WENT TO SEE SURGEON TODAY

[Truckster]

I JUST RETURNED FROM THE SURGEONS OFFICE,AND HE CONFIRMED WHAT HAD ALREADY BEEN SAID,THAT I HAVE HERNIATIONS OF L4-L5 AND L5-S1 WITH NERVE INPINGMENT.OF COURSE HE GOT THIS INFO FROM AN MRI THAT WAS DONE IN 5/06.HE SAID THAT HE WOULD SUGGEST TO W/C I/C THAT I SHOULD HAVE AN EMG TO SEE WHAT KIND OF NERVE DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE.HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT IF I HAD WENT TO SEE HIM SOONER THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A BETTER CHANCE OF NOT DAMAGING THE NERVE,AND I REMINEDED HIM THAT THIS WAS W/C WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.HE DID MENTION SOMETHING ABOUT A MICRODISCECTOMY,BUT WANTED TO DO THE EMG FIRST.I DID ASK HIM ABOUT THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF LUMBAR DECOMPRESSION AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY ARE WORTHLESS. DOES ALL THIS SOUND RIGHT TO EVERYBODY.LIMBO,I KNOW YOU HAD ALOT OF PROBLEMS FROM YOUR MICRO BLAH BLAH,WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS.I ASK BECAUSE AFTERALL,WE ARE TALING ABOUT A W/C DOCTOR!!!!!!!!!

[Still in Limbo]

Truckster, I'll be Happy to explain the Microdiscectomy Process to You, and then I'll give you my opinions!

When they do a Microdiscectomy as I had done, They make an incision approx. 2 1/2" at the center of you lower back, they then go in with a Camera and a Laser, and cut away the Portion of the Disc that is causing your Nerve Impingement. Because of using the Laser, the part of the disc left is left cauterized. When they did mine, they also found that my Foranim, (The Hole in your Vertebrae where your Nerve travels) was narrowing, so they also performed a Laminectomy. Best way to describe that is like taking a Drummel Tool and making the Hole Bigger by cleaning it out. The whole Procedure took about 1 1/2 hrs. and after recovery I had the choice to stay the night, or go Home. I was Morphined up to Hell and Back, so I went Home. It was a 65 mile trip Home, which I don't remember, but my Father said I kept telling Him to hurry up and get me Home before the Dope wore off!! (LOL)! Anyway, the pain after Surgery was pretty bad, but each day it got a little Better. You will have a check-up in two weeks, and if alls Healing Well, they remove the suture. If all goes well with this Surgery, which it has for many, Return to Work is realistically after PT and Work Hardening and so on about 3 to 5 Months depending on your recovery rate. That's the Procedure.

Now my Opinion- L5 is the Load Bearing Disc of your Spine. The most pressure on any disc is at L5, being it is the last disc in your Spine and takes most of the weight. Personally I filled with Scar Tissue and my Surgery Failed, but putting that aside, I am setting here Today, waiting to see my Dr. Tomorrow because the Pain in my Lower Left Back is unbearable, and that's the other side of where I had my Surgery. I am willing to Bet you my Bottom Dollar that the half of a disc I have left there is blown out, I know the Pain from the other side before Surgery! Again Just My Opinion: I would not have had the Surgery had I known what I just told you. There is a term called the "Domino Effect". When the L5 blows, l4 has to take the load, when it blows l3 has to take the load, do you see where I am going with this? If you can leave L5 in tact Please God Almighty DO, I wouldn't wish the Life I have right now on My w/c adjuster, NCM, or Attorney!! So you should be able to gather from that how miserable this Life is!! Try everything invasive that you can before they Open Your Back, and if you do have the Surgery, let me know so I can Pray every Day that you don't end up like me!!! I'm not trying to scare you Truckster, I just want you to go into this with Both Eyes Wide Open, because no one ever took the time to educate me. Best of Luck My Friend!!

[Truckster]

I AM HEARING YOU LOUD AND CLEAR,THE PROBLEM WITH THIS WHOLE SCENARIO IS THAT, IF THE SURGEON DOES FIND THAT THIS WILL HELP AND I DO NOT HAVE THE SURGERY DONE,THEN CAN COMP END MY BENEFITS/CASE...I ALSO MENTIONED TO HIM THAT I HAVE HAD PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH SCAR TISSUE THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST,AND HE DIDN'T SEEM TO CONCERNED,BUT THEN AGAIN,IT'S NOT HIS BACK.I DON'T HAVE ANY DOCTOR STATING THAT I HAVE THE SCAR TISSUE ISSUE,SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT CAME DOWN TO GOING BEFORE THE BOARD,IF IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED BY THEM TO BE RELEVANT OR NOT...ALL I HAVE IS 2 GIANT UGLY SCARS ON THE SIDE OF LEG...THANKS FOR THE RUNDOWN ON THE PROCEDURE AND I WILL KEEP ALL OF THIS IN MIND...HOPE YOU ARE DOING BETTER TODAY MY FRIEND,WE WILL MAKE IT THROUGH THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Still in Limbo]

Truckster, it's your Body and you have a right to ask for invasive measures before Surgery. If they deny you this, a Petition to Review Medical can be filed by your Attorney, and a Hearing date will be set. You can then argue your Case before a Judge, and await a ruling. If the ruling states the Surgery is mandatory Technically you may have to have it to keep your Benefits, but I am almost Positive no one is going to have a Problem trying other ways to make you Better before Surgery. Surgery is very expensive for the i/c's, and the chance of complication in spinal surgery is high, so if they can make you well with rest, PT, and anti-inflammatories I sure think they would try that before Surgery. I was always told Surgery on the Spine is a last resort, not the first line of defense in the Battle, so I Hope they feel the same way! I Hope this has helped you some, and Have a Great Day!!

[cfree1961]

Truckster I hope all turns out well what ever you decide to do! Will pray the best for you and everyone here.

[Truckster]

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT LIMBO AND CFREE1961,THIS WHOLE SURGERY THING SCARES THE $HIT OUT OF ME....HEY LIMBO, LET ME KNOW WHAT THE DOCTOR SAYS TODAY AND TRY TO HAVE A GOOD DAY

[Still in Limbo]

Thanks TRUCKSTER and I will let you know! Thanks for the Concern!!

[rholmes]

Still in Limbo Wrote:Truckster, it's your Body and you have a right to ask for invasive measures before Surgery. If they deny you this, a Petition to Review Medical can be filed by your Attorney, and a Hearing date will be set. You can then argue your Case before a Judge, and await a ruling. If the ruling states the Surgery is mandatory Technically you may have to have it to keep your Benefits, but I am almost Positive no one is going to have a Problem trying other ways to make you Better before Surgery. Surgery is very expensive for the i/c's, and the chance of complication in spinal surgery is high, so if they can make you well with rest, PT, and anti-inflammatories I sure think they would try that before Surgery. I was always told Surgery on the Spine is a last resort, not the first line of defense in the Battle, so I Hope they feel the same way! I Hope this has helped you some, and Have a Great Day!!

Limbo,

My heart truly goes out to you and all of your pain and troubles. Everyone has a purpose in life and it's people like you and others on here that give us hope. Stay as wonderful and caring as you are and try and have a painfree day.


1171 Please don't cut me up lol. I know this is not the form I just wanted to thanks a fellow i/w ((((((((((((hugs)))))))))

[Still in Limbo]

Thanks Rholmes. and wishing you well Today also!!