Question for a surgical consult...

Do you know what kind of procedure they are recommending?

If not, ask.
What other options might s/he consider? Why did s/he rule those options out?
Is the treatment considered experimental for your diagnosis?
How many of that particular procedure has the surgeon done & how long has s/he been doing them for?
Will anyone besides the surgeon participating (interns, residents, junior surgeons)? What are their credentials, if known?
What kind of closure is being used? Who is closing? [If it's important to you, you could ask if a plastics specialist could do the closure. Some surgeons are okay with that, others aren't.]
Who will manage pre-op & post-op pain meds (him, your PM, someone else)?

Beyond that, just the basic stuff: recovery time, risks, downsides, what is considered a "successful outcome", what if it fails/makes you worse, how long in the hospital, how long will it last (i.e., when will you likely need to repeat the procedure), etc.

hugz & prayers,
Tirzah

Hi Draka. What kind of surgery are you getting the consult for?

I'm actually headed in to talk with a surgeon tomorrow about a possible fusion in my neck. What a coincidence, yeah? Anyways, I've been quite nervous myself about it and have had plenty of time to make up my own list so here's the big ones from my ~3 page list:

What are the risks for this procedure both immediate and long term? If the surgery failed for some reason, what would we do about that?

What is the recovery time frame for this procedure? What restrictions would I be under during recovery and when would they be lifted? Once recovery is complete, would there be any remaining restrictions on my activities?

How would this procedure specifically relieve pain for me?

Would I have to stay in the hospital after the procedure at all? How long? How long is the procedure itself? What will I need to arrange in terms of rides to and from the hospital?

What are the alternatives to this surgery? Are any of them less invasive? Is this the only option for a permanent fix? Why is this surgery a better choice than the alternatives?

How often does the surgeon do this particular surgery? What success rate has he enjoyed? What side effects has he encountered in the past?

What would the plan be for my pain medication leading up to the surgery? After the surgery (both for surgery recovery and continuing pain from the original issues)?

I had a bunch more that were either specific to my personal situation or the specific surgery I believe the surgeon will be recommending. If you want some of those too, shoot me a quick email and I'll get them to you. I hope your consult goes great tomorrow and please let us all know how it turns out.

-Jeff

Hey Jeff you already got alot of info and I cant add much more to it but wanted to wish you luck and make sure that your comfortable with the odds of the outcome your expecting,do your own search afterwards whenn you know exactly what it is he wants to do to you. The internet is an astonishing wealth of opinions and educational material and alot of times you have to sift thru alot of it but you will be able to see what others have gained or lost from this particular procedure.

Good luck! Please let us know how it turns out and I m sure you will be worn out after your long day ahead but just drop in drop a note when you recoup some.

Draka & Jeff

I have had two ACDF's done first in Mar 1985 C-6/7 and last inSep  2009 at C-5/6 and a Posterior fusion of the Articular Joints at C-3/4 the last two neck surgeries that I have had I have  been under  treatment for Chronic Pain, and both the last surgeries I had some major problems with pain control while in the  hospital for the surgeries. If at all possible I would talk to your PM Doc and arrange that he/she continue managing your pain control while in the hospital!  I know the my surgeon and the staff at the hospital just could not seem to get my pain undercontrol, and had a difficult time understanding that with my current pain meds that, that was not enough to cover and control the new pain requirements produced from the new surgery! So I would strongly urge you  to get this matter addressed  befor undergoing the surgery. I know the last surgery I had I was assured by the surgeon and hospital staff that this would be no problem, Well it was a problem, in fact a major! really major problem and made my hospitl stay much longer because of it! So I would recommmend that you talk at length with your PM Doc, and see if he has hospital privileges at the facility where you are having your surgery, and see if your surgeon and staff  have any  problems with your PM Doc joinging his/her team in your care and treatment. Assuming that your PM Doc will also do this! I would hate to see anybody endure what I did as far as pain management goes after ones surgery! If you have been treated for long term chronic pain prior to having surgery, you just can not be treated the same way, as the every day, normal person, who is not taking pain meds for the treatment of Chronic Pain. Believe me on this, it can really make a difference in your over all experience while undergoing this type of procedure!

Good Luck to both of YOU!

White Beard

Again, thank you to everyone....

My appointment today went from 11 am to getting home at 8:30!

It was a long, long stressful day but I have finally decided to jump in feet first and booked a date in two weeks for surgery... this was my second surgical consult.

I was told the damage in my neck was done when I was 2-3 years old.... I'm now 43 so my time of suffering will soon be coming to an end. It's still so surreal.... it's been so long with the pain that I know nothing else....

My husband and I are very confident with the surgeon and the type of surgery.... my surgeon will be going in through the back of my neck to open up the spots where the nerves come out of the vertebrae... I will be having some pins and screws to.

I have two weeks to bring down my meds.... I see my PM next week so I will discuss this with him.

Jeff- I hope your consult went well today...

Thank you again

Hi Draka. That is one long appointment! I'm very glad your consult went so well. It seems that you've found yourself an excellent surgeon who is going to fix you right up. You've been in pain for a long time, what are you planning for your new pain free lifestyle? It sounds like you're getting away without a fusion. That's great! Keep us updated on your surgery and results. Sounds like you'll have to go through a little while with increased pain from lack of your meds, but it'll be worth it I'm sure to finally be quit of the pain permanently. This is such great news, I'm so happy that the surgeon is going to be able to help you in a way you are comfortable with!

I have to admit I'm a bit jealous. My appointment didn't go quite as well. The surgeon said that the information we have justifies disk surgery. However my last MRIs are about nine months old and since my symptoms have progressed markedly recently he wants newer images before we jump in there. I agree with him on that one for sure (I'm a bit worried about what these new images will show). So more waiting is in my future. My insurance is not quick with MRI approvals, although hopefully they will be better about it since all the treatments they prefer to see done first have been tried on me many multiples of times. And getting a new appointment with the surgeon usually takes about a month. The biggest problem though is that I don't like this surgeon. Not at all. He's one of those doctors that doesn't listen. He asked me how I've been feeling and I had just enough time to tell him that my arm hurts before he started talking over me. So he doesn't know, for instance, that part of my hand and forearm have started going numb or that the pain has spread to my other arm as well. Then he left to order the MRIs and never came back. If he were my only doctor I would get to spend the next several weeks in unmitigated pain with even less sleep. Luckily I have an appointment with my PM today. So I'm going to do the MRIs since I do believe they make sense, but I'm now going to be on the hunt for a new surgeon. Probably a neurosurgeon this time. I'll talk about that with my PM today as well.

Draka, I am so happy your appointment went so well. I know I said that I was jealous, but really I'm not (I was just being funny, or trying at least). It actually helps mitigate for me that mine didn't go so well, knowing that yours did. My hopes and prayers will be with you these next few weeks that your surgery goes well and that the outcome is every bit as good as can be hoped.

-Jeff

Post Edited (desert) : 3/17/2011 8:48:25 AM (GMT-6)

Thanks White Beard. Yeah, I'm always overdoing stuff. You'd think I'd get used to taking it easy after a while, but I still get frustrated by holding back and eventually do something that kicks everything off again. MRIs, yeah need the new ones of those. I'm not a big fan of surprises during surgery after all. I was warned by the office staff that the MRI approval may take a while because my insurance company is notoriously touchy about approving MRIs for some reason. They always want to try and retry other treatments first. But I guess my medical records were more than enough for them because I got the call to schedule my appointment two days after my visit (usually it's closer to a week) and have an appointment for Monday morning. I found a neurosurgeon I think I may like and so plan to setup an appointment with him as soon as possible.

-Jeff

Thanks nvrthesame98. I'm definitely not letting any doctor I don't trust near me with a scalpel. And a big part of that trust is them listening to me. I found a neuro nearby that comes well recommended by a good friend and does this type of surgery. They also do surgeries at my hospital of choice. So it may be a good fit. I won't know of course until I talk to him.

Draka,
I don't blame you; I'd be scared too if I had that much surgery scheduled. But you've spent quite a lot of time with the NS & hopefully have had all your concerns addressed. As long as your PM has some sort of post-op meds figured out for you, I'd say just try to sit back and breathe. Surgery is always scary & there are no guarantees, but a LOT of people really do feel much better after they heal up from a fusion surgery.

Sending warm wishes & healing prayers your way,
T