Neurosurgeon appointment news

I met with my neurosurgeon last week to go over test results, not good. Cervical MRI shows almost as much narrowing of my spinal canal as Lumbar, however since I am having no pain in my shoulders and arms, and am not loosing strength in my arms, my lumbar spine will be addressed first. I will be having an appointment with a general surgeon ASAP for a consult, as the neurosurgeon plans a two part surgery of my lumbar spine. They will first open my side and he will insert spacers from L3 to S1, then open my back and place rods and screws in the same area. He says without this surgery it will only be a matter of time until I will have to be on a scooter to get around. He says that removing bone growth from the L4-5 fusion will be the most difficult part of the surgery, I will probably require a blood transfusion, and that I will be in the OR for the better part of one day. I am scared, but just cannot go on like I am as I am slowly loosing movement of my right leg, can no longer put a sock on my right foot without help, and am in pain all the time.

Good luck to you and please keep us updated as you get closer to the surgery and post-op as well. All surgery is scary but think in terms of what if you dont? Weigh those benefits out.

Charlie,
I'm so sorry for your news. I guess you had an idea what to expect, even though you did not want it to be true. I certainly do hope this surgery will give you the relief you want.

I just looked at your profile and see that you are retired law enforcement. Thank you for that service. I have several law people in my family. Do you happen to know the chief in DWG?

It's good your surgeon is having you consult with others to help with your case. I'm wishing you the very best, praying too!

Susie, thanks for your advice, I really appreciate it. As far as the lateral approach is conserned , its called "extreme lateral interbody fusion or XLIF. Apparently this procedure did exist 12 yrs ago when I had my first spinal surgery, although I dont see how long its been around. I will ask the general surgeon when I have my appointment with him, but can only assume my procedure will require opening a much larger area than would be required for just one level, as mine will be L3-S1. I will post as I learn more.

Thanks again

Charlie

Susie, my neurosurgeon is Thomas Ellis and my surgery will be at Harris Methodist in Ft Worth. He did say I will probably need blood and I do plan to donate my own. After consult with general surgeon I will have one more short consult with Dr Ellis then will have surgery date. Dr Ellis says there may be a delay until Sept until the two Drs can find a date that will fit their schedule. I will keep you folks posted.

Charlie

So very sorry your going through all this.
There is a top notch C-Spine doctor here in Houston, TX... if/when you need to come down this way!

Good luck to you on your surgery and hope you have a very speedy recovery, but follow the doctors orders on all this.

Hello Charlie,
Just wondering if you've had that consult yet and if the 2 doctor's schedules have been worked out.

Take care. Prayers for relief soon.

Charlie keep us posted as to when the surgery date is set. We sure will be keeping you in our prayers. Any surgery is scary, but I think you will do just fine. Just keep looking forward to that final result of feeling much better.

Take care.

Thanks for the update. Maybe you will not have to wait too much longer. Your explanation is more like what I've heard about rather than a side incision. I hope you felt confident with the general surgeon. Probably your two surgeons have worked together before.

I do expect to have a good weekend-Aug. 3 is our anniversary. I pray that day holds some precious memories for you too.

This sounds like possibly very good news! However it turns out I am impressed with your surgeon. I've got his name. Hope it all gets resolved quickly and is not as bad as you were originally told. Looking forward to your updates.

If they can find and fix my hip, at my age I believe im just going to baby my spine and live with it. Thanks for your prayers and well wishes

Thanks folks for thinking about me...it has been a very frustrating few weeks. I had the MRI of my right hip on the 11th with the radiologist telling me the neurosurgeon would have the film and report the next day. I waited until the following Monday to call the lady who does all of his scheduling, as of last Friday she has given me the following excuses

(1) He will be in surgery for the next few days
(2) It's on his desk, waiting for him to review, and last but not least
(3) he is on vacation.

Take your pick as to which story is fact or fiction, she has the typical "don't shoot the messenger attitude", sugar wouldn't melt in her mouth on the phone, once in a blue moon when you get her to answer, but has NEVER returned a phone call to me.

I finally went and got a copy of the report myself and the impressions are: High-grade cartilage loss along the superior hip joint space with subchondral changes, and tearing along the length of the lateral and anterior portions of the RIGHT acetabular labrum with paralateral cyst formation.

Still having not heard a word for the neurosurgeon's office I saw my old faithful primary care Doc and asked him for help. He said his office would get the film and report and he would refer me to a good hip specialist. I called his office this morning to follow-up and was told they had faxed the request for the MRI findings last Friday. Hopefully I will be able to see a hip specialist soon.

Hope you all have a good week

Charlie

Charlie,
Goodness gracious! That's not a full plate..its a buffet! You will remain in our prayers.