Who knows anything about spinal column surgery?

[AreaCode707]

They are ignoring the treatment that corrected my infant daughter?s spinal curve from 54 degrees down to 4 degrees. which was serial casting. Simple, but effective.

Thanks, I'll look into that so I can ask about it.

Hayabusa Rider, thanks for the link!

This is not "spinal cord" surgery: it's spinal column surgery (the vertebrea are altered and bonded such that they will grow together instead of spearated by disks).

Title fixed, thanks.

If you're looking for more information, a medical site (like WebMD) is probably a better source ...

Already combed webmd (obviously I didn't know all the right search terms) and I got some good leads from here too.

I had this down on my neck (twice). On of the fusions didn't take so they did it again.
The surgery for the neck I thought was a piece of cake, out of the hospital the next day. I was general of the vicodin and taking care of myself in a week for both. Have a good wife to take care of me when I needed it. Pain didn't seem to bad to me, but thats a real subjective thing. I think back surgery would be worse. My last surgery was is 2001, There is occasionl pain, and it will never be quite right.

Depending what you do for a living, conside a change in careers if its real physical, this is were I screwed up he first time. Went from a construction worker to a social worker.

Thanks! That's exactly what I wanted to know! I already have a desk job.

I could not raise my arm to shake hands with people. I went to Doc and he sent me to "Specialist" Neurologist. He told me I would eventually have to wear Halo to hold my head up. I said no surgury or meds. 6 months later I said ok what about meds. He put me on Soma & painkillers. That period of time is known at my house as the "Lost Year" I remember very little of it. I wore a soft collar and went to work. I then asked for surgury and went to NeuroSurgeon. He took one look and said Fusion. My choice of metal or cadaver hunk. I went metal. Went to sleep and woke up feeling fine. 3 month (hard collar) recovery.
It has been 5 years and no follow up surgeries. (knock on wood)
Good Luck (and don't worry)

Thanks to you too! I don't want to do pain meds, and that's really my only other option. I'm 21 and the ligament between my C1 and C2 vertabrae is damaged (by arthritis) and getting worse, so I can either be on pain meds my whole life or get the surgery done. I'm on enough arthritis meds as it is.

Don't have it done, people that have it done experience more pain 5 years after the surgery than those who do not have it done.

<---sat through a couple hundred consents by surgeons.

What is a consent, exactly? Why do people typically have more pain afterwards?

My Dad had to vertebrae fused in his neck that he broke in a car accident. The Doctor had to fuse the vertebrae to stabilize the area and prevent him from being/getting paralyzed. he had to wear a halo for 6 months. You can't tell any difference in the way he mov es his head the only thing that bothers him is extreme weather changes.

Thanks! I'm pretty scared about this whole thing and the success stories are encouraging.

 

[AreaCode707]

Originally posted by: d3n
Personally after looking into treatments for my daughter I would try to avoid it at all cost. I don't know anyone that is coming out ahead with any type of joint surgery that I have heard about, especially when dealing with the back. I would see it as a stop gap measure if all other types of thearapy have failed.

The treatment for scoliosis is downright barbaric. Sad things is most scoliosis specialist are so blinded by learning the latest and greatest hack em up procedures and getting to try them out they push parents into letting them cut up their kids. They are ignoring the treatment that corrected my infant daughter?s spinal curve from 54 degrees down to 4 degrees. which was serial casting. Simple, but effective.

I looked up serial casting and it doesn't look like it would work here.

Serial casting is a temporary straightening and casting of the affected joint (for about 2 days). The cast is then removed, the child goes through some physical therapy, and a new cast is applied with the joint stretched a bit more.

My problem is that the ligament is on the way to being destroyed, and they need to stabalize the two vertabrae. Thanks for the suggestion though.

 

[d3n]

Originally posted by: HotChic

Originally posted by: d3n
Personally after looking into treatments for my daughter I would try to avoid it at all cost. I don't know anyone that is coming out ahead with any type of joint surgery that I have heard about, especially when dealing with the back. I would see it as a stop gap measure if all other types of thearapy have failed.

The treatment for scoliosis is downright barbaric. Sad things is most scoliosis specialist are so blinded by learning the latest and greatest hack em up procedures and getting to try them out they push parents into letting them cut up their kids. They are ignoring the treatment that corrected my infant daughter?s spinal curve from 54 degrees down to 4 degrees. which was serial casting. Simple, but effective.

I looked up serial casting and it doesn't look like it would work here.

Serial casting is a temporary straightening and casting of the affected joint (for about 2 days). The cast is then removed, the child goes through some physical therapy, and a new cast is applied with the joint stretched a bit more.

My problem is that the ligament is on the way to being destroyed, and they need to stabalize the two vertabrae. Thanks for the suggestion though.

I know this sounds hokie. Look up natualistic doctors in your area. My wife is into this stuff and is always pointing out treatments for arthritis and joint degeneration that involve changes in diet. I would stop short of laying hands on people or buying some guys speacle line of herbs. Just something to look into.

 

[MustangSVT]

Ill do it for $2k.

 

[AreaCode707]

Originally posted by: d3n
I know this sounds hokie. Look up natualistic doctors in your area. My wife is into this stuff and is always pointing out treatments for arthritis and joint degeneration that involve changes in diet. I would stop short of laying hands on people or buying some guys speacle line of herbs. Just something to look into.

Heh, I wouldn't stop short of the laying on of hands - God does better stuff than doctors sometimes.

I've done some of the diet stuff (no red meats, no nightshades, etc.) and it helps to some degree. When the joints have deteriorated though, the dietary stuff can only slow or halt the deterioration, not fix it.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Don't have it done, people that have it done experience more pain 5 years after the surgery than those who do not have it done.

<---sat through a couple hundred consents by surgeons.

Something like 20% in the first 10 postoperative years. Most patients have a good result with posterior lumbar interspinous fusion.

 

[AreaCode707]

Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Don't have it done, people that have it done experience more pain 5 years after the surgery than those who do not have it done.

<---sat through a couple hundred consents by surgeons.

Something like 20% in the first 10 postoperative years. Most patients have a good result with posterior lumbar interspinous fusion.

Sounds like you have some good background knowledge. So there is a fair chance of increasing the trouble instead of decreasing it?

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: HotChic
Sounds like you have some good background knowledge. So there is a fair chance of increasing the trouble instead of decreasing it?

I'm not too knowledgeable in the orthopedic area, I just know what I've read in case studies. It really depends on what's wrong, the type of operation performed, and the doctor that performed it. The best thing to do is to get consultations from a few orthopedic surgeons.

 

[Relayer]

I heard there is now laparoscopic back surgery where they don't have to slice you open.

http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/DS/00515.html

http://www.sages.org/pi_laparoscopic_spine.html

 

[todpod]

Even though I had It done twice, its better then when I started. Pain meds are no way to live esp since your only 21. The key is finding a good Dr, I have chewed through 6 so far. 3 weren't up to the task, which was fine but they didn't tell me until after I started seeing them. One was going to refer me on, the othe just pump me full of pills. The 3rd admittily said he couldn't do it even before the MRI, he order it took one look at it and referred me on. 2 two surgeons that actually did anything left the state (stupid PA). The 6th is just waitng to see if something goes wrong again. So Doctor is key here. My advice get it done and over with so you can move on. This stuff started in 1999 and its only been the last year and a half until we as family have started to pull it all back together. 2 surgeries, finishing school, 2 kids, etc. Its been a real struggle at times, but from the sounds of it your not carring the baggage I was, so now its the time to do it.

 

[DAGTA]

Originally posted by: HotChic the dietary stuff can only slow or halt the deterioration, not fix it.

That's not true. Though you're facing an uphill battle because of the arthritis, your body can still repair itself. You're still young and a spinal surgery involves a large amount of risk and a permanent physical change to your body. If you have a disk removed, you will be shorter and have some compression of your body in that area. You'll be introducing scar tissue into your body that will lead to future complications and alter the circulation patterns of your blood and electrical system. In short, I highly recommend you put off surgery as long as possible and give every other non-invasive treatments a look.

I don't suffer from your arthritis situation but I did have three bulging disks in 2003. Quit sitting (you'll have to change jobs or work from home lying down) except to drive, start doing some exercises to strenthen the muscles in your back (this will give more support so your disks have less pressure, thus slowing down the damage), and consider looking into holistic medicine.

I know a guy that has rheumatoid arthritis and is doing very well with holistic care. He was diagnosed in his teens. He's now 55, I think. It's obvious in his hands and feet, but he's still very active (rides 200 miles a week on his bicycle) and works full time. I don't think he's had any surgeries on his spine, as far as I know. He eats a bunch of natural supplements and does the exercises I mentioned. If you like, I can introduce you to him. If you want more information, PM me. I don't want to turn this thread into a flame war of hollistic vs 'medical science'.

 

[bret]

i think its a few months off of very painfull when over, so i have been told. but i will find out in june