Endoscopic Spine Surgery

Hi Caroline. Yes the more I look into it the more it seems that surgery isn't going to get rid of pain but just give me a new feeling or type of pain?! I am getting to the stage where I need to stop work but I'm still working due to finances and not knowing how to manage if I stop work. I already get PIP but do you know what benefits I can claim for when I give up work as I feel I need an action plan and my work is just adding to my condition as it involves sitting and standing and lifting! Any advice on benefits would be much appreciated! X

That's the other problem it took me 4 years to get anything and that was only 2 years ago, the first 7 years they just laughed at me, the pip is minuscule! my husband is self employed and we have struggled for over 10 years I actually don't know how we've managed but you do you have to, the docs will not help either they don't get involved in that side of things so youl be fighting the system on your own, the only thing that really helped me was my chiro practor he's amazing, I could barely stand up straight or walk and he sorted me out but you have to get one that is good and I know it can be costly but it might help you stay at work a little longer, also what about a tens machine there really good and a brace, your gp may be able to help with the tens but the brace I got from one of the cheap supermarkets it's like a bandage and it works great for me there are ones with supports in but they where no good so it's trial and error, I hope this helps Hun and I wish you well for the future xx

Iv just checked out bowens therapy and it looks amazing, hoping to try it out soon, thank you

I have used it and it has helped alleviate pain and helped me with walking so its worth a try and its cheaper than an op

I'm booked in on Monday, I can't wait to see how it goes thank you, I will let you know how I get on😊

Are you going private or is that with the NhS please Caroline? I hope it goes well and yes please give us an update! Steven did you have yours done privately please? How does it differ from say a decompression opp or laminectomy please?

I had a laminectomy and paid for it to be done in a specialist spinal clinic. I would not allow the butchers in the NHS to do it after finding out that possibly some trainees would be involved.

It is easy to find out the differences if you just google each one

sorry didnt quite finish what i was saying. If you are referring to the Bowen Therapy you can only get this done privately but it is very cheap around £15 to £20 a session of an hour or so.

It's £40 where I am but the guy who does it said he has patients that have been referred to him from the pain management unit in his area (not mine but will mention it next time I'm there) with good results

I'm interested to know how much the endoscopic spine surgery costs?

I just want to add that I did go private for my opp, lumbar fussion, so many things went wrong but I never questioned anything because I thought I was in good hands, it's only looking back now I could kick myself,

The nurse took me to the toilets and took the drain out my back while I held onto the sink, I said I'm going to pass out and she said no youl be ok and then I passed out on the floor 1 day after my opp

I was sent home 4 days later with no meds, brace, walking AIDS, physio, absolutely nothing, no advice on what to do just that youl be fine and back to work in 3-6 months, havnt been able to go back to work

I have faucet joint injections at 4 levels bilateral every 5-6 months (16 injections in total)

7 years later after constant pain and just fed up I asked for a scam on my thoracic spine and discovered I had a thiracic arachnoid cyst, after a lot of research I found that this is extremely rare and not a lot of info but it's caused by trauma to the lumbar spine ie.. Failed back surgery, this is compressing my spinal cord and been told that if they remove it I'll be paralysed from the chest down.

As a result of this I also have cervical degeneration with bone spurs at every level which caused muscle spasms in my upper spine and neck, not nice at all

Sorry for going on but iv had 13 years of hell and docs not taking any responsibility for what they've done to me and to think I paid for this life of pain, that's why I would tell anyone not to have surgery until they've looked at every avenue and only as a last resort, it dosnt work for everyone but great for those it does help

I can't comment on the cost of your surgery but mine was £6500 13 years ago

did you receive aftercare?

You motivate me to stay strong and not give in to the surgery. I assume you feel that your money was wasted and that going private doesn't mean no mistakes will be made? Do you manage to go out or have a social life?

It's very difficult I'm in constant pain, iv been on opiod meds for the past 2 years and all they done was made me like a zombie and loose a lot of weight, iv just done 6 weeks of tapering then cold turkey, I'm still getting post withdrawals not something I would want anyone to go through. I'm not saying it will be the same but just do your homework and try everything else you can, my chiro practor said if he'd known me back then I wouldn't have needed surgery, my husband was in a car accident where he injured his spine and my chiro sorted him, it took 2 years which might seem a long time but he's sorted and back to work (he has a heavy job), I wish you luck and hope you find something that works for you, please check out the Bowen treatment it looks really good 😊

Hi Caroline. Why did you decide to come off the opioids?

They made me ill, I went under 7 stone (I'm 5,7) I started on the lowest dose and quickly had to go up as your body becomes dependant, after I upped the dose it felt like I had brain fog I was confused and felt like I couldn't hold a conversation without getting anctiouse, I became withdrawn from friends and family and the fatigue was something else, then I started experiencing withdrawals 2 hours before each dose which meant I needed to up the dose again but then I thought what happens when I reach my max? Go onto something else, also I was still in pain it never ends so I decided to come off them, omg I wish I had never touch them, I'm still not fully out of it but my mind is so clear and focused iv put a little weight back on also I hadn't realised but my taste buds have changed so what iv been eating for the past 2 years I can't eat anymore it taste disgusting, again I don't know anyone who actually feels better for taking them but if you do go down that path there may come a day you want to come off them and it is pure hell!! Please again do research look into withdrawals from opiods and use this forum so you get real people's stories not medical info, good luck Hun xx

I had it done in 2000 and cost £11500 and I went to a specialist spinal clinic in Norwich by the top spinal surgeon in the UK. I would also say I was sent home without any further aftercare but I did not need any. It did not alleviate the pain or pins and needles as I found out later I had MS