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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 8,793
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 8,793 |
My procedure wasn't covered either. It cost about $3,000 out of pocket. Luckily, they have a thing called Care Credit. It's a low/no interest program with 12-18 months to repay. I used it when I needed an unexpected root canal several years back. Sending you info if you want to check it out independently. Thanks - PM returned.
l told my pap and mam I was going to be a mountain man; acted like they was gut-shot. Make your life go here. Here's where the peoples is. Mother Gue, I says, the Rocky Mountains is the marrow of the world, and by God, I was right.
- Del Gue
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 5,623
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 5,623 |
I had back surgery in the early 90's, like you my Dr. told me to not sit for any length of time. Seems like I have been on my feet every since. I wore a brace for about a week, I couldn't stand that thing. Keep your stomach muscles in good shape to help support your back. I started a daily workout of exercises, and have stayed with the routine! I hope your back heals good! Go slow and steady, it pays off in the long run.
Last edited by Heym06; 01/31/19.
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 961
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 961 |
+1
I had it done 13 years ago.Still works.Now most of my back pain is muscular ,that can be worked out.I tell others the same thing....do it.
Sorry,I drank the Sako-Aid.My opinion may be biased.
bh444
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 37,877
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 37,877 |
Thanks for this thread, first ever bout of sciatica this past summer, bad enough to keep me awake at night, went away after about the standard six weeks but has been lurking in the wings since then. I’m guessing that in yer sixties things generally go downhill, could be a surgeon in my future.
"...if the gentlemen of Virginia shall send us a dozen of their sons, we would take great care in their education, instruct them in all we know, and make men of them." Canasatego 1744
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 19,107
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 19,107 |
Glad things worked out for the original poster, but my story is different. Injections did not work, surgery did not work. Things were no better or worse after them. Things are getting worse over time, but the surgery nor the injections are causing it. miles
Look out for number 1, don't step in number 2.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,316
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,316 |
My procedure wasn't covered either. It cost about $3,000 out of pocket. Luckily, they have a thing called Care Credit. It's a low/no interest program with 12-18 months to repay. I used it when I needed an unexpected root canal several years back. Sending you info if you want to check it out independently. Another Care Credit user here. I used it to pay off an emergency broken tooth that wasn't covered by my dental insurance. Pay it off in 12 months and there's no interest charges.
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 4,606
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 4,606 |
I’ve had laminectomy surgery twice at L5-S1. First one worked great for about three years and the second time has worked since ‘03. Glad it worked for you too.
‘TO LEARN WHO RULES OVER YOU, SIMPLY FIND OUT WHO YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO CRITICIZE’
Conspiracy theorists are the ones who see it all coming…
You are the carbon they want to eliminate !
I’m Uber Deplorable Ultra MAGA !
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 42
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 42 |
BigFish,
I had the exact same experience back in 2004 and still going strong. Had mine done at Integrated Spine Care in Milw. Couldn't sit in the car (had to support back by using my hands on the seat) on the way in. Later that day was essentially fixed. I need to do some core exercises pretty regularly otherwise I get a flare up, but I am back to doing everything I want to do.
Couldn't agree with the advice here. Try the shots. Try phys therapy. If that don't work and microdiskectomy/microlaminectomy is suggested, do it. In patient procedure and often very effective. My surgeon said there was a 5% chance of puncturing the dura which would cause the CSF to leak. That would have resulted in more pain and longer recovery, but still good prognosis.
I've also heard of people waiting too long an the sciatica and leg weakness becomes permanent.
I hope your luck continues to be as good as mine. I've sent 3 guys to my surgeon and all have been cured.
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,628
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,628 |
I did laparoscopic stenosis relief at the Laser Spine Clinic in Scottsdale is 2013. Very happy I did it, wish I had done it sooner rather than fighting through the Canadian Medical system for two years.
Having had waited for as long as I did there is some permanent atrophy in one leg. Other muscles have developed to "fill in the need" there still is a bit of an imbalance.
With my experience get it done sooner than later.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 5,041
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 5,041 |
I'm glad you're doing better, and wish you a speedy recovery. I had a L-4-S1 fusion, along with a spacer installed at my L4 and L5, and it did not work. I just saw my surgeon last week for my 1 year post op, and I let him know I regret to this day doing the surgery. I chose a surgeon that from my research showed he is known for fixing others screw-ups. I also know others that have used him and rave about how well the surgery went. I believe my issue is from 8 years of being injured before the AF would send me to a specialist. It took my whining like a girl and reinjuring my back before I got a primary doctor that listened to me. He sent me immediately to get x-rays, and MRI's on my lower back. After he got the results back, he called me into his office and said a referral was being sent to a neurosurgeon, as he said it looked "bad" to him. I got into the neurosurgeon and opted for injection over surgery right away. The right side took, but not the left. After a year of his care and a pain managers, I opted for the surgery, knowing a high likely hood that after 9 years from the initial injury I would have permanent nerve damage.
At my appointment last week, I let the neurosurgeon know I regretted the surgery, and we both agreed had it been caught 9 years earlier I probably would not have the issues I am now. It's loads of fun trying to work out, or do anything for that matter and my feet go numb. I have a new one now, if I am sitting and put my feet beck the feet go numb almost immediately now.
If you remember just one thing, get help earlier rather than later. A hurt back is nothing to play around with.
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,176
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,176 |
I hope you get better soon. My DIL had surgery a few years ago for 2 ruptured discs and a broken vertebra that she got as a result of her being a passenger on a 4 wheeler when her brother flipped it, she was 10 at the time. She also had a severe concussion that caused her brain to swell and we was in a coma for a while. When she awoke from the coma she complained about her back hurting but the hospital never investigated what was causing her back pain. She endured the back pain until she was she was in her early 30's when it became unbearable (she's a tough west Texas girl that grew up on a ranch). She had surgery to remove both ruptured discs, repair the damaged vertebra and fuse the 3 vertebra. About 5 years later they had to remove the titanium cage and steel rods from her back because of the scar tissue around them was pressing on several nerves. The second surgery was MUCH more painful than the first. She's 44 now and still in pain from nerve damage but doesn't take pain medication anymore. She only takes the drug that diabetics take for foot pain. I recently talked to young cop I know who had neck surgery last year for a ruptured disc. He told me that they can replace the discs in your back/neck with a plastic disc now. He said are doing the procedure in Europe but the FDA hasn't approved the procedure for the USA.I don't know if that's true or not but I find this website that describes the procedure. https://www.laserspineinstitute.com/herniated_disc/articles/replacement
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 34,162
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 34,162 |
I had lumbar fusion on 3-4 and a doner bone inserted to replace the disk in 2013.
I had back pain for years, numbness in feet and legs, sciatic pain on right side.
Went to my Dr, several times, he told me that my back pain was due to the fact that I worked construction and that is common. He gave me prescriptions for anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxers.
After a couple years of this, he finally sent me to physical therapy. Told the therapist that I had a tight butt muscle and I needed it messaged with ultra sound.
Another year goes by and it is getting worse, I saw another DR, who immediately made an appointment for an MRI. MRI showed that my back was broken and surgery was needed ASAP.
My MRI was on Tuesday and I was under the knife by Friday.
Not eligible for the arthroscopic kind, large incision about 12 inched long.
Pain is mostly gone, but I still have permanent nerve damage due to the years of waiting or neglect if you will.
Don't wait, get it done and after it's done, do your physical theory and walk walk walk, and forget the drugs if you can.
Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Give a man a welfare check, a forty ounce malt liquor, a crack pipe, an Obama phone, free health insurance. and some Air Jordan's and he votes Democrat for a lifetime.
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 19,071
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 19,071 |
Everything from S2 to L3 in my back is fused together and held in place by two rods and two screws on each side of each vertebrae. Statistics s show that at least 50% of people that have some kind of back surgery will go under the knife again within 5 years.Mostly because they won't alter their lifestyle to accommodate their back.
Presently I need my neck done at C6-C7 and back at L3-L2. I'm holding out as long as I can.I walk 1&3/4 miles every day and do 3 different back exercises.
Followup on post op PT and Dr's advice
If God wanted you to walk and carry things on your back, He would not have invented stirrups and pack saddles
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 34,162
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 34,162 |
It was explained to me like this.
The fusion will hold up, it is the disks above and below the repair that are the cause of additional surgery.
It's like putting a stick or solid tube into a rubber hose and bending it back and forth until there is a failure in the hose(spine). The failure is usually just above or below the inserted tube (the repair). Compression is also a factor, the repair is solid, the remaining disks take on more weight as there are less disks to distribute the weight evenly..
Lifting causes compression failure of remain disks, bending causes similar.
My surgeon told me that I could return to work in 12-14 weeks after surgery. My Physical Medicine Dr that got me back on my feet after surgery told me that I would never be going back to work Construction unless I could find and employer that would accept 25 pound weight restrictions and no bending.
Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Give a man a welfare check, a forty ounce malt liquor, a crack pipe, an Obama phone, free health insurance. and some Air Jordan's and he votes Democrat for a lifetime.
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 6,864
Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 6,864 |
I probably need disc replacement surgery, but will this procedure repair a dead disc between L4 & L5?
Disc replacement surgery is not covered by insurance & I refuse to get my spine fused. A microdiskectomy uses a microscope (small incision is made) to go in with tiny tools to remove the torn/herniated/extruded part of the disc. It does not repair a disk but it is minimally intrusive.
It's about like this:
"Do you puff peters?"
"Hell no!"
"NAZI!!!"
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,065
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,065 |
Is that a substitute for fusion--or a step in-between?
The only thing I have heard from my Doc is shots followed by fusion. Shots look like a moneymaker there at least. Mucho emphasis on it.
Defend the Constitution
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 24,239
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 24,239 |
I'm not posting this for sympathy or "glad you're feeling betters." I'm posting this for any of you that have sciatica pain and are hesitant to have the microdiskectomy surgery. Find the best surgeon you can. Get it done.
Physical therapy worked but sciatica came back worse later. The cortisone/steroid injections got me better, but not back to work. It's 16 days post-surgery today. 1.5" incision, one hour surgery. The incision hurt for 5 days, but I was only on painkillers for the first 24 hours after surgery. I needed muscle relaxers for the first 3-4 days to help spasms. The stitches itched until my post-op appointment today, doc said everything is progressing swimmingly. Well I don't think that word is in his vocabulary but whatever- I'm sure he doesn't eat beef but I trust him anyways.
I woke up in recovery in a lot of pain due to the incision. Got some drugs, then they make you piss, walk and eat. Then you can go home. You can walk right after surgery. With a walker first time, but you walk out unassisted. Doc says to walk walk walk. No BLTs (Bending, Listing or Twisting). My doc gave me a back brace to wear when not in bed. No sitting for more than 20 minutes. Your doc may recommend different. My doc is one of the best in MKE so I'm following orders. No BLTs, extended sitting and a lot of walking for 8 weeks. Six more to go.
Get the injections gents, and if they don't work have the microdiskectomy procedure. My herniated, torn and extruded disk was L5-S1 on the right side. MRI did not show the extent of herniation the doc saw and removed once he had me on the table. That is all. My story exactly except mine was L4/L5. I would have kept on with the injections except it got to the point that the pain returned within a couple weeks. The Doc told me that at my age, 74 at the time, I could forget about EVER lifting much over twenty pounds without causing the pain to return, but that it should stop the constant pain I was experiencing. I discovered that, since he only removed the fwd part of the disc and only on the right side, I can manage a few forty pound sacks of corn provided I don’t have to bend over to get them and I position myself so I’m lifting on my left side. Best thing about a partial discectomy is that it leaves other surgical options open for the future if they become necessary.
Never holler whoa or look back in a tight place
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 24,239
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 24,239 |
Is that a substitute for fusion--or a step in-between?
The only thing I have heard from my Doc is shots followed by fusion. Shots look like a moneymaker there at least. Mucho emphasis on it. Quit going to that guy. Use shots as long as they work then find a surgeon that’s not married to one procedure.
Never holler whoa or look back in a tight place
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,065
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,065 |
Well, I appreciate the thread as trying to understand the different options available.
Am familiar with fusions and for me, it would be the last ditch choice.
Defend the Constitution
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 34,162
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 34,162 |
Well, I appreciate the thread as trying to understand the different options available.
Am familiar with fusions and for me, it would be the last ditch choice. What does your neurosurgeon say?
Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Give a man a welfare check, a forty ounce malt liquor, a crack pipe, an Obama phone, free health insurance. and some Air Jordan's and he votes Democrat for a lifetime.
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