(No subject)

[Guest guest]

To those just getting 1st MRIs or trip to ortho surgeon,

i recommend that in addit to asking this forum re: basic info, you start

devouring resources, reading day and night. i spent so much time reading b4

surgery (wish i spent more time doing this b4 steroid injections- one of which

was done on wrong side, the other w a year old MRI)

the first is a website (connected to this forum) w tons of articles written by

docs and peer reviewed prsenting all probs in laymans terms- can easily spend

10hrs here

1) www.spine-health.com/

2) do amazon searches- there r hundreds if books w very specific helpful reviews

3) do web searches on your specific problem- but go to sites of reputable

medical schools for their info pages and links/ resources ( vs a chiropr site or

others w financial motives)

In terms of list of questions, ask why surgery? have all other options been

exhausted, what r consequences of a failed surgery, how many operations just

like urs done each month, be sure to see an ortho AND a neurosurgeon as others

on list have mentioned. Bring a pen and paper and if at all possible a friend to

help u w questions and processing info after.

YOU are, unfortunately, the one who has to gather all the knowledge and make

best decision for u. Recovery from surgery can require a full time nurse /

loving caretaker to be sure u take ur meds, shop, cook, do errands, take care of

kids or animals, etc. Everyone responds differently but neurontin/gabapentin

for nerve pain plus lortab or oxy make me dumb as a doornob or is that

doornail? and forgetful as well as highly distractible. I have a hx of high

achievement in academia and work place and PhD but on neurontin and oxycodone i

function like an indiv w an IQ around 90 w ADD and major depression. U WILL need

help and lots of it for recovery.

Ask PTs and message boards re recovery time as my surgeon said 2/3 weeks and i

was panickingnre slow progress. Come to find out 6 weeks is the norm w NO

bending, lifting, PT execises- just getting urself dressed and walking and

doingnwhatever u can on ur back or standing.

Also, i would and did try everything u possibly can to avoid surgery. Lots of

people out there w bulging discs, arthritus, all kinds of stuff that shows up on

MRI. The docs dont know why some of us have the nerve and muscular probs and

others dont. First, try everything conservat (PT, nerve rx, mild narcotics for

sleep) then if u cannot sleep or fx in ur daily life, what is ur choice ?

Also, rates of success of surgery by type of problem are informative and range

from 40% to 90% effective ( best case)- for 6 weeks of lost income, cost of

copay for a $10-$50,000 surgery, expenses for cleaner, take out/ costco instant

food, spousal missed work days, copays on meds, you really have to be sure your

life sucks bad enough that u will give all these for the chance that u will get

better.

My 10c ( inflation) for what its worth

NeNe