Hoping for some relief (foraminal discectomy?)

[Aptos Gimp]

Hi all,

I found this forum while searching for a site with information on spinal surgery, which I will be having later this month. A couple of years ago, I shattered my right hip socket falling on ice. An orthopedic surgeon put my hip back together (nine pins and a plate!), and all the orthopods I have seen since have told me that the socket is just super-dooper. The reason I have continued to see these doctors is that I've had constant pain and pressure in my hip since I started walking again in April, '08. A pain specialist finally suspected that the source of my trouble might actually be my back. Sure enough, it turned out that I have a seriously herniated L5-S1 that was impinging on the sciatic nerve. A series of epidural injections brought some limited, but not lasting, relief. My latest physical therapy routine hasn't helped much either. So now I'm looking at a foraminal discectomy, or whatever you call it. The latest diagnosis is by no means a slam-dunk. I do not have classic sciatic pain, in that it does not run the length of my leg, extending no farther than my hip. I am not at all sure that this surgery will solve my problem. But doing nothing means a painful status quo, so I am going ahead with it. It's a gamble and I'm hoping that worst-case, it won't leave me worse off than I am now. Anybody have any thoughts about this?

[Justin]

Welcome to the Spine Patient Society.

Holy cow, I'm glad that got your hip figured out (9 pins! yikes). I know you stated that recent injections and physical therapy did not help your situation.

With a "seriously herniated" disc, surgery does sound indicated. When are you scheduled to have surgery?

I hope the surgery provides you with much needed relief...let us know how we can help.

[Aptos Gimp]

My surgery is set for May 27th, at Stanford University Hospital.

[scduggan]

Dear Aptos,
Welcome to the website. You will find a lot of information here. As you can see from my signature I am also a lumbar patient. I just had ADR so I can not weight in on the surgery you are having. The only thing I have heard (and I am not a clinical person) is that your procedure can help the leg/hip problem but does not do a whole lot for the low back. This might be really just what you need since your pain is in your hip. My degenerated disc was L4/L5 and I also never had pain running down my leg. I never really figured that one out, but both hips sure were awful. I think some folks here will weigh in soon about the procedure you are having. You have been through enough with all the junk from your hip replacement. Good luck and keep us posted.
CD

[Aptos Gimp]

No replaced hip here, yet. Just 9 pins and a plate in my right acetabulum (hip socket) and another pin in the iliac crest. The cause of my hip pain has been diagnosed, variously, as trochanteric bursitis, IT-band syndrome and some other thing, none of which appeared to be on target. I'm hoping that my herniated L5-S1 is the true culprit.

[Kiki]

Hi all,

I found this forum while searching for a site with information on spinal surgery, which I will be having later this month. A couple of years ago, I shattered my right hip socket falling on ice. An orthopedic surgeon put my hip back together (nine pins and a plate!), and all the orthopods I have seen since have told me that the socket is just super-dooper. The reason I have continued to see these doctors is that I've had constant pain and pressure in my hip since I started walking again in April, '08. A pain specialist finally suspected that the source of my trouble might actually be my back. Sure enough, it turned out that I have a seriously herniated L5-S1 that was impinging on the sciatic nerve. A series of epidural injections brought some limited, but not lasting, relief. My latest physical therapy routine hasn't helped much either. So now I'm looking at a foraminal discectomy, or whatever you call it. The latest diagnosis is by no means a slam-dunk. I do not have classic sciatic pain, in that it does not run the length of my leg, extending no farther than my hip. I am not at all sure that this surgery will solve my problem. But doing nothing means a painful status quo, so I am going ahead with it. It's a gamble and I'm hoping that worst-case, it won't leave me worse off than I am now. Anybody have any thoughts about this?

Hi Aptos,
I live in a town called Aptos in California and am seeing a spine doctor here who supposed to be excellent. If you want his name I can give it to you. I am trying to decide about a second (after five years for a totally new problem) surgery so I am in a quandry too. Hope you will not have to have surgery at all. The facet blocks I had di nothing except for a couple hours of numbing the area. Not very useful, IMHO!
Anyway, I could not help seeing the Aptos name and wondering if you are seeing the same MD as I!
Kiki

[Kiki]

Hi all,

I found this forum while searching for a site with information on spinal surgery, which I will be having later this month. A couple of years ago, I shattered my right hip socket falling on ice. An orthopedic surgeon put my hip back together (nine pins and a plate!), and all the orthopods I have seen since have told me that the socket is just super-dooper. The reason I have continued to see these doctors is that I've had constant pain and pressure in my hip since I started walking again in April, '08. A pain specialist finally suspected that the source of my trouble might actually be my back. Sure enough, it turned out that I have a seriously herniated L5-S1 that was impinging on the sciatic nerve. A series of epidural injections brought some limited, but not lasting, relief. My latest physical therapy routine hasn't helped much either. So now I'm looking at a foraminal discectomy, or whatever you call it. The latest diagnosis is by no means a slam-dunk. I do not have classic sciatic pain, in that it does not run the length of my leg, extending no farther than my hip. I am not at all sure that this surgery will solve my problem. But doing nothing means a painful status quo, so I am going ahead with it. It's a gamble and I'm hoping that worst-case, it won't leave me worse off than I am now. Anybody have any thoughts about this?

this?Hi Aptos,
I live in a town called Aptos in California and am seeing a spine doctor here who supposed to be excellent. If you want his name I can give it to you. I am trying to decide about a second (after five years for a totally new problem) surgery so I am in a quandry too. Hope you will not have to have surgery at all. The facet blocks I had di nothing except for a couple hours of numbing the area. Not very useful, IMHO!
Anyway, I could not help seeing the Aptos name and wondering if you are seeing the same MD as I!
Kiki

[Aptos Gimp]

Yes, I also live in Aptos. My latest doctor is Dr. Marcus, a well-regarded Santa Cruz physiatrist (pain doc). He referred me to Dr. Paul Jackson in Palo Alto for back surgery -- a foraminal discectomy or laminectomy or something like that. I will know more tomorrow after my pre-op visit with him.

[Kiki]

Yes, I also live in Aptos. My latest doctor is Dr. Marcus, a well-regarded Santa Cruz physiatrist (pain doc). He referred me to Dr. Paul Jackson in Palo Alto for back surgery -- a foraminal discectomy or laminectomy or something like that. I will know more tomorrow after my pre-op visit with him.

I am glad to learn about another pain person as I did not particularly like the the one who has been treating me of late. Di Dr MArcus give you injections facet blocks or epidural? I had the former. Not fun and neverhad trouble with them before until this person injected me. Very bad pain during and after. Not nerve, but stinging pain. Maybe the meds., to which I could be sensitive, are the problem.
Ok, good luck with that appointment! I hope you get good news. My doctor here in Aptos is Dr. Summa and I am told he is highly rated. He does surgery at Watsonvill and Dominican Hospls.
Thanks,
Kiki

[Aptos Gimp]

Dr. Marcus gave me three epidurals in my spine. They helped for a while, somewhat.