Had Laser Surgery this Morning

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone - I posted a message about a week ago stating the I was

going to have Laser Surgery today. Well, I did. To recap, I have

been having lower back, buttocks, hip joints and back of thigh pain

for perhaps 3 1/2 years. xrays and a MRI showed arthritis on the

lumbas region but nothing else. I finally had a myelogram at CT

scan. The myelogram was taken with me in a reclining position and a

standing position. When in the standing position, it revealed severe

spinal stenosis in the L4 - L5 area and milder spinal stenosis in

the L2 - L3 area.

The problem had gotten so severe that I could barely walk. I was in

extreme pain when standing and when walking. I googled spinal

stenosis and found out about Laser Spine Institute in Tampa,

Florida. After seding them myelogram film and talking with them on

the telephone, I decided on letting them perform surgery.

Last Thursday, I spent about 6 hours with them. The took xrays, drew

blood, administered an EKG and ran other tests. They estimated

surgery would last about 1 hour to maybe an hour and fifteen

minutes. With prep time in the operatory and sutures, they estimated

it would take 1 1/2 hours maximum.

It took 3 1/2 hours because there were many more bone spurs, dead

ligaments, etc than showed on the film. I arrived at LSI at 6:15 AM

this morning. I was prepped, had an IV inserted in m hand and met

with about 3 people including the anestheologist. I walked into the

operating room at 7 AM and was brought out at 10:30 AM. I was given

shots in the back much like a dentist would do in the mouth and was

kept mildly sedated by the anestheologist. The worst pain during the

entire operation was when the IV needle was inserted.

I stayed in the recovery room for 1 hour and was sent home. The

procedures they performed were for 4 facet joints where I had

arthritis and the L4/L5 area where the performed a laminotomy and a

foraminotomy both vertically and laterally through about a 1 1/2

inch opening.

This was my first experience with back surgery. It may or may not be

my last. Only time will tell. They estimated that the facet joints

they cleanedwith a laser should be good until I am 102. That is good

enough for me.

I know this, it is now about 3PM and I have been totally pain free

since I came home. I walked about 100 yards pain free when I got

home and I have not been able to do that for a long time. I plan on

taking about a 30 minute walk later today.

Would I do it again? You bet. Would I recommend Laser Spine

institute. I sure would. They have done everything they have said

they would do and I am now pain free. I go back tomorrow afternoon

for a dressing change and some exercise routines.

Your mileage may vary.

Peace to all .

Fred Gharis

[Guest guest]

Fred,

Good for you!!!

Your story is an inspiration to all of those of us wondering if there is any

hope...

Where is the Spine Institute?

Congrats!! Dee

---------------------------------

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on Answers.

[Guest guest]

I would love to go there and be treated,but they dont take my insurance,so I

have to find an alternative.

fredg382000 <efgharis@...> wrote: Hi

Everyone - I posted a message about a week ago stating the I was

going to have Laser Surgery today. Well, I did. To recap, I have

been having lower back, buttocks, hip joints and back of thigh pain

for perhaps 3 1/2 years. xrays and a MRI showed arthritis on the

lumbas region but nothing else. I finally had a myelogram at CT

scan. The myelogram was taken with me in a reclining position and a

standing position. When in the standing position, it revealed severe

spinal stenosis in the L4 - L5 area and milder spinal stenosis in

the L2 - L3 area.

The problem had gotten so severe that I could barely walk. I was in

extreme pain when standing and when walking. I googled spinal

stenosis and found out about Laser Spine Institute in Tampa,

Florida. After seding them myelogram film and talking with them on

the telephone, I decided on letting them perform surgery.

Last Thursday, I spent about 6 hours with them. The took xrays, drew

blood, administered an EKG and ran other tests. They estimated

surgery would last about 1 hour to maybe an hour and fifteen

minutes. With prep time in the operatory and sutures, they estimated

it would take 1 1/2 hours maximum.

It took 3 1/2 hours because there were many more bone spurs, dead

ligaments, etc than showed on the film. I arrived at LSI at 6:15 AM

this morning. I was prepped, had an IV inserted in m hand and met

with about 3 people including the anestheologist. I walked into the

operating room at 7 AM and was brought out at 10:30 AM. I was given

shots in the back much like a dentist would do in the mouth and was

kept mildly sedated by the anestheologist. The worst pain during the

entire operation was when the IV needle was inserted.

I stayed in the recovery room for 1 hour and was sent home. The

procedures they performed were for 4 facet joints where I had

arthritis and the L4/L5 area where the performed a laminotomy and a

foraminotomy both vertically and laterally through about a 1 1/2

inch opening.

This was my first experience with back surgery. It may or may not be

my last. Only time will tell. They estimated that the facet joints

they cleanedwith a laser should be good until I am 102. That is good

enough for me.

I know this, it is now about 3PM and I have been totally pain free

since I came home. I walked about 100 yards pain free when I got

home and I have not been able to do that for a long time. I plan on

taking about a 30 minute walk later today.

Would I do it again? You bet. Would I recommend Laser Spine

institute. I sure would. They have done everything they have said

they would do and I am now pain free. I go back tomorrow afternoon

for a dressing change and some exercise routines.

Your mileage may vary.

Peace to all .

Fred Gharis

---------------------------------

Have a burning question? Go to Answers and get answers from real people

who know.

[Guest guest]

Dee The LaserS pine Institute is in Tampa, Florida. Just google it for

full information. They have a very informative web site.

Fred

>

> Where is the Spine Institute?

>

> Congrats!! Dee

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Need a quick answer? Get one in minutes from people who know. Ask

your question on Answers.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Fred glad to hear the surgery helped your pain. Did they give you

limitations and a recovery time to heal from the surgery? Are they

sending you to a PT later on for recvorey also?? I hope that the

surgery continues to help you out and you stay painfree for a long

long time. Best wishes Sharon Group Owner

>

> Hi Everyone - I posted a message about a week ago stating the I

was

> going to have Laser Surgery today. Well, I did. To recap, I have

> been having lower back, buttocks, hip joints and back of thigh

pain

> for perhaps 3 1/2 years. xrays and a MRI showed arthritis on the

> lumbas region but nothing else. I finally had a myelogram at CT

> scan. The myelogram was taken with me in a reclining position and

a

> standing position. When in the standing position, it revealed

severe

> spinal stenosis in the L4 - L5 area and milder spinal stenosis in

> the L2 - L3 area.

>

> The problem had gotten so severe that I could barely walk. I was

in

> extreme pain when standing and when walking. I googled spinal

> stenosis and found out about Laser Spine Institute in Tampa,

> Florida. After seding them myelogram film and talking with them on

> the telephone, I decided on letting them perform surgery.

>

> Last Thursday, I spent about 6 hours with them. The took xrays,

drew

> blood, administered an EKG and ran other tests. They estimated

> surgery would last about 1 hour to maybe an hour and fifteen

> minutes. With prep time in the operatory and sutures, they

estimated

> it would take 1 1/2 hours maximum.

>

> It took 3 1/2 hours because there were many more bone spurs, dead

> ligaments, etc than showed on the film. I arrived at LSI at 6:15

AM

> this morning. I was prepped, had an IV inserted in m hand and met

> with about 3 people including the anestheologist. I walked into

the

> operating room at 7 AM and was brought out at 10:30 AM. I was

given

> shots in the back much like a dentist would do in the mouth and

was

> kept mildly sedated by the anestheologist. The worst pain during

the

> entire operation was when the IV needle was inserted.

>

> I stayed in the recovery room for 1 hour and was sent home. The

> procedures they performed were for 4 facet joints where I had

> arthritis and the L4/L5 area where the performed a laminotomy and

a

> foraminotomy both vertically and laterally through about a 1 1/2

> inch opening.

>

> This was my first experience with back surgery. It may or may not

be

> my last. Only time will tell. They estimated that the facet joints

> they cleanedwith a laser should be good until I am 102. That is

good

> enough for me.

>

> I know this, it is now about 3PM and I have been totally pain free

> since I came home. I walked about 100 yards pain free when I got

> home and I have not been able to do that for a long time. I plan

on

> taking about a 30 minute walk later today.

>

> Would I do it again? You bet. Would I recommend Laser Spine

> institute. I sure would. They have done everything they have said

> they would do and I am now pain free. I go back tomorrow afternoon

> for a dressing change and some exercise routines.

>

> Your mileage may vary.

>

> Peace to all .

>

> Fred Gharis

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Sharon - I had my first PT yesterday afternoon with the LSI PT

doctor. I go back to see him again this afternoon. Yesterday, he

gave me a list of exercises to use to strengthen my back.He also did

some PT on me. He told me to give it 6 weeks to totally heal and

then start resuming normal activities.

Fred Gharis

>

> Hi Fred glad to hear the surgery helped your pain. Did they give

you

> limitations and a recovery time to heal from the surgery? Are they

> sending you to a PT later on for recvorey also?? I hope that the

> surgery continues to help you out and you stay painfree for a long

> long time. Best wishes Sharon Group Owner

>

>

>

> >

> > Hi Everyone - I posted a message about a week ago stating the I

> was

> > going to have Laser Surgery today. Well, I did. To recap, I have

> > been having lower back, buttocks, hip joints and back of thigh

> pain

> > for perhaps 3 1/2 years. xrays and a MRI showed arthritis on the

> > lumbas region but nothing else. I finally had a myelogram at CT

> > scan. The myelogram was taken with me in a reclining position

and

> a

.......................

[Guest guest]

Hi Fred,

Are you still doing well after your laser back surgery?

I've been in touch with the Laser Spine Institute. I can't believe

they can do what they say they can do, which is decompress my spinal

cord in my neck and nerves to my arm without a fusion. I'm getting

all the information on cost etc. I will still put it off until I'm in

more pain but what they do sounds like a miracle.

Rochelle

-- In neck pain , " fredg382000 "

<efgharis@...> wrote:

>

> Hi Everyone - I posted a message about a week ago stating the I was

> going to have Laser Surgery today. Well, I did. To recap, I have

> been having lower back, buttocks, hip joints and back of thigh pain

> for perhaps 3 1/2 years. xrays and a MRI showed arthritis on the

> lumbas region but nothing else. I finally had a myelogram at CT

> scan. The myelogram was taken with me in a reclining position and a

> standing position. When in the standing position, it revealed

severe

> spinal stenosis in the L4 - L5 area and milder spinal stenosis in

> the L2 - L3 area.

>

> The problem had gotten so severe that I could barely walk. I was in

> extreme pain when standing and when walking. I googled spinal

> stenosis and found out about Laser Spine Institute in Tampa,

> Florida. After seding them myelogram film and talking with them on

> the telephone, I decided on letting them perform surgery.

>

> Last Thursday, I spent about 6 hours with them. The took xrays,

drew

> blood, administered an EKG and ran other tests. They estimated

> surgery would last about 1 hour to maybe an hour and fifteen

> minutes. With prep time in the operatory and sutures, they

estimated

> it would take 1 1/2 hours maximum.

>

> It took 3 1/2 hours because there were many more bone spurs, dead

> ligaments, etc than showed on the film. I arrived at LSI at 6:15 AM

> this morning. I was prepped, had an IV inserted in m hand and met

> with about 3 people including the anestheologist. I walked into the

> operating room at 7 AM and was brought out at 10:30 AM. I was given

> shots in the back much like a dentist would do in the mouth and was

> kept mildly sedated by the anestheologist. The worst pain during

the

> entire operation was when the IV needle was inserted.

>

> I stayed in the recovery room for 1 hour and was sent home. The

> procedures they performed were for 4 facet joints where I had

> arthritis and the L4/L5 area where the performed a laminotomy and a

> foraminotomy both vertically and laterally through about a 1 1/2

> inch opening.

>

> This was my first experience with back surgery. It may or may not

be

> my last. Only time will tell. They estimated that the facet joints

> they cleanedwith a laser should be good until I am 102. That is

good

> enough for me.

>

> I know this, it is now about 3PM and I have been totally pain free

> since I came home. I walked about 100 yards pain free when I got

> home and I have not been able to do that for a long time. I plan on

> taking about a 30 minute walk later today.

>

> Would I do it again? You bet. Would I recommend Laser Spine

> institute. I sure would. They have done everything they have said

> they would do and I am now pain free. I go back tomorrow afternoon

> for a dressing change and some exercise routines.

>

> Your mileage may vary.

>

> Peace to all .

>

> Fred Gharis

>