[Thankyou for your response. I have decided to consult the anaesthetist who would be looking after me and post op care. I can't do that until I have a definite day for surgery. So I am going back to my neurosurgeon on Monday week to ask questions and get the referral. In the mean time I will discuss this with my GP who returns from holidays next week and see if she will refer me to a pain specialist. It is a bit of an awkward situation. I know the disc can't be left where it is because I can feel pain when I breathe and the neuropathic symptoms although they have been reduced due to nortriptyline are very unpleasant.
Libby



QUOTE=spine95;878768]Perhaps you might consider a referral to a pain specialist ASAP. My own personal opinion ......surgeons are not the best choice for managing post op pain. They really don't want that job anyhow as their waiting rooms tend to be filled with pre-op and immediately post op patients and don't have the time or room for the post op patients who will be dealing with ongoing issues while they heal. A pain specialist will be trained to sort out which medications will give you the best relief without causing problems per your history. It would be best to have a plan in place before the surgery. For that matter, if there have been medication issues in the hospital when you were immediately post op, you could request that your pain doc manage your pain while there. It is done every day. Best wishes.[/QUOTE]