Waited a year to get 2nd opinion for top spinal surgeon. Tried to make an appointment with him 3 months after
failed surgery. Once he found out about previous surgery told to see him after one year from previous surgery,
So in August 2024 finally wife had appt. He said virtually nothing about previous surgery-complete waste of time and expense for UBER. Also tried another surgeon and he refused to comment of previous surgery. As a matter of fact he said his office made a mistake even calling her in for a second opinion and if he had know about other surgery would never have made her appt. He also said go back to surgeon who did operation I know him and he is a great guy? Bottom line here in NY No spinal surgeon will comment or give 2nd opinion of FSS. Lesson learned to late never let anyone cut open your back unless you are prepared for consequences
@gravity3 - What I know of spondy is that no amount of PT or wishful thinking will correct the condition. Your choices are typically - tolerate the discomfort or have a surgical intervention.
My me - I've experienced DDD for decades but managed discomfort on my own. But when a lumbar spondy materialized, that pushed me over the edge and I had corrective surgery.
@gravity3 - What I know of spondy is that no amount of PT or wishful thinking will correct the condition. Your choices are typically - tolerate the discomfort or have a surgical intervention.
My me - I've experienced DDD for decades but managed discomfort on my own. But when a lumbar spondy materialized, that pushed me over the edge and I had corrective surgery.
Just the condition itself at this point. I don't have pain just discomfort and a feeling of deep fatigue in my spine when I do certain things like sleeping on my stomach. Was told to do as much as I can to strengthen my core. I know that losing some weight would help too. I feel fortunate at this time that I am not in a position to even consider surgery
@gravity3 - Appears you understand your challenges and are focused on non-surgical management. Good strategy!
On core strengthening - I suggest you study exactly what activities are best to balance core strengthening with spine protection. Some common exercises - like sit-ups - can do more harm than good.
Managing your weight can also help. Reducing diet intake of foods that promote inflammation also can help. Good luck!
I have exactly the same condition. Also extreme stenosis L3-5.
Have leg and butt pain on standing and walking. No excessive lower back pain.
Having hemilamenotomy 7/11.
Slipped or moving discs are a matter of degree of movement and pain. Only a Neuro surgeon ( from what my Drs have told me ) are qualified enough to tell you your option. My own experience backed that advice. 7 othopods required lamanectomy and fusion or they wouldn’t touch me. The Neuro guys went Hemilamenotomy 4-6 weeks recover as opposed to 6 mo-year. Get the best professional advice you can if possible.
In the end, surgeons decline to offer elective spine surgery because they cannot predict a good outcome, or the procedure desired is experimental. Frankly, it is my opinion that surgeons who refuse elective surgery are probably trying to do what is best for their patient. As you all know, you can always find someone to do your surgery. There is too much incentive for many surgeons to just go ahead and operate. If a surgeon says no, there must be a very good reason. Please take that into consideration and remember, you can always get a second opinion, but research your surgeons first.
It’s wonderful that you trust your surgeon and that may be warranted. My 78 years has taught me to trust everyone at first and as granny said it’s better not to trust and verify. Maybe it’s where we live in south Jersey both my wife and I have received bad and conflicting advice numerous times. In our experience $ was definitely a factor especially after 3 angioplasties. When the 3rd failed in the RCA they recommended isosorbide pills and exersize. I created natural bypass in 4 weeks. Could have done that the 1st time it blocked up in 3 months. Big money in these procedures.
Most Drs are just smart guys who have the same values, often, as the fund managers on Wall Street; some have high ethics. Just my experience sorry.
Tony
Your gas mileage may vary.
Waited a year to get 2nd opinion for top spinal surgeon. Tried to make an appointment with him 3 months after
failed surgery. Once he found out about previous surgery told to see him after one year from previous surgery,
So in August 2024 finally wife had appt. He said virtually nothing about previous surgery-complete waste of time and expense for UBER. Also tried another surgeon and he refused to comment of previous surgery. As a matter of fact he said his office made a mistake even calling her in for a second opinion and if he had know about other surgery would never have made her appt. He also said go back to surgeon who did operation I know him and he is a great guy? Bottom line here in NY No spinal surgeon will comment or give 2nd opinion of FSS. Lesson learned to late never let anyone cut open your back unless you are prepared for consequences
Very sorry to hear this.
Drs are great ethical creatures until they are not.
Understand Drs have their own code of ethics internally.
As the patient your needs are second to their own well-being.
Sorry for your situation and thank you for the reminder. 7/11 hemilamenotomy .
Done my homework and can’t go on as I am.
Wish me luck.
Tony
March 2024 wife had L3 TO L4 Removal of 3 interspinious spacers hardware, decompression L2 TO S1 and intertransverse fusion L4 to L5 and in April 20024 had Revision decompression L2 TO S1. Now she has
sondylolisthesis(NEVER HAD BEFORE) Surgeon who did operation now says I can fix that now you need oblique operation No thanks!!! Now she hasSPONDYLOLISTHEIS and no surgeon will give a second opinion on failed operation. Started with moderate back and leg pain pre operation now has unbearable pain 24/7. Sometimes better to live with moderate pain rather than risk an operation at hand of a surgeon. You can always find surgeon who wants to operate but finding one who declines is difficult
I am one of the lucky ones as I have an orthopedic spine specialist who told me that the last resort will be to operate. He gave me an epidural shot for nerve compression due to disc degeneration impacting my L4/5 and ultimately pressing on the nerve. He is very generous with PT prescriptions and is willing to give me additional epidurals, if needed. Thank goodness because after reading peoples experience with spine fusion - I agree - I would rather live with moderate chronic pain.
I will always need to stretch, work out per PT instructions, and the PT will massage my back to release tension when needed. Pilates has helped but honestly, the type of stretching and strengthening exercises the PT gave me helps a lot more than Pilates. I will take aspirin and just push through with some good days and some bad days.
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Exactly what the physical therapist, who specialized in spine, said.
Docs will tend to protect their own. Whether justified or not.
@gravity3 - What I know of spondy is that no amount of PT or wishful thinking will correct the condition. Your choices are typically - tolerate the discomfort or have a surgical intervention.
My me - I've experienced DDD for decades but managed discomfort on my own. But when a lumbar spondy materialized, that pushed me over the edge and I had corrective surgery.
What diagnoses have you had?
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3 ReactionsJust the condition itself at this point. I don't have pain just discomfort and a feeling of deep fatigue in my spine when I do certain things like sleeping on my stomach. Was told to do as much as I can to strengthen my core. I know that losing some weight would help too. I feel fortunate at this time that I am not in a position to even consider surgery
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@gravity3 - Appears you understand your challenges and are focused on non-surgical management. Good strategy!
On core strengthening - I suggest you study exactly what activities are best to balance core strengthening with spine protection. Some common exercises - like sit-ups - can do more harm than good.
Managing your weight can also help. Reducing diet intake of foods that promote inflammation also can help. Good luck!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI have exactly the same condition. Also extreme stenosis L3-5.
Have leg and butt pain on standing and walking. No excessive lower back pain.
Having hemilamenotomy 7/11.
Slipped or moving discs are a matter of degree of movement and pain. Only a Neuro surgeon ( from what my Drs have told me ) are qualified enough to tell you your option. My own experience backed that advice. 7 othopods required lamanectomy and fusion or they wouldn’t touch me. The Neuro guys went Hemilamenotomy 4-6 weeks recover as opposed to 6 mo-year. Get the best professional advice you can if possible.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionIt’s wonderful that you trust your surgeon and that may be warranted. My 78 years has taught me to trust everyone at first and as granny said it’s better not to trust and verify. Maybe it’s where we live in south Jersey both my wife and I have received bad and conflicting advice numerous times. In our experience $ was definitely a factor especially after 3 angioplasties. When the 3rd failed in the RCA they recommended isosorbide pills and exersize. I created natural bypass in 4 weeks. Could have done that the 1st time it blocked up in 3 months. Big money in these procedures.
Most Drs are just smart guys who have the same values, often, as the fund managers on Wall Street; some have high ethics. Just my experience sorry.
Tony
Your gas mileage may vary.
Don’t use orthopods for spine surgery when neurosurgeons are much more highly qualified and knowledgeable.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionVery sorry to hear this.
Drs are great ethical creatures until they are not.
Understand Drs have their own code of ethics internally.
As the patient your needs are second to their own well-being.
Sorry for your situation and thank you for the reminder. 7/11 hemilamenotomy .
Done my homework and can’t go on as I am.
Wish me luck.
Tony
I am one of the lucky ones as I have an orthopedic spine specialist who told me that the last resort will be to operate. He gave me an epidural shot for nerve compression due to disc degeneration impacting my L4/5 and ultimately pressing on the nerve. He is very generous with PT prescriptions and is willing to give me additional epidurals, if needed. Thank goodness because after reading peoples experience with spine fusion - I agree - I would rather live with moderate chronic pain.
I will always need to stretch, work out per PT instructions, and the PT will massage my back to release tension when needed. Pilates has helped but honestly, the type of stretching and strengthening exercises the PT gave me helps a lot more than Pilates. I will take aspirin and just push through with some good days and some bad days.