How long did it take you to heal from surgery?

**drummerman** · 05-18-2011, 05:21 PM

Thanks, Kathy

Well... o.k. I'm trying today to not work myself up and calm down. I was able to be careful while sleeping and only managed to cause that shot of pain at the operation site to occur only once.

Anyway... I'm confused, Kathy. I appreciate what your saying about a second opinion and it seems the common sense thing to do but I am a bit freighted about doing that since this surgeon has now operated on me three times and the C4-C5 was and is totally successful with no complication with that fusion (going on 2 1/2 years). There are other factors that make me pause.

First, of course, the expense. I can't afford going to doctor to doctor (I'm on medicare). This surgeon has accepted much of the costs of operations, tests and doctors visits accepted by medicare. Second, this surgeon is from a very prestigious, teaching hospital and is I understand he is highly regarded. So, this gives me reason to pause. Yet, I understand what your saying, Kathy. Decisions of change are getting more difficult for me at my age (66). I feel in a fog.

I wouldn't even know where to start or who to go to. Then, I don't want to insult this doctor... I don't know... it's touchy.

I just got a call this morning from his office and he is going ahead with the bone scan June 6th. So he seems to be earnestly following up NOW. But... I don't know. Gosh, I feel so vulnerable and helpless, Kathy.

Well... just a few more thoughts. Again, thanks for your prayers.

Ron

**KBear** · 05-18-2011, 08:24 PM

I get the familiarity thing and not wanting to step on his toes. However, he doesn't have to know that you got a second opinion. And by all means you can still let him operate again if that's what feels like the right thing to do.

**drummerman** · 05-19-2011, 09:48 PM

o.k., Kathy... I'll need some time to digest all this. Less occurance of pain last night. Will do some research about other surgeons. In the meantime, it seems what he is doing with the bone scan appears to be the next logical step in finding out if there is anything wrong at the operation site. A friend of mine suggested that because he is apparently highly regarded, he has so many patients (extremely busy - there are always around 15 or more patients in his office when I have an appointment with him) My friend fells that he tends to be more reactive than proactive in that he waits for the patient to assert themselves and then responds in kind... just a thought. He has to be knowledgeable and competent if he holds a teaching position at this hospital... right?

thanks

**Kimberly** · 05-19-2011, 10:16 PM

I also didn't want to offend my specialist. When I got a second opinion I saw no reason (really) to let my surgeon know about it. I just went back to my PCP for another (different) referral and off I went (well, ok there was a whole lot of waiting involved, but I'll bet you're used to that by now :-)

Kimberly