NP-C helping with a spinal surgery

@sbtheplumber1 I think you need to ask that question of your surgeon. I did ask prior to my spine surgery what other people would be involved and what were their roles. You can seek other opinions if you wish. You do have to be able to trust the surgical team completely.

I trusted him, he’s done Peyton Manning’s surgeries and he’s had good reviews. Last 4 visits never got me out of the wheelchair to even touch my back just kept saying everything’s healed, no pinched nerves. My legs are both numb , stingers on both legs, inner left thigh was numb and now tender , testicle and anal still a year after the surgery . I can’t walk very far , use a cane , can’t go to a store unless there’s a scooter. After him saying it’s a failed surgery and doesn’t recommend any other surgeries, got me to checking his notes that he never put on his portal or give me a printout. His nurse sent them to me and she even said I should get another opinion. Reading the notes is when I discovered the NP-C helped

@sbtheplumber1 Do you want to get a second opinion? I think I would if I was in your situation. Before I had my cervical spine surgery, I did read about this doctor who operated on Peyton Manning, and I essentially had that same surgery at C5/C6, but without hardware.

Lumbar surgery is a different situation because of bearing most of your body weight on the lower end of the spine. I'm sorry you didn't have better results. Living with a disability is difficult. It's good to take steps and get your records. If you seek another opinion, I suggest go somewhere else that is not connected to your original surgeon. Surgeons also may know each other because they attend spine conferences and network as well as presenting medical information. If you see someone in the same medical facility, they may not want to render an opposing opinion against someone they know.

My pain management doctor is the on that referred me to Doctor Kim then about 4 months after my surgery he sent me back to pain management for a pain stimulator. He agreed there was still something wrong and another surgeon for a second opinion, this doctor done some tests and a few days before seeing him I was hospitalized overnight and seen one of his other partners both of hen said they wouldn’t do any surgeries. I was then referred to another one that I seen Friday different hospital he is sending me to a hip doctor he thinks I have a bursa sac on my hip causing a lot of the leg and testicle pain, sending me back to pain management for a pain stimulator . My CT’s, MRI’s, X-RAYS all showed everything healed at least he wasn’t like Doctor Kim he physically checked me, last 4 visits with Dr Kim he never got me out of the wheelchair to even touch my back that was in severe pain . He said the testicle pain had nothing to do with my back sorry I’m not a doctor but he was wrong I rubbed the tailbone area and the testicle immediately was in pain.

I’ve spoke with an orthopedic surgery nurse, Np can assist but not with the critical parts.

I went to Mayo in Rochester and found out I had a loose screw but was told to leave it alone and get a stimulator! Trial worked good and the permanent was put in Jan 14 and I was 95% pain free for about 4 days until I accidentally bent over so know I’m waiting to see the doctor Wednesday .

@jenniferhunter I went to the doctor today the leads moved so their scheduling me with a new Neurosurgeon to put a stimulator with paddles hopefully they can reuse my battery and not have to replace it! The CT shows the loose screw it sure looks like it’s penetrating into the disc

@sbtheplumber1 I'm glad you have a new doctor who can help. The new surgeon can probably explain the x-ray. I don't know how to interpret the image. I hope you find some relief from your pain.

The NP works for the doctor and was further trained by the doctor and if he didn’t want this person to assist him and feel this person was capable of providing him excellent assistance he wouldn’t do it. Why do you have this concern and why haven’t you addressed it with the surgeon?

@jenatsky I didn’t notice it until the doctor refused to even check me. I got the notes from his nurse who also agreed I should see someone else. Nothing was mentioned to me I was paying for the doctors expertise not her to practice on me ! After her telling me I could twist lift and bend at 4 weeks and that night after I showered I bent to dry my lower legs and had a burning in my back and the pain NEVER improved, it made me start thinking when my next follow up the surgeon says why you here and he never got me out of the wheelchair to even look at my back just said get a Spine stimulator , instead of checking what I told him was going on ( it’s no fun rubbing the tailbone and it goes straight to my testicles) only thing he said was no that’s Urological. Leaving me with this pain for a 1-1/2 . The pain doctor that was going to do the stimulator agreed somethings wrong and sent me to 2 other surgeons plus while in the ER I seen another one they all looked at the same MRI the surgeon had and said nothings wrong ,( not looking at my back either ) a few months went by and the pain doc gave me a referral to Mayo Clinic where they found a loose screw. At 52 years old I’ve lost my 29 year career can’t walk without 2 canes or a Walker , I can only go in a store if I’m dropped of at the door and there’s a scooter right inside the door otherwise I leave . The way they’ve all ignored checking to see about the problem makes me think they seen something and was afraid of the liability. I did get the stimulator I was 95% pain free before a lead moved during that time my bowels were functions normal , I wasn’t having testicle pain, I got to finally lay in my bed after 8 months instead of my recliner. I have other health issues I’m needing treated but they won’t until I get off the pain meds. Some reason the Surgeons reports on my chart disappeared so I can’t see them