Your turn. Oh, and don't tell me to be brave. I think I've used up the entire monthly allotment of courage already. :-)
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To: the_doc
bump for a consult
29 posted on
09/25/2001 5:32:15 PM PDT by
RnMomof7
To: ChemistCat
I haven't worked a Neuro floor in many years..but they used to say 1/3 improve,1/3 have no change and 1/3 are worse..I dont know if it is still the same..
31 posted on
09/25/2001 5:35:16 PM PDT by
RnMomof7
To: ChemistCat
My hubby had back surgery in '94 after an auto accident. It was on an outpatient basis. It believe it was called a "discography"(sp). Anyway, the dr. inserted a long needle into his spine and sucked out the dead disc material. Worked great.
Until.... this past spring when he hurt his back at work. It reinjured the old area and the doc says he can't do that type of surgery again. So, we are in the "learn to live with it mode." Sorry I can't be of more help.l
32 posted on
09/25/2001 5:37:15 PM PDT by
CFW
To: ChemistCat
I always looked down my nose at chiropractors--until severe pain and a friend's recommendation drove me to try one. He cut the pain by 50% the first visit. Naturally, his services weren't covered by my alleged "medical" insurance, so I had to spend $40 every visit--and it was worth every penny. He encouraged me to start exercising and stretching, change my posture, and change some of my attitudes. I still hate spending time on the floor, but I'm now contending with about 5% of the back pain I used to live with on a daily basis.
To: ChemistCat
There is a type of non-invasive technique called "Vax-D." It is advertised on Jim Quinn's show in Pittsburgh with the website at http://www.warroom.com. You can either listen to an archived show for the advertisement, or e-mail the hosts, or telephone WRRK radio in Pittsburgh for advertiser information. Maybe Vax-D is what you need.
To: ChemistCat
There are lots of new treatments coming down the pipeline for spinal problems. You might look into the Feldenkrais Method (pioneered by an Israeli physicist) for something called Functional Integration. Another possibility is the Alexander Technique. It might or might not be the right thing for you now but it's worth a try before surgery. www.feldenkrais.com
37 posted on
09/25/2001 5:47:13 PM PDT by
PianoMan
To: ChemistCat
In 1975, I broke my back in a car accident (L1 - 3)and had subsequent back surgery. However, the fusion didn't hold and I had to have it redone this past February. My back was collapsing and by the time I went in to have it checked out, my spine curvature was at 106 degrees. (Denial is a pretty powerful thing!)
They ended up fusing me from T8 to L4 or 5. I regained 3 inches of height! It has been a long rehabilitation due to some old scar tissue from 1975 that had blocked a nerve once I was straightened out. This left me with a numb right leg. However, my surgeon took care of this right away and I have had a miraculous recovery.
Anyway, the point of all my blathering is to let you know that others have gone through this (or something similar). It is a scary thing. I can remember crying everytime I left the surgeon's office. I am SO glad that this is all behind me. Hopefully, you have a good board certified surgeon that you have a good rapport with. May God keep you and bless you.
To: ChemistCat
I just had an ACDF done on my C6-7 and it's worth it, believe me. The alternative was losing the use of my left hand permanently so it was a no brainer. You lose some mobility but in the long term, it's worth it. Just get two opinions and feel 100% comfortable with your neurosurgeon.
To: ChemistCat
Between Arthritis and injuries my back is very messed up and I am in almost constant pain.
Instead of surgery at this point, I started going to a chiropractor that uses the
activator method, which for me was a lot better than the traditional method.
I agree with getting a second opinion, especially with anything that involves the spine.
To: ChemistCat, RnMomof7
Many cervical procedures have a better outcome than lumbar procedures. Anterior cervical fusions, example, often do
very well. I'm not sure whether they do these at the C-7 level--and you didn't even say what kind of operation you would be getting--but I really wouldn't worry a whole lot if you have a good orthopedist or neurosurgeon.
(My point is that if you have non-surgical options, a good doc will advise you. If you have no options, worrying makes even less sense, in an odd way!)
44 posted on
09/25/2001 6:07:19 PM PDT by
the_doc
To: ChemistCat
Do not let an orthopedic surgeon operate on you! They claim to be proficient at back surgery, and some may be, but don't gamble. Neurosurgeons are the only option. Check out who does back surgery on physicians when they need it, neurosurgeons.
50 posted on
09/25/2001 6:23:58 PM PDT by
Comus
To: ChemistCat
I had a herniated disc at C5/C6, which caused off the charts pain (could not sleep for 5 days straight from the pain -- honestly, no exageration. Went to doctor, got demerol shot, about an hour later I was able to sleep for abuot two hours). Also lost most of the use of my right arm. It was very weak, felt like a weight strapped to it, and random numb spots from fingertips to shoulder. No one believed me until they did an electromyelogram, which showed nerve damage. They then ordered a dye myelogram/CAT scan, which showed the ruptured disc.
I was told that the surgery would not be for improvement, but would be to slow down the rate of deterioration, and that they hoped it would hold me for five years or so. They also said there was a 20% risk of coming out of the surgery para- or quadraplegic, or dead.
That was back around '93. Last year they said they wanted to fuse C6/C7 -- I'm having lots of pain again, differernt places. I've also developed arthritis all over the place and bone spurs going up and down my spine, poking into my spinal cord. I am scared of the surgery (from having gone through it once) and am stalling. They are giving me fairly heavy duty painkillers for all the pain I'm having, and the neck pain just sorta fades out with the rest of it when I remember to take my pills. (If I forget, I'm quickly reminded, and I'm out of commission until they kick in. The trick is to take them before they wear off...)
I'm not trying to scare you, just trying to be honest. If I had to go through the first surgery again I would, the pain and loss of use of my right arm was intolerable, and painkillers didn't really help. Although, between the time of that severe attack and the time the surgery was scheduled for, a lot of the pain had subsided. That seems to be the nature of these things, at least for me. Things would be sorta OK for 6 or 8 months, then *boom*, living hell. The reason I went for the surgery (at the last minute they asked if I still wanted to go for it, considering the risks) was because I knew that each "attack" was worse than the previous, and I didn't think I could take anything worse than the one I'd just gotten over.
BTW probably the worst part of the recovery was the hip pain from where they cut out the graft. They warned me that it would be real bad, but it was really a lot worse than I anticipated. I opted for that rather than cadaver graft because (as I told them) "I know where my bones have been". :) Since then, I spoke with someone who was offered (and opted for) calf bone. I'd probably consider that, but I'd also have to weigh the CJD ("Mad Cow") risk. (When he had his graft, it was before anyone was talking about "mad cow disease", so it wasn't an issue. For all I know, they're not offering calf graft anymore. I'd be very surprised if they are offering it in the UK.)
51 posted on
09/25/2001 6:24:04 PM PDT by
Don Joe
To: ChemistCat
Be sure to see a neuro-surgeon who specializes in head and neck, if it's cervical. I've had 4 knee operations, and came to the decision that I never want to see another orthopedist...
About 2 years ago, I had an extruded lumbar disk that ruptured into my spinal canal. It began showing itself with pain and what I thought were muscle spasms. I went to an ortho, who told me that I might have a ruptured disk. When it was confirmed, he did some more tests and noticed that I was starting to show a foot drop. It got worse, as did constant pain in my right leg, as well as a loss of motion and strength. I wanted a neuro surgeon, and got an excellent one (by luck... he was the first one who could see me...) 2 days later, I was in the hospital for the surgery, and they kicked me out the next morning.
I had immediate relief from the pain, and have had no problems, although it looks like some of the nerve damage is permanent (not from the surgery, but from before).
So in closing, I have had lumbar back surgery, and it was well worth it (otherwise, I'd be paralyzed).
Mark
54 posted on
09/25/2001 6:40:39 PM PDT by
MarkL
To: ChemistCat
My 86 year old mother is now recovering from four fusions of the lower spine... she spent the last six months in pain from the spinal deterioration and her mind was occupied with fighting the pain and the endorphins her body was dumping. She could not concentrate on anything.
The DAY after the surgery we could tell the difference! Her primary pain was gone!
The surgeon had told her to expect 7 to 10 days in the hospital recovering... she was walking with a walker on the third day post op and was released on the 5th day! 45 days later she is walking normally without a walker (except when going out doors) and can walk around the block. Her mind is back to normal (sharp as a tack) and she is in no pain.
The surgeon was Dr. Gupta of the University of California, Davis, Medical Center.
To: ChemistCat
i have heard of good outcomes. my son-in-law was never better than after surgery and another young man i know thought it was the best thing he ever did for himself. i hope that everything goes well for you and i sure understand why you're scared, it's only natural.
57 posted on
09/25/2001 6:49:25 PM PDT by
liliana
To: ChemistCat
I had a laminectomy at the L5-S1 level four months ago on an outpatient basis. I was walking within 2 hours of surgery. My pain has been reduced about 98%.
I tried Vax-D three years ago. I could not get my insurance company to pay for it. It relieve about 75% of my pain for about 2 years. I then started to have more and more pain. By about 3 years post treatment, I was barely able to walk, and my pain increased every day. I went to a Neurosurgeon who was recommended to me by a friend. The neurosurgeon said that my symtoms did not match the MRI images that had been taken 3 years before. He suggested that I should skip doing another MRI and have a myelogram done to conclusively diagnose my problems. This procedure uses an iodine dye injected into the spine to image soft tissues on a fluoroscope. While the dye was still in my spine, I was taken to have a CAT scan performed. I got a call from my doctor 2 days later and told that I needed to call his office and have his secretary schedule surgery as soon as I possibly could. He said that the images showed that the ruptured disk had greatly increased in size and that they "look like crap," and that I risked permanent neurological loss if I did not have surgery. He told me to call him anytime of day or night if my pain got any worse. He was concerned that I might need to emergency surgery and said that he has had patients who have come in for a first appointment at 3:00pm and been in surgery at 4:00pm. I got my surgery scheduled for 7 days after discussing my diagnosis, and I stayed at home lying down most of the time while I waited for surgery.
The before surgery I had my pre-op done. I had to have an orderly take me in a wheelchair from the hospital to my doctor's office in a building across the street via a skywalk. I then talked to my surgeon about the surgery and had him show my images. The CAT scan showed that my spinal chord narrowed from about 1 inch wide to 1/4 inch wide at the level of the herniation. By the time I got my surgery I was more afraid of crossing the street than having a surgeon cut on me.
To: ChemistCat
I've known three people that had back surgery. One of them ended up in a wheelchair, and the other two are much worse off and can barely walk. All three were lower back, i think. I am very suspicious of back surgery myself, but of course I knwo nothing about your problem, and that's just my two cents from personal testimony. Have you searched the Web for info?
61 posted on
09/25/2001 7:06:19 PM PDT by
agrandis
To: ChemistCat
You have freepmail.
To: ChemistCat
For what it's worth, my brother underwent (lower) spine surgery last year and is doing great. Hope all goes well with you, whatever you decide.
Regards,
To: ChemistCat
My Uncle had surgery on his cervical spine a month ago and now can't do anything with the right side of his body.
He had surgery to his lower back a year ago, it made a tremendous difference in his life.
After his neck surgery he is now in a wheelchair, I am going to see him tomorrow so I will get more details in to what exactly happened.
I believe they screwed up.
PLEASE GET A 2nd and 3rd Opinion!
I almost went in for surgery for my lower back about 3 years ago, I went for a 2nd opinion and he talked me out of it, said the buldges weren't bad enough. The 1st guy was ready to get me in there and start hacking away at me, thank goodness I went for a second opinion.
I still have major problems, sometimes it's hard to walk but from what I've seen I don't want to do this unless it is absolutly the last resort.
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