lumbosacral Back Surgery- To Cut- Or, Not To Cut--

[Jayg]

Ok.I have back problems. Not necessarily all that bad either by the standards here. I had an MRI on the lower back and one day, right out of the blue, my PCP from VAMC (he's a good doctor, really) calls me on the phone and asks me if I want back surgery. :D :( "Uhhh, can we talk about it first?" I says. That was the first I heard about it. Well, in a week about, I have an appointment with a neurosurgeon to "talk about it."

Ok. I'm scared.

My award letter says I have DJD, lumbosacral spine. I know I have some narrowing of the discs. I remember doctor K saying some nerves are getting compressed where they come out... wherever that is.

The doctor said I'd feel better. Might help with that falling down.

But...

If not so well, I can still walk. I can still feel my feet. I know I can- they hurt.

I know this sounds crazy but if y'all could talk to people who actually know me, they'd tell you. I'm one of those people around whom things always go wrong. If I really need something to go right, be right, it won't be.

Bad off as I am, the thought of being on the receiving end of a back surgery that went wrong is not at all an encouraging thought.

Wot th' 'ell am I gonna do?!

(It's a rhetorical question, I know you can't tell me. I just needed to air it.)

[Jayg]

but, if you are suffering from "nerve impingement", then surgery is about the only relief, and, the sooner you have it "repaired" the sooner the relief.........Mother-In-Law just had her's repaired (don't know which portion of her lumbar spine was involved) and she got up, after the repair and the first thing she said was "WHY did I keep putting this off? I've not felt this good in years." to which I replied "Hell, you so old they didn't even have sharp knives when you first started all your complianin'!".

She loves me, yeah she does!

I just want y'alls emotional opinion. Support mainly. I'll make the final call scientifically--- PLUCK!"She loves me, PLUCK!she loves me not, PLUCK!she loves me, PLUCK!she...

"Nerve impignment. Sounds like what I call the "dance of a thousand fire ants." If I look steeply up or try to reach overhead, it feels like somebody is pouring a bucket of fire ants down from the front of my hips and they wash down the front and around my legs... I too have some fine motor loss in my R hand. I have to ask my wife or kids to button my left sleeve. I also have numbness in hands and lower legs and feet.

That what we're talking about here???

[LarryJ]

I just want y'alls emotional opinion. Support mainly. I'll make the final call scientifically--- PLUCK!"She loves me, PLUCK!she loves me not, PLUCK!she loves me, PLUCK!she...

"Nerve impignment. Sounds like what I call the "dance of a thousand fire ants." If I look steeply up or try to reach overhead, it feels like somebody is pouring a bucket of fire ants down from the front of my hips and they wash down the front and around my legs... I too have some fine motor loss in my R hand. I have to ask my wife or kids to button my left sleeve. I also have numbness in hands and lower legs and feet.

That what we're talking about here???

YUP.

[Vync]

In 2006, one neurologist said I had a 60% plus chance of needing spinal fusion within one year. I have DDD and herniation of L4-L5 and L5-S1. Hurts like hell all the time. I had pain blocks and they have helped. I am having another one this week. They dont work for everyone. Whatever you do, get the inside scoop. Learn as much as you can about it. Make sure you sign the box saying that no residents or interns will be allowed to work on you. If your doc is a jerk or has OCD, go somewhere else.

[Jayg]

In 2006, one neurologist said I had a 60% plus chance of needing spinal fusion within one year. I have DDD and herniation of L4-L5 and L5-S1. Hurts like hell all the time. I had pain blocks and they have helped. I am having another one this week. They don't work for everyone. Whatever you do, get the inside scoop. Learn as much as you can about it. Make sure you sign the box saying that no residents or interns will be allowed to work on you. If your doc is a jerk or has OCD, go somewhere else.

"Make sure you sign the box saying that no residents or interns will be allowed to work on you"

Thanks. I never heard of such a thing.