Laser Cervical Surgery

08-22-2009, 02:01 PM

Does anyone have experience or information on Laser surgery to correct cervical herniated discs and spinal stenosis?
I've seen advertisements posted on different websites from places like Laser Spine Institute and I'm curious if anyone here has contacted them.
My neurosurgeon suggests replacing the disc between my C5-C6 with cadavor bone and then to place hardware in there. I have to say the thought of this is just so unpleasant I'm looking at all alternatives.
When I went to the Laser Spine Institute website I signed up for a seminar coming to Princeton, NJ next week to get more information. I figure it can't hurt. I understand that my insurance may not cover it and I'll be responsible for the expenses.
There may be other neurosurgeons out there that perform this procedure and I just haven't found them yet.

08-22-2009, 03:30 PM

p313rk - I too felt the exact same way as you have stated. I went so far as to send my MRI down to LSI. I also did some research on what past patients had to say that were not linked to their website. Then I did a search on any violations recorded by the health department. After that I decided to see what the NS from our nearby hospital had to say and I was completely won over by him. I trusted him and felt comfortable immediately. My surgery was more successful than I had even imagined. Do lots of research and make sure you go with someone you trust.

Let me know if you have any more questions,
Stonepile

08-22-2009, 04:25 PM

Hi p313rk,

I have not read through all of your posts, but did come across one that mentioned that you felt your symptoms were greatly relieved because you have been resting alot but that you didn't care much for living that way.

I have been living that way for a few years now and it can be very wearing, catagorically. I don't know how old you are, but after awhile, you seem to convince yourself that this is the way things are going to be. Period, until it becomes an emergency situation. I thought that getting caught up on my reading, studying, emailing, and so on would fill in the gaps but these activeties seem to exacerbate the problem. My numb hands/arms and sore back right now can attest to the fact that cervical spine problems are far-reaching.

I would never attempt to convince anyone that surgery is a good idea as I have not been offered that. And I'm sure you have read the experiences here. But I am seeing that some people are good canidates for surgery and researching those options are worth investigating. I have read about someone recently on the Boards that found immediate, and I mean, immediate relief. So much so that it seems unbelievable, although reassuring to some, I'm sure.

I can't find the threads regarding lazer approach but I remember that they were not happy with it. Like you, I hope someone posts about this again as personal experience can be of help sometimes, but I think we can read between the lines of that last post and draw some conclusions here as far as 'checking' goes.

So as some of us are maintaining a certain quality of life by resting alot during the day while accomplishing as much as we can in between, and feeling satisfied about it, I guess there is that part of us that might not be content with that if a full recovery were possible, and the risks were at a minimum.

hoping you get the answers you need as you take all the time you need to research,
choc

08-22-2009, 06:06 PM

Hi - Well I spent the entire day on the computer continuing with my research. Of course I was laying down as I did it. Not too bad of a way to spend the day since it's been raining all day in NJ. Anyway, what I've come across is percutaneous mircrodecompessive cervial disectomey. From what I understand it's a procedure in which they remove a portion of your herniated disc (the protruding annulus) but the rest of the disc remains. I have to say I like this approach because you get to maintain your disc without the fusion part of it. Now, of course I have no idea how to find a surgeon that actually performs this and whether or not it would actually be covered by my insurance. But I have plenty of time to research while I sit on my butt. The fusion and the hardware concern me because of the loss of neck mobility. So if anyone has information or comments on this, please share them.
For now, I'm going to force myself off the computer until tomorrow.
Thanks Chocolate and Stonepile. Have a good night!

08-23-2009, 05:51 AM

Hi Choc! Great to see you on the board again.

p313rk - I truly cannot give you first hand experience and I do hope that there is someone our there that can give you a first hand testimony. With as many people as visit this board surely there is somebody. I do believe that the disc herniations that are treatable by the laser method have to be ones that protrude to the sides. If they are pushing into the canal then the laser method isn't an option. (I'm just trying to remember from my research.) I do know that there are other practices than just LSI that are offering the laser option. The ones that really got my attention were those practices that offered a team approach. They included thereapists, pain management specialists, and surgeons and they met together to decide what was the best approach for your particular case. Those types of practices usually offer an array of possible treatment options. I'm with Chocolate though, that it's not always good to wait a long time.

Best wishes,
Stonepile

08-24-2009, 08:39 AM

I've continued with my research - not much else to do when you're our of work and trying to find the best procedure to resolve your neck herniation

On line I found information on Dr Choy in NYC who performs a procedure called "PLDD Percutaneous Laser Disc Decompression". He's been performing this since the 80's. They remove a tiny portion of the disc through a minimally invasive opening. This is supposed to shrink the size of the disc and reduce the compression on the nerve.
As many of you, I'm somewhat skeptical since you are required to pay up front and deal with your own insurance company for reimbursement. However, his credentials are impressive and he is affilitated with Columbia University/Hospital. I'm going to contact my insurance company to find out if they cover any portion of this procedure. If not, I have open enrollment on my medical benefits coming up and can switch coverage to another insurance carrier that might cover all or a portion of it. I'll keep you posted on what I find. It can't hurt to keep looking at all alternatives.

09-24-2009, 12:35 PM

>>I have read about someone recently on the Boards that found immediate, and I mean, immediate relief. So much so that it seems unbelievable, although reassuring to some, I'm sure.<<

That would be me I had surgery a month ago and all is good there is some residual transient pain but that is managed easily with Lyrica and Tylenol. Please PM me for the names of the doctors(NY METRO) I saw and ultimately the one that did my C5-7 ACDF. I really do not have any details on my surgery but as of today I am doing 100 push up sets 4 times a day. Since the day after the surgery I have been walking a minimum of 5 miles a day and up to 9 miles a day(I am a fitness fanatic). I did not wear a brace but I wear a bone stimulator for 4 hours everyday. My neck is getting stronger and stronger and I have good articulation. I can drive and turn my head slower than usual but no problem. This fixed my shoulder pain. Put me down for SUCCESS. All the best to everyone.

09-25-2009, 12:57 AM

tata616, was is a laser neck surgery? or ACDF?.

09-26-2009, 02:08 AM

2 Level ACDF excuse me if led you to think otherwise.

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