Back Surgery Anyone?

[RandyL]

Well after all the chiros, epidurals,MRI's the conclusion is I need back surgery. It is a out patient deal and the Doc will take off some bone spur and a little part of a disc that is putting pressure on a nerve. I hate having to do this especially with the problems I had with AVR but it's either succomb to the knife again or just live with the pain and discomfort. It is suppose to be a short little micro surgery, however I will have to go under for it and of course stop my coumadin again. Recovery is pretty quick with some soreness for a week or so and then clean bill of heath after 2-3 weeks. This prolly should not go on this forum but what can I say. Haven't set the date yet, just saw the ortho surgeon today and he was readyu to sign me up. I told him I have to think about it for at least one night.

 

[Lynlw]

Well after all the chiros, epidurals,MRI's the conclusion is I need back surgery. It is a out patient deal and the Doc will take off some bone spur and a little part of a disc that is putting pressure on a nerve. I hate having to do this especially with the problems I had with AVR but it's either succomb to the knife again or just live with the pain and discomfort. It is suppose to be a short little micro surgery, however I will have to go under for it and of course stop my coumadin again. Recovery is pretty quick with some soreness for a week or so and then clean bill of heath after 2-3 weeks. This prolly should not go on this forum but what can I say. Haven't set the date yet, just saw the ortho surgeon today and he was readyu to sign me up. I told him I have to think about it for at least one night.

I didn't have surgery but I had a spinal stimulator put in, and if they suggest that, I'm not a big fan of it, it helped alittle for a few months but now take more meds than ever and the thing doesn't help at all, Lyn

 

[Mary]

Randy,
Around here neurosurgeons do the back and spine surgeries and have real good results.
Any chance of getting a neuro consult?

 

[JohnnyV_46]

They ain't got no Neuron sturgeons in South East Missouri.....

 

[Mary]

They ain't got no Neuron sturgeons in South East Missouri.....

Ha! Alot you know, sturgeon head!!
They don't have any in Southern Illinois or Western Kentucky, so they all come here for their surgeries!

 

[Karlynn]

Randy, if that will fix it, sounds like the way to go. I can certainly understand your hesitancy to have to deal with any kind of surgery though.

Best wishes.

 

[aussigal]

Sorry you havent been able to get any relief via the conservative treatments Randy...
I have bone spurs and herniated discs as well but have managed to avoid surgery so-far.,I will be interested to hear of your surgical-experience and any improvements in your symptoms.

 

[RandyL]

Randy,
Around here neurosurgeons do the back and spine surgeries and have real good results.
Any chance of getting a neuro consult?

Mary,
I think neuro and ortho do the same kind of surgeries if their specialties are the back and spine. This Doctor is the only spine Surgeon that belongs to a well known Ortho Group here in Central Florida. They have been a round a long time and have quite the reputation. Take a look at them and tell me what you think. I trust you guys opinion, I don't want to make a mistake.

In fact where is Ross or Dr Allan or the Back Doc? They always seem to have great advice. I can post my MRI if anybody wants to analyze it.
Thanks

http://www.jewettortho.com/index.html

 

[LLJ]

Hi RandY: I have been a PT for 16 years and have lots of experience with back pain patients. If your problem is structural(bone spurs) then microsurgery is an effective way to address it. Disc problems are considered mechanical and usually respond to movement (depending on how badly gone the disc is) A competent PT who has experience in the McKenzie method of treatment as well as a good general background in orthopedics should be able to help. I know nothing about you,so it's difficult to make an accurate assessment. I assume you have had PT already and that avenue didn't produce the desired results.
My patients who have had micro discectomys have done very well. Definately get a referral to a PT the surgeon has worked with in the past following surgery If you have any weight issues,address them,because, believe it or not, it makes a big difference in low back health! The PT should also be able to set you up on a lifelong exercise program which takes into consdieration your heart issues.
Good Luck!
LLJ
Laura

 

[aussigal]

...I go to my Neurosurgeon for all this sort of stuff so I have no experience with Orthopaedic surgeons.
I would be interested to see your MRI ,. I would like to see how bad these bone spurs can get and where they are compressing your nerve. I also have a collection of these scans myself.
I have been told by my Neuro. that these bone spurs can grow back because they are the bodies way of stabilising the "less than perfect" spine. So surgery isnt always a sucess on an arthritic spine. Once the disc totally calcifies/fuses the back-pain from that area tends to go away. I can see though, that this may not be the case for a disc or spur that is impinging on a nerve...You probably have no option but to have the mini-op on it.

 

[Computec]

Herniated Disc Surgery

Herniated Disc Surgery

Hi Randy...

I blew a disc at S1/L5 and waited a while before having it repaired. That was a mistake. The "goop" in the disc flowed out and latched on to the nerve bundle for my right leg. It had to be extricated during the repair.

My main reason for posting to you is to tell you that "post surgically" my doctor was less than verbose about what "not" to do. He DID say "Don't lift anything greater than 10 pounds." This was advice that was easy to follow.

What he failed to say was "Don't bend at the waist." and "The disc takes as much as three months to reseal so follow these orders for that long." Needless to say I caused the disc to deteriorate further and another surgery is in my future.

Best of Luck

Jerry

 

[bvdr]

Hi Randy,

How are you doing now with your back? I hope the surgery was successful. I also would like to know how they handled your anticoagulation before, during, and after your surgery. What kind of bridging was used and how soon following the surgery were you allowed to restart your warfarin or lovenox? Thanks for any information.....Betty

 

[RandyL]

I posted on your other thread as to how the Coumadin was handled. As for my back surgery it unfortunately didn't work however the actual recovery from the surgery was a breeze. I could not even tell I had it except for a very minor soreness at the incesion which was totally gone after a week.

 

[Lynlw]

I'm sorry your surgery wasn't a success and can imagine how frustrating it must be. how is your pain?

 

[RandyL]

I'm sorry your surgery wasn't a success and can imagine how frustrating it must be. how is your pain?

What pain? Just kidding.
Thanks to a great Neurologist that has me on a combination of oxycontin and Lyrica I am now 95% pain free. The goal is for the Lyrica to start working better as time goes on and I gradually reduce the Oxycontin till I don't need it anymore. Then gradually reduce the Lyrica till I am Med free and pain free. We shall see what happens, all I know is this pain management program is working fantastic. I would not of subjected my body to more surgery had I known there were alternatives.Its nice to have a normal day after almost a year of crapola

 

[lcwhitney]

HAVe The Surgery& Don't Think Twice About It !And Thank GOD THAT IT CAN BE SO BEasily Repaired! My Brother Carson Had To Have A 360 Fusion Of L 23& 4 Because His Docs Missed The 3 Ruputured Discs , Which Could Have Been Repaired Easily W/o The Fusion Had It Been Caught Earlier.

Lettitia

 

[Lynlw]

What pain? Just kidding.
Thanks to a great Neurologist that has me on a combination of oxycontin and Lyrica I am now 95% pain free. The goal is for the Lyrica to start working better as time goes on and I gradually reduce the Oxycontin till I don't need it anymore. Then gradually reduce the Lyrica till I am Med free and pain free. We shall see what happens, all I know is this pain management program is working fantastic. I would not of subjected my body to more surgery had I known there were alternatives.Its nice to have a normal day after almost a year of crapola

That's great. I actually go to a doc that just specializes in pain managemnet, i didn't even know there was such a thing until, luckily for me when i went to the surgeon he was honest an said i COULD operate if you insisted, but chances are it wouldn't be succesful and could cause more problems, so sent me to a pain doc.
IF you are interested, i found a preety ood chronic pain forum, kind of like here a couple months ago (when my spinal stimulator broke ( and i was looking for options, if you want the link, I can give it to you, there are some pretty knowledgable members as well as "experts' that help like nurses, doc, pharmacist and even a disability lawyer, Lyn