[janelgo1952]

Hi! I am new to this forum and have been reading everyone's posts about their experiences with their back surgeries....very, interesting. I have Spondylolisthesis, and the surgeon is wanting to do a S1, L4 & 5 Posterior Fusion, plus I have a growth or tumor that is laying on my spine.

I was scheduled for August 12, and panicked. I cancelled the surgery, because I just did not feel confident in the surgeon, or his staff having my best interests at heart. I have been researching different feedback on surgeons in my area and the ratings of the hospitals that they are affiliated with. I have found a surgeon about 77 miles from here and both he and the hospital are above national averages in their ratings.
As I read everyone's stories, I was perplexed that no one mentioned their doctors names or the hospitals that did their surgeries. I think that you have to feel confident with both. I was also, interested in the uncanny similarities around the infections and their hardware. I am suppose to have 12 screws put in and 4 rods....that is a lot of hardware, so it concerns me about this coincidence that has been occurring around their infections, related to the hardware.
I would also, like to know if any of you who had these infections were over 50? I am 62. The surgeon that I was going to have do this, is now being investigated by CBS for doing over 243 multiple fusions in a year, which is by far more than any other surgeon in the USA.
When I spoke to him after cancelling the surgery, he referred to himself as being like a machine(?)! Ugh! That did not go over very well for me. He also, makes his patient wait 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours to see him. I also, heard from perfect strangers that I should not let him do the surgery, as he had operated on someone they knew and it had not turned out very well.
The hospital, also, had a bad reputation for Staph Infections, and Pneumonia while in the hospital or post-surgery. Can anyone shed any light on how so many people are ending up with Staph infections! Seems alarming to me! If I go with this other doctor I will have to wait 5 months to be able to setup an appointment in order to be able to obtain the type of insurance that he accepts. I look forward to hearing fro some of you on your recommendations and whether or not you agree with my decision to postpone my surgery and look elsewhere.

[Lara]

Hello janelgo1952,

Welcome to the NeuroTalk Support Groups.

Here is the link to the
Spinal Disorders & Back Pain Forum

I'm sure the members there will be able to offer you their opinions and also support and information. It must have been a very difficult decision at the time to postpone your scheduled surgery, but you're asking all the questions that we as patients need to ask, so it's not as if you've not thought about it all in depth.

I hope you end up finding someone that you trust.

[Darlene]

janelgo1952,

It is great to have you come and be with us. You will find a great number of dear friends to listen when you are in need of ears. Please let us know how we can help you out. You will find out we are supportive and relaxing place.

Please keep us up to date on your condition. Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Darlene

[Dr. Smith]

Originally Posted by janelgo1952

I look forward to hearing fro some of you on your recommendations and whether or not you agree with my decision to postpone my surgery and look elsewhere.

Hi janelgo, welcome.

By all means feel free to post something in the Spinal Disorders & Back Pain forum, but as long as we're here...

I agree with your decision to cancel. That you do not have confidence in the surgeon is reason enough, IMO. I think the other reasons you gave are also justified.

Can anyone shed any light on how so many people are ending up with Staph infections!

There are several factors contributing to the problem, including but not limited to:

• Over use of antibiotics leading to resistant strains such as MRSA
• Poor design, lax exercise & enforcement of protocols by staff and patients
• Infections inadvertantly being brought in by carriers

staph infections in hospitals

Doc

[Kitt]

Welcome janelgo1952.