Surgery for bulging discs ? Posted: 01-11-08 00:59am
I woke up about 4 weeks ago with very bad
pain in my left shoulder and arm. I also
noticed numbness in my left fingers. I
went in to see my family doctor and had an
MRI done. He said that I had a bulging
disc in my C-7 and C-6 with #6 being the
lesser of the two. Anyway he gave me some
pain pills and referred me to a
neurosurgeon. I went to the surgeon 4
weeks after my first signs of pain. Well
by then my pain had subsided to where I
did not even need any pills, I still have
the numbness in my fingers is all. Well
almost as soon as he took one look at my
MRI's he started talking about fusion
surgery and using some donor bone from a
cadaver. He said that the whole operation
would take less then an hour and a half
and that there were very little risks,
that I would be all better in one month.
Now all I have read on this says that
doctors only use surgery as a last resort.
That the first thing most prescribe for my
condition are nonsurgical treatments such
as physical therapy and the like. I am 38
y/o and in otherwise pretty good health,
not over weight ect. The surgeon also said
that if I did not have the operation that
it would come back sooner or later and
that the pain going away could either mean
it's getting better or it's getting worse.
I am not sure of anything, the guy just
came off more like a car salesman then a
doctor and I'm not very comfortable
offering up my neck on "slick willies"
operating table ya know ?
Can someone please give me some advice?
Thank you very much in advance, the ppl at
this site have been just so great!!! God
bless those kind people that help others.
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CarolDiane
Moderator
Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 2390 Location: ,
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Posted: 01-11-08 05:04am
Consider yourslef luky to have that
option. I have two of the L-2,3 and I was
told that surgery was not an option for
me. To many other problems with my back.
But, as Rich T told, I should realy
consult with a neuro sugeon. I would
probably be very close to having the
surgery after my full blown pain last
weekend.
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RichT
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 901
Thanks: 21
Thanked:0
Posted: 01-11-08 07:48am
Hello Timothy,
I would recommend that you seek out a
second and even a third opinion from a
neurologist/spinal surgeon. Serach out
the very best spinal doctors that you can
find. Talk to people you know and find
out which spinal doctors they thought
highly of and which ones they would not
recommend. If you live in/near a city
which has a professional sports team, call
their office and ask which
neurologist/spinal surgeon that they use
for their players.
AND definitely seek out the advice from
the best pain management doctor that you
can find. I don't know where you live,
but if you live in the Washington DC area
I can highly recommend the PM doc I go
to.
YES, surgery IS the last option in my
opinion. I'm going to keep that knife as
far away as possible as long as I can.
I wish you well. Do stay in touch and let
us know how things go.
?
Can someone please give me some advice?
Thank you very much in advance, the ppl at
this site have been just so great!!! God
bless those kind people that help others.
