The MRI scan results showed a disk heavily out of place, and pressing into my nerves. Something had to be done. But what? The orthopedic surgeon suggested "building a new spine". My back will give me trouble for the rest of my life, so I need a drastic solution, involving screws and titanium and what else? Doctors call it a "fusion". I went in total shock - while the morphine wasn't exactly helping to keep my feet on the ground. I felt I was too young for this sort of drastic, irreversible medical procedure. Also, I started talking to friends in the medical profession ... I needed second and third etc. opinions. I got them, and all were sounding like this: "You have to do this step by step. 'Fusion' - whereby two or more vertebrae are fused with one another - is at the very end, when nothing else helps. Right now, you need an acute solution for an acute problem: treat the disk that is out of place. Once that is done, maintain a lifestyle in which you work (exercise) towards a stronger back. So I decided to get out of there, and make an appointment with another surgeon. A neuro surgeon.
I was told that two kinds of surgeons operate on backs. Orthopedic surgeons, and neuro surgeons. Orthopedic surgeon are trained to operate on "skeletal" conditions, involving bone structure. Neuro surgeons are trained to heal nerve conditions (neuro surgeons are often also brain surgeons). When you look at my problem, it makes sense that two kinds of surgeons would be qualified: the spine is a network of bone and nerves. So in a best case scenario, you should get an orthopedic and a neuro surgeon in the theatre. But I decided to pick the brain of a neuro/brain surgeon.
The neuro surgeon took the time to explain everything to me, with drawings, jokes and books. This was necessary, because I needed this information to be able to make an informed decision (while the orthopedic surgeon never discussed this with me - he probably felt he could make this decision on my behalf). I had several options, he said:
1. Do nothing, and give it time
2. An epidural injection
3. Laminectomy
4. Fusion
The surgeon advised, for my particular case, that "laminectomy" was the way to go. Time I had been given (6 months of lower back pain, to be exact), with physiotherapy and exercise, but that hadn't helped. Since my leg was showing paralytic symptoms - I was not able to lift myself on my toes, and the back of my calf was feeling like dead meat - he advised that an epidural may take away the pain, but not the cause of the pain. If the cause of the pain (the displaced, raptured disk) wasn't treated, it may make things worse, with possible implications on my bladder function.
I was told that two kinds of surgeons operate on backs. Orthopedic surgeons, and neuro surgeons. Orthopedic surgeon are trained to operate on "skeletal" conditions, involving bone structure. Neuro surgeons are trained to heal nerve conditions (neuro surgeons are often also brain surgeons). When you look at my problem, it makes sense that two kinds of surgeons would be qualified: the spine is a network of bone and nerves. So in a best case scenario, you should get an orthopedic and a neuro surgeon in the theatre. But I decided to pick the brain of a neuro/brain surgeon.
The neuro surgeon took the time to explain everything to me, with drawings, jokes and books. This was necessary, because I needed this information to be able to make an informed decision (while the orthopedic surgeon never discussed this with me - he probably felt he could make this decision on my behalf). I had several options, he said:
1. Do nothing, and give it time
2. An epidural injection
3. Laminectomy
4. Fusion
The surgeon advised, for my particular case, that "laminectomy" was the way to go. Time I had been given (6 months of lower back pain, to be exact), with physiotherapy and exercise, but that hadn't helped. Since my leg was showing paralytic symptoms - I was not able to lift myself on my toes, and the back of my calf was feeling like dead meat - he advised that an epidural may take away the pain, but not the cause of the pain. If the cause of the pain (the displaced, raptured disk) wasn't treated, it may make things worse, with possible implications on my bladder function.
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