Considering laser cervical spine surgery for 2 herniated discs, post op 2004 discectomy, fusion, plate;?
824866
I was in the same boat, 2 surgeries and all was well...crashed racing again then......had 2 world class neurosurgeons that wouldn't touch me saying surgery at this point will damage more tissue. After about 6 years of nasty death inducing pain, it did fuse and go away to a bearable point.\n\nSince then they have come up with a papaya injection. It was too new when I was hurt but may be an option, check into it. It dissolves the disc causing trouble and if in the hands of a skilled Dr... I think it would be the way to go. Few do the procedure  though.\n\nTake care....\n\n\n====================
673807
I would thoroughly investigate this online. They offer reviews from many people that have had the procedure done~good and bad reviews.\n\nPersonally,I have only heard positive feedback on lasik surgery,but not enough people to draw a conclusion from. I think that the benefits far out-way the consequences of the 'what-ifs'.\n\ngood luck to you.
543029
I take a slightly different stand than the previous response, seeings how I work in surgery, and we see a LOT of back/spine surgeries each week. There are even a few people that I work with who have had them, and they all seem satisfied. First of all, I would check out the surgeon, see what type of surgery he or she specializes in and how long they have been doing them. Next, be sure you know what type, ie lumbar, cervical vertebrae, etc are going to be worked on, and then I can give you more info :)
1113707
Well, what kind of surgery have you experienced for your back?\n\nDepending on what has been done, there is an amazing one-time treatment called Atlasprofilax.\n\nJust, if you had vertebraes fixed together it would be a risk!\n\nOtherwise ask a therapist in California - if possible, it's really worth the journey and the costs of approx. 220 dollars.
1076423
Wear glasses or have laser surgery.
38492
I had a L5, S1 herniated disc.  I tried 6 months of physical therapy which helped to a point, but I was still in severe pain at times.  I went ahead and had the surgery and I'm so glad I did.  It took a while after the surgery for the pain to completely go away.  I'm told it took so long (about 9 months) for the pain to away because my sciatic nerve was so emflammed for so long.  Once the disk was removed from the nerve, the pain was eventually gone.  I feel so much better now (2 years later).  I only get minor aches from time to time (mainly in the morning or if it rains outside -- strange I know).  These pains are much more managable than the constant shooting pain I had with the herniated disc.  I definitely recommend the surgery for the long-term.
972102
Many patients travel from United States of America and UK to get low cost of Cervical Discectomy surgery in India. One of the most frequently asked questions when considering the cost of Cervical Discectomy surgery is "how much?" and “what is the price of surgery in India?”\n\n\nOftentimes, patients choose their surgeon on the basis of price. \nThe cost of Cervical Discectomy surgery is very affordable in India and costs are much lower when compared to the United States, UK and other countries. However, since the success of your surgery is largely dependent on your choice of surgeon, cost should not be your main consideration for your decision to undergo Cervical Discectomy surgery in India.\n\n\nI checked out the website of Forerunners Healthcare –which is the premier most medical tourism company in India offering low cost surgery in India to International Patients. They have served more than 400 International patients from across the globe (specially US and UK) to get low cost affordable surgery in India at the best Hospitals and Medical Institutions. And the general price of the Cervical Discectomy surgery is as follows-\n\nThe Cost of Cervical Discectomy surgery in India is $ 4600.\n\nhttp://www.forerunnershealthcare.com\n\nIn India, any licensed medical doctor can perform Cervical Discectomy surgery. To avoid unsatisfactory results, it is best to choose a surgeon who has completed an accredited residency-training program in Cervical Discectomy surgery. He should have extensive experience in the procedure you will undergo. That’s when Forerunners Healthcare come into picture-helping you get the best surgeon for your surgery at the most affordable prices in the best Hospitals of India.\n\nYour surgeon's skill can make all the difference between a good and an average result. Thus, although it is understandable that price is one of the considerations in your choice of surgeon, it is important to remember that the main consideration should be your surgeon's professional qualifications and experience.\nBesides that you should look into other issues related to traveling abroad, which is your visa, passport, climate, cultural issues and language barrier. Although language is not a problem in India –as most of the people are well verse in English. But you should make sure that you have a reliable hand holding person to guide you through the various steps of getting medical treatment and surgery in India.\n\n\nHope this helps.
878095
Honey I've been through 5 lumbar fusions. It's good that he's going to remove the hardware while he's in there. You feel much better without it. However, if the original fusion isn't solid, he'll have to replace the hardware when he does the revision. It is also very common for the disc spaces above & below the site to also have problems because they are under more stress than before. When you end up with a fusion at multiple levels believe it or not they become stronger. Although the pain squarely in the middle of my lower back is still present, the pain that I had that radiated down my leg is gone. I say go for it honey, you really have nothing to lose & quite a bit to gain. Especially if pain control is your objective.
1050214
Although I am not male, I think disc problems are the same.\n\nI have had ruptured discs at L4, L5 & S1.\n\nFirst doctor tried medication, did this for 2 years and I only got worse.\n\nNext I went to a pain center (by this time I was in a wheel chair).  I was starting to get better with therapy and disc injections, but then I had a set back.  Pain doctor sent my to a surgeon and by this time my left leg was completely numb.  He did a lamonectomy (not sure if I spelled it right).  This is where they remove the herniated part of the disc.  I was back on my feet in about 3 days and coaching little legue ball.  I was fine for about a year and then it happened again.  Doctor said he could not tell me why, but part of it had to do with my genes. (I am 3rd generation on both sides with the same disc problem.)  This time he did a spinal fusion.   This is where they remove the bad discs and fuse the vertebrate together.  That has been over 5 years ago and I have not had one single problem with my back. \n\nI will tell you , like I was told by many people that had the same surgery.  You will have problem with your hip where they get the bone to fuse the vertebrate.  I am like a human berometer (sp).  LOL
62949
depends on what you are talking about.  Straighten, like a spine with scoliosis?  There are surgeries for that, and Pitts. actually has great IOM techs that will moniter your spine surgery so you aren't left paralysed. So I guess I need more info to better help you.
964831
After 3 years I think you deserve  a specialist's opinion. I am not ,but I think you got the level wrong...C is cervical and would be neck, arm, or upper back. You are entitled to your X-Rays and you should see a Physiatrist (not Psychiatrist) or Orthopod
505898
I am going to a chriopractor and love him.  Check around and find one highly recommended.  I also have had two back surgeries. I take neurotin for the jumpy nerves in my legs and percocet for pain.  The pharmacist told me there is nothing formulated for fibro. pain, but this helps a little. I am a firm believer that your spine must be aligned.  It may not give you total relief ((nothing will) but it sure has helped me a lot and it is relatively cheap in the medical field.   Remember ask around and get one highly recommended, don't just pick one out of the phone book.  Good Luck two year sufferer
939665
yep. sure, here's one...\n\nand another one...\n\nOh, and my wife has some...\n\nOK?  Did you get all that?  Now, about scoliosis and the massage technics for persons with it...\n\nand be careful about anyone with a broken back that has since \n'healed'...  \n\nLike this...  \n\nHTH!\n\nNext week, Swedish Massage, and then, Reflexology!\n\nWe could condense these different two year long courses down to a few cool moves, right?
1044201
Two of my patients have got spinal surgery in India.One was treeated for spondylolistheis by spinal fusion and the other for disc protrusion by microdiscectomy.Both of them are very happy with the results.Their pain and other symptoms due to nerve compression have totally gone.\n\nSpinal Surgery is very cheap in India.There is one company that is very famous in India that arranges spine surgery for foreigners in India.They are called the Forerunners Healthcare.I read a lot about them in the Newspapers and about their patient stories.I have also read that they arrange financing for american and canadian patients as spine surgery is not covered by insurance.They also have photos pasted of their International patients.You can checkout their website.\n\nThe cost savings are incredible.As a doctor i personally believe that your spine surgery can be easily handled in India as the quality of healthcare available here is simply best in the world.The surgeons are USA/UK trained and facilities are 5 star.both my patients had gone to India through the forerunners healthcare company.The spinal fusion patient stayed in INdia for about 20 minutes and the microdiscectomy patient for about a week.hope this helps
304715
Hi Mary,\nThat's a rough surgery. As an x-ray tech I've seen a lot of cervical fusions. Like every other kind of surgery, some people due well and some don't. And let me tell ya, if you have a surgeon who is suggesting a c6-c7 fusion, he or she is thinking that's the only thing left to do. Because surgeons do not take cervical surgeries lightly. So if you have faith in you surgeon, you might listen to him. Or you can get a second opinion. That's good too.\nOf course I'm not a doc, so see as many of them as you need to to feel comfortable with your decision. Good luck!
151118
Since no one else has answered you, and I have had a similar injury, I thought I'd offer you my experience. I am not a medical expert, just a survivor. My injury was L3 L4, and the disc blew up! In other worded it was not your standard slipped disk. They could not do the laser surgery on me, partly because it was not yet approved but mostly because of the number of disk fragment sthat they had to remove. Prior to the surgery I spent 8 weeks flat on my back while they figured out what was wrong with me, i.e. orthopedics, medical and finally surgical. I had lost all use of my right leg, including the feeling from the hip down, and was starting to loose bowel function. They did the full laminectomy, and sent me home from the hospital the next day. I asked for PT or some kind of rehab but they refused. For the next five years I had to fight on my own to regain use and control of that right leg. For ten years I had a noticable limp. To this day there are certain movements I just cannot do. And the hip is still bad with rampant arthritis. Three years ago I had a relapse, and after the same surgeon did the x-rays and MRI's he said he could not do anything to help me, and that I no have spinal stenosis from L2 down. You should see how little bone mass there is in that picture. It's scary! Anyway, I went to my local gym who has a healthy back program, using Medx equipment. I rehabbed with that program, and am as functional now as I was 5 years after the surgery. If you have a program like that I would seriously check it out before agreeing to surgery. The program at my gym has prevented a lot of surgeries, and has an 85% success rate. They train surrounding muscle to support the bones, and carry the weight. We once trained a dog the same way who was born with hip dysplasia bad enough they wanted to put him to sleep in his first year. He lived to 17, and passed away as a result of an auto injury, not his hips.\nSorry this was so long but your husband needs to know there are options to surgery, and not just PT. Good luck and feel better. I do understand your pain and confusion.
887715
I have had 5 surgeries on my spine (3 cervical)(2 lumbar), whatever feeling wasn't back after 6 months, never came back.  My surgeries were in '95, '98, '99, 01 (x2).\n\nI would guess that since it's been 3 years, you will not gain feeling back from those damaged nerves.