Second Microdisctomy

Hi Susan.... I’m seeing Dr Arzoglou this Wednesday.... Had a 6 week wait even paying private!!! I’ve been using Consortium Physiotherapist on ingelmire Lane....Did my MRI at York biocentre near the uni ! 

PS.... Will let you know how I get on !

Thought he was ok.... he’s trying me on nerve block injections first...Just make sure you’ve got an upto date mri scan

His name was mentioned when we went to see the GP.  He said not to specify a consultant if you want to be seen quickly.  He thinks my daughter should have been referred to the pain clinic at the hospital and not the community pain clinic.  The community pain clinic rang today to say they were discharging her and contacting the GP to arrange an appointment with the secondary pain clinic at the hospital.  This all takes time and you are all in such pain.    Hope the nerve block injections work for you.  Keep me posted.  My daughters MRI is about 8 weeks old now, do you think she will need a more up to date one.  She said the pain down her leg is about 100 times worse than when she had the MRI at A and E.

She’ll be fine with her MRI...If your willing to pay private your GP surgery can refer you and the Spire will contact you quite quickly... After that it’s just the availability of your preferred consultant....Go on the Spires website and get yourself a list of 1-10 of who to see then check on availability.... I was waiting 6 weeks to see Dr Arzoglou but others maybe quicker!!

Hi Dave

?We have seen the GP and said we will pay for an appointment with a neuro consultant.  He said if we wanted to get in quickly we shouldn't specify a preferred consultant. I will check the Spire website .  As my daughter has already had surgery, it may be scar tissue as well as the herniated discs that is causing the pain.  Are you still going to Consortium Physio, if so, who do you see there and do you think it is working for you.  We haven't got endless funds but we are willing to pay for her appointments if it will help her pain.  I have also been told that pilates is very good as long as you get a teacher who knows about back injuries and can advise on what exercises you should and should not do.  I hope you are not waiting too long for the nerve block and that it works for you.  When you have had a private consultation, do they expect you to continue in the private sector.

Hi Susan.... Ask for Graham or Niall...They’re both really good...Just get a price first !!! When you the Neuro Surgeon just ask him about your options either private/nhs...Don’t be shy it’s your money... I could have done my nerve block nhs but I gather it’s a bit of a wait!! As for surgery think I was quoted about £11000 2 years ago but luckily I got put on an urgent list and was done in 6 weeks on the NHS....I had a Physio and a Chiropractor view my MRI... Both agreed on injections..,one of them suggested traction... The Nearo said surgery was a last resort....Looking at some people’s comments about having a second surgery seem very of putting...The again people who have had successful surgery don’t tend to post and use sites like this !!

Hi Enna...going to my GPS was almost a waste of time... Got referred to a specialist early February.... Still not heard anything!!! Been using Consortium Physios who have been great... got me a MRI sorted and seeing a Specialist  this Wednesday.....will let you know how I get on !

Hi.,.The Specialist said I’ve got some scar tissue and a very angry nerve...Going down the nerve block route first!

Hi Dave

As I said, scar tissue is inevitable with any op. It can be an issue but it’s hard to pin down. I thought my issue was scar tissue for ages but it almost certainly wasn’t. 

If you have a damaged disc, that will make the joint unstable. The unstable joint can irritate the nerve as you move around. In such cases, you might be able to stabilise the joint with stronger muscles and ligaments. But if you can’t, and you have ongoing irritation of the nerve due to a weak joint then the only thing that you can really do is fix the joint with a dynamic stabilisation or fusion. 

If the disc keeps reherniating then you are really in a degenerative situation and the disc is basically a write off.

Note that a nerve block is different from a steroid injection. A nerve block will be done on a small peripheral nerve, usually in a joint like a facet joint or an SI joint. You will not be given a “nerve block” on the spinal nerve root that you are having trouble with from the disc herniation. Nerve blocks actually burn the peripheral nerve so it stops working for a few months. You can’t do this on your nerve root or you would be paralysed! Google “nerve RFA” if you want more details.

Steroid injections are there to reduce inflammation of the nerve. As the nerve gets irritated it’s swells up, and as it does it gets stuck in the limited available space, which worsens the irritation and so you get in a viscous cycle. The steroids hopefully break that cycle.

Good luck with the injection. 

Hi Michael... The Specialist did say there wasn’t any significant herniation just a very irritated nerve...I was left with nerve damage and numbness in my right foot and calf which I’ve managed with over the last 2 Years... I started doing longer hours in January/ Feb which triggered everything off....Anti inflammatorys and pain killers work to a point but end up  giving me really bad stomach and bowel problems....Been off meds up until Feb

Hi Susan...Think he’s a bit in demand...Hence the wait...The Spire charged me £200... Had my nerve block 1 day ago...They said anything up to a few weeks!! Hope all goes well for Laura... Don’ t forget you can ask for any of the treatments he recommends on the nhs...