recovery from back surgery

[Bad Boy Bad Boy]

Limbo, that is just it. Was the person under treatment at a good time frame. research shows a group of people. I don't think it always includes what one surgeon does compaired to another though. As each surgeon does it different. I have seen many go in and out of PT when I was there with no problems at all. And only seen one with a failed back surgery. And that one was a person that waited or had to wait 3 full years before the surgery took place. The others were treated promply, conservative measures always first, but done in a timely quick fashion.

Now Cycler does have a fusion. I don't know if it worked for him or not. Or was it something where there were no other options left? Maybe he will tell....? But, even if he didn't have the surgery (may never know) would he have been in more pain now, or less????

I was told with my fusions, and shown, it was a threat to my life if I didn't get them done. Yet, I never ever had any pain in my neck. The Nerves were sending the pains to other areas. My neck was said to be Un-Stable. So if a Lower Spine is said to be Un-Stable, really what does one then do? Doesn't sound like much of choice???

[tpm]

Limbo I agree with you. It has become "guilty of WC fraud" unless proven otherwise. Unfortunately I know of a couple of people close to me that are screwing the system for WC benefits and I'm sure some in the medical field are doing the same. But please do not put everybody into that corrupt pile. I myself feel guilty going out the door at times that I'm part of this system and I'm honestly injured.
People should be judged (if one should be) on a one to one basis, Not into this grouping BS
Highdesertguy I hope you find the answers you need and take it one day at a time

[Still in Limbo]

I Agree Bad Boy! When I Had My Very First MRI, it took a Month of PT to get My Muscles Loosened up enough from around My Spine so I could even Lay for an MRI! When the Ins. Co. Dr looked at My Findings, He Said "So I Guess You are Claiming the Herniation at L5/S1, and the 4 Blown out and Dried Discs above it as Your Injury?" I told Him No, just the One Herniated at the Bottom. He said He has seen People on Disability with Less than the 4 Blown Out Discs, let alone the Herniated One!! I Worked every Day with those Blown Out Discs, I just Learned to Live with that Pain, but the One that Blew Left Me Crawling, I couldn't even Stand!! I was Sent to PT First, and the Pain got Worse, the Owner of the PT Facility sent Me Back to the Surgeon because He knew Something was Definitely Wrong, and the Surgeon Basically Called Me a Sissy and a Drug Seeker! The NCM was so Upset She found Me another w/c Surgeon that did the Surgery, and Found the Crushed S1 Nerve Root, that the Other Dr.was Making Me do PT with!! I was Injured 10/04, Surgery 1/05- I Wonder How it May have Turned Out if I had My Own Ins. and Said I want Operated on Immediately, Instead of Making Me Work PT with a Crushed Nerve Root!!

I know and Understand Totally TPM!!!

[1171]

Still in Limbo Wrote:I Skimmed over Both of those Sites 1171, and it Just Makes Me Wonder if Some of the Dr.'s may have Performed Surgery not Necessarily Needed on Patients with w/c vs. a Non-w/c Patient? I know There is Fraud Everywhere, and I'm Sure there are Surgeons that will Cut Anyone if Given the Chance. Just a Thought, I know You and Cycler have a lot of Knowledge on both Sides of the w/c System, but it is a Bit Frustrating when Studies such as These Leave an Actual Failed Back Surgery Patient such as Myself bunched into a Group. Have They Looked at Possibly how Long it took the Patient to get the Proper Medical Care due to Fights and Delays with w/c, as Opposed to Those with Their Own Insurance, that can have the Surgery Quicker, therefor Standing a Better Success Rate?

definately. today's insurance based health care system incentivizes the use of procedures and none more so then surgery.
pills and surgery have escalated as overall health has deteriorated; maybe they are linked.

there is a theory that as the quality of available medicine increases in a society so does risky behavior and riskier lifestyle choices.
Go Evel Knivel and liposuction!

[Cycler]

BBBB;

the one indication for fusion, neck or lumbar, is significant instability (grade II spondylo at least. )

Unfortunately the vast majority of fusions are not done for any instability at all but rather for what is properly termed mechanical back pain, although that term encompasses many common diagnoses of back pain and referred pain patterns of one form or another.

You had significant instability and so a fusion was warranted. Puts you in the minority though. Always best to ask the surgeon if he would do the procedure on his mother.

[Bad Boy Bad Boy]

Cycler, my OCC Med Doctor, and Neurosurgeon, wouldn't even do the surgery, till I learned about the spine, then what was going on with my spine, so I could ask questions that I would understand the answers to them. In a way, forced to learn first. But, I do think it was good thing. And good for all when the time comes.

[Still in Limbo]

My Lower Back is starting to Cause Me a Decent amount of Instability, and I Discussed this With My PM Dr. It was Made Very Clear that a Referral to a Surgeon for a Fusion could be arranged, but it was also Made Very Clear that it will not Help with My Pain at All! So as Cycler says, if Patients are being told Fusion will Help Pain, They are being Sadly Misled in My Opinion!! Bad Boy I Understand Your Situation You have been through He** with Your Injuries, and Your Fusions I know would be Warranted, or You wouldn't have had Them!!

[inpainokla]

i didnt have signifigant instability and the fusion has helped me..i mean i still have a lil pain but no where near what it was before my surgery and the dr sat me down after my disco gram and told me it was up to me as to whether or not i wanted the surgery he said i would eventually need it but totally left the decision up to me if i would have said no i would have walked out of his office and been done with all this..but knew id eventually need it so did it

[kit]

Limbo, you have a good surgeon. Mine told me once I got the fusion the pain would go away. By telling me this it made me want to have the surgery. Had he been honest and told me that due to the bone loss from the first and second discectomy's that the L5-S1 are was unstable and I needed to get that fixed, but It probably won't help your pain, I might have not been so quick to jump on the fusion band wagon. Now here I sit in pain, worse than before, tee'd off because the fusion was supposed to "fix" everything. I now have to make a decision on whether to have my hardware removed, or have a stimulator put in to control the pain. I just wish I would have found this site before I had the fusion.

[Still in Limbo]

So Sorry to Hear of Your Situation Kit!! My Surgeon was an A**, He Prided Himself on a 100% Success Rate, and when I called Him on My Increased Pain after Surgery, and Talked Him into Letting Me get another MRI, when it Showed My Scar Tissue in My Spine and Wrapped around My Crushed S1 Nerve Root He threw a Script at Me, Literally, and told Me "Go Get Shots!!!" I went to My First Attorney's Appt. that Day and Retained Him, as I had done Research before Calling. He then was able Through a Referral System to get Me 10 Second Opinions, and the Last One told Me to See a PM Dr. and get Myself Comfortable!! And that Surgeon was the Re-Surgery Specialist for the Pittsburgh Steelers!! The Dr. that did the Surgery Handles the Pitts. Pirates, so I thought I was in Good Hands!! It was My PM Dr. that set Me Straight!! Best of Luck!!