[quote]Viking69 wrote:
[quote]Theface wrote:
I’m assuming you mean herniation and not hernia. I would ask to see the study that shows a 95% success rate with ANY back surgery. Also why is he only removing 1/2 of the herniation? Especially if he’s fusing it. I’m not a surgeon either, so I’m not in the best position to 2nd guess what he feels is the best approach, but if I were in your position those are just a few of the questions I would ask.
Study after study I have read shows that you have a 50-50 shot that you’re going to wish you had the pain you have today. The results from surgery and people I talk with in public and those I see in my office (I’m a chiro and ART doc) tend to be around that 50% level too. Surgery may get you back to doing things slightly faster, but your back will never be the same, and you are more likely to have another back surgery than if you went the more conservative route.
Have you tried decompression, or someone who knows a lot about soft tissue treatment to do what they can to help unload the disc as much as possible? You may have to pay for decompression out of your own pocket, but I’d rather pay $7-800 and not have surgery, even if the surgery was completely covered by my insurance.
I tell people there are three reasons to have low back surgery 1- you’re on a high dosage of opiates and pain still bleeds through. 2- You start to lose function in your lower extremity (foot drop, etc) and 3- You start to lose bowel or bladder control (this one is an emergency situation)
If you’re going to have surgery, you need to see a neurosurgeon, or an orthopedic who is a spine specialist and that is absolutely all they do, I would avoid seeing an orthopod who does other things beyond the spine, even if they are a “sports medicine” ortho. If this is going through the VA your choices may be much more limited than other people though, so best of luck no matter what you choose.[/quote]
I agree about the 95% sucess rate being bull. The idea was not to fuse, but to cut out part of the disc and then add a plastic brace that holds the L4 and L5. I have been advised on possibly seeking traction, is that what you mean by decompression? I am in the San Diego area, if you are aware of any specialist in the area who deal with the alternative treatments you are speaking of, I fully plan to seek alternative methods and get another MRI later in the year.
Although my MRI calls for suregery, my pain symptoms are just not there yet, thankfully. Trust me I have no desire for a back surgery and the idea scares me more than just about anything I have personally faced in my life. I am very interested in all alternative methods and if you can compile a list for me I will inquire locally. My choices for a surgeon are almost limitless as this WILL NOT be through the VA thank God… then I might wake up with a left leg missing and my back untouched. I am fortunate that I have alot of options in who I would use if I decide to go the surgery route.
Do you know who the most sucessful neurosurgeon in the US is? ALso, who did Rafael Furcal’s surgery? [/quote]
Essentially inserting a plastic brace would act to fuse those two segments together, so although it isn’t a bony fusion, or a cage, it will alter the kinematics (movement) of that joint. Decompression is a specific form of traction, traction and decompression will sometimes be used interchangably, but at the root they are very different. Decompression is computerized and pull weights and vectors can be altered.
I can point you in the right direction, but I don’t have the time to compile a list for you of possible providers, that’s why google was invented my friend. I don’t have anyone I would personally recommend in the San Diego area if that helps. Ask around, see if there are any chiropractors, MD’s who have experience with decompression.
When looking for chiros, generally speaking, Active Release Technique (ART) certified docs tend to be more sports minded than your general chiropractor. Find a Provider - Active Release Techniques has a list of providers you can input to find an ART certified practitioner. At this stage in the game, at 32, with your history, wanting to do what you want to do, I think you should gather several opinions and research prior to initiating an aggressive treatment plan.
