Back surgery?

[cassiesmom]

Hi Ellie, I am reading your message again, more carefully now that it is getting closer to my second visit with the surgeon and my consult with the second surgeon.

Dr. Brodkey, the neurosurgeon I saw, wrote in his letter about his consultation with me:

--------------->
Impression:
Lumbar spinal stenosis L4-5, L5-S1.
Spondylolisthesis L4-5,L5-S1.
Degenerative disc change L3-4.

.. In her case I would recommend a decompression and a fusion, and the difficulty is to decide what levels to include. In her case, based on her curve and the disc degeneration and facet arthropathy, my feeling is a decompression from L3 to the sacrum would be best for her.
This is certainly a huge undertaking and does carry risk... [and he goes on to detail these..]------

Is this like what was going on with you and the kind of surgery you had?

My brother and sister both advise strongly against having surgery, before exploring and trying every possible non-surgical alternative.

Thanks!

Oh boy, Pat, that is a huge undertaking. If it would relieve your pain, though - it would be worth it. You might want to think about seeing a rehabilitation medicine specialist - two reasons: they might be able to offer you injections or other techniques to decrease your pain. Also- they could give you a feel for what a program of rehab after spinal fusion might look like. (on this point I'm biased; I worked at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago for 8 years ) You'd have to figure out if the benefits would outweigh the risks of surgery. Sending many hugs and will be praying too ..... elyse

[phesina]

Dear Elyse, thank you for your message, and I've already seen a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation specialist, Dr. Steven Harwood. he was referred to me by my Primary Care physician, and he referred me on to the Neurosurgeon.

Dr. Harwood referred me to the Pain Center at St. Joe's (St. Joseph Mercy Health System, with which all these people I've seen so far are affiliated), where I had the steroid shots, three times so far now. They've helped some but not 100%. Dr. Harwood referred me on to Dr. Brodkey, and then after I got Dr. B.'s report, which horrified me, I asked Dr. Harwood what else might be possible. At first (he was on vacation, and my request was relayed to him by his assistant Rebel [yes]) he said, in effect, decide on the surgery or not. I said I'm not ready to decide on the surgery without more information, which she again relayed on. The next day I had a message from her saying he would send me a physical therapy prescription. I got that, called them, and I have my first PT appointment May 14.

Meanwhile I have my follow-up appointment with Dr. Brodkey on Friday, May 2. My sister is coming with me.

I have some questions to ask him, like just how much time do I have before the situation becomes critical. He had said after the first visit that I do have time to explore options.

I also want to ask if he has any successful patients I could talk to .. What is the failure rate, where it doesn't make things better afterwards for the patient.

I will bring up what Ellie said, that she had surgery for the same problem but hers had nothing like my proposed recovery time. Why is there such a substantial difference? What is the difference between a neurosurgeon and an orthopedic surgeon, in terms of treating this?

I have a second-opinion appointment next Tuesday with an orthopedic surgeon in Southfield, MI (Detroit suburb). I can't go to Southfield, or Novi where they also have a branch, for treatment any more than I could do that extensive time stretch of treatment here. This guy is just to get some other surgical information. I'm writing more in my response to Ellie.

Thanks again, and thanks everyone ,,,