In Reply to: Re: Spinal Fusion, Vicodin and CMO posted by Pam on December 14, 1997 at 19:37:51:
Dear Pam,
The only person who can answer the questions you are asking is the surgeon who has recommended the procedure. The reason those surgeons make so much money is that they have to determine the answers to these questions specifically in YOUR case.
The response to this kind of procedure is VERY individual.
Before I would submit myself to something like this, I would at least see a COMPETENT pain & stress treatment center in consultation. The day will come when NO ONE will have surgery recommended until they have been seen in cosultation by a PASTC. The real shame is that surgeons are still ignoring this need.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Cervical Disc Fusion posted by David Ferguson, D.C. on December 08, 1997 at 13:45:08:
Is this the same as the procerdure they will do on my daughter that we discussed ealier this month?
The posterior spinal fusion?????
for her scoliosis ?????????
In Reply to: Re: cervical disc fusion posted by Lily on October 06, 1997 at 00:00:43:
my husband has been diagnosed with 4 bulging discs, is there no surgical procedure that can be performed to relieve him of this pain. Wouldn't fusion work?
In Reply to: Re: cervical disc fusion posted by Bambi Cooke on December 16, 1997 at 07:33:24:
Dear Bambi,
This subject has been covered so many itmes here on this BB that my fingers are getting bloody.
Please use the search feature & read everything on the subject that still is on the BB.
THEN, if you still have questions, write again.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: cervical disc fusion posted by Les on October 09, 1997 at 08:28:17:
Just completed 2nd ACF@C6/7. First one was done with donor bone and failed to fuse.(2/97) Had nerve loss and loss of strength in L arm/shoulder. Second was done with graft from hip/cage installed then plate and screws. Now am having continuing pain/spasms in left neck. Very bad at times. This all was result of fatal crash while I was a cop. Am wondering has anyone else had problems persist after fusion and what are the limitations.
In Reply to: Re: Cervical Disc Fusion posted by Linda Myers on December 15, 1997 at 13:21:50:
Similar, but surgery for scoliosis usually encorporates different brackets and screws etc. Cervical disc fusion will primarily just include fusion of the vertebral bodies to each other directly. Not by means of "hardware".
In Reply to: Re: L5-S1 spinal fusion posted by Walt Stoll on October 28, 1997 at 09:53:32:
I am 21 years old and had to cut my Rowing career short since I too, have had low back pain. I had X-rays done, and it showed an early degeneration of the facet joints of the L5-S1 segment. ALso, I have had a CT scan done, and it confirmed that I had spinal stinosis. It is very painful, and I would appreciate it if anyone could send me information about it. Is this curable?
Lisa
In Reply to: Re: L5-S1 spinal fusion posted by lisa surette on December 20, 1997 at 23:39:43:
Dear Lisa,
If you had been advised, competently, about the need of a regular practice of skilled relaxation, you would still be rowing. Even now, it would give you very significant relief of your symptoms as well as helping prevent further progression of your condition.
I am sure that Doc Dave, will have helpful advice as well so I will not offer what he can offer much better than I.
In the meantime, getting a deep, total body, therapeutic massage 3 times a week for 2 weeks would give you relief for months. You might also look into Rolfing for longer term relief. HOWEVER, in the LONG RUN, the most important thing you can do is learn an effective skilled relaxation technique & practice it at least 20 minutes twice a day.
As you become a student of your condition, you will learn about the contribution of diet and LGS to this as well. You could use the search feature of this website to sort out all the subjects about arthritis, disc disease, ankylosing spondylitis, fibromyositis and the like, to get a broader base for your understanding. YOU are the only person who is YOU. YOU have to be the expert in this.
As you improve, please share your experiences with the BB participants. Others deserve to know that they are not being offered all of their options by the conventional medical monopoly.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: L5-S1 spinal fusion posted by Sue on November 28, 1997 at 22:27:56:
I have two surgeries in the past first one was for a herniated disc in L4-L5 removing the disc, then 1yr and 1 month later to end up with a spinal fusion with no hardware used. I am looking for some kind of relief. As of now I am told to have another spinal fusion done with only a 25% chance of correction. I have right leg pain and numbness, right foot numbness and severe back and hip pain. I am told I have impigment nerve damage to my right leg. What other options do I have?
In Reply to: Re: Spinal Fusion, Vicodin and CMO posted by Clefnote on December 22, 1997 at 14:33:04:
Der Clefnote,
Your story is an example of the fact that self-education is the only REAL path to healthy function. There is NO healing philosophy that does not have a bell curve of competency. There are good & bad MDs, good & bad Chiropractors, good & bad Herbologists, acupuncturists, homeopaths, etc.
The idea is that through self-knowledge, one can pick out those incompetent ones BEFORE throwing one's bodymind upon their mercy.
At this point, your symptoms are likely due to the same factors that caused your problems in the first place. They will eventually cause more damage if not recognized & dealt with.
Were I in your shoes, I would (in this order) get a deep, whole body, therapeutic massage 3 times a week for 2 weeks; call a Rolfer in consultation & learn an effective skilled relaxation technique & practice it 20 minutes twice a day forever (to prevent the problem from recurring).
See the homepage of this website (link on this page) & read about "Skilled Relaxation". If you are interested in the connection to your colitis--caused by your basic causes & not by your treatment--also read the articles about "Modern Mecical Interpretation of Stress" and "Leaky Gut Syndrome".
If you want to see the entire interconnection, you would be interested in a copy of my book (link below).
Once you are an expert, you might consider Chiropractic consultation again. Just because you got a "bad one" the first time around is not a good reason to "throw out the baby with the bathwater".
As you get well, please share your experiences with the BB participants. Your healing journey might help others to avoid the same tortuous path you have taken.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: L5-S1 spinal fusion posted by Mark on December 22, 1997 at 23:34:05:
Dear Mark,
Use the search feature provided with this BB & read everything you can find under this subject. Were I in your situation, I would go to a COMPETENT pain & stress treatment center in connsultation. You will see from the notes that I know of only one in the USA that I would go to myself.
The day will come when standard operating procedure will be that no one has surgery without first being seen by a competent PASTC.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Cervical Disc Fusion posted by David Ferguson on December 20, 1997 at 21:24:16:
I have had continued problems with a herniated disk at c 5
and L 6. However after years of chiropractic and other hopeful treatments, the MRI shows that the C5 is pressing
on the spinal chord. The orthopedic doctor is urgent about recommendding me to a surgeon. I am worried that an anterior cervical disectomy won't work or will make me worse. Do they work? and are patients ever paralyzed or other side effects.
In Reply to: Re: Cervical Disc Fusion posted by Kathleen Kalina on December 23, 1997 at 19:00:09:
Dear Kathleen,
The founder & medical director of the only pain & stress treatment center (that I would personally go to) in this country is Norman Shealy, MD. PhD. He practiced as a top neurosurgeon for 30 years before he learned that this holistic approach was much more effective, safer & less expensive. Were I you, I would go to his center in Missouri & spend a few days there getting the answers to your questions answered by the best professional in the country. After all, you are going to have to live with what you have left for this life at least.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: L5-S1 spinal fusion posted by Walt Stoll on October 28, 1997 at 09:53:32:
I just underwent spinal fusion surgery at the same level you are having trouble with L-5/S-1. My physician used a new procedure called a "Ra-Cage". I have had a great recovery. I still have some pain but this is due to the recooperation period. Surgery was just 10 weeks ago. My physician has me on 10mg of Hydrocodone every 4 hours for pain, Soma for muscle spasms, and Motrin for inflammation. This was the best decison I could have made. I herniated the disc at this level in June and surgery wasn't until October. I also had pain in the buttocks, legs, and across the entire lower back. Once Surgery was done the pain in those areas has pretty much gone other than the pain around the surgery area but again as I am recovering it gets better each day. My advise to you is DON'T WAIT!!!!! If I can help you further don't hesitate to e-mail me with questions I will help you if I can. Good Luck!! L. Budd
In Reply to: Re: L5-S1 spinal fusion posted by L. Budd on December 27, 1997 at 12:27:07:
Dear L.,
I am glad that you are satisfied with your results. However, I would be hard put to call your experience a success when 10 weeks after surgery you are still on 10 milligrams of Hydrocodone every 4 hours, Soma for muscle spasm and Ibuprophen for inflammation.
By any measure I know of, surgical sites heal within a few weeks.
If I were you I would spend a significant amount of my time learning about the things you can do to help yourself. I would predict that what you have already had done will not finally resolve your problem.
I know you don't want to hear this. However, I would suggest you file this note till you ARE ready to hear it & read it again.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Spinal Fusion, Vicodin and CMO posted by Jerry on December 27, 1997 at 22:53:33:
Dear Jerry,
Since your surgery apparently didn't "work", why not go to a COMPETENT Pain & Stress Treatment Center & get rid of WHY you have the problem?
When you get interested in that, use the search feature for this BB & read everything about the subject still on the BB.
THEN, as you get well, please share your experiences with the rest of us here on the BB. Personal testimonials change more minds than anything I can say.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: L5-S1 spinal fusion posted by Mark on December 22, 1997 at 23:34:05:
Contact me immediately. I have had two previous laminectomies at the L4-L5 level and rec cently (9/5) had an anterior/posterior fusion done in Boston Mass. Dr. Frank Rand. I don't understand why you didn't have any instrumentation installed. Talk to me.
KPanthen@aol.com
In Reply to: Re: cervical disc fusion posted by Dr. Gary Smith on September 13, 1997 at 10:35:39:
I have had a cervical fusion with coral and titanium plate one year ago and it is not fused or called a failed fusion. I am in very much pain upon movement but when I sit still it does not hurt. I am a nurse and I cannot work anymore. I saw 5 surgeons and they all say different things, One will operate and says the coral is no good( interpore) he says he will take bone from my ileac crest, remove coral and put the autograft in. Another surgeon says he will use allograft ( bone bank bone) another says he will not touch it with a 20 foot pole, yet another surgeon says he will go in from the back posterior and put yet another plate and bone graft to stabelize front, but will not touch the front. None of the doctors will even say I will be out of pain. My head gets tired as the day wears on Please Help what do you think?
In Reply to: Re: cervical disc fusion posted by Walt Stoll on August 29, 1997 at 12:10:56:
Is it true the coral does not heal and I would have healed better with my own bone? A doctor say Im not healed and wants to remove the coral because he says I may get metal fatigue in the titanium plate and it could break. My own bone would heal better he says I have a better chance of healing. Tell me who a better doctor would be in the florida area I live in sarasota. Thanks I am very desperate and in alot of pain. Alot......Would it be worse to have it operated on again and corrected so it would heal, or will it heal in time, It is one year post surgery . Thanks
In Reply to: Re: cervical disc fusion posted by Bonnie Banks on December 29, 1997 at 00:31:51:
Dear Bonnie,
Why not go to Dr Shealy's Pain & Stress Treatment Center & put this whole thing behind you?
Use the search feature of this BB & read everything about spinal surgery.
THEN, if you have more questions, write again.
As you get well, share your experiences with the rest of the BB. You would help a lot of others not have to go through what you are experiencing.
Remember, we MDs have had 100 years of a monopoly to mold public opinion to the point where it is today: "If you can't trust your doctor, who CAN you trust?"
Walt
In Reply to: Re: cervical disc fusion with coral posted by Bonnie Banks on December 29, 1997 at 01:24:55:
Dear Bonnie,
Surgery is you LAST resort--not your first.
You need a COMPETENT pain & stress treatment center to see you in consultation. They might just recommend surgery but at least then you would know.
I put COMPETENT in caps since most of them out there are NOT competent.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: L5-S1 spinal fusion posted by Ken Panthen on December 28, 1997 at 21:38:13:
I have had L5 -S1 fusion in Febuary of 97,If I had to do it again I would not, I really didn't have much of a choice the pain was so bad I thought I was going to die. Now here it is the end of 97 and I'm getting ready to have a Laminectomy L3-4 and L4-5, I truly hope this is the last but who am I kidding.
I herniated my disc at C6-7 four years ago. I just recently went for a second MRI and they said the herniation got smaller. I have lost the constant pain in th back of my neck but now my ring/pinky fingers feel funny sometimes. I can't look up or down, and go to a Physiothopi MD who recomends that I don't have the surgery. Can people live with this, its been 4 years. What I'm really afraid of that it gets worse and they won't be able to do anything. I go for follow ups every 6 months and visit a chiropractor for massage thereapy. Would like to hear what you have to say.Thanks
In Reply to: Re: L5-S1 spinal fusion posted by Carrie Robinson on December 30, 1997 at 19:01:15:
Dear Carrie,
The solution to your recurrent problems are likely on this BB. Just use the search feature & read everything about subjects like yours.
THEN, if you still have questions, write again.
Walt