Hey Guys ,
I hope you're all feelin a little better .. For those of you who actually had a discectomy (open or micro).Please explain your surgery experience ?
Did they put you out in the post op room ? Or the Theatre ? This is the most difficult part to deal with for many of us who are scheduled for it.
My biggest fear is seeing the surgeon with his knives when I go in..I will have a heart attack !!

Hi: With every back surgery and other surgeries, they put me out in the surgery room, not in pre-op waiting, because you need to be awake just in case there is a delay in scheduling, which happened to me many times. Once you get into the OR, they check your blood pressure etc, move you to the surgical table, ask a couple of questions and then start the iv and you're OUT. This all happens pretty fast and you don't see anything except the surgeons, nurses and what's ever in the room. You don't see any of the surgical equipment, other than iv, oxygen mask. I always checked the clock right before the iv, for some stupid reason.:)

I've had 7 fusions all PLIF's with various other procedures, and some times they give you pre-op meds and sometimes they don't. I think that if you want the pre-op med to calm you, all you have to do is ask for it if you don't automatically get it. Just remember you'll have no recollection of time, so once your out your next memory is waking, which seems like a couple of seconds. Most of my back surgeries took at least 4- 5 hours, but you have no memory of it. In your case it will be much shorter, I'm sure.

Good luck, I'll let the others mention their particular info with the surgery you're having.

Hi,

You won't see any knives or anything like that before you are wheeled in the OR. They give you a "sedative" like drug before going in, it makes you pretty sleepy and you are not put under anethesia until you are in the OR. When you get to the hospital they put you in a room or a room divided by curtains and they have you dress in a johnie, take your history and give you an IV. The process takes sometime, my husband and my mom were with me the whole time until they were ready to take me in to OR. The surgeon comes and talks to you and the family before you go in also. Please try not to stress out about this. You will be fine. Positive thoughts. I hope this eased your anxiety. When is your surgery? Take care.

Angie :wave:

I just had a laminectomy done in Jan so this is still fresh on my mind. I also have had a micro D. What they did with me was I waited in the pre-op area like the others have said. The first time with the micro d I had the iv started after I was back in the OR. This time with the laminectomy it was started before I headed into the OR. I was greeted by the anestesiologist(sp??) both times before surgery and asked a bunch of questions and then they wheeled me into the OR. Once in the OR I was given some meds to relax me and they started putting on the compression stockings (to avoid the risk of blood clots) while they waited for the Dr to arrive. My Dr popped in and asked me a few questions before I was out like a light. Next thing I new I was out of the OR and in the recovery room recouping. I never once saw any of the instruments lying in wait for me. I hope all goes well for you and that your fears have been diminished a little bit. I think they already know you are scared to death they try and make it as comfortable as possible. At least that is what I have expereinced. Good Luck!!!!!

Hello , Thanks for asnwering so quickly. I will be having an open discectomy in May probably..I havent scheduled it yet because I have to get another MRI to see how the disc has changed. I just feel that everyone who gets a surgery starts a surgery trend getting more and more...

7 fusions ? Are you trying to give me a heart attack ? Thats what I fear ...Im thinking stick with the pain I know ... DO you think Im off base ?

Bailey 17 ,
I just wanted to ask you ... Why did you need 2 different procedures ? Does the first one usually fail ? Was it different disc levels ? Please do tell...

Hi,
Just a note to give you courage and some info about what happens pre-op. I have had many surgeries , but this was my first back surgery - a micro-d. You will get a set arrival time - which is usually hours before your surgery. The first thing they check and recheck to make sure they have the right pt. and the correct procedure on the correct body part. Your vitals are taken, and you are asked to change into the "gown". An IV is usually started. You will be asked over and over and over again your name, and the procedure. Your fam can stay with you.
Finally you are wheeled to the "holding area". IF you are nervous ask for a med, they will give it to you. Your are then wheeled in the surgery theater. You will meet all those who will be involved with your procedure. You will be asked to transfer yourself to the table - whoa - that is the scary part. BUT, if you have the sedative coursing through your veins it won't be that bad. A mask will be put over your nose and mouth and you will be asked to think peaceful thoughts - yeah right - and the you will drift off to a deep sleep. What seemed like only minutes will actually be hours, and you will be in the recovery room. Aaah thank God for the pain meds. Just give a holler if you are uncomfortable.
See its not that bad. When it is all over, you will be dissing yourself, because you were over anxious. Hopefully you will have a speedy recovery.
My herniated/sequestered disc - really shouldn't have been. ( Probably from my accident and too much heavy lifting by the pond ) My discs are good for my age and I don't have any other troubles in my spine - thank God. So this was ( touch wood ) my one and only back surgery - I pray.
God bless
Kay :wave:

When I arrived at the hospital, they put me in that cute little hospital gown, some wonderful blue slippers, started an iv, wrapped me up in warm blankets, asked me a zillion questions, the anthesiologist and doctor came in, I signed the surgical consent, they put a band around my head (past surgical awarenss issue) to monitor brain waves, we prayed together, chatted, and hubby and I smouched. My anthesologist put that gorgeous hat on me and as she started wheeling me out of the holding room she whisphered I gave you something........I have no memories of anything else. Not the OR, recovery, etc. I woke up to my hubby and pastor in my hospital room telling me to push the pain pump button.

Really the hardest part is waiting in the holding room. Make sure someone is there that will crack jokes or keep you occupied and you will be fine.

my experience for a double fusion was pretty much like 123dietdrpepper and hurtie0607.

the worse part was the 24 hrs before time. once I hit the hospital things happened fast.. a few mins in the waiting room, off to pre op and get rigged up (friends/family can stay with you there). all the involved docs and nurses wandered in and out and asked questions, drew on charts, drew on my body and other odd things.. my fiancee, the doctor and myself prayed together then suddenly the anesthesiologist came back in and said "here, breath this" as they wheeled me down the (short) hall to the OR. which was a lot smaller than I thought it would be. I started to look around and

*DISCONTINUITY*

wake up in post. they ask you who you are etc. the pain pump was on and I felt fine, even pain wise. I thought something had gone wrong and they didnt do the fusion, there was that little discomfort. I had to ask "is it done?" - Yup. if you arent comfy, tell the nurse and theyll dose you up. exercise your thumb now so you can hit the pain pump button with no problem.

the surgery part is really easy. the recovery is harder unfortunately.

edit:
btw I never saw the surgical instruments going in. I think theyre deliberately hidden. lucky for me; Ive seen them since.

That's pretty much the story, with some minor variations from hospital to hospital. My husband was allowed to go to the second check-in room with me, but once they took me in to change into the ventilated gown, he had to say goodbye. No family was allowed back there. I was taken to a pre-op room with little separate cubicles where I laid in a regular hospital bed and had a private nurse who never left me. She asked me a bunch more questions and did all sorts of the normal stuff like bp, temp, etc. Someone came in and introduced himself and said he was going to put in a central line. I asked if I would be awake for that and he said yes, it wasn't too big a deal. I was a little taken aback. I didn't know they'd do a central line rather than just a regular IV. He went away to get supplies and that's the last thing I remember. I was told the doctors would be in, but I never saw them. I can only guess that they thought I was going to be agitated by putting that line into my neck so they went ahead and put me out. I never saw the OR. Just woke up in recovery with lots of blankets on me.

Everybody pre-op was very calm and professional, very kind and understanding. I thought I'd be anxious, but it was really fine. I know it helped that friends came and sat with my husband for the whole 6+ hours and prayed me through it.

Wow, what a great thread. I just read through it and realized I was gripping the side of the computer stand and not breathing real well . . . guess the nervous reaction is the norm . . . but it actually helps to know exactly how those little details happen so you can prepare yourself.

The one thing that's got me sweating is the thought of a central line in your neck. Is that a common surgical thing?

Bailey 17 ,
I just wanted to ask you ... Why did you need 2 different procedures ? Does the first one usually fail ? Was it different disc levels ? Please do tell...

I had the micro D on L5-S1 on June 1,2006. In a nutshell it did fail. I think the problem was not with my surgeon or me not doing the right thing post op it was that I probably needed the more invasive procedure from the get go. I am not sorry I had the micro-d. I was in excruciating pain and no one should have to live like that. It wasn't a life!!!! I never was 100% better after surgery but feeling better than pre-op. Then around October the pain started getting really bad again and I was back to square one. Called my suregeon and was put on predinsone step down pack, anti-inflamatories and pain killers and started back up with Physical therapy. When none of that touched the pain I was sent for another MRI and was diagnosed this time with a disc re-herniation at the same level and spinal stenosis and had always had some DDD. Lucky ME!!!!!!!! The stenosis did not show up on the previous MRI. But that one was ordered by another neuro who was a moron and didn;t order my 1st MRI with contrast like my second did. So on Jan 25ht I had the laminectomy done and knock on wood I feel like I have never had back pain ever most days!!!!!! I have been doing my stretches and following DRs orders to not bend twist or lift. You are the only one who can decide what is best for you but don't let someone elses negative experience daunt you. I check in now and again to show others that there are some positive outcomes with back surgery they don't always have to be negative. The problem seems to be once people feel better they leave the boards and then you tend to read about the people who unfortunatly don't have good outcomes. Again even though my micro D didn't work for me does not mean that it can't work for you! Best of luck and keep me posted. I'm here rootin for ya!

Karen

The one thing that's got me sweating is the thought of a central line in your neck. Is that a common surgical thing?

I don't know how many here have had that, but even though I was not thrilled about it when the guy came in to do it, in the long run I was very glad I had it. I never had to get stuck at all, except for the Arterial Blood Gas, which comes from an artery, not a vein. Every time they had to take blood or give me anything, no sticks! The central line had three ports, so by day 8 two of them weren't so great anymore, but the third got me through. It was just unexpected to have it, and it gets stitched in, so it was a little alarming to think about. It really ended up not being a big deal, and it saved me getting stuck over and over again. If I had a choice about it now, I would choose getting the central line!

Blessings,
Emily :wave:

I had to have one the day after surgery because my iv messed up and they could not restart it after 3 people, and 6 sticks later they decided it was the best thing to do. It was so much easier. I had no more sticks the remainder of my visit.

Hi Seversano: Good luck with your surgery and I wouldn't worry about having as many surgeries as I did, because I had very unusual things going on with my bone.

My fusions failed because I have a severe bone disease that wasn't diagnosed until after my 6th surgery. The surgeries failed because my bone is very soft and porous, and the fusions disentegrated after each surgery, making it necessary to repeat it because my physical limitations were out of control and of course intense pain. When the fusions failed they caused nerve, muscle, spinal cord and other soft tissue damage. The bone broke apart, literally, and imbedded itself into all I mentioned above, which had to be removed. I also had hardware fail for the same reason because my bone couldn't hold the screws. When that happened I had one screw go straight through my sciatic nerve and it stayed that way for apprx 9 mos. so the damage was done. I had many Drs tell me they have no clue how I withstood that pain that long, but c'est la vie, and I really don't know how I did it. At the time they couldn't figure out why I couldn't walk, sit or stand until they found the problem. On my last surgery they used cadaver bone with more rods and screws and so far it's holding, but I'm on a very strong daily injection of parathyroid hormone that actually grows new bone unlike the bisphosphonates (Actonel, Boniva etc) which only slows bone loss, which is used for severe osteoporosis, which is what I have.

This all started many years ago and spread out over a 28 year period, so I wouldn't worry about additional surgeries, but there is the risk of the domino effect after back surgeries which happened to me each time. Each time they repaired the spinal stenosis grade 1 I think, it started again at the next level up above each of the surgeries. I would never have another surgery unless paralysis was an option, but I heard that one many times also. I have to live with the stenosis, DDD, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, a facet joint problem, and permanent nerve damage, but it didn't completely destroy the nerve so I guess that's a good sign, except for the pain. I can't take nerve meds because I'm severely allergic to them and I have glaucoma so they really mess up my eye sight among other major probs.

So don't worry about it, my situation was strange, to say the least. I also had many other problems but it would take too long to explain, and I don't really like to talk about it; dealing with non stop pain this long is very tiring, and changes every aspect of your life completely.

Good luck and don't worry...:angel:

Hi Saversano!

I had a microdisectomy in 2004. Keep in mind that all hospitals do it a little differently and each one's experience may be different. I feared the worse too but it wasn't so bad. I was in a pre-surgery room getting prepped in a bed and my family was there with me. Then they took me to another holding room in the bed; the doctor came in and said are you ready, then the anethesiologist gave me something in the IV as they were taking me on the bed to the operation room. I never did see the OR for this surgery. I did for the fusion I just had but it did not bother me. I didn't even recall being in the recovery room as I woke up in my private room. I have a problem with getting sick from meds so my main problem was being sick to my stomach.
I was in for 3 days (one day longer because of being sick). You'll do fine - I know the hardest part is before hand when you have so many questions and not knowing how it is. I'm glad you came here to the Boards and feel free to ask anything else. My best to you.

Harmony :wave:

DesertBloom, what a time you've had! How are you doing overall? What do they expect for you long term? Have you suffered from depression as a result of your medical problems? I imagine you're quite an inspiration to those who know you, as you are to us here on the board!

Blessings,
Emily :wave:

When I had fusion, when the nurse was wheeling me to the OR, she was cracking me up the whole time. She said, do you watch Grey's Anatomy, I said yes I love that show, She said, well we call your doctor MC Dreamy lol. Then they had me cracking up the whole time, they put the little sticky's on me, the doc came in and I don't remember anything else. I do not remember the recovery room either.

The first time I had surgery years ago, it was to have my tubes tied, and it was suppose to be outpatient. Well I woke up sick and ended up staying in the hospital for two days. Since then i've had three surgery's and I've told the anesthesiologist, when they know this they put something extra in the IV and I've never had the problem again. Although I was really scared the next surgery!!!

Hi BlueAtlas: Thanks for asking:) Like most everyone here there are tons of normal things I can't do anymore, which is depressing, but I don't think I'm suffering from major depression. I get frustrated and down, but some how I'm able to get past it pretty fast. I can't take any of the depression meds because for some reason they make me feel worse.

I'll never get rid of the pain, and right now with my bones, I'm at the spontaneous fracture level, so I have to be careful sneezing, coughing, no bending or strecthing etc. but I try not to think about it too much.

For now my fusion is holding and the hardware is still in place but the constant pain is hard.

The only other option I've been given is the morphine pump, but I'm not to keen on that. If at some point I have to do that I'll deal with it then. The SCS isn't an option because I have too much scar tissue, plus my Dr doesn't like them. He's the specialist they send patients to, to have them removed when they have failed. He has seen too many problems with them, but even so I'm sure they help some people.

Good luck with your back...:wave:

The good part of not getting the morphine pump yet is that you know you still have another option if your pain continues to get worse. I hope it doesn't ever reach that point for you. And I hope the parathyroid hormone injections get your osteoporosis under control. I was diagnosed with osteoporosis about 3 years ago, but Fosamax has been very effective for me in reversing it. I'm probably considered to just have osteopenia now. It did a number on my back, though. I don't even want to imagine what it would have been like it I had been severe, like you. It's a blessing to read your posts and see a positive attitude and a good outlook. You're right, we all have things we can't do or have to do differently. But we can adjust and perhaps even get into some things we never would have thought about if we were still doing the things we used to do.

I do hope you see progress, even slowly, and that you have hope for improvement. Constant pain is wearing, but it sounds like you have good doctors who have a good plan for you. Sending cyberhugs your way!!!

Take care,
Emily :wave:

Hi BlueAtlas: I'm glad the Fosamax is working for you, and evidently isn't causing any of the stomach esophagus probs. I wish I could get back to osteopenia, that would really be something. I only have another year to go on Forteo (parathyroid hormone) which you're probably familiar with. It's to bad you can only use it for 2 years, but I won't know how well I'm doing until my next dexa.

Did you ever suffer from any vertebral fractures. I get checked for that once a year and it seems to be my Drs main concern aside from hip fractures, due to all my surgeries and spinal weakness. I'm just not sure if I had anymore fractures they could do the kyphoplasty procedure with all my hardware in the way. Of course it would depend on the location, and my posture is getting bad, which reminds me of my grandmothers who had the horrible dowagers hump and no treatment suffering from many fractures.

I'm holding out on that pump as a last resort, so for know I just have to make it with the pain, because we all know it can get worse, which is what I always hear as I age. I know so many people that are in wheelchairs from osteo, with unbelievable amounts of fractures. Once the fractures start they increase 10 fold, and some I know have had 10-50 fractures in 10 years

I always hear things like I can't do this (inject meds) or that, but we really don't know that until we have to, so I hate seeing people selling them selves short, because we "can" do a lot when forced to.

I have to stay positive so I don't go nuts:eek: My husband is also disabled and can't do a lot or drive so it's a constant juggling act around here as to who can do what, but we somehow figure it out. The only problem is spontaneity is gone for sure because every day has to be planned so precisely with my extremely limited driving probs, but my husband is really good about doing what I can't and vice versa. When you have two people disabled and no kids-that might help out:) it makes our days challenging. My biggest assest is my humor, and I make sure I keep that going at all times. It seems like your humor keeps you going as well.

How are you doing with your back, I can't remember what your probs are, but you sure do give a lot of support around here. I hope you are doing well, and your surgerie(s) were sucessful and are on the road to recovery. Are you going to continue with the Fosamax?

Do you ever go to the Osteoporosis board, because you screen name sounds familiar? Over there we're involved in a lot of research, so I learn a lot from that. I don't know what I would do if I couldn't get the feed back I do. I'm also an education junky so research for me is enjoyable even though most of it I do for others because it helps me to stay sane and them in return and learn at the same time, which can help me. It is amazing how much you can learn from a negative or life challenge, it's changed the way I look at everything, and I'm much more understanding from it.

I can't imagine being an inspiration to anyone, but thanks for the compliment!!

Good luck with everything!!!!

Hi DesertBloom,
I can only assume I had fractures, but I was not a candidate for kyphoplasty. It's only good when the fractures are new and not healed. I lost three inches in height, but I don't have that classic hump. I already had a severe scoliosis, which was fused 30 years ago, so my height loss went more sideways into the curve that was already there. I was having more and more pain from shifting more and more to one side and downwards into my own torso. My rib cage was digging into my hip bones and I was starting to have chest pains. I was clearly going to start having internal organs affected by this, so I ended up having the rest of my spine fused from the old fusion all the rest of the way down, T4-sacrum. I got back about 1 inch in height. So far, it seems like I'll have much less of the severe pain, but I've traded it for more constant milder pain. It was a good swap! I was told that without the surgery, I'd probably be in a wheelchair in 10 years. My doctor told me to stop trying to get off the pain meds and to stop worrying over it. He expects me to need them forever and is happy to give me the prescriptions. I'm not thrilled with that, but it's becoming clear that I need them. Without them, the pain isn't so mild anymore! I go off them for a couple of days every few weeks, but reality quickly makes itself known. I'm thankful that I have a high pain tolerance, so I can take a low dosage to take the edge off and just live with the rest, so I'm still able to function and not be loopy from the meds.

My ob/gyn told me to expect to take the Fosamax for the rest of my life. I hadn't expected that, but his explanation made sense. If I stopped taking it, I'd probably end up right back where I was before. Thankfully, I haven't had the esophageal problems. Occcasionally I get some discomfort from it, but my doctor did the appropriate tests to make sure I wasn't having damage from it and I'm able to continue it. I haven't been on the osteo board. Maybe I'll head over there and do some reading!

It's fun to be able to be spontaneous, but it's not everything. Life is what you make it! I know people with serious problems, healthwise and other, who have wonderful lives because that's what they choose, and likewise I know people who seem to have everything in the world going for them and they're miserable. Keep that sense of humor and enjoy the little things everyday! And it sounds like that's just what you do!

Blessings,
Emily :wave:

Hi Emily: You sure have a lot to deal with!!! How are you doing with it? You mentioned teenage sons, so I'm glad you have their support. Your Dr really sounds nice, it's unusual to hear about a Dr that is so supportive. I've heard similar things about needing the meds forever, but no one has ever offered them to me the way you described your Dr. I'm glad you don't have to hassle with that at least.

Did you loose your height from the scoliosis? I know a lot of people that couldn't have kyphoplasty for the reasons you mentioned, and that was how they lost their height. Some people find it hard to imagine that you could have a fracture and not know it, but unfortunately it does happen. My grandmothers lost about 4 inches in height each, and it's something that worries me. I just hope I can catch any further fractures before they heal.

Is the internal compression you have very uncomfortable? I can't imagine having a fusion like yours, do you have any flexibility?

Some people need to stay on bisphosphonates their whole life, so I'm glad you aren't having any trouble with them. Hopefully some of the newer meds that are still undergoing trials will help us some day. I wished that more people realized that bone loss starts at 25 - 30 or so, it's just a matter of keeping it under control with exercise, vitamins and if it gets too bad, osteo meds. My bone loss started around 24 with my first back surgery, but I believe it was mainly from early meno, and a family history of osteo. Unfortunately there wasn't anything to treat osteo, at that time, other than calcium, exercise, etc. Now there are so many 20-30 yr olds with it, but mainly because of mineral deficiencies, eating disorders, and hormonal probs.

Well keep up the good work and I wish you all the luck in the world!!! :angel:

Hi DesertBloom,
I'm not sure where the height loss was greatest. Hard to tell. The internal compression isn't as bad since the last fusion, so I'm grateful for that. The goal was to stop this from getting any worse, and so far, so good. I have very little flexibility and am still learning what I can and can't do. I know I still have healing and strengthening to do, so I'm not accepting yet that this is how I'll be. But that's okay. This is who I am.

You know, you kind of get used to just having pain. About three years ago on Thanksgiving, I was doing the whole huge meal thing and had been cooking for hours. I suddenly realized as I was taking the last thing out of the oven that I wasn't in any pain! It literally took my breath away, and I thought, wow, this is what it's like for people who don't have back problems! I couldn't believe it, because I should have been in a lot of pain by then. Unfortunately, it didn't last and that night was the worst I'd had in a long time, but I just basked in that little reprieve. People who haven't been in our shoes really can't fully understand, no matter how compassionate they are. Some of them sure try, and I give them credit for that!

I wish my osteo had been caught sooner. As it was, I had to argue around in circles with the insurance company. They said at 46 I was too young and couldn't possibly have it. I finally got to have the testing done and felt like calling them personally to tell them they were wrong and had delayed my getting treatment by arguing with me and my doctor. Well, that's history now. I've changed doctors, too, to one who will go to bat for me.

Hope you had a nice Easter.
Blessings,
Emily :wave:

Hi Emily: I totally agree with you on the pain thing, you do get used to it especially if you had it for a long time (28 years for me). I've forgotten what it's like to ever have a pain free moment, or getting up and going to bed with out it.

I did have an experience about a year ago where they did a temp trial of the morphine pump, and after that I had almost 3 days with no pain, and I was dumbfounded how different my entire life was, plus there were no side effects or loopiness, which is how it's suppose to work since it's going into you spine and not your vascular/digestive system. Of course because I felt so good I started doing a bunch of things I normally can't do and bam it returned. I always wondered how long it would have lasted had I not done that. Stupid things around the house, you know.

I see a MD/PhD/MPH at a Univ Hospital for my osteo who also does research on it, and she always says that the misconception about age/osteo is really unforgiveable. So many people get it early, like I did, and you, but the main stream health professionals forget about all the things that can bring this on at a young age. There's idiopathic juvenile osteo, and then the many 20 and 30 year olds dealing with it now due to eating disorders, hormonal probs etc. I know mine started at 24, but I was doing all you could to treat it at that time. I've always taken mega doses of vitamins all my life and exercised, until the surgeries started, but with each I went to PT for years so I was getting that exercise as well, just not snow skiing, water skiing, baseball, dance etc, etc, I did growing up.

You really need a Dr that understands that osteo hits all ages and screw the insurance co's if they won't pay, they have to if you have 2 of the secondary or primary causes for it. I'm constantly talking to 20 yrs olds about this who are so dismayed that they have it, because they think it's an old persons disease, and I have to explain that it's not the media/Drs/Drug Co.s just protrays it that way. I have to give the co that makes Boniva some credit for using Sally Field for their ads, at least she is 62, and looks a whole lot younger than that.

I gave up a long time ago trying to get people to understand. My husband does, and my 2 closest friends do as well, but my brothers are having a hard time even though they've been watching me with these back probs since the late 70's. I'm 53 now, but was told about it when I was in my early 30's (osteo). Since all of my fusions fractured except for the last one (3 yrs ago), there is no other explanation for it besides osteo.

I was telling my husband about your total spine fusion, and he sends his warmest regards because he can't imagine how you did it after watching what I went through and I'm only fused from L1-S1, he says you must be really tough and brave :) .

Well I better shut up before someone thinks I've hijacked this thread.

Your and inspiration that's for sure:angel: