Penguin Update

[wpbfjr]

Have you tried alternative non invasive medical ways to help repair this? As you know there are doctors that specialize this
form of medicine, maybe it is wortha look at.

I hae known several people that have had that done to them and none were an improvement,some got worse.

i thought this, too... consider an osteopathic physician that specializes in "OMT" osteopathic manipulative therapy... i've seen it work, my friends OMT practice is growing, and those he can't help he does not charge for the visit...$325 usd for one full hour....

dana

 

[Kevin Daly]

The word from the Neurologist is that I have a herniated disc at C5-C6, which is pressing on my spinal cord. The disc needs to be removed and the two bones fused. Insurance approval will be done today, then I have to wait for a letter from the surgeon and schedule an appointment.
It's possible that the work may be done at the hospital where I work, by one of the neurosurgeons that I know and work with.

Jill

in a way your lucky Jill, at least your going to get some resolution. some of us get stuck in herniated disc pergatory and get stuck living with it.

-Sorry just trying to put a positive spin on a lame situation good luck!!

 

[feejer222]

Hi Jill,

Not been on here for a bit and was just about to start a thread about you. Take care thinking of you, let me know as soon as you know dates eh?

Graham.

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

Well, I bet keeping your chin up won't be a problem with that thing around your neck

We are all hoping you heal well and quickly!!

 

[git-r-dan]

Prayers your way that you're going to be as good as new in no time.

 

[jeremybhm]

Owwwwieeeeee!!!!
Is that as a result of an injury, or just some degenerative thing?

Who knows? It could be age related. I'm 45 and have heard of younger people needing this done. My job involves a lot of lifting. I ride a lot of miles on my bikes. I got rear-ended about ten years ago. The other driver was doing about 60mph and I was stopped. The force was enough to total both trucks. The ER doc at the time said I was OK.

I'm guessing it's a cumulative effect of all of the above.

Thankfully, I'm OK with idea of surgery. The hospital environment is a familiar one for me. I want to get this show on the road, so I can start the healing, and get back to the bikes.

Jill

My mother is a physical therapist assistant, and she's had two back surgeries from all the heavy lifting over the years. One was in her neck, the other her lower back. She seems much better now though, hope your surgery goes well.

 

[Fairlaner]

Bummer Jill.

Good luck with the surgery and be thankful you are not waiting for this in the UK.

R

 

[Last Chance]

Gunny all the well wishes X 100. You are taking your Calcium aren't you!

At least you know who's going to do the work and YOU will do great!!!!

Keep us all informed and let us know if we can help in any way.

Best,

LC

 

[AdrianNKY]

Jill,

Thank you for sharing what is going on and trusting us with the information. First off, I'm confident you will come out of this in tip top shape dragging your pegs through the process. We've recently gone through a similar situation with a very close friend of my wife's who was on the "very bad" side of the spectrum. She ended up going to Germany for replacement disc surgery and still has other issues to this day.

Of course you're in a much better position due to your line of work and knowledge level with such things. Armed with all the information you'll make the right decision for you and will come out on top I'm sure of it.

It's great in situations such as this to have such direct access to the staff such as you do which certainly must help with the process.

I'll be sending you some positive vibes!

 

[Bluestreek]

Hoping the surgery goes well and a speedy recovery

 

[Toecutter]

Hoping the surgery goes well and a speedy recovery

Gunny from here! Best wishes for a full recovery.

 

[RsvlFeej]

The word from the Neurologist is that I have a herniated disc at C5-C6, which is pressing on my spinal cord. The disc needs to be removed and the two bones fused. Insurance approval will be done today, then I have to wait for a letter from the surgeon and schedule an appointment.
It's possible that the work may be done at the hospital where I work, by one of the neurosurgeons that I know and work with.

Jill

Yikes! I'm with the well-wishers in the previous posts. GOOD LUCK! I had a laminectomy (discectomy) in Dec. '05 @ L5-S1. Like you, the nerve root at the spinal cord was getting pressure from a herniated disc. Surgery went great, physical therapy wasn't bad, and I'm still a happy camper.

Prior to the injury that required surgery, I'd had very good results from a chiropractor (about 10 years of adjustments), but this injury did not respond to chiropractics, minimally responded to acupuncture, mocked muscle relaxants, didn't even blink at handfulls of vicodin, and allowed minimal relief with ibuprofen at doses well beyond recommended, so surgery was the only option I felt I had left.

And now for the inevitable $.02 - Any chance you can get the discectomy without the fusion? While doing admittedly anecdote-based research prior to my surgery, it seemed most of the back surgery horror stories I heard involved bone docs instead of neurosurgeons (so you're already 9/10 on the right track); any chance of broaching the possibility of no fusion with him/her without putting the surgeon on the defensive (I obviously know zero about your particular case, but if the doc is receptive to questions, might be worth posing that one)?

In any case, good luck,

RsvlFeej

 

[snikr]

Hoping the surgery goes well and a speedy recovery

GUNNY here as well.

Tom

 

[Last Chance]

GUNNY on hoping for a quick recovery and GREAT results!

But, That's a given with your attitude and the fact you are "Just a kid!".

LC

 

[NightShine]

The word from the Neurologist is that I have a herniated disc at C5-C6, which is pressing on my spinal cord. The disc needs to be removed and the two bones fused. Insurance approval will be done today, then I have to wait for a letter from the surgeon and schedule an appointment.
It's possible that the work may be done at the hospital where I work, by one of the neurosurgeons that I know and work with.

Jill

Funny how life works out. Sometime back you'd mentioned that you had opted not to attend WFO in favor of spending your money on another vacation venue earlier in the year. Good call!

Be well!

 

[Silver Penguin]

Funny how life works out. Sometime back you'd mentioned that you had opted not to attend WFO in favor of spending your money on another vacation venue earlier in the year. Good call!
Be well!

'Aint that the truth? We re-arranged a lot of other things so that we'd be able to take that vacation, and we're very glad we did.

I saw the surgeon today. He is going to do the spinal fusion at his earliest convenience, which will be either Weds or Thurs of next week.

In 95% of cases, it's a straightforward procedure with a one night hospital stay. The next month requires a hard brace to be worn when out of bed. After that, all restrictions are off if the x-rays look OK.

Jill

 

[scubatech]

Hi Jill, My wife had one fusion dine about five years ago. Unfotunately it didn't hold. So the next year she found a fabulous surgeon in Colorado Springs, who did all five with Cadaver bone. The surgery turned out perfect. She is 100% and has hardly any restrictions. She said the moment she awoke from anestesia there was no more pain. So it was the best thing she ever did. Good luck.

Ken.

 

[Silver Penguin]

Hi Jill, My wife had one fusion dine about five years ago. Unfotunately it didn't hold. So the next year she found a fabulous surgeon in Colorado Springs, who did all five with Cadaver bone. The surgery turned out perfect. She is 100% and has hardly any restrictions. She said the moment she awoke from anestesia there was no more pain. So it was the best thing she ever did. Good luck.
Ken.

Thanks for the reassurance Ken. I'm glad that your wife had a good experience. The surgeon I have chosen will use cadaver bone. He explained the risks and benefits to me. I've seen a lot of this guy's work, on the patients that I take care of. He is a skilled, experienced artist. I'm just counting the days now, until the healing process begins.

Jill

 

[throttlejockeyTJ]

Have you tried alternative non invasive medical ways to help repair this? As you know there are doctors that specialize this
form of medicine, maybe it is wortha look at.

I hae known several people that have had that done to them and none were an improvement,some got worse.

i thought this, too... consider an osteopathic physician that specializes in "OMT" osteopathic manipulative therapy... i've seen it work, my friends OMT practice is growing, and those he can't help he does not charge for the visit...$325 usd for one full hour....

dana

Sorry to hear this. I know from a Mother & Sister whom worked in Hospitals, they wouldn't want an operation where they worked. My back is in spasms at the moment, so I understand the pain. I wish you a full & complete recovery. TJ

 

[Checkswrecks]

Thought you might find some relief in knowing of other successes. My kid sister did the fusion thing and is riding horses again. Get past the surgery, heal fast, and thatnks for keeping us up to date.

Bob