Awaiting partial discectomy

[Mollyhopp]

Keano, thank you very much for the information and for looking up Dr. Rauschning! I called Akademiska straight away, only to find out they have a 4 month waiting list to see any of their doctors, and that's primarily for people in their district So I'm going to go ahead with my hospital instead. I will speak to my surgeon about it on Monday though, and hear what he has to say.

Alison, I started out in a private clinic, but they don't offer emergency care here, so ever since I ended up in the ER in November, I've stuck to the public system (although both public and private are state subsidized and cost the same). The hospital is strolling distance from my house, and has everything under one roof (ER, PT, Orthopedic clinic...) and the spine surgeons are excellent, so I've stayed much out of convenience. Are you with the NHS?

This morning I got a phone call scheduling me for surgery on Thursday of next week!
I can't wait. Finally there's a glint of light at the end of the tunnel.

Have a beautiful, hopefully painless day,
Linn

[Mollyhopp]

Keano, I was looking at another thread, and read about your mother and her bad outcome of the traditional surgery. I'm so sorry. Thank you of making me aware of MISS.

If my life circumstances were different (I'm a full-time single parent/self-employed sole provider), I would probably take the time to have the minimally invasive procedure done instead. Fortunately, I trust the surgeon I'm seeing, and the hospital as a whole has high success rates, so this time I think my only choice is to pray, have faith, and hope for the best.

[Keano16]

Problem is not trust between you and your surgeon. You can fully trust him, but yet facts are facts, and studies are studies. And studies confirmed MISS advantages. I consider myself pretty "educated" in this area, although I do not have any medical background. I am student of economics that is developing Center about spinal disorders and minimally-invasive treatment options on territory of former Yugoslavia.

I urge you once again to think about your decision.

Here are some facts that may help you in clearing up your mind:
-during traditional discectomy, there is a big chance of generating new scar tissue
-during traditional discectomy, damaged part of your body (your spine) will again be damaged
-during traditional discectomy, nerve injury is possible, as surgeon needs to move nerve to the side to gain access do operating space
-after traditional discectomy, you have 30-40% chance of "getting" or better say suffering from FBSS (failed back surgery syndrome)
-after traditional discectomy, your spine biomechanics is getting corrupted, and you have a big chance of injury of your facet joints.

If you want, I can try to find another surgeon for you in Sweden.

Roberto

[Mollyhopp]

Roberto, thanks again for the information. I met my surgeon yesterday, and it turns out I'm not having the conventional procedure, but what they call "microsurgery" with a 4 cm incision. Am I right to understand that as something in between MISS and conventional surgery? Arthroscopy was not an option in my case, since I'm having both discs done, and that would double the incisions and surgery time, thus increasing overall risks. It's interesting though, how surgeons (even those working in the same clinic) can have such different opinions and approaches to spine surgery.

[Keano16]

Micro-surgery = standard open procedure with using a microscope. You have less change to getting new scar tissue, but everything else I wrote still stands!

How do you mean you are having booth discs done? If you are doing two disc, this is ideal scenario for laser disc decompression, or similar type of minimally-invasive procedure.

Its not about different opinions and approaches, its about their education and specializing EXCLUSIVELY in spine surgery. I avoid neurosurgeons or ortho-surgeons that do anything else than spine.

Anyway, good luck in your surgery and recovery. I am sure it will all turn out right.