Do NOT underestimate the Scar Tissue... Issue

[helmut]

Hi Helmut

On my MRI it states Epidural Fibrosis at the surgical site

Any suggestions.

I am doing P.T. three times a week and taking naproxin some help?

Thanks

Gil

Thank god I have no experience with epidural fibrosis, all that I have been told is that in case that it develops physio therapy should help. I also have been told that you can show the MRI's to several different doctors and they might interpret it differently as epidural fibrosis is not easily 100% verifiable, but I suppose as long as you have pain that is not much help. Some people say that a lot of movement can be similar to flossing the nerve free as the nerve supposedly moves but nobody knows exactly.
I hope it gets better!

[Tatonka_usn]

There are few way of treating scar tissue:
1. Epiduroscopy
2. Ratz Chateter
3. Re-operation.

None of these are inherently effective, depending on which literature you read. The Epiduroscopy has gone out of favor as been ineffective and rarely (if ever) covered by insurance. The Racz catheter shows promise, but the results have been iffy. I had one of these procedures done about 2 years ago and, while the doctor claimed it was the next best thing since sliced bread, it didn't do a whole lot. The way someone explained it to me is that hitting well fomed scar tissue with saline/steroids it tantamount to spraying water at a concrete brick wall. It just doesn't have the ability to break it down. Now, I'm not an expert (just giving my own experience), but some still swear by it.

And finally and most important, scar tissue does not occur in most minimallly-invasive procedures (like endoscopic discectomy) and this is one of the reasons why this techniques and equipment were invented, and this is why in following years there will almost be no traditional open surgeries for "simple" cases like herniated discs.

Not sure where you came up with this blanket conclusion, and would certainly appreciate data to support this claim. As someone who had an endoscopic microdiscectomy at L5/S1, I can tell you that there most certainly IS scarring which results from this type of surgery. While I wouldn't characterize my example as significant scarring, a recent EMG showed that there is continued impingement of my S1 nerve root, most likely consistent with fibrotic adhesion. I certainly don't want to find fault with your logic, but just want people to understand the reality of MIS surgery.

[Gilbert P]

Hi Tatonka

Keno will not reply he has been banned from this site.

I agree with you scaring occurs any time you get inside the body,

I have the same issues with my L5-S1 nerve issues left leg and getting worse,

Gil