no disc = fusion??, was: Re: New to group/finally introducing my family

[Guest guest]

_loangoddess1961@..._ (mailto:loangoddess1961@...) writes: <<

She's right. In some cases you have no choice. Like mine. It took an mRI to

see it though. I had no disk left at all. ...Although I've had dome Serbs I'd

and a lot of pain the surgery did work and I have no more numbness it sciatica

pain.>>

I was scheduled for an L5-S1 TLIF on 12/15 but met with a new neurologist on

12/2 who was finally able to give me some answers regarding the peripheral

numbing and tingling I keep getting. I had a car accident on 7/12/07, somebody

rear-ended the car behind me at 65 mph, plowing her into me. I was the 3rd

and last vehicle involved.

Anyway, after the wreck my symptoms just kept on coming. I've already had a

C5/C6 fusion and am glad I did. I actually gained mobility, which my surgeon

assured me is rare. I also had an L5/S1 MetRx discectomy on 9/29 that failed.

Guess what I'm asking is that you mentioned having no choice due to no disc.

My MRIs have repeatedly proven I am bone-on-bone in the L5/S1 area. My

neurosurgeon insists I need a fusion, but the neurologist asked me to postpone

it

until he could run additional tests to be 100% sure a fusion is needed. I'm

confused. I do recall my PCP saying last year that if spinal surgery is

warranted and not gotten, I definitely run the risk of permanent damage - but

who

do I trust? The people eager to cut or the people eager to treat

" holistically " ? I've already invested over 5 yrs of noninvasive procedures to

get to a

manageable pain level. I was doing great for nearly 3 yrs...then...BOOM. It

took

5 seconds to ruin my life! I'm totally disinterested in investing another 5

yrs, and since this is going to court, I'm kinda playing " beat the clock "

with a fix!

My symptoms include horrific numbing and tingling every day that started

about 3 weeks post-wreck. Initially it was just in my hands and feet but has

spread to my arms and legs. Since I am a barber, I had to put myself out on

disability since August because I kept dropping combs, scissors and razors on my

clients. After my neck fusion, my low back and sciatica problems were nearly

GONE and the numbing and tingling was significantly reduced but never

completely went away. Then about 3 months post-op, my low back and the numbing

and

tingling pains returned with a vengeance, as did my brain " malfunctioning " . I

have difficulty with speech and often can't find vocabulary. It takes me

forever to comprehend things and if there's too much commotion going on, I get

very irritated and can't think. The neurologist is the first doctor of 14 to

diagnose brain damage (brain shearing).

He is also making me think that the brain shearing, numbing & tingling and

low back/sciatica are all connected; which is why I'm afraid to proceed with

my L5/S1 fusion. I was under the impression that they were 3 separate problems.

So, back to my initial question (*sigh*) - sorry- this is also a symptom -

not being able to stay focused and finish ONE topic of conversation...to the

best of anyone's knowledge here...if there is no disc, is it inevitable that a

fusion MUST be done?

Thanks for the input!

Hope everyone had a fantabulous holiday.

Best regards,

Patty A

--------------------------

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[Guest guest]

For some people an artificial disk may work although they may only currently be

done in Europe; I'm not sure. Because of my scoliosis an artificial dusk would

erode for the same reasons the real one did. Because of the severe curve and

twist to my spine. I personally had no choice. You should have good detailed

notes by your doctor. Review them and make a decision since you already have

multiple opinions. If I have a miracle with the Quantim Touch guru ok Monday

I'll let everyone know.

Thanks!

Rhonda

On Dec 26, 2008, at 10:40 PM, NCGorgeous1963@... wrote:

_loangoddess1961@..._ (mailto:loangoddess1961@...) writes: <<

She's right. In some cases you have no choice. Like mine. It took an mRI to

see it though. I had no disk left at all. ...Although I've had dome Serbs I'd

and a lot of pain the surgery did work and I have no more numbness it sciatica

pain.>>

I was scheduled for an L5-S1 TLIF on 12/15 but met with a new neurologist on

12/2 who was finally able to give me some answers regarding the peripheral

numbing and tingling I keep getting. I had a car accident on 7/12/07, somebody

rear-ended the car behind me at 65 mph, plowing her into me. I was the 3rd

and last vehicle involved.

Anyway, after the wreck my symptoms just kept on coming. I've already had a

C5/C6 fusion and am glad I did. I actually gained mobility, which my surgeon

assured me is rare. I also had an L5/S1 MetRx discectomy on 9/29 that failed.

Guess what I'm asking is that you mentioned having no choice due to no disc.

My MRIs have repeatedly proven I am bone-on-bone in the L5/S1 area. My

neurosurgeon insists I need a fusion, but the neurologist asked me to postpone

it

until he could run additional tests to be 100% sure a fusion is needed. I'm

confused. I do recall my PCP saying last year that if spinal surgery is

warranted and not gotten, I definitely run the risk of permanent damage - but

who

do I trust? The people eager to cut or the people eager to treat

" holistically " ? I've already invested over 5 yrs of noninvasive procedures to

get to a

manageable pain level. I was doing great for nearly 3 yrs...then...BOOM. It took

5 seconds to ruin my life! I'm totally disinterested in investing another 5

yrs, and since this is going to court, I'm kinda playing " beat the clock "

with a fix!

My symptoms include horrific numbing and tingling every day that started

about 3 weeks post-wreck. Initially it was just in my hands and feet but has

spread to my arms and legs. Since I am a barber, I had to put myself out on

disability since August because I kept dropping combs, scissors and razors on my

clients. After my neck fusion, my low back and sciatica problems were nearly

GONE and the numbing and tingling was significantly reduced but never

completely went away. Then about 3 months post-op, my low back and the numbing

and

tingling pains returned with a vengeance, as did my brain " malfunctioning " . I

have difficulty with speech and often can't find vocabulary. It takes me

forever to comprehend things and if there's too much commotion going on, I get

very irritated and can't think. The neurologist is the first doctor of 14 to

diagnose brain damage (brain shearing).

He is also making me think that the brain shearing, numbing & tingling and

low back/sciatica are all connected; which is why I'm afraid to proceed with

my L5/S1 fusion. I was under the impression that they were 3 separate problems.

So, back to my initial question (*sigh*) - sorry- this is also a symptom -

not being able to stay focused and finish ONE topic of conversation...to the

best of anyone's knowledge here...if there is no disc, is it inevitable that a

fusion MUST be done?

Thanks for the input!

Hope everyone had a fantabulous holiday.

Best regards,

Patty A

--------------------------

Above text © 2008 PEA. . Any copying, transcription or

redistribution outside this list without express written permission is not

permitted.

**************One site keeps you connected to all your email: AOL Mail,

Gmail, and Mail. Try it now.

(http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp & icid=aolcom40vanity & ncid=emlcntaolcom00000025)

[Guest guest]

Patty,

Hun..I really do think you need a fusion dear. The

longer you wait, the worse it will be and yes you run

the high risk of permanent nerve damage. It's really

not the worst thing in the world. I am so much better

now because of it. I will never be " perfect " , but I've

had nerve impingement for so long and six surgeries. I

had a few " mess ups " , but I'm able to work. That means

a lot. I am not in pain all the time anymore. Mostly

only when it rains pr I do too much.

---

--- NCGorgeous1963@... wrote:

>

>

> _loangoddess1961@..._

> (mailto:loangoddess1961@...) writes: <<

> She's right. In some cases you have no choice. Like

> mine. It took an mRI to

> see it though. I had no disk left at all.

> ...Although I've had dome Serbs I'd

> and a lot of pain the surgery did work and I have no

> more numbness it sciatica

> pain.>>

>

> I was scheduled for an L5-S1 TLIF on 12/15 but met

> with a new neurologist on

> 12/2 who was finally able to give me some answers

> regarding the peripheral

> numbing and tingling I keep getting. I had a car

> accident on 7/12/07, somebody

> rear-ended the car behind me at 65 mph, plowing her

> into me. I was the 3rd

> and last vehicle involved.

>

> Anyway, after the wreck my symptoms just kept on

> coming. I've already had a

> C5/C6 fusion and am glad I did. I actually gained

> mobility, which my surgeon

> assured me is rare. I also had an L5/S1 MetRx

> discectomy on 9/29 that failed.

>

> Guess what I'm asking is that you mentioned having

> no choice due to no disc.

> My MRIs have repeatedly proven I am bone-on-bone in

> the L5/S1 area. My

> neurosurgeon insists I need a fusion, but the

> neurologist asked me to postpone it

> until he could run additional tests to be 100% sure

> a fusion is needed. I'm

> confused. I do recall my PCP saying last year that

> if spinal surgery is

> warranted and not gotten, I definitely run the risk

> of permanent damage - but who

> do I trust? The people eager to cut or the people

> eager to treat

> " holistically " ? I've already invested over 5 yrs of

> noninvasive procedures to get to a

> manageable pain level. I was doing great for nearly

> 3 yrs...then...BOOM. It took

> 5 seconds to ruin my life! I'm totally disinterested

> in investing another 5

> yrs, and since this is going to court, I'm kinda

> playing " beat the clock "

> with a fix!

>

> My symptoms include horrific numbing and tingling

> every day that started

> about 3 weeks post-wreck. Initially it was just in

> my hands and feet but has

> spread to my arms and legs. Since I am a barber, I

> had to put myself out on

> disability since August because I kept dropping

> combs, scissors and razors on my

> clients. After my neck fusion, my low back and

> sciatica problems were nearly

> GONE and the numbing and tingling was significantly

> reduced but never

> completely went away. Then about 3 months post-op,

> my low back and the numbing and

> tingling pains returned with a vengeance, as did my

> brain " malfunctioning " . I

> have difficulty with speech and often can't find

> vocabulary. It takes me

> forever to comprehend things and if there's too

> much commotion going on, I get

> very irritated and can't think. The neurologist is

> the first doctor of 14 to

> diagnose brain damage (brain shearing).

>

> He is also making me think that the brain shearing,

> numbing & tingling and

> low back/sciatica are all connected; which is why

> I'm afraid to proceed with

> my L5/S1 fusion. I was under the impression that

> they were 3 separate problems.

>

> So, back to my initial question (*sigh*) - sorry-

> this is also a symptom -

> not being able to stay focused and finish ONE topic

> of conversation...to the

> best of anyone's knowledge here...if there is no

> disc, is it inevitable that a

> fusion MUST be done?

>

> Thanks for the input!

> Hope everyone had a fantabulous holiday.

>

>

>

> Best regards,

> Patty A

> --------------------------

> Above text © 2008 PEA. . Any

> copying, transcription or

> redistribution outside this list without express

> written permission is not

> permitted.

>

>

>

> **************One site keeps you connected to all

> your email: AOL Mail,

> Gmail, and Mail. Try it now.

>

(http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp & icid=aolcom40vanity & ncid=emlcntaolcom00000025)

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>