Guest guest Posted June 7, 2004 Report Share Posted June 7, 2004 Hi All, Sorry I was unable to attend the luncheon but hope it will become at least a qurterly event... I know I corresponded with on some of this last month,but I am looking at all my options and would love to draw on the fullness of the " Fiesties " experiences. The main complaint that got me to my flatback diagnosis really had to do with stenosis......big time muscle spasms in buttock. Currently they are contained during the morning/afternoon with NSIADs all through afternoon/evening period is pretty intensly painful. Dr. Rand has proposed ultimately to do the staged back-front-back decompression/instrumentation surgury....eventually. He suggested an epipidural might alleviate some of the intermediate symptoms. So I have spent alot of time searching for answers re: choices. It occurs to me that I should be considering just doing the decompresion surgury for now and saving the rest for later.....I have less than two years left on a career in which narcotic pain killers are NOT permitted (I am an air traffic controller). Most of you who have gone the full revision route seem to have varying experiences with the need for narcotic pain relief post surgury and that is worrisome to me. Since my main complaint, by my research at least, seems like it could be alleviated by addressing just the stenosis...why not take it one at a time I am thinking...so to make a long question longer....should I make another appt. with Rand (before I go the epidural rte) and see if there is an appropriate half-step....and have any of you taken that approach with success? I did correspond with a Dr. Bitan down in NYC about the possibilites for Arti Disc. (lumbar,post-fusion) and he said he would be able to evaluate me for that in Sept.....the impression I got was the FDA will have made some decision by then. ( Also any input on Dr. Fabian Bitan is welcome!) Time...I guess I am really just trying to buy as much time as possible before I give up on good ol' L-5/S-1!!! any input thoughts are welcome. It goes without saying that I understand that your will only be offering opinions and not medical advice and Yaddah, Yaddah, Yaddah!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 7, 2004 Report Share Posted June 7, 2004 Hi... My understanding is that decompression without fusion will destabilize the spine in people with scoliosis. I think it's a good idea to address this with Dr. Rand. -- > Since my main complaint, by my research at least, seems like it could > be alleviated by addressing just the stenosis...why not take it one > at a time I am thinking...so to make a long question longer....should > I make another appt. with Rand (before I go the epidural rte) and see > if there is an appropriate half-step....and have any of you taken > that approach with success? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 7, 2004 Report Share Posted June 7, 2004 BUT, many of use had a number of good years on our natural discs, unstable as the situation was. Which makes me think, if the artificial discs are enough like the natural ones, their use might allow a surgeon to decompress us without depriving us of that last little bit of mobility and shock absorption. At least this is my hope, and one reason I'm holding out on surgery. Re: decompression surgury Hi... My understanding is that decompression without fusion will destabilize the spine in people with scoliosis. I think it's a good idea to address this with Dr. Rand. -- > Since my main complaint, by my research at least, seems like it could > be alleviated by addressing just the stenosis...why not take it one > at a time I am thinking...so to make a long question longer....should > I make another appt. with Rand (before I go the epidural rte) and see > if there is an appropriate half-step....and have any of you taken > that approach with success? Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with Harrington Rod Malalignment Syndrome. Not medical advice. Group does not control ads or endorse any advertised products. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 7, 2004 Report Share Posted June 7, 2004 Hi Sharon... I agree. I was referring to decompression alone. It seems to me that decompression with artificial disc would be comparable to decompression with fusion. -- > BUT, many of use had a number of good years on our natural discs, unstable as the situation was. Which makes me think, if the artificial discs are enough like the natural ones, their use might allow a surgeon to decompress us without depriving us of that last little bit of mobility and shock absorption. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 7, 2004 Report Share Posted June 7, 2004 Yes, I was wondering about the stabilization thing, but like Sharon, it does make sense to me that the lumbar ADR may offer the same level of support as a natural disc...and I know we had a fiesty on here not long ago from England who was offered ADR below her fusion. I can't help but hope things are evolving. I sent an email to Stenum Hospital in Germany who recruit patients from the US for ADR to see what they have to say...at least they have a long track record. I'll keep you updated. No one heard of Dr. Fabian Bitan? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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