Have you ever been turned down for surgery because of your weight???
Posted , 5 users are following.
I need cervical spine surgery for spinal stenosis and 2 herinated disc. The surgeon said he won't do the surgery because I smoke, which I have Chantix to start when I'm ready, so that isn't an issue. He is going by the BMI chart and he said you're not only obese but morbidly obese. I weigh 230lb and 5'3". The lowest I remeber is 180LB when I started my family and I was more comfortable but that is still 56lbs. If I go by the chart I should weigh like 130lb. I can't imagine lol. Should I try a different surgeon???
0 likes, 4 replies
CHICO_MARX SweetSal
Posted
Yes. How's that for a simple response. In the real world, "morbidly obese" would be 450.
rvaedex23 SweetSal
Posted
CHICO_MARX SweetSal
Posted
PS...Type of surgery...
My lower back was a "junkyard" (surgeon's word) when I had a traditional TLIF fusion a few years back...L3 through S1. Got stenosis at L2/L3. Doc offered to remove all my hardware (rails and screws) and replace it with the extension L2 through S1...or...
...an LLIF (LATERAL) fusion. Instead of from the back, they go in through your SIDE, destroy the offending disk, insert a "device", use an Allen wrench to crank it open to the proper size (think of a jack lifting a car), backfill it with a bone graft from your hip and close. TLIF - 4-6 hour surgery, 10 days in the hospital, 4-6 months in a back brace plus rehab. LLIF - 90-minute surgery, 1 night in the hospital, no brace, zero rehab...like it never happened.
Search YouTube for "globus lateral" for a cute animation. My TLIF and LLIF pictures are attached.
NOTE: This is information for a LUMBAR stenosis fusion. You'd have to check for the cervical version. This is the best kept secret in back surgery.
crista44751 SweetSal
Posted
I'm sorry you are suffering with these issues. I haven't been denied surgery because of weight but I have been denied because I had to get my glucose in a lower range so I had to work on it for a month and then it was fine . I think the statistics are that you have a much higher rate of complications with HigH weight or high blood sugar or high blood pressure or anything like that. I would ask the surgeon what weight is Acceptable that he would do surgery with . Another surgeon may or may not feel the same way it's worth a shot getting a second opinion .