This is a discussion on Back to the butcher's block... within the Spinal Fusion (Including Discectomy & Laminectomy Procedures) forums, part of the Spine Surgery Support category; Hello all. I haven't posted anything in a while. As a teacher, I have been swamped for the past few ...
Back to the butcher's block... Hello all. I haven't posted anything in a while. As a teacher, I have been swamped for the past few months.
I am being cut on again on December 15. Trying a new surgeon. Going in for another discectomy on L4/5 & L5/S1. The surgery in March seemed to do the trick...for about a month. Started having "new" pain on left, got an injection for that then it "moved" to the right leg. It has settled there for the past 3-4 months.
New Dr. says he will be "more aggressive" at removing disc material to open up the nerve area, hopefully so it won't recur in a few months again.
This is kind like diving off the high dive the second time. When you do it the first time, you are nervous about it. The second time, you start working on your form. Hopefully this surgery will have better form.
Brad Philhower
GO BUCKS!
DDD L3/4, L4/5, L5/S1 since 1989
2008 (Aug.) Epidural Steroid Injection right side
2009 (St. Patty's Day) Double Microdiscectomy on L4/5, L5/S1
2009 (June) Epidural Steroid Injection Left side L4/5
2009 (July 21) Epidural Steroid Injection Right side L5/S1
2009 (July 28)Epidural Steroid Injection Right side L5/S1
Upcoming Surgery Hey Brad,
Your high dive analogy is spot on. We will be thinking about you on the 15th. I have a question for you: is your surgeon going to address any bone (foraminotomy) in addition to addressing soft tissues during your decompression surgery?
I hope the school year has been treating you well.Please keep us posted...we are here to support you.
Justin Averna
Founder & President, Spine Patient Society™
www.SpinePatientSociety.org
A 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Nonprofit & Charitable Organization
I'm here to help.
- 1994: Football Injury, Severe Hyperextension
- 1997: Snow Skiing Injury
- 3/7/1997: Laminotomy L4/L5
- 1999 & 2003: Motor Vehicle Accidents (not at fault both times) --> Grade V Annular Tears L4/L5 & L5/L6
- 11/15/2003: 2-Level ProDisc® L4/L5 & L5/L6*, *lumbosacral transitional vertebra --> Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli
- 4/2008: 4.5 years pain-free before "new" leg pain
- 5/14/2009: Dynamic Stabilization System L4/L5, Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli
Questions? Suggestions? Need help with registering, creating a signature, etc.?
justin (at) spinepatientsociety.org
Disclosure: I have no financial relationships with any surgeons, spine clinics, device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, etc. -- the SPS Board of Directors serve without compensation.
Your title really made me smile, the butchers block is exactly what it feels like to me when I have impending surgery and especially when I am feeling battered and brusied afterwards. Hope it goes well.
alison x
Alison 46 year old female
2012 Doing Rehab
2011 Sept 3rd Op Removal of old instrumentation and PLIF L4/L5 - L5/S1 both adr in situ
2010 May Discogram on L2/L3 & L3/L4
2009 May 2nd Op Failed revision fusion on L5/S1 with Charite ADR in situ
2008 Caudal epidural exacerbated nerve symptoms. Prolapse L2/L3
2007 L5/S1 Facet deterioration
2002 March 1st Op ADR Charite - L4/5, L5/S1
2000 Disc prolapses L4/5, L5/S1
Brad,
Good luck on the 15th. Hope things go better the second time.
Too bad they don't give a two for one special.
Dave
Diagnosed with DDD in Nov, 2007. MRI, EMG
C3/4 C4/5 C5/6 C6/7
Surgery 06.04.08--C5/6 and C6/7 w/Prodisc
C4/5 deterioration progressing quickly
MRI on lumbar shows disc herniation at L5/S1, stenosis at L3/4, L4/5, spondylosis and DDD at L2 through S1 in July, 2009
Nerve Root, Facet Injections and Epidural every 3 months. Ongoing treatment for continued degeneration.
Good luck Bradwith your upcoming surgery. I hope this second time around addresses your problem thoroughly. Let us know if we can support you in any way.
• January 2000 MVA passenger, used jaws of life to retrieve me, neck injury and months of PT
• June 2001 Bicycle accident, 2 compression fractures at T12/L1, Vertebroplasty Sept. 2001
• April 2006 right hip, labral tear and repair
• April 2007 3 level ProDisc @ L3/4, L4/5 & L5/6✷ ✷Lumbosacral transitional vertebra; Dr. Rudolph Bertagnoli
• July 2, 2008 ALIF & Laminectomy @ L6/S1
• July 30, 2008 re-opened 28 days later to remove bone cement that had leaked onto S1 nerve root
• August 2008 Pulmonary embolism, double pneumonia, collapsed left lung, re-hospitalized 1 week
• March 10, 2009 Right SI Joint Fusion
• April 27, 2010 2nd right hip arthroscopy to remove adhesions and release psoas muscle
• September 30, 2010 lumbar facet rhizotomy
• December 9, 2010 12 bilateral lumbar trigger point and steroid injections
• December 23, 2010 12 more bilateral trigger point injections w/o steroid
• February 15, 2011 ESI bilaterally in lower lumbar...relief only for few days. Considering 1 more.
Did Spinal Cord Stimulator trial from 5/11/11-5/17/11 with excellent results; Spinal Cord Stimulator surgery is Monday,
July 18, 2011
Hi Brad
I wish you the best on the 15This time the Micro Disc will be a success I am 12 weeks out from mine and doing well so far
Also going to the Butcher Block for Ulnar Nerve Release in both elbows.
Just Keep Moving forward
Gil
L5-S1 lam 1994
L2 to L5 DDD
L3 -L4 hern Dec 2007.
L4-L5 Annular fissure with mild central stenosis and moderate facet hypertrophy.
L5-S1 bilaterial neural foraminal narrowing with inferior effacement.
L2-L3 Right-sided neural foraminal narrowing
L3-L4 related to posterolateral hypertrophic spurs and facet hypertrophy.
C3-C4 limited DDD
15 injections Depo. P.T. 18 months 9 dose packs,
Nerve Block Injections.4 ESI S1
L5-S1 Foraminotomy 09
L4-L5 Microdiscectomy 09 ReHerniation 4-2010
Surgery 6-29-11 L4-L5-S1 Decompression Fusion L5-S1 and Coflex F implants
Good luck with your surgery! Will he also perform a laminotomy to free up extra space?
-Dave
Discectomy/Laminotomy, 1999
L4-S1 DDD, 10/06
Stalif Fusion L5-S1, 3/07
Intrepid Fusion L4-L5, 7/08
Increasing pain since solid fusing, 1/09
Bilateral Transforaminal Injections 3/09
Facet Joint Injections (L3-S1) 4/09
RF Ablation (Medial Branch) 5/09
CT Scan, MRI w/ contrast (no new info) 5/09
Latest:
- I wake up with no pain
- Stand/sit for 15 mins., pinching pain begins
- Pain at center, core L4-L5
- Lying down, pulsing/throbbing pain for 2-3 hours
- Taking 6-8 Norcos/day
SCS Implant 8/31/09
Brad, good luck tomorrow. I'm excited to hear about your successful surgery and subsequent recovery.
Justin Averna
Founder & President, Spine Patient Society™
www.SpinePatientSociety.org
A 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Nonprofit & Charitable Organization
I'm here to help.
- 1994: Football Injury, Severe Hyperextension
- 1997: Snow Skiing Injury
- 3/7/1997: Laminotomy L4/L5
- 1999 & 2003: Motor Vehicle Accidents (not at fault both times) --> Grade V Annular Tears L4/L5 & L5/L6
- 11/15/2003: 2-Level ProDisc® L4/L5 & L5/L6*, *lumbosacral transitional vertebra --> Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli
- 4/2008: 4.5 years pain-free before "new" leg pain
- 5/14/2009: Dynamic Stabilization System L4/L5, Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli
Questions? Suggestions? Need help with registering, creating a signature, etc.?
justin (at) spinepatientsociety.org
Disclosure: I have no financial relationships with any surgeons, spine clinics, device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, etc. -- the SPS Board of Directors serve without compensation.
Good Luck, saying a prayer for you!
31 years old- 1/06- In wreck with 18 wheeler at 25 years old; 6/06- Head on collision on Interstate, both wrecks other drivers fault. Numerous MRI's, PT, chiropractic, acupuncture, TENS therapy, massage therapy, facet injections, epidural injections, Nerve study, Discogram, confirms pain in L4/5, IDET, decompression, Bi-lateral neurotomy L3/4/5, denied by insurance twice, in Active L clinical trial, had surgery March 17, 2009 in Miami, FL- received Active L disc at 29 years old. Pain and medication free as of October 2010!Mommy to Emma- 8 years, Ava- 6 years & had baby Eli after ADR, via c-section on March 25, 2011
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