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.

[agrandis]

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?

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

A chiropractor CAN help in some instances, don't know about a bulging disk, but mine helped me get rid of a headache I had had daily for almost three months after the MD I went to told me to take more Tylenol.

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

A chiropractor CAN help in some instances, don't know about a bulging disk, but mine helped me get rid of a headache I had had daily for almost three months after the MD I went to told me to take more Tylenol.

[PoisedWoman]

You have freepmail.

[VermiciousKnid]

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,

[Artist]

"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."

That's great!

My mother had years of back pain. I remember my dad carrying her up the stairs because she couldn't walk up herself. She saw a lot of doctors and was planning to have surgery when she went to a chiropracter on a lark. He fixed her problem, and she's been pain free for over 25 years.

[RiVer19]

If your leg and foot was progressivly getting more numb, and you were stumbling more and more when walking....and you couldn't do much of anything. Oh, say like standing for 10 minutes, or sitting for 10 minutes...little things like that.....

You'd be ready for a doctor to cut on you and make an attempt to make it stop getting worse. And, the CHANCE that it would get better sounds great. I know. That was me. It's all gone away with his skilled surgery. I had no choice. Most don't with ruptured extruding disks. That pressure on the sciatic kills it. You have to do something fast before it's permanent. I've seen people put it off and they pay because once that nerve is permantly damaged, you are screwed.

[StayoutdaBushesWay]

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.

[the_doc]

Oh, p-chem is fun, man. (Well, the thermo was fun. But come to think of it, the second semester stuff was pretty awful. Maybe spinal surgery would have been better.)

[ChemistCat]

I am OVERWHELMED by how wonderful you all are. SO many replies. So much helpful advice to ponder.

I have had progressive neuropathy for over four years now. While I was pregnant with my now 4-year old I was partially paralyzed in my left leg, but of course while you're pregnant they avoid x-rays and MRIs so I didn't find out what was going on then, just that the electromyelogram (sp?) showed that there was some real damage there. The symptoms eased afterward. Then my lupus symptoms began to show and all the increasing neurological stuff was blamed on that. I did know something was wrong with the neck (lordosis?) but since i don't have substantial pain there, except muscle pain, I didn't take that seriously. Today was a shock. But the numbness, tingling, shock-sensation, and so forth now makes sense. Maybe this is why I have had incredibly bad neuropathy in my feet and hands from time to time. I am in a lot of pain sometimes and little at other times, but I am always slowed by this. I can't walk much and use a cane most of the time, especially in public because I'm easily toppled if someone bumps me and it is so VERY helpful if kind people open doors for me instead of dropping them on me (as happens when I go out sans cane.) But I'm only 36. I was once pretty. Lupus and pain and steroid-catalyzed weight gain have made me into someone I don't recognize. Today I had to use an ID card with 5 year old picture and I could tell the guy was questioning whether it was me or not.

I take Vioxx for joint pain, amitriptyline which used to help me sleep despite the pain and kept my mood somewhat stabilized, and bisoprolol for heart arrhythmias that are probably lupus caused. (Or are they? Hmmmm.) I take flexeril once in awhile and Darvocet now and then. As a chemistry student, I always wonder if drug interactions or side effects have left me vulnerable to other problems, but I don't know enough yet to analyze that effectively, and you can bet that doctors don't know!

[the_doc]

Vitamin C, calcium and magnesium, zinc. Some trace minerals, some boron perhaps?

And I would definitely try glucosamine hydrochloride or sulfate in combination with chondroitin sulfate (the osteoarthritis formula).

If this is going to help, it may take six months.

[Nuke'm Glowing]

Go to the yahoo.com medical website for drug listings. They list all interactions and I checked before my first surgery and as each prescription has rolled in through my second one. You can see the long term effects also. Just make sure you do not get the ACDF unless you can deal with the pain involved in your hip that is a side effect. If you can't, I would get the new BAK cage for your neck, which is quite effective from what I understand.

[2Trievers]

Any suggestions?

[aruanan]

The question is whether doing nothing will have a worse outcome. Have a neurosurgeon do the surgery. If you have an orthopedist do it, make sure he's done a lot of the same type surgery with good patient outcomes. Ask for names of patients he has treated. Read up on your condition at places like Mayo Online so you can understand what the doctors are talking about. Stay away from people who tell you that herbal poltices, coffee enemas, or relieving subluxation through chiropractic adjustment will cure you. Allopathic medicine medical doctors and surgeons aren't perfect, but they're still light years ahead of anything else the world has come up with to this point.

[jwalsh07]

I had some back problems about 7 years ago for various and sundry reasons. L4/L5 They gave me a couple of options and the one I liked the best was exercise. Mine was probably minor compared to most here but for those with minor back problems, invest in a Roman Chair. It is designed to do reverse situps so that your torso hangs over the edge and your back muscles do the work of pulling your torso up to level. I do 25 a day and the doctor stays away, knock on wood. Haven't noticed any back pain in years and I golf frequently.

PS I have some squamous cell removed on a bi yearly basis. Think of it as a briss with you having plenty to spare. :-}

[ChemistCat]

When I was diagnosed with bone spurs on my spine (so far not clinically significant as far as the spinal cord goes) I put all thoughts of going to a chiropractor out of my mind for good and all. However, sometimes I've let my middle daughter, who has an outstanding talent for this since the age of 4, walk on my back when it has hurt. Guess I won't do that anymore either. No coffee enemas, nothing weird, I promise. 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...and I will continue taking vitamins. I don't drink or smoke (LDS lifestyle) so all I'm up against is my addiction to food. :-)

[Capt_Hank]

I had the operation after wasting 3 years messing with an orthopedic doctor. I would walk into PT and would need a walking cane to head out. I had L3/4/and 5 along with S1 problems on both sides. I finally went to a neurosurgeon, was told that I was in bad shape after the MRI and milogram was read. He said that he might be able to get back to 95%, I waited much too long. Well, had the operation on a Monday morning and walked out of the hospital the next morning. I'm about 98% now, but I still get some numbness in the left lower leg. I could just walk before the operation and that was back in June of 98.

[ChemistCat]

Can you find a link to the Roman Chair? I doubt I'd be allowed to do anything like that now but maybe afterward. It would be nice to be able to get my tummy flattened somewhat again. And it wouldn't hurt my husband either!

[R. Scott]

Some years ago a bone spur developed on a disk that was also arthritic. I have been putting the surgery off for years. No big thing, I just don't jump out of bed anymore, watch how I stand and set, and try not to take any punches in the lower back.
Guess I really am a coward after all.

[RnMomof7]

I have written it down..will try to get all of it this week...thanks...