Re: Re: laser disc fusion?

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I'd ditto 's post, one opinion, getting more would be a good idea. While the profile I found on Keenan shows him to be a SRS member, when looking on the SRS site I didn't find him. Only two doc's listed for our needs listed in Portland, Antezana 800-421-1101, and Hart 503-494-1495. A gal from our Group used Dr. Jeffery Flemming a few years back, don't have his info right now, just google it.

 

This is complicated stuff, be sure to get a the very least two opinions, and you may have to travel out of state. I'd put the docs at UCSF top on my list in the west, for opinions.

 

If things don't ring true, or if research brings up question marks, move on. If I had gone with the first opinion I saw when I was in the beginnings of Flatback, I would have had one of my Harrington's hooks removed, not the needed revision I got later, and I would have been a mess. If ones gut says something doesn't fit, or ring true, move on, you are given a reasoning mind for a reason. Believe me, many of us have gotten opinions that just didn't ring true, or correct, and we passed on that surgeon. I saw over 20, in the 80's and 90's looking for answers. Today, with the internet, groups like ours, and doc's knowledge and experiece increasing in this area, the good doc's doing this work are known, and available. Dr. Keenan maybe correct that DDD is the problem in you, but I'd want that confirmed by at least one more doc. I think you are saying that other sources brought you to the mimally invasive laser surgery idea, I doubt most docs would suggest that below a long fusion, as extending the fusion mass to the sacrum is usually the norm. We did have a gal in our group get an atrifical disc below her fusion mass, a HUGE mess, there was an experiment that didn't go at all well, and she ended up with more and more surgery to correct that mess.

 

I say, when you have done your homework, research, and have gotten opinions, you will know when you have found your doc, there is a peace that comes from finding YOUR doc. Know all of us have been in the search mode just like you, and wish you luck!

 

 

 

 

 

On Mon, Sep 13, 2010 at 9:48 AM, rebeccamaas <rebeccamaas@...> wrote:

 

Hi ,In my non-medical opinion, I would suggest that you find a way to get another opinion from one of the surgeons spoken of on this list who has more experience with patients who have long fusions. What bothered me about your post was that you were told, " my case can't be considered " flatback " because the surgeon who did the fusion in 1982 had the foresight to bend the Harrinton rod somewhat. " I had my original fusion in 1989 with Luque rods, which were a later-generation rod system that was contoured to preserve lordosis and prevent flatback. It didn't work, because many of us " luque " people have indeed developed flatback. So for a surgeon to say that you can't have flatback because you have curved rods is not ringing true with me. Even the newest surgical instrumentation that is curved can cause flatback if not installed correctly. Please consider this man's advice as a single opinion and not necessarily " The Answer " to your medical issues. If you consult with someone who has extensive experience with adult spinal deformities, especially those with Harrington rods, and they have the same opinion, then you'll have confirmation that Dr Keenan was right. But I have serious doubts about his line of reasoning.

And did he suggest the minimally invasive laser surgery for your unfused disks? Perhaps in patients with regular spines, this would be a great option. But for those of us with surgical histories and long fusions, I'd be careful of things like that. You don't want to be their guinea pig for a technique that has not been proven effective for more profound spinal issues such as ours.

Good luck with your search for answers! I wish I had more helpful information for you! >> Hi, Everybody!

> > I just had an intial appointment with Dr. Keenan here in Portland, OR. Among the things I learned are that my case can't be considered " flatback " because the surgeon who did the fusion in 1982 had the foresight to bend the Harrinton rod somewhat. Hmm. While the doctor was exclaiming about what good fortune this was, I was sitting there wondering about the extreme pain that doesn't let up until noon each day.

> > He says this has to do with the two lowest discs (unfused) having degenerative disc disease. I've heard from other sources that this can be dealt with via minimally invasive laser treatments. I did a search in the group's message history, but didn't find much.

> > Does anyone have experience with laser treatments to fuse discs below fusions? Particularly larger Harrington rod fusions? > > Thanks in advance, > > >