Hi, just a note to say I am seeing Dr, Jho on April 2nd and I see Dr. Spiros at UPMC tomorrow on feb 20, 2008 who also does endoscopic surgery. I have one oppinion from Dr. Kang at UPMC (orthopedic surgeon of renown) and I am going to also get two more from the neurosurgeons listed above as I am getting mixed remarks from the medical community. All I can say is try and get a few oppinions to be make a good decision about who you want to do your surgery. Dr. Lee at UPMC (orthopedic) also does endoscopic surgery, but I think I will have enough oppinions to satisfy me when I am done with the last visit with Dr. Jho.

I so wish I had gotten a 2nd or 3rd oppinion before my fusion done in 2005. I was trusting the surgeon to be honest with me and tell me of other options and he told me I had no other options which was not true. A specialist is not going to refer you to another doctor so YOU have to do the leg work yourself. It is sad, especially when you are counting on straight answers, but they make their money doing surgeries and are wanting to do what they do and not what is best for you in the long run. I never even heard of cervical or lumbar endoscopic surgery until I found it by accident on the web. Why wasn't I given that choice before when I was asking very explicit questions of my surgeon?

If I could do it again I would have had endoscopic surgery and not a fusion, but it is done and now I am at the crossroads again. I have heard great things about Dr. Jho and I know many surgeons say unkind things about him, but I am not basing my decision so much on others as I have been misled so much before. There are sites on can check on Dr.s to see how they are rated or what others say. I feel real comfortable with considering Dr. Jho. I am taking my time as I am managing my pain somewhat tolerable, but don't rely on your specialist to give you much help is what I have found unless they are not in competition. You will always find someone unhappy also so be very careful about how much weight you give them also.

I am going by my heart, the facts I find, and a good dose of prayer to make my final decision. The endoscopic route just seems to make more sense to me if I am a candidate.

good luck