mooaa
09-26-2005, 03:42 AM
how i can choose the surgeon ? i went to Orthopedic surgeons and i was ok with him but some people told me that the neuro is better than the ortho becuse the followship
but i think it depends on the no of the surgery he does or what do u think?
can the peole who had surgry tell us who did the surgry for them ?
but i think it depends on the no of the surgery he does or what do u think?
can the peole who had surgry tell us who did the surgry for them ?
Sponsor
feelbad
09-26-2005, 08:35 AM
It really depends on just what the problem is and where it is located in the spine actually.Just what is your problem and exactly where is it located?Marcia
shawley
09-26-2005, 08:52 AM
mooa an OSS can have a fellowship , I had surgey on my L4-L5 from a neurosurgeon in 2004 , My fusion failed, My Great Neurosurgeon told me nothing was wrong. So Now I am going for surgery from a OSS who has a fellowship . I think I am going to like this new doctor. Where are you from ?
Cindee 2
09-26-2005, 12:09 PM
I used an OSS that was fellowshiped trained. Whoever you use needs to be fellowshiped trained. Do some checking before committing to surgery.
Cindee
Cindee
mooaa
09-26-2005, 03:34 PM
thanks for all of u
hi feelbad my problem is in c6-c7 which is large herniated with mild spinal cord compression and mild nerve copmression which is very painfull in the shoulder and the arm both sides
hi shawley i am from egypt and i live here in chicago with my husband and my kids thanks for u i hope u will be ok and the new doctor will help u .
thanks and i was confused but now i feelk it depends on how much the surgeon do that kind of surgry.
thanks :)
hi feelbad my problem is in c6-c7 which is large herniated with mild spinal cord compression and mild nerve copmression which is very painfull in the shoulder and the arm both sides
hi shawley i am from egypt and i live here in chicago with my husband and my kids thanks for u i hope u will be ok and the new doctor will help u .
thanks and i was confused but now i feelk it depends on how much the surgeon do that kind of surgry.
thanks :)
notpain
09-26-2005, 09:55 PM
Ask your physcian about Endoscopic proceedures, and or Nucleoplasty or IDET. They may be able to shrink your disc (which pulls the hernia back into the space it belongs). Otherwise you may be facing fusion because of the pressure on the main chord. Nerve compression is bad enough, spinal cord compression is really serious.
Most Nuerosurgeons are more conservative than Orthopedic or Orthopaedic surgeons. Either can do the job, just find out if they specialize in the area you require work. Orthopedic surgeons do knees and other areas while neurosurgeons do brains, necks, spinal chord.
As a general rule try to find the doctor who is booked the furtherst out - say 6 months to a year at the busiest most academic clinic/hospital. Then try like H*ll to get him/her to see you as quickly as possible. Each metro area has a few well known specialists. The guy that scares me is the guy who can see you tommorrow. Crazy how that works. You only get one neck/back/spine. Make sure you go with the most experienced person you can find. Ask for referrals from other physicans, former patients, etc. Experience counts!
Most Nuerosurgeons are more conservative than Orthopedic or Orthopaedic surgeons. Either can do the job, just find out if they specialize in the area you require work. Orthopedic surgeons do knees and other areas while neurosurgeons do brains, necks, spinal chord.
As a general rule try to find the doctor who is booked the furtherst out - say 6 months to a year at the busiest most academic clinic/hospital. Then try like H*ll to get him/her to see you as quickly as possible. Each metro area has a few well known specialists. The guy that scares me is the guy who can see you tommorrow. Crazy how that works. You only get one neck/back/spine. Make sure you go with the most experienced person you can find. Ask for referrals from other physicans, former patients, etc. Experience counts!
Fancylady
09-26-2005, 11:04 PM
Hi Mooaa, :wave:
Welcome to this forum. My problems are a in the lumbar. I'm fairly sure you could go to either Ortho or Neurogeon. It's best if you can be referred by your PG. They will help make the decision for you. Hope this helps you.
Blessings,
Fancylady :)
Welcome to this forum. My problems are a in the lumbar. I'm fairly sure you could go to either Ortho or Neurogeon. It's best if you can be referred by your PG. They will help make the decision for you. Hope this helps you.
Blessings,
Fancylady :)
feelbad
09-27-2005, 09:12 AM
For your particular problem that is located in the c spine, i would most definitely seek out a good neurosurgeon.They really do have much more experience in treating c spine problems.and personally I just would not have felt comfortable in using any ortho to be digging around inside of my cord.they also have much more in depth knowledge of the brain/c spine connection,when dealing with any possible complications.
i am currently dealing with a possible aneurysm at the base of my brain right over my spine.this was picked up on by my NS when i saw him last week for continuing and constantly changing neuro problems with my face and entire body actually.if i had been seeing an ortho, I don't know if he would have made the same connection or if he did,he would have had to send me off to a neurosurgeon anyway and I would have had to kind of 'start over' with a brand new doc who really did not know anything about my very complicated and rather extensive spinal cord damage that was done during my original surgery.I had an MRA done on fri and was called about an hour after I got home to schedule what is called a "3t"scan?Which i had yesterday.They see something at the base that is in the "circle of willis"?the C.O.W is actually the main arterial structure that circles the brain.Sooo, right now, I am very much awaiting some word from my NS on just what in the hell is going on in my brain.But I do feel so much better knowing that my NS knows my whole spine history and if anything needs to be done,he is the guy i would pick out of the five other NSs that have passed me on during my ongoing search for treatment.the c spine and upper T spine are much more innervated than say the lumbar area? and also contain many many nerves that really govern all of your body system functions to some extent.i just don't think that most ortho docs really don't have the extensive experience in dealing with that more innervated area.trust me here when I say that even one little slip onto the wrong nerve and it can cause some pretty devistaing damage to many many body systems.My damage was to be expected as the location of the cavernoma that was lurking in my c spine was not in a 'good" spot for resection but it had to be done anyway as the next bleed (it had already bled twice and was taking up a full one third of my cord space)would have certainly caused me paralyzation from the chest on down.i took the lesser of two evils and came out a little worse for wear but not paralyzed.the choice is ultimately up to you but from my experience,i would take an NS any day over an ortho for any sort of c soine issue,really.sorry to have rambled on but i have ALOT of anxiety and nervous energy goin on here while once again,i am in "wait' mode for some answers.good luck to you,Marcia
i just went back to check again(brain dead)on exactly where you stated your problem was located in the c spine and just wanted to mention something to you.in that particular area,or right below it at the C 8 nerve level?(you do not actually have a c 8 vertebrae,but you DO have C 8 nerve there)anyway,the c 8 area and that nerve carry ALOT of different nerves.this particular area is what could be called the 'nerve junction"?mostly because of the fact that some of your crainial nerves from your head actually run down from the head area and loop back up into the head at the c 8 level.This is also where the best chance of actually damaging the sympathetic nervous system lies.my cavernoma that was(still part of it is there as they could not safely get to all of it)in my cord actually was right underneath the c 8 and i also ended up with some pretty significant SNS damage which is causing all kinds of body system problems for me now.i just cannot impress upon you enough just how very important it is for you to have a neurosurgeon attempt any sort of surgery vs an ortho,really.and get an older much more experienced NS as they really do know the area and how to work around all of the many many nerves that are located there.I honestly am not knocking orthos.The one i have for my knee and lumbar problems is wonderful,but I would not let him anywhere near my c spine.just do your research,and weigh ALL options for more conservative treatment before attempting any surgical procedure.I do feel though that since you actually have cord compression that realistically,your best hope would be surgical just to take that constant pressure off the cord before it causes some sort of permanent damage.i know this all sucks but like i stated beore,just do your research and ask as many questions of the surgeon as you feel you need in order to feel like you have made a very well informed decision.please keep us posted.
i am currently dealing with a possible aneurysm at the base of my brain right over my spine.this was picked up on by my NS when i saw him last week for continuing and constantly changing neuro problems with my face and entire body actually.if i had been seeing an ortho, I don't know if he would have made the same connection or if he did,he would have had to send me off to a neurosurgeon anyway and I would have had to kind of 'start over' with a brand new doc who really did not know anything about my very complicated and rather extensive spinal cord damage that was done during my original surgery.I had an MRA done on fri and was called about an hour after I got home to schedule what is called a "3t"scan?Which i had yesterday.They see something at the base that is in the "circle of willis"?the C.O.W is actually the main arterial structure that circles the brain.Sooo, right now, I am very much awaiting some word from my NS on just what in the hell is going on in my brain.But I do feel so much better knowing that my NS knows my whole spine history and if anything needs to be done,he is the guy i would pick out of the five other NSs that have passed me on during my ongoing search for treatment.the c spine and upper T spine are much more innervated than say the lumbar area? and also contain many many nerves that really govern all of your body system functions to some extent.i just don't think that most ortho docs really don't have the extensive experience in dealing with that more innervated area.trust me here when I say that even one little slip onto the wrong nerve and it can cause some pretty devistaing damage to many many body systems.My damage was to be expected as the location of the cavernoma that was lurking in my c spine was not in a 'good" spot for resection but it had to be done anyway as the next bleed (it had already bled twice and was taking up a full one third of my cord space)would have certainly caused me paralyzation from the chest on down.i took the lesser of two evils and came out a little worse for wear but not paralyzed.the choice is ultimately up to you but from my experience,i would take an NS any day over an ortho for any sort of c soine issue,really.sorry to have rambled on but i have ALOT of anxiety and nervous energy goin on here while once again,i am in "wait' mode for some answers.good luck to you,Marcia
i just went back to check again(brain dead)on exactly where you stated your problem was located in the c spine and just wanted to mention something to you.in that particular area,or right below it at the C 8 nerve level?(you do not actually have a c 8 vertebrae,but you DO have C 8 nerve there)anyway,the c 8 area and that nerve carry ALOT of different nerves.this particular area is what could be called the 'nerve junction"?mostly because of the fact that some of your crainial nerves from your head actually run down from the head area and loop back up into the head at the c 8 level.This is also where the best chance of actually damaging the sympathetic nervous system lies.my cavernoma that was(still part of it is there as they could not safely get to all of it)in my cord actually was right underneath the c 8 and i also ended up with some pretty significant SNS damage which is causing all kinds of body system problems for me now.i just cannot impress upon you enough just how very important it is for you to have a neurosurgeon attempt any sort of surgery vs an ortho,really.and get an older much more experienced NS as they really do know the area and how to work around all of the many many nerves that are located there.I honestly am not knocking orthos.The one i have for my knee and lumbar problems is wonderful,but I would not let him anywhere near my c spine.just do your research,and weigh ALL options for more conservative treatment before attempting any surgical procedure.I do feel though that since you actually have cord compression that realistically,your best hope would be surgical just to take that constant pressure off the cord before it causes some sort of permanent damage.i know this all sucks but like i stated beore,just do your research and ask as many questions of the surgeon as you feel you need in order to feel like you have made a very well informed decision.please keep us posted.
mooaa
09-27-2005, 11:04 PM
thanks a lot for all ,it is really good thing to ask and have help from people who suffer like u .thanks for u notpain your information is great and i like this kind of thinking because we have to move forward with new techniques as we go and the old things was also new to the other people who did not hear about it before like anything in the world has to change or develop with time i hope that we will find some day that the operations in the spin or in any other part will be more easy and give more successful rate in the near future so the hope will be the only thing that we think about.
thanks a lot fancy lady for your help i hope u r doing well
thanks feel bad i hope u will get out of all of this problem with new good life just keep the hope and i think u r right about the c area that makes me think more and search more too
i decided to go to neuro this time after i went already to 2 orthopedics surgeons
i went to see him today and he told me that there is no need for the surgery exactly as the last orthopedics surgeon said because it is mild spinal cord compression and mild nerve compression although it is large herniation in c6-c7 ???????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!but he does not like to do it at least now until i have more serious case!!!!!!!!
so i will wait till i injure myself more to have relief
i am really amazed with what i heared
i am afraid from injuring myself more but there is no way to protect myself since i did not got the herniatioin from something serious it was wearing mouth splint to force the jaw to the new place + stress and muscle spasm and fibromyalgia + lifting heavy luggage before i go to egypt to visit and i have chronic pain abut three years till now in both arms and neck , shoulder and mid back with active trigger points in the area and all over my body
so when the doctor told me where is the pain i mentioned all of these areas plus the new burning in my left arm from the nerve compression which got few months ago before
and about a week ago pain in my tmj area after i tried (idd therapy )to decompress the disc it is modern way of the traction perform in the cervical and back area to help the disc get back or so
but i was not lucky after 5 treatments i got my tmj back after 2 and a half years from feeling good so
the surgeon was surprised with all of this pain and told me that the operation not going to help with any pain i mentioned but just for the new burning i recently got from the compressed nerve exactly as i thought how is the surgery help with the chronic pain in the neck and shoulder from the muscle spasm and active trigger pinots?
do any body think like me the surgery can help so i can tell him to have it now to make sure i am not missing the biggest opportunity in my life to live god and raise my little kids. he told me to go and find out a reumatolgist because i have a high RF 2 years ago without any sign for the reunmatiod arthritis (thanks to god )it will be another painfull condition to add .i am reallly feeling no hope with this chronic pain and nerve pain.i hope the god will help all of us .
sorry i told u my story but i am really getting mad how i can control all of this pain while i am alone with my husband and 2 kids while they need help too.
good with all of us
thanks a lot fancy lady for your help i hope u r doing well
thanks feel bad i hope u will get out of all of this problem with new good life just keep the hope and i think u r right about the c area that makes me think more and search more too
i decided to go to neuro this time after i went already to 2 orthopedics surgeons
i went to see him today and he told me that there is no need for the surgery exactly as the last orthopedics surgeon said because it is mild spinal cord compression and mild nerve compression although it is large herniation in c6-c7 ???????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!but he does not like to do it at least now until i have more serious case!!!!!!!!
so i will wait till i injure myself more to have relief
i am really amazed with what i heared
i am afraid from injuring myself more but there is no way to protect myself since i did not got the herniatioin from something serious it was wearing mouth splint to force the jaw to the new place + stress and muscle spasm and fibromyalgia + lifting heavy luggage before i go to egypt to visit and i have chronic pain abut three years till now in both arms and neck , shoulder and mid back with active trigger points in the area and all over my body
so when the doctor told me where is the pain i mentioned all of these areas plus the new burning in my left arm from the nerve compression which got few months ago before
and about a week ago pain in my tmj area after i tried (idd therapy )to decompress the disc it is modern way of the traction perform in the cervical and back area to help the disc get back or so
but i was not lucky after 5 treatments i got my tmj back after 2 and a half years from feeling good so
the surgeon was surprised with all of this pain and told me that the operation not going to help with any pain i mentioned but just for the new burning i recently got from the compressed nerve exactly as i thought how is the surgery help with the chronic pain in the neck and shoulder from the muscle spasm and active trigger pinots?
do any body think like me the surgery can help so i can tell him to have it now to make sure i am not missing the biggest opportunity in my life to live god and raise my little kids. he told me to go and find out a reumatolgist because i have a high RF 2 years ago without any sign for the reunmatiod arthritis (thanks to god )it will be another painfull condition to add .i am reallly feeling no hope with this chronic pain and nerve pain.i hope the god will help all of us .
sorry i told u my story but i am really getting mad how i can control all of this pain while i am alone with my husband and 2 kids while they need help too.
good with all of us
dennisgb
09-28-2005, 11:57 AM
I had ACDF on levels C5-6 and C6-7 on June 30, 2004 with donor bone and plate.
I had a neurosurgeon first, but eventually found the best spine clinic in my area and my surgeon was an ortho that specialized in the spine. He teaches at the local University and the Mayo clinic and has a number of papers published on specialized issues and proceedures for ACDF.
My surgery was part of a study using bone growth hormone applied to the graft, that will conclude shortly with 100% fusion success and expected FDA approval.
My surgery has been a success so far, and I am able to do things I couldn't do for a number of years. I am pain free, and very happy with the result.
I think that research into the doc is very important. Every doctor I have had gets checked out. I would not go to a neorosurgeon that specialized in the brain, for spine surgery, nor would I go to an orthopedic surgeon that specialized in knees for the same surgery.
People may be confused as to which is better, but I would say a good specialist with some reasonable credentials and a level of successful surgeries should give you enough confidence to proceed.
I had a neurosurgeon first, but eventually found the best spine clinic in my area and my surgeon was an ortho that specialized in the spine. He teaches at the local University and the Mayo clinic and has a number of papers published on specialized issues and proceedures for ACDF.
My surgery was part of a study using bone growth hormone applied to the graft, that will conclude shortly with 100% fusion success and expected FDA approval.
My surgery has been a success so far, and I am able to do things I couldn't do for a number of years. I am pain free, and very happy with the result.
I think that research into the doc is very important. Every doctor I have had gets checked out. I would not go to a neorosurgeon that specialized in the brain, for spine surgery, nor would I go to an orthopedic surgeon that specialized in knees for the same surgery.
People may be confused as to which is better, but I would say a good specialist with some reasonable credentials and a level of successful surgeries should give you enough confidence to proceed.