Am having surgery on the 27th of this month and am petrified!
Posted , 7 users are following.
Had an MRI 2 weeks ago and have just been told I'm having surgery in 2 weeks-27th March!
Am just trying to process it all as I thought it was at worst a bulging disc. Turns out it's a bulging disc, arthritis and two slipped vertebrae. I was told the day after my MRI to go to hospital prepared for surgery as I was at risk of cauda equine syndrome. Fortunately I have bladder and bowel control so was told to expect a 4-5m waiting list. Got a call to come for a pre-op yesterday. Operation is decompression and instrumental fusion.
I hate hospitals with a passion and have never so much as broken a bone and now this!
Please reassure me all will be well!
0 likes, 23 replies
jessica_78456 Surrogate71
Posted
Have u disscused what ud like from yr surgery . I was giving a few choices. I've gone for the wallis ligament s it's not as invasive as spinal fusion. Google it, the discectomy is s must for me too. My surgery is in April, I had a emergency discectomy in2013 had no time to think about it was so so scared. Funny enough this time I feel more relaxed, because I've been aloud so much input about what I need done and after care ect . So far my neurosurgeon has been brilliant. It's a daunting process but, maybe some relaxation therapy from home may help
Surrogate71 jessica_78456
Posted
Thanks Jessica
It's all been so rushed that I didn't know there were options. I was told by a surgical registrar I'd need decompression/discectomy or that and possibly fusion.
The surgeon had a fellow surgeon visiting when I spoke to him and they both agreed on decompression and instrumental fusion but no cage.
Pain meds include diclofenac, cocodamol, amitriptyline, and zopiclone, and aren't really helping much.
I have been recommended (by a fellow back surgery patient) arnica and aconite pills to take post op. I'll try anything! The week before the surgery I'm having an Indian head massage and reiki so I'm hoping g that will help with my anxiety!
jessica_78456 Surrogate71
Posted
Surrogate71
Posted
Diamond14 Surrogate71
Posted
Hi, so I'm having blocks in the next few weeks, lower back for slipped discs do I continue to push my specialist to ref me to a neurosurgeon for longer term plans as this is the last set of blocks he will do, he's adamant that there's nothing else he can do & that surgery would not solve anything however that should be my option, or do I just push my own go to ref me onto neurosurgeon? I know I will not be able to survive without the regular blocks & just on medications. Thanks 0 Report this Reply
melm1972 Diamond14
Posted
I will give you my best advice when searching for a surgeon of any kind. This comes from my husband who is in the medical field in the US, he has worked with surgeons and trained surgeons on medical devices for over 15 years. When I was seeing my first neurosx he wasn't getting the warm fuzzies with him, I asked him to help me find another nsx and he did by reaching out to his colleagues in the med device world who work with neurosx in the or who are really good surgeons, not referrals from a dr that you have seen that plays golf with another dr. Get the down and dirty from someone that knows what their technical skills are like not whether they can come under par on the 4th hole. I'm not sure if you have the opportunity to ask around for referrals but that would be my suggestion to you instead of just going to the next available Dr that your current Dr knows or is friends with. I hope that you are able to get the help that you need.
Diamond14 melm1972
Posted
Thanks, my consultant will have to ref me to a different hospital who specialise in spinal surgery. He is only pain management & he as resorted all his resources, blocks, & removal of disc through guided scan, he's pain management specialist. He says surgery will not help & research shows it's not guaranteed & no cure for this just to manage symptoms which I'm aware of but I know I will not be able to survive manage on just my pain medications. I'm only young & my quality of life is rubbish I can't do what I used to be able to Im not active I struggle with everything & just want some normality, I've slipped discs l4/5 pressing bilaterally on nerves, I have leg pain, numbness, puns & needles, burning in soles of feet & in bottom & feel like I've been poked with a hot poker all the time, my hands/fingers clasp together & wont realeas, I go into retention often & suffer passing anything or the need to go but then can't go, I will have to go into use self catheriskng aswell.
I would like to have another child but couldn't do this purely because of the pain & wouldn't be able to carry a child.
My consultant from last time I seen him did not want to do blocks & this is last time but I want to try push for him to ref me to back specialist as he will want a follow up in 6months but in the mean time could get me ref as he's already said there's nothing more he can do but reluctant to ref me but surely I have the right to be ref? Thanks
jessica_78456 Diamond14
Posted
Dr wynn jones in the north east has a very good record that's who iam with he's got excellent patient reviews