Re: spine shortening surgery (Chip, i got good news)

[Guest guest]

Jan,

Sorry for now answering sooner. It's been a while since I checked in.

That's great news for Marit. She sent me an email the other day letting me

know.

Hopefully your doctor will agree to do the surgery for you as well.

Keep us updated.

Chip

Sent from my iPad

> Hello Chip,

>

> Today i got a appointment with my rehab doktor.

> And gues what, Marit (you know her allready) a dutch friend.

>

> She had the same with our neurosurgeon.

>

> He has a good orthopedic surgeon and they talked many times about it. He has

> done with success but never for a tetheredcord after having read your

> stories but he said that we have long been problems with bladder and kidney

> and that this is not just disappear because the already damaged. But he

> gives a chance of succeeding.

> So Marit got YES.

> She know i am put it on the forum.

>

> And now I, I, too, albeit with a lot of risk. Also advised to talk with him.

> But my doctor is revalalidatie not really sure. " when my back under the

> knife was " then I did not really know. I asked him the question against. Now

> what if you had too much pain. and the doctor can not treat the TC?

>

> He gave me the same, but told me if it goes wrong, you're in a wheelchair

> and I'd rather not see that happening.

> Eventually he gave me the same so I will hopefully have the second operation

> in which the Netherlands will.

> We went there both for after I had read your story.

> If half years after I have less pain now, I am more than satisfied. Of

> course I hope for better results.

> I will soon make an appointment.

> Marit will go after everything has been processed. sure to inform you

>

> -----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----

> From: Kellie

> Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2011 4:01 PM

> To: tetheredspinalcord

> Subject: Re: spine shortening surgery (vertebral osteotomy

> subtraction)

>

> Thank you for the info Chip.

>

>

>

>

> Subject: Re: spine shortening surgery (vertebral osteotomy

> subtraction)

> To: " tetheredspinalcord "

> <tetheredspinalcord >

> Date: Wednesday, August 10, 2011, 1:08 PM

>

> Sue,

> I don't walk with a cane or crutches. On good days you can't tell that I

> had the surgery at all.

> I believe I am the patient he is talking about and that there might have

> been some misunderstanding. For 20+ years I have had leg cramps that feel

> like charlie horses (with no muscle contractions). I am having an increase

> in the numbers of these, but am assuming it's med related. I'll have to

> contact him again to clarify. I had a CT in June and there is no issues

> with the rods and screws.

> My cord will always be tethered. The surgery wasn't in the area where my

> cord is tethered. I'm tethered at L3-4 and this surgery was from T10 to L2.

> Like I said, I do still have issues, but I still think it was well worth the

> pain and time to have had the surgery. I hope my misunderstanding with my

> doctor hasn't discouraged you or anyone else. For me, this was still the

> right thing to do.

> I will send you those papers back channel.

>

> Chip

>

> ________________________________

>

> To: tetheredspinalcord

> Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2011 12:20 PM

> Subject: Re: spine shortening surgery (vertebral osteotomy

> subtraction)

>

> Hi Chip, Thank you for replying so quickly. And yes I would like to read

> those papers you have. Can you email the papers to me?

> I'm not bed ridden yet put have more pain than before and can't sit as long

> or walk (with crutches) as far as i used to. Also have bladder and bowel

> issues. I use a motorized wheelchair for distance, like in a grocery store.

> Do you use crutches or a cane at all?

> Dr. Chi told me that my scoliosis and tethering is worse, more involved,

> than the 3 tethered cord patients he has worked on (guess that includes

> you).

> I'm glad to hear that it helped you. My concern is that the patient he

> operated on 1 and half yrs. ago called him last month and is having symptoms

> again. But Dr. Chi couldn't tell me if the cord was retethered as the

> patient hasn't had an MRI yet.

> Thanks again Chip. I look forward to reading those papers.

> Sue

>

>

> >

> > Sue,

> > I had this surgery done in June 2010. Â Dr. Chi did the surgery. Â Like

> > you, it was my last resort. Â Thus far, it has done wonders for me. Â

> > Just before surgery, I was just about bed ridden and had to take a lot of

> > pain meds just to get through the day. Â I still have some issues, but I

> > can get through the day without too much difficulties. Â

> > I was in the hospital for 8 days, and then in an inpatient rehab center

> > for 8 days. Â I was told to expect about 3 weeks of rehab, but things when

> > very well for me.  Â

> > I have several papers about this type of surgery if you would like them,

> > just let me know.

> > Chip

> >

> >

> > ________________________________

> >

> > To: tetheredspinalcord

> > Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2011 10:20 AM

> > Subject: spine shortening surgery (vertebral osteotomy subtraction)

> >

> >

> > Â

> > Hello all,

> > It's been a long time since I posted here but have checked messages from

> > time to time.

> > My last detethering surgery was 9 years ago, it was my third surgery since

> > 1987. Last year I started having symptoms again and this spring I emailed

> > Dr. Proctor in Boston about them. He referred me to Dr. Chi in

> > Boston. I saw him Monday 8/8/11. I expected to hear about the traditional

> > detethering surgery and the possibility that it could not be done this

> > time due to higher risk of damaging nerves, my age (57) and diabetes.

> > However, Dr. Chi told me about a new surgery for tethered cord, spine

> > shortening surgery.

> > I have to have an MRI to make sure there is nothing else going on but it

> > sounds like this surgery is my only option, other than just not having

> > surgery at all and getting worse as time goes on.

> > Has anyone had this surgery? or know someone who has had it? I searched

> > for info and found a few abstracts about it.

> > Dr Chi has done this surgery on 3 people with tethered cord and has done

> > this surgery on dozens of patients for other problems.

> > Any info would be greatly appreciated.

> > Sue McWha

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >