Re: Discography/gram? Surgery in NYC 11/3

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathi...

Most people describe discograms as fairly painful. However, it seems

they are an excellent diagnostic tool. You can read about what's

actually done during the test, here:

http://www.drdillin.com/education/basics_dt_discogram.htm

--

[Guest guest]

Dear Kathi,

I'm just guessing here but it seems like Dr. o is doing just one level

and hoping the others hold where Dr. Boachie thinks the other levels are at risk

so it's preventive to fuse them all to prevent going back in later. Anyway,

the discogram should give Dr. o a better picture and he may revise his

plans.

The discogram may also have been done by Dr. Boachie as surgery got closer

but he didn't mention it yet . Or a myelogram before surgery. I haven't had a

discogram, just a myelogram.

I think there can be surprises once a surgeon actually gets inside us and the

plans can change. My surgeon also will use cadavor bone for my anterior (the

first procedure), but will use mine for the posterior. He's not using cages

though. I have heard of procedures doing posterior first but I don't know why

this is reversed. It may be preference.

Just my guesses...

Jolene -revision this winter by Dr. Picetti

[Guest guest]

Dear Kathi,

I don't know anything about Dr. Enrico but Dr. Boachie did my

anterior/posterior revision surgery in November of 2000. I also had seen or

interviewed

many doctors before this surgery as I wanted it to be my last. I am happy to

say I am almost 4 years post op and knock on wood except for some muscle pain

I am doing great. I had one doctor who said he wouldn't even touch me. I

can only go by my experience and others who have used Dr. Boachie and I have

never heard of anything by accolades for him. I thank God almost every day

that I found him as my doctor. He is now treating my daughter and my best

friend's daughter. Different cases than ours, they are both young. Good luck

with your procedure but I would discuss with Dr. Enrico about the possibility

of

having to have another surgery to fuse the rest of the vertebrae down the

road. Who even wants to deal with that. I think we all have had enough.

Kathy

[Guest guest]

Kathi,

I had my discogram end of June. It recreated my pain and they were able to

determine just which degenerated discs were the culprits. The pain in the

buttock was reproduced as well as the pain I experience in my right hip. I left

the discogram amazed.

They numb the site of injection after giving you valium and demerol. Plus some

other med to help the demerol work better.

Maybe they will use different meds in your hospital but it's good to know what

other hospitals use for discogram procedures. So don't be afraid to ask them and

make suggestions.

You'll be just fine. GOOD LUCK!!!

xoxo's

[Guest guest]

Hi Simone,

What a tough decision, deciding whether to fuse all or leave the

healthier disks unfused. Did your doc give any indication what might

lie ahead if you leave those disks unfused, ie, having to go back in

at a later time to fuse them? Is there any sign of deterioration in

them yet? Will they deteriorate faster being the only unfused disks?

I hope after your discogramgraphwhatsit, it will be much clearer

what needs to be done.

By the way, I really liked your webpage. Your wedding pictures were

great!

All my best, Dianne

> Hi Kathy and ,

>

> I went to see a surgeon in the South of Spain yesterday, although

I am scheduled for an MRI to confirm his thoughts, he has also told

me that L4 and L5 may need to be fused as he thinks I have smashed

one of them (as on the x-ray you can clearly see that a piece is

floating about, and not attached to the bit it should be!).

>

> He is taking the MRI to see if my disc (shock absorber has worn

out or he wonders if I exploded it somehow (sounds horrific). He

says that my pain around my lumbar spine is coming from deep inside

where the problem lays and not with my Sacro Illiac Joint ( I was

told it was this in 2000 by another surgeon).

>

> My doctor has suggested to me, if he fuses from where my original

fusion ends (L1), this would not help at all, he would prefer to do

what Errico suggested and only fuse from the vertebrae that is

causing the pain to the Sacrum. I do tend to agree with this; I am

not entirely confident that fusing from where the original ends, is

a good idea, purely because we all need some shock absorbers in life

to help us along and take the jolts, if he fuses from L5 to the

Sacrum, you would still have movement in the remaining Vertebrae and

the remaining discs can still take them jolts.

>

> However, this is only my opinion and how I feel, I too have flat

back and have great pain and have been searching for answers for

many years, I have had my Harrington rod now for 15 years, I was

told my pain was from the Sacro Illiac Joint, but when an MRI was

taken could find nothing, the doctor who told me I had this was in

2000 and gave me the option of permanent injections or numbing the

area where the pain is, I declined and was glad I did!.

>

> I will be interested to know how you get on and what decision you

decide to take, this is my 2nd opinion in 4 years, do you think I

should have another one and see what he says or believe the first

one I meet, I do trust him, he is very nice and we are self funding

(no insurance), so he knocked some money off for me, very nice man I

thought, been practicing Scoliosis for 20 years and he is from

Sweden??

>

> Your thoughts would be appreciated, take care and I hope you find

the answers you are looking for, good luck with your decision.

>

> Simone aka Nutty