Guest guest Posted January 19, 2011 Report Share Posted January 19, 2011 Hi Everyone! Yesterday I saw my orthopedic surgeon (specialist in spinal surgery) who did my 4 level, L2-S1, fusion back in 6/07. I am once again having problems w/back and nerve pain in buttocks, legs. I had a myelogram/CT done early Dec and it showed considerable narrowing, herniated disk, spondylolithesis causing spurring all at L1-L2. I understand that it's not unusual to experience instability right above, or below, a fusion. He would open the area and fuse L1-L2. I REALLY don't want to have surgery again esp being that I nearly died 2 days post-op due to a pulmonary embolism. I am scared to death! Dr said they could put in some device, like a net of some sort, that would catch any clots. Is anyone familiar with this? He'd also put me on heparin, followed by coumadin, post op. I was given the option to have an epidural to buy me some time but surgery will have to be done at some point....and possibly more in the future:-( I have the epi scheduled for 1/31. I was thinking of going for a 2nd opinion but I'm sure there are no other options than to do this. Now after reading about this arachnoiditis<sp?> condition I am quite fearful now. I have had several epi's...2 pre-op and 3 since my fusion as well as radiofrequency and the recent myelogram. Have any/many of you had this experience, having to add to a previous fusion? I'd like to hear feedback, opinions, experiences, etc. Thanks for reading and have a nice day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2011 Report Share Posted January 19, 2011 The device is called an IVC Filter (Inferior Vena Cava). It is inserted with a smakk incision in your groin where a guide wire and then a catheter is inserted. They inject a small amount of contrast to ensure they are in the right place (it's all done under flouroscopy). When they have the right spot, they slide up another catheter that contains the filter (it's a titanium web that will attach to the inner walls of your vena cava and catch any clots coming towards your heart and stop them dead in their tracks. It's a minor procedure to undergo and well worth it in regards to the lifetime of protection you will get from it. EVERYONE ELSE ON HERE....this is a prime example of what we have just been talking about. Surgery leads to more surgery which leads to more surgery. The more years you have left on your life, the more surgery you will have. It's in almost all cases an unstoppable cycle. You can only prevent it by not having surgery in the first place. I can personally and professionally vouch for this! The public needs to be educated about the dangers of spine surgery. There are consequences that we can never take it back. Once it's done, it's done. Then you are stuck trying to decide if you want to further handicap your spine by more surgery, because you are in indescribable pain, you don't know what else to do. There are no other viable options besides surgery or pain medication...which has it's own issues and can be near impossible to get. I am 33 years old and have had 6 surgeries over the past 17 years and I'm still in pain. I have had varying degrees of pain, and I'm in better shape now than I've been in a long time, but I battle my back every day. Just getting a good night's sleep evades me. Being able to do the things I love and maintain a job has been elusive. We need to stop this cycle! --- Babbitt From: <piggytails53@...> Subject: Another Surgery:-( spinal problems Date: Wednesday, January 19, 2011, 8:46 AM  Hi Everyone!  Yesterday I saw my orthopedic surgeon (specialist in spinal surgery) who did my 4 level, L2-S1, fusion back in 6/07. I am once again having problems w/back and nerve pain in buttocks, legs.  I had a myelogram/CT done early Dec and it showed considerable narrowing, herniated disk, spondylolithesis causing spurring all at L1-L2. I understand that it's not unusual to experience instability right above, or below, a fusion.  He would open the area and fuse L1-L2. I REALLY don't want to have surgery again esp being that I nearly died 2 days post-op due to a pulmonary embolism.  I am scared to death! Dr said they could put in some device, like a net of some sort, that would catch any clots.  Is anyone familiar with this? He'd also put me on heparin, followed by coumadin, post op.  I was given the option to have an epidural to buy me some time but surgery will have to be done at some point....and possibly more in the future:-( I have the epi scheduled for 1/31. I was thinking of going for a 2nd opinion but I'm sure there are no other options than to do this. Now after reading about this arachnoiditis<sp?> condition I am quite fearful now. I have had several epi's...2 pre-op and 3 since my fusion as well as radiofrequency and the recent myelogram. Have any/many of you had this experience, having to add to a previous fusion? I'd like to hear feedback, opinions, experiences, etc. Thanks for reading and have a nice day.  Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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