UGH!!! Surgery!!

[Mary.Mary]

OK EVERYONE!!

I can't lie to you when I say I am having HEART FAILURE!! I went and saw my surgeon today and he is NOT happy with all that has gone on. He can't believe the incompetence of some people, his words exactly!! LOL!!

Anyways, he has made the decision that he will do surgery. I nearly passed out when I heard him say that. I was like already, shouldn't I try this, try that etc etc..He was like NOPE ARE YOU crazy!! You have done physio and it didn't help, you had the ESI which caused a WHOLE new world of problems. I believe this is the best option out there for you.

I have to make the decision and let his office know then they will book me back in and go over the WHOLE thing with me. He mentioned that he was going to perform a decompression, levels L4/5, L5/S1??? Does that sound right??

I NEED YOUR HELP!! ADVICE!! I don't know what the heck is going on....what I am to expect ETC ETC ETC.

HONESTLY, I am REALLY scared!!

Thanks!!
Mary

[Justin]

Gosh Mary, I'm so sorry for all that you have been through lately.

I have to make the decision and let his office know then they will book me back in and go over the WHOLE thing with me. He mentioned that he was going to perform a decompression, levels L4/5, L5/S1??? Does that sound right??

Mary, honestly instead of making the decision about surgery first you should feel comfortable about the proposed surgical treatment, alternatives, your prognosis and how your spine issues would progress without surgical intervention. I think at minimum these topics should be discussed with your surgeon and after you have all of your questions answered and have enough time to give the proposed interventions some thought, then you should move forward and book surgery. However, it is always best to get more than one opinion when it comes to surgery. I know it can be costly, but the more opinions you can get regarding your case the better.

It sounds like the surgeon you saw is suggesting a microdiscectomy/discectomy of the herniated discs (in your case L4/L5 and L5/S1) that are compressing on the nerve roots and causing your symptoms. The "decompression" means that they will be removing some of the bone and/or disc that is compressing and compromising some of the nerves that exit the spine.

Click here for some information about discectomy / microdiscectomy.

I NEED YOUR HELP!! ADVICE!! I don't know what the heck is going on....what I am to expect ETC ETC ETC.

HONESTLY, I am REALLY scared!!

After your surgeon explains everything thoroughly and you do your own research as well, hopefully you will be better informed and not feel as scared. If you have any questions, concerns, or need help locating some information, please let me know and I'd be happy to help.

We are here to support you! Please keep us posted as we do care.

[Mary.Mary]

Justin-

Thank you for the advice. I can't believe how overwhelming all of this is. It is great to have someone like you give me the advice I need to move forward. I am SO VERY uneducated when it comes to all this medical terminology, so to have it thrown at you in a 25 minute appointment, well, let's just say I am sure the only word that stuck was SURGERY.

Getting a 2nd opinion here in Ontario, Canada is a LONG process, just to get a date to see another surgeon you are probably waiting a minimum of 6 to 8 months. It's CRAZY really.

As it stands right now, I am going to let it all sink in and then go from there. I have to look at the big picture, I have a 14 mth old daughter who needs her mommy, and lately she hasn't had that. THANKFULLY, she is the BEST daughter ever and has handled all that I have been through very well.

I would like to say thank you for all the support that I have been given and if it wasn't for a site like this I can't even IMAGINE where I would be right now.

All the best,
Mary

[Justin]

Justin-

Thank you for the advice. I can't believe how overwhelming all of this is. It is great to have someone like you give me the advice I need to move forward. I am SO VERY uneducated when it comes to all this medical terminology, so to have it thrown at you in a 25 minute appointment, well, let's just say I am sure the only word that stuck was SURGERY.

Getting a 2nd opinion here in Ontario, Canada is a LONG process, just to get a date to see another surgeon you are probably waiting a minimum of 6 to 8 months. It's CRAZY really.

As it stands right now, I am going to let it all sink in and then go from there. I have to look at the big picture, I have a 14 mth old daughter who needs her mommy, and lately she hasn't had that. THANKFULLY, she is the BEST daughter ever and has handled all that I have been through very well.

I would like to say thank you for all the support that I have been given and if it wasn't for a site like this I can't even IMAGINE where I would be right now.

All the best,
Mary

Hi Mary,

It's not an issue about being educated really. It is extremely overwhelming to hear the word "surgery" for the first time during an appointment. It makes your situation real. Not that it wasn't before, but the severity of your situation starts to set in and your mind starts racing. I have been there too many times -- well, officially it will be 3 regarding spine surgeries at the end of this month.

I understand about the delay with seeing another surgeon in Canada. Like you said, it is best to let things "sink in" and then develop a plan of action from there. There is no need to rush things or make decisions that you might ultimately regret now.

I don't know how you are going through all of this with a 14-month-old requiring your constant care. I wish you the very best and I know you will "cover all the bases" in due time.

Please keep me posted, and don't hesitate to email / private message me if you need anything!

Be well.

[Katie]

Hi Mary,

Unfortunately, I had to sort through all this on my own till I found these sites a few months ago. It was 'he - double hockey sticks'

I remember going in to see a certain neurosurgeon who I had to wait a year to see, and within five minutes, he told me he saw half a dozen people like me every day, that he could do nothing to help me , and to go home and take more pain medication. He didn't even read my MRIs, saying that he wasn't familiar with the format they were in or something.

At that point I would have chosen being paralyzed in a wheelchair if only someone would have taken away the horrible pain. A few weeks after that, I heard about a hospital in Germany that a friend of mine had gone to with wonderful results with ADR, which I had never heard of before. My quest was on! Not long after that, I found a great pain management doctor who was able to get my pain under control.

Well, a year and a half later, I am close to my appeal date, and have decided, for a number of reasons, to change my application to go to a great surgeon in NYC instead. So I have to submit a new application and hope for the best. If it doesn't work, if they turn me down, I will be bringing in a lawyer. This is a complicated journey, and the provincial insurance, OHIP, will do everything in its power to try and shut you down. It isn't much different than private insurance, I guess, but we are supposed to be able to get help from our system, not harrassment.

You have a private message at the old site. Please drop me a line at any point if you would like to chat more. I hope I can help you avoid a lot of the misery of red tape that I've fought through.

All the best.

[KBear]

Mary,
Surgery is a very scary word, especially when you have young kids counting on you to care for them. I would make sure that you completely understand a) why do you need surgery? b) what will happen if you don't have surgery? c) why is he recommending the disectomy over other surgeries? d) what are your other options? I also agree with Justin that you should get more than one opinion. I understand that it can take time in Canada; but spine surgery is something you will live with for the rest of your life (good, bad or awful results). You have been in pain this long, what's a little bit longer. Lastly, do your research, don't just take someones word for it, look it up.
Best Wishes,
Kathy
PS. Is there anyway you could see a US dr?

[Nairek]

Hi Mary,

It was 'he - double hockey sticks'

LOL! I haven't heard that in years!! Forgive me, I have pain meds on board & I'm feeling kinda silly

[Terry Newton]

The surgery does not sound that bad. Decompressing is a nice alternative to having a lot of stuff removed or added to your vertebral column. The decompressing means they will probably shave away some bony formations called osteophytes or bone spurs, trim away disc matter that may be encroaching on some nerves, allow room for the nerves to pass through sleeves instead of being pinched. It should help your pain immensely and get you back to enjoying your life again. As with any surgery there may be complications that will dampen the outcome. You will have to decide if the quality of life issues means that a loss of pain is the ultimate outcome and the rewards outweigh the risks.

You are young enough to tolerate the surgery and come out on the other side.

Terry Newton

[Gilbert P]

Hi Terry

I was just told that if they remove to much bone you will not be a candidate for ADR what do you think

Thank You

Gilbert P

[Terry Newton]

Hi Terry

I was just told that if they remove to much bone you will not be a candidate for ADR what do you think

Thank You

Gilbert P

I have a dent in my neck where they performed a hemi-laminectomy in 1995 at Mayo Clinic. There was no vertebrae bone removed, just bone surrounding the nerve sleeve, that they removed, that had the bone spurs that were impinging nerves. The discs are sandwiched between the vertebrae anyway so I cannot imagine how this would be impeded by a little bone loss. I am sure that Justin can answer this question better than I.

Terry Newton