NS/OS 2 DIFFERENT DIAGOISES??? - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

NYFUSED · 10-31-2003, 08:01 PM

HI
Need some help trying to figure out 2 different diagionses by my NS and 2nd opinion OSS. Some history first:
laminectomy L4-5 2001 excellent results within 6 months felt 100% better. NS was Dr. Babu.

MVA 2/2002 mri results: c45, 5-6, 6-7 herniated. Confirmed c4-5, 5-6 radiculopathy.

ACDF C5-6-7 10/2002. Immediately post-op pain was worse than before surgery. Dr. Victor Ho NS did this surgery and told me it was all healing pain. Ordered mri and cat scan. Showed c4-5 still herniated. Wanted me to see a shrink. never suggested a myelogram!!!!!

Went for 2nd opinion to Dr. Babu my original NS. He ordered a myelogram which revealed c4-5 herniated causing spinal stenosis and c6-7 large bone spur also causing stenosis. Said I should have a posterior laminectomy-foraminotomy c6-7 to remove large spur and to leave c4-5 alone as it was not causing any permanent harm. Never mentioned anything about not fusing.

Went for 3rd opinion Dr. Shaiu NS. Said I did not fuse and needed a posterior foraminotomy c6-7 , laminectomy c4-5 whcih would be supplemted with lateral mass screws and fusion.

June 4, 2003 I had a posterior lami-foraminotomy by DR. BABU. I chose this route because I didnt want another fusion. Spur was very large and he was not able to remove it all. Still in pain!!!!!

July 4 staph infection- readmitted in hosp. for 6 days.
STILL IN PAIN.................

Septmeber 2003 New MRI'S TAKEN c-spine w and w/o contrast. RESULTS: C4-5 HERNIATED WITH STENOSIS.2MM VENTRAL SUBLUXATION OF C5 UNDER C4, nothing said about non-fusion or healing.

DR. BABU'S RX: ACDF C4-5

4TH OPINION: DR. J. GOLDSTEIN OSS
POSTERIOR STABLIZATION C5-6-7. CLAIMS I DID NOT FUSE NOR HEAL. CLAIMS C4-5 IS NOT THE CULPRIT OF MY PAIN.

I have 2 different opinions by 2 different doctors. And 2 totally different procedures. I am now totally confused and need some advice on what to do. I did make 2 more appts. 1 with a NS and 1 with an OSS. I just hope they don't tell me it's something else other than what I have been told. And this is only for the cervical spine. I did call my NS and told him about these results. He wants the OSS to send him his report and said he would call OSS to dicuss his findings. I did the same for my lumbar spine and again 2 different opinions. Will post that later. Any advice would be greatly appreicaited.

THANKS FOR READING

LORI

mistyone · 10-31-2003, 08:49 PM

lorirat- how do you account for all these differences in what each of the doctors said? i do not understand this at all. who are you suppose to believe? i have that same problem. i went for a 2 nd opinion and one guy n/s said to me there is nothing wrong with my back or neck. another said i have 5 HNP in my neck and in my back, the two in my neck as you well know from reading my posts were fused with a corpectomy at c 5-6, discestomy, laminectomy and foraminotomy at both 5-6-7.
now i go for an oss and he says the plates used were too big or long for my neck in the back. and i am not healing properly as a result of it which is causing me pain. to say the very least of my problems.
the guy for the 2nd n/s opinion NEVER said a word to me about the braces being too long for my neck, and threw me out of his office. thanks alot dummy doctor. he let me find this out somewhere else when he very clearly could have seen this as it was so obvious to the oss i saw, this was the first thing out from his mouth when he saw the x-rays and said you need to have a mylogram done.
i am sick of pain, so if this is going to cause me further harm, i may pass on it as i would be the one in a million to have something go wrong with it with my luck.
i just do not understand how each of these doctors read the films. one will say they see a black spot and that means herniation, or a white spot and that means arthritis. it is all subject to interpertation to the one who is reading the film.
why is this not exact? because doctors are trained differently i suppose. people see what they want to see. medicine is not an exact science that is why they call it an 'art' and practice. they have to keep on 'practicing' to get it right. i do not get it. if they dont know they should just say so and not deny your pain or treat you with condesensation. talking down to a patient simply because the doctors are frustrated at trying to figure out what is wrong with you isnt right. that is what takes place with me.
it is an 'invalidation' of sorts and i dont care for it. i especially have disdain for insurance doctors who are as phoney as any ***** that goes to hunts point in brooklyn to practice their 'medicine' on paying customers.
i wish i could help you but i have the same problem now myself. i wish you luck my friend

[This message has been edited by mistyone (edited 10-31-2003).]