermogravimetric Analysis and Accelerating Rate Calorimetry make the job very easy. Watch a hydrazine reaction run out of control, did major damage to the ARC instrument but that's the basis of it's design.

[jwalsh07]

Ahhhhhh, I was hoping that would remain a mystery, I didn't realize that chemistcat was a lady. I apologise.