Re: Back surgery - scar tissue?

[Guest guest]

I don't know if this will help or not. My little one had decompression

surgery in January 1997. The scar tissue is causing some of the same problems

that the compression was causing. The problems started within 6 months of

surgery. We are waiting for an additional surgery to rid her of some of the

scar tissue. So, I guess it is kind of a common result of the surgery. Anyone

else? a

[Guest guest]

D', this is the Hoggan Clan mom from Utah. Mandy has had a problem with

heavy scar tissuing also. It does not happen to everyone, where heavy scar

tissuing brings on a reoccurance, but it does happen in, I believe, 12% of

all back surgeries.

Mandy has had to have some repeat surgeries, but the choice was, to let the

scar tissuing continue, the numbness increase until she was paralized, or

have the scarring removed. We, the doctors, and Mandy all opted to have it

removed.

Since everyone is different, it is hard to tell if your problem is similar

to hers or not, but we would be glad to share anything that could help you

in this decision and difficult time.

Sincerely,

Debi Hoggan

mom of the Hoggan Clan

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

" The Kiss of an angel's wings...

is as the touch of a butterfly kiss.. "

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Back surgery - scar tissue?

>From: D' N <dnewt10@...>

>

>Hi,

>

>I am looking for some answers and I hope someone can help me. I had a

>decompression surgery in Oct. of last year. Now, I'm having some

>problems with my lower back and numbness in my legs. According to the

>recent MRI, I have alot of scar tissue. Is this normal for the scar

>tissue to affect my back and legs, so soon? What would the pros and

>cons be if I were to have another surgery?

>

>I would appreciate any information that you may have. If nothing else,

>I may have to make a long trip to see a neurosurgeon. Take care and

>have a great weekend.

>

>D'

>__________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/21/99 3:29:57 PM Central Daylight Time,

dnewt10@... writes:

>

>

D',

May I ask who was your surgeon and where was this done? Was it ortho or

neuro who did the surgery? Very curious as my son who has achondroplasia

needs to have his back decompressed soon?

Thanks.

Trudy (mom to Caleb, achondroplasia, hydro, seizure disorder)

[Guest guest]

a,

Just curious to know who did your daugther's surgery and where it was done?

Also how old is your daugther?

My son is in need of having his back decompressed but want to check out all

aspects of this surgery.

Thanks.

Trudy (mom to Caleb, achondroplasia, hydro, seizure disorder)

[Guest guest]

D'

Hi my name is and I'm a 42 year old achon who also went thru a

lamenectomi surgery last November involving my Sacrum to L 1 and all went

well however I started to have pains in my back and down my left leg in

beginning of March 1999. I went in for a check by the surgeron who did my

surgery in Nov. and he admitted me for the weekend for further test. Well,

to make a long story short, I started to have further problems on the

following. First, I lost all bladder functions and had weakness and a

burning sensation in my legs that day. The doctor order a milogram and found

that the dye would not go any further then L 1 after the injected it at my

secure. The doctor was very concerned and wanted to free me of my pain which

by this time was great. The next morning the doctor performed another

lamenectomi from my secure to T8. Cleaned all the scare tissue and calcium

deposits from my Nov. surgery and inserted to rods running parrell with my

spine and a rod on top and on bottom for a support for my back.

The surgery took 10 hr. to perform and it was quite difficult, but I

survived, however as of today I have not regained my ability to walk without

a walker and am dependent on a wheelchair and Kitchencart for mobility. I

have gone thru approx. 2 months of physical therapy, and as of today I have

gotten alittle better but not much. If I had to do it all over again I may

not have had the first surgery but then I probably would be in a wheelchair

for life, but who knows.

If you are in good shape and have a good group of doctors who have done

surgeries on LP's before and you need the surgery then you'll have to make

the choice. I only wanted to give you one persons opinion on the subject.

If you have any personal questions of me feel free to ask as I would like to

give you as much knowledge prior to making such a tuff decision.

[Guest guest]

Marie,

Hi! I read your post to D' about scar tissue and decompression of the

back.

How old was your son when he had the surgery? Also, was it of the lumbar

area?

How many levels did they do? I was under the impression that Dr. Rigamonti

did the decompressions on achons backs.

Dr. Carson has been my son's doctor since he was 18 months old. He did his

foramun magnum decompression and also did cranial expansions on him as well

due to craniosynotosis when he was 8 years old.

Caleb is having alot of problems with his lumbar area of the spine and didn't

realize Dr. Carson was doing the surgery. Guess I need to give him a call.

... .

Let me know how your son is doing and if he has had any residual effects from

the surgery.

I know sometimes, excessive scar tissue can be due to poor surgical technique.

Thanks!

Trudy (mom to Caleb 12, achondroplasia, hydro, seizure disorder)

[Guest guest]

Hello,

My son had his decompression surgery at s Hopkins by Ben Carson. I

asked Dr Carson about the problem of scar tissue, and he said he used a

technique that minimizes its formation. Although he is a pediatric

neurosurgeon, you should definitely contact his office. The s Hopkins

switchboard number is 410-955-5000. The operator should be able to connect

you to his office. If not, email me, and I can dig it up for you.

Good Luck

Marie

At 01:30 PM 8/21/99 -0700, you wrote:

>From: D' N <dnewt10@...>

>

>Hi,

>

>I am looking for some answers and I hope someone can help me. I had a

>decompression surgery in Oct. of last year. Now, I'm having some

>problems with my lower back and numbness in my legs. According to the

>recent MRI, I have alot of scar tissue. Is this normal for the scar

>tissue to affect my back and legs, so soon? What would the pros and

>cons be if I were to have another surgery?

>

>I would appreciate any information that you may have. If nothing else,

>I may have to make a long trip to see a neurosurgeon. Take care and

>have a great weekend.

>

>D'

>__________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Trudy

was nine months old when he had his decompression surgery. The

surgery was a cervicomedullary decompression. They made his foramen magnum

larger, and did a lamenectomy on the first cervical vertebrae. is

now five, and is doing wonderfully. Before the surgery 's brainstem

was very compressed. Following the surgery Dr Carson told me he didn't know

why he was still alive, he shouldn't have been able to breathe with his

brainstem in that condition. He continued to tell us that since did

so well with his brain in that condition, now that the problem is fixed he

will be perfect, and he really is.

's only obstacle now is obstructive apnea. He has been on oxygen since

18 months, but this summer he began having headaches dizziness, and he was

the same weight and height for the past year. Another trip to Hopkins and a

sleep study found that his apnea was worse. In July we started using a

bipap and oxygen combination. He is doing very well with it. His appetite

and energy level have doubled, and he has only had one spell of headache and

dizziness in the last month.

I thought that Dr Carson did all pediatric neurosurgeries, and Dr Rigamonti

did all adult neurosurgeries. I would definitely call Dr Carson if I were

you.

Good luck

Marie

At 12:03 AM 8/27/99 EDT, you wrote:

>From: Nel1751@...

>

>Marie,

>

>Hi! I read your post to D' about scar tissue and decompression of the

>back.

>How old was your son when he had the surgery? Also, was it of the lumbar

>area?

>How many levels did they do? I was under the impression that Dr. Rigamonti

>did the decompressions on achons backs.

>

>Dr. Carson has been my son's doctor since he was 18 months old. He did his

>foramun magnum decompression and also did cranial expansions on him as well

>due to craniosynotosis when he was 8 years old.

>

>Caleb is having alot of problems with his lumbar area of the spine and didn't

>realize Dr. Carson was doing the surgery. Guess I need to give him a call.

>.. .

>

>Let me know how your son is doing and if he has had any residual effects from

>the surgery.

>

>I know sometimes, excessive scar tissue can be due to poor surgical technique.

>

>Thanks!

>

>Trudy (mom to Caleb 12, achondroplasia, hydro, seizure disorder)

>

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