i go for another mri on Thursday and depending on the results they will operate again. Since my op i have been in constant pain and my good leg - the right one is now completely paralised in the thigh. I am also now incontinent and have a cathater and bag. They haven't told me what the surgery would be for but they obviously think it can help. Before my surgery i did not have any problems with my right leg.is it worthwhile going through all the pain again for something they may not be able to fix.I've been told to bring overnighht stuff as after my MRI they will  operate the next day.
209449
I think you should talk to your Dr. for the benefits.  They may be able to alleviate some of your problems you're now having, but they HAVE to explain it to you.  Dr.'s are your employees, you are going to them for their expertise in this area.  Of course it's reasonable that you have questions. \n\nGood luck with everything.
629631
Dear Pudgygirl the medical science foresees any problem as potential threat for our bodies or mind. It therefore makes use of all the available technology to confirm that there is no underlying cause of the pain you just mentioned. What we think of as a pulled muscle may have been any thing from a lung tumor to bone tumor to a much benign condition but there was really no way of telling without a xray or CT scan. God forbid what if this pain would have been the earliest sign of a serious underlying disease. In that case after some years you would have been so bitter and angry that why the doctors didn't bother at that time. Please don't think that as a doctor myself I am taking side with my brethren, but this is what goes through a doctor's mind when a patients presents to him. \nHope you understand and though I fully agree that this exuberant amount hurts so bad but in the larger interest of the profession and all of us patients, I would suggest you thank God. and please don't think that you have at the moment, any underlying disease.\nGood luck:) and please smile, will you:)?
538591
I have degenerative disc disease as well. I have had 5 lumbar fusions as a result. Although each was done to repair a different disc space. I do not regret any of them. The pain that I had before the surgery was almost unbearable. The pain that extended down my leg is now gone & I can stand up straight again. This choice however should be made by your mom hon. At her age there are bound to more risks involved. On one hand I know that you want her quality of life to improve. But you should know that it can take a full year or better to recover from this type of surgery.
247056
I had this surgery Aug. 2004 and have lost 115 lbs.  I also had United Health care.  I started my search for a doctor in March, did the required siminars for education; had to have an upper GI, a stress test, see a psychiatrist and lots of bloodwork.  So, totally, it took me 5 months to get all of prerequisits done.  Then, I interviewed with the doctor and he did everything he could to discourage me.  I wasn't discouraged but I was anxious.  I think this a psychological thing to see if you REALLY want this surgery.  It took approx another month for his office to get United to pay for my Rouyn-Y and they paid 100% because I met the criteria.  I did not consider the lap-band because alot of the lap-bands become overgrown with tissue and you require another surgery.  Also you have a saline catheter on your stomach where the doc will increase the fluid in your band and this can get infected.  I know alot of docs that have stopped doing this proceedure because of these problems.  If you have any pre-existing conditions such as back pain, high blood pressure or diabetes you have a better chance of getting the surgery.  You have to be at least 100 lbs. overweight.  Also they will want proof that you tried to lose weight in a "normal" fashion for an extended time.  Like, your Weight Watchers notes or menus; or whatever other thing you tried and how successful you were.  it's a pain in the butt getting everything together, I can tell you that.  But it was worth every minute.  The surgery for me was laproscopic; 5 small punctures that healed very quickly; I was walking the next day alone in the hallway and went home the second day.  They will check for leakages (you drink a fluid and get an exray) and I had none.  AFter that, it was a matter of following a clear fluid diet for a few days, graduating to protein drinks for a couple of weeks and then going to "baby food", ground up protiens in small amounts supplemented by protein shakes and alot of water.  There really wasn't much to my surgery; it was very easy for me.  It's not an easy thing to do or maintain as so many people think.  You use it as a tool to teach yourself how to eat properly. You will feel full with 4-5 bites.  Eventually, you will level out.  I did not feel deprived at all of food. Now I can say that it was one of the BEST things I ever did for myself!!!  I'm very happy with my results and with myself.  My diabetes is under control and I no longer have to take insulin.  My 3-month A1C test was 6.6 last time and it's never been that low.  My blood pressure meds were reduced by half.  I had my knee replaced and I'm walking great by not carrying all of that weight around.  it was really tremendous!  check it out thoroughly and satisfy yourself first.  I made myself sick for nothing preparing for the surgery and it was a breeze.  Good Luck and God Bless...:)
663066
Just continue to keep it elevated and ice it.  I know it's hard to do with a three year old they wait for no one.  I had surgery on my leg with a baby in tow as well. As long as you don't run a fever or feel any other additional pains etc. You should be fine, sometimes you will swell up a few days after but by tomorrow it should go down. If not, then call your doctor again and insist you need to be seen if they take it lightly.   You can barely move your fingers from the swelling so that's not too unusual but again if it worsens and you just don't feel it's right, insist on seeing the doctor. Good luck and fast healing!
616467
Yes it is painful. My boyfriend had to have it for the same reason earlier this year and he was in pain for a week but he only had 7 days off work though. There will be a bit of seepage and the stitches take their time coming out but its ok after 1 or 2 baths per day. Sex is definitely better because it doesnt hurt him anymore and there was no smell either before the op nor after. Recovery period will be 2 weeks tops and you can have sex 4-6 weeks after the op. Hope this helps but have it done you wont regret it. Any further queries just email me. Thanks
552639
You really need to talk to your surgeon if you are having post-operative problems.  You should also talk to your oncologist about your prognosis.
412672
I would probably listen to what the surgeon is saying.  He has obviously performed this type of procedure on many patients before, with success.  Some surgeons have before and after photographs, you could ask if your surgeon has any?\n\nIt is natural for you as a parent to want the best and to be worried about the outcome. Relax a little I am sure everything will be fine.\n\nGood luck!
222673
Years ago, one of the world's leading spine surgeons made this statement at a large medical conference in Las Vegas, Nevada:\n\n"Your first back surgery is your best chance, your second back surgery is your last chance."\n\nYou are done with surgery.  It hasn't solved your problem  (in fact, it may be the cause of your continuing problems).\n\nCouple of suggestions.  First, how many Chiropractic evaluations/consults have you had?  A good Chiropractor may be a very valuable resource for you.\n\nSecond, there is a wonderful book available that explains the many unappreciated causes of chronic pain and how to effectively treat the causes to relieve the pain.  If you read this book, you will understand the many ways that surgery and even pain medications can actually aggravate and cause long-term chronic pain.  \n\nThe book is written by Sherry Rogers, M.D. and is called: "Pain Free in 6 Weeks".  It is available at Amazon.com or from the publisher at 1-800-846-6687.  I highly recommend this book.\n\nBest wishes and good luck.
206762
I am a radiologic technologist, and I do a whole lot of MRIs.  Weekly, I scan people who have already had the spinal surgery which is going to make them "all better."  Yet, here they are back at radiology having more scans because they are no better off and sometimes even worse off.  I do not see the same phenomena with neck surgery.  But, for some reason, lumbar surgery has a high rate of failure.  I also have 3 HNPs with DDD and spinal stenosis.  The only time I would consider lumbar spine surgery is if I thought only death could be worse.  I would make sure I have tried EVERYTHING else....physical therapy, exercise, water aerobics, massage, acupuncture etc.  Once you have spinal surgery, you cannot "take it back."  You are stuck with your decision.  Of course, I could be biased, because I never see the patients who have had successful surgery.  They don't come in for scans because they are "better."  But I have seen enough to know that I would really have to be bedridden and totally out of options to consider surgery.  Good luck to you!
536669
Poor you, I had surgery for mine two years ago and I've had no problems (touch wood!!!).  You can go for the op again, but the likelyhood is that if it came back after the first one it will eventually come back after a repeated one.\n\nI would recommend you get a splint for your wrist and wear it when it is possible to, avoid unnecessary repeated movement in your wrist and try an ice/heat pack for the pain.
567601
Hi, I feel so so so sorry for you, personally if I was you I would sit down with your friends family and the 2 surgeons and just ask them what is the pros and cons.\n\nSurely they will be able to give you some advice on this, you can't go thru all of this without some help or advice.\n\nAlso, ask the neurosurgeon for his advice and just tell him that you don't want to do anything without his approval cos at the end of the day it is your life that will be wrecked not theirs and not your families.\n\nAlso, if your surgeon rings you up ask him to talk to you over the phone and ask him the questions and get him to answer them, if he can and just pour your heart out to him tell him you don't want him to do the 15hr operation.\n\nYour surgeon will do whats best for you he won't let you down over all of these years.\n\nIf he did operate what would happen would you get paralyasis permantely and the blindness will that be permant whatever way you go?\n\nTry asking for a shunt to be put in I know you mentioned it in the additional details but that could save you and does that stay in their for life?\n\nAnyway good luck for this upcoming operation but please really think about it and I hope you get all the answers you need for you to make your decision.\n\nTake your time in thinking about it, it is your life your talking about here not theirs, also I have one more point for you!!!!!!\n\nLets say you didn't have these operations would you go blind? \nAnd also if you had the operations what happens in later life?\nHave you got to have it done again or will the shunt keep the fluid away?\n\nPlease add additional information\n\nThanks and the very best of luck?
358126
There is not much they can do for it. That happened to my dad, the pain very bad so i feel for you. It will go away but you are very suseptable to re-injuring it so regardless of what a Dr may or may not be able to do for you i would speak to one and get up to speed on this type of injury. Make no mistake it is very serious.
609200
HEy, I had the laser surgery august 2005 which is suppose to close the main veing and shrink the others to get rid of them Mine are like really bad well i had the surgery and they came back 2 weeks later and lookin even worse now well in Jan. My leg was hurting really bad i work in a nursing home so im on my feet all the time well any way i went to the ER and tehy did a ultra sound on my leg and told me i have a blood clot in my leg now I was suppose to go in the 29th of this month to have the veins completely removed but i lost my insurance so i had to cancel my surgery....i have pictures after my surgery if you would like to see them you can email me at puppyeyez2000_99@yahoo.com or any other questions i'll try to answer  and i forgot to add i'm only 23  years old
615744
Been there, had it. You do have to wear a support for a few days and ice the area to reduce swelling. That said, overall it's not bad. Right after the surgery I wasn't in the best of shape, but by the next morning I was walking around no problem, and within a few days I was pretty much back to my routine. Very low risk of infection as it's done on an out-patient basis. \n\nSounds like your doc is being cautious, which is not a bad thing. But I had a pretty positive experience overall, and the 'benefits' (no worries) are well worth it!
525943
YESSSSSSSSSSS!!!!  ME!  I had the Spinal Cord Stimulator implanted and it helped me so much.  Unfortunately my body HATED it and rejected it and I had to have it removed.  My surgeon said he had never seen a reaction like mine, so I know it's not normal.\n\nI have had chronic sciatica down my left leg and into my foot for 14 years.  I had surgery to correct a ruptured disc, but it took so long for the doctors to diagnose the bad disc that by then I had damaged the nerve.  Surgery helped with some of the back pain but never helped with the leg pain.  My most recent MRI shows scar tissue wrapped around the nerve root. Surgery really isn't an option because it will just cause more scar tissue to form.\n\nI wish you much luck and good health.  Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
425833
You sound like you got your knee at the same shop my husband got his.  The doctor you need to see to have it evaluated is an Orthopedic Surgeon.   X-rays don't show most of the ails that affect a knee, because most of it involve cartilage or tendons, which don't show up in them.  You could have problems with either the cartilage pad that separates the bones of the upper and lower leg, or a partial ligament tear.  Either of those problems will cause knee pain, immobitility of the joint, swelling, and even the knee to give out and let you hit the deck.   Though I will also tell you that there isn't a lot they can do at the moment if it involves the cartilage.  If it's a ligament tear, that can be repaired surgically.   My husband has a small hole in his cartilage, and a little extra ligament movement, and has a specially fitted brace to wear when it's really giving him fits.  I keep a bag of frozen peas around just for him to use when it swells.  I would bet that you have a similar problem, as his also will snap,crackle and pop, and he actually creaks when he walks.   He takes Motrin for the pain, and wears the brace when the weather turns cold.  Also when he's going to be doing much walking.   We see the Orthopedic Surgeon about once a year to re-evaluate the knees, and for him to decide if it's at the point that surgery would be of benefit to him.  His Orthopedic Surgeon also has two bad knees, and they usually end up comparing noises and clicks.  So I'd say that was your best choice of doctor- Orthopedic Surgeon, and see what he has to say about it.  They may do an arthroscopy to have a look at it, and give you the final diagnosis then, along with your treatment options. They can also fit you for a proper brace then as well.   Good luck, though I hate to tell you knees are real boogers to fix, and fix well.  They make lots of things, but not knees.