Mayo Question, upset
 

Hi GUys,

I'm going to Mayo for a consultation about what to do about my back, which now has loose screws and unsuccessful fusion. They've made a pain guy my primary doc, even though pain is not my primary issue. It's what to do about loose screws.

So I went onto the Mayo site to look at the spine surgeons so as to make an educated request, and not a one was nearly as impressive as the people here in New York. I'm feeling really upset that I'm going to all this trouble, flying from NY to Minnesota, and don't even think they have a good spine department anymore. I was impressed with the guy who talked to me on the phone, when he talked about radiofrequency neurotomy and why I shouldn't have it. But these guys don't seem impressive. I mean one is so young he's only an instructor. Another has a special interest in peripheral nerves, not spine. Another is interested in young people and young athletes. A third says he's interested in necks. Nobody interested in lumbar spine.

Has anybody been to Mayo and have any suggestions about who to see?
Here's the list with the spine docs on it. I'm not impressed.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/orthopedic...csbyspec2.html


Leaving Sunday. Upset.

Thanks to you all.

the NY guys
 

don't know if this will work. But these are the guys in NY:

http://www.hss.edu/physicians_cammisa-frank.asp



Frank P. Cammisa Jr, MD
Dr. Cammisa is the Chief of the Spine Service at Hospital for Special Surgery.

Appointments
Associate Attending Orthopaedic Surgeon, Hospital for Special Surgery
Assistant Attending Surgeon, New York Hospital
Assistant Scientist, Research Division

Chief, Spine Service

Consultant, Spinal Cord Injury Unit

Specialty
Orthopedic Surgery

Subspecialty
Spine, Trauma

Certification

National Board of Medical Examiners
American Board of Orthopedic Surgery
ABOS
State Licensure
California, Connecticut, Washington DC, New Jersey, New York, Vermont

Education
MD, College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, New York, US


Residency
The Hospital for Special Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, New York, New York, US
The Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center , General Surgery, New York, New York, US


Fellowship
University of Miami, Jackson-Memorial Medical Center, Fellow in Spinal Surgery, US


Clinical Interests

Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery
Laparoscopic Spinal Surgery
Computer Assisted Spinal Surgery
Microsurgery
Athletic Spinal Injuries


Awards
North American Traveling Fellowship, American Orthopaedic Association
Spinal Research Award, Eastern Orthopaedic Association
Fellow Scholar Award, Eastern Orthopaedic Association


Affiliations

American Spine Society

International College of Surgeons

Fellow American COllege of Surgeons

Cervical Spine Research Society
International Society for the Study of Lumbar Spine

Selected Publications
For more publications, please see the PubMed listing.

HSS Condition and Treatment Articles
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery





The Guy who did the surgery:

http://www.docnet.org/physicians/phy...sp?phys_id=615


Affiliated with:



Michael G. Neuwirth, MD
Chief, Spine Service, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Beth Israel
Center, Institute, Program The Spine Institute At Beth Israel-Director

Medical Specialty Orthopedics/Orthopedic Surgery
Specializations/ Clinical Interests Spinal Surgery
Board Certifications American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, 1980
Medical School SUNY Downstate Medical School (Cum Laude), Brooklyn, NY, 1974
Residency Training Orthopaedics, Hospital For Joint Diseases Orthopaedic Institute, New York, NY, 1974-1978
Fellowship Spinal Surgery Research, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL, 1978-1979
From the doctor In 1996 Dr. Michael Neuwirth was named the Director of the Spine Institute at Beth Israel Medical Center. Prior to joining Beth Israel, he was the Chief of the Scoliosis Service and the combined Spine Services at the Hospital For Joint Diseases, as well as an Associate Clinical Professor and Associate Attending Physician at New York University and Tisch Hospitals.

Dr. Neuwirth’s practice is strictly limited to spinal surgery with areas of special expertise in complex spinal deformities, cervical spine and lumbar spine. He is a frequent lecturer to local and international groups and is the author of the Scoliosis Handbook, which is a book written for patients of scoliosis. Dr. Neuwirth has written extensively on scoliosis and is widely published in the field.

A native New Yorker, Dr. Neuwirth earned his undergraduate degree with distinction from Cornell University. In 1979 he joined the Mount Sinai School of Medicine as Assistant Clinical Professor of Orthopaedics. In 1995 he was named Associate Clinical Professor of Orthopaedics at the New York University School of Medicine. Dr. Neuwirth has served on the board of the Scoliosis Research Society.
Address 10 Union Square East
Suite 5P
New York NY 10003
Telephone:(212) 844-8682



This guy I have an appt with in two weeks.

http://www.hss.edu/physicians_oleary-patrick.asp

Patrick F. O'Leary, MD, FACS, PC




Born and raised in Ireland, Dr. O'Leary graduated medical school from the National University of Ireland at the University College Cork. After coming to the United States as a young doctor, he completed a rotating internship at the L.D.S. Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. Three years of general surgical residency training at Roosevelt Hospital in New York City brought him to the east coast. He completed his orthopaedic residency education at Hospital for Special Surgery and Cornell Medical Center and subsequently accomplished a spine fellowship at the University of Toronto in Canada.

Dr. O'Leary is a fellow of: the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the International College of Surgeons, the American College of Surgeons, and is board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.

Currently Dr. O'Leary serves as an attending surgeon of spine service at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, where, in the past, he also served as chief. Dr. O'Leary is currently a member of the Cervical Spine Research Society, the Scoliosis Research Society, and the North American Spinal Society. His special interest lies in the area of surgical technology and advances in surgical technique. He remains in close contact with his surgical colleagues in Europe and the United States.





Appointments
Associate Attending Orthopaedic Surgeon, Hospital for Special Surgery
Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Weill Medical College of Cornell University


Specialty
Orthopedic Surgery

Subspecialty
Spine

Certification
American Board of Orthopedic Surgery


State Licensure New York

Education
MD, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland


Internship
L.D.S. Hospital University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah


Residency
Roosevelt Hospital, General Surgical Residency, New York
Hospital for Special Surgery, Orthopedic Residency, New York


Fellowship
Toronto East General Orthopedic Hospital, Spine Surgery, Toronto, Canada


Affiliations

American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
American College of Surgeons
International College of Surgeons
Cervical Spine Research Society
New York State Society of Orthopedic Surgeons



For more publications, please see the PubMed listing.

LizaJane,

Is there not a spine group where you live or close by? I am just curious. And, IMHO, I think a Neurosurgeon would be your best bet. I was reading on SpineUniverse about the differences between them and the Ortho docs...there is an article about it. And although they are really pretty close in qualifications, it is the Neurosurgeons that actually have more training in regards to the spine. Because you have serious issues with your spine, non fusion and screws, I would look more towards an NS. I know with group I see, sometimes both are used; the NS and the Ortho depending on the problem.

The group I go to has 4 pain management doctors, one Neurosurgeon and two Ortho docs. I think they are great and helped me a great deal! That is why I ask if there isn't some group close to where you live.

I wish you well with this and I hope you can get some answers. :)

Actually, can't add much to what you've been speculating on, Liza Jane>
 

I do sort of share the idea that the people at Mayo's spine department are more research than hands-on everyday surgery-oriented, and I'm also not thrilled with the fact that no one you've listed seems to be an expert in lumbar fusion. Are there other docs there, though, whose listings have not been as easy to access, who might have more expertise? I mention that as in my experience the hospital web sites, even for places like Mayo, don't always mention all their associates and affiliates. (The docs themselves are not always that interested in the websites, so it's up to the whim of the people creating the sites and how much they push the facility for info and profiles.)

I always thought that when it came to spinal stuff (and a lot of other stuff), what we have in NY is as good as what's available anywhere else--Beth Israel/Hospital for Joint Diseases, the Hospital for Special Surgery, and the Columbia/Cornell System are all world-class neuro-orthopedic centers.

glenntaj,

I agree. And you stated what I have found to be true. In my experience I was going to a research medical center. Not that they weren't great docs...long story...but they didn't get to the source of the problem. So, when I switched to an actual SPINE group; they found the problem immediately. Needless to say, I was a little upset after having wasted 3 years chasing myself! I also want to add that the group I go to was the first in the US to do the FIRST CERVICAL artificial disc replacement; so I tend to think they know what they are doing. :) The point is...sometimes the very best places are right down the road. :)

Just out of curiosity I googled "Who is the best Spinal Fusion doctor in the world? and this site came up!!!!

http://www.getadr.com/

can't believe that Germany is ahead of us in this field.

Melody

Melody,

Germany has been doing ADR's for a very long time. However, in the US they are still under study although some have been doing them...including the group I see. It is not automatic that you receive one. I checked into this a long time ago. There is VERY strict criteria and the average person is not a candidate. Also, my NS told me even IF I were a candidate for a cervical ADR, the continued ROM would NOT stop the nerve root irritation. So, there are plenty of pros and cons. :) I am just glad I went with the standard fusion...two of them...for STABILITY! That was the key...for me anyway! But I am speaking of cervical and not lumbar.

I think we should all pray that someday there is some guy who is doing research in spinal cord cloning, or replacing, or whatever.

Can you imagine, you go into the hospital crippled and you walk out a few weeks later a brand new person.

I know the guy around the corner from me would be the first one in line. He hasn't stood straight up in 10 years. He's now around 80. He's had so many fusions and spine stuff done to him he now walks at a 45 degree angle.

It's quite a site to see this lovely man walk by and he is facing the sidewalk. You almost want to blurt out "How's the view down there??? Actually he has an amazing sense of humor. His name is HY and he goes about and does his business like everybody else only he can't straighten up.

Only if he is sitting down in a chair, can he face the world. Never saw such a thing in all my life. I once spoke to his wife and asked "they can't do anything for him?, for the pain, anything???" and she replied "No, they've done everything, he is in such pain and he'll never straighten up".

I once spoke to him about the Lidoderm patches. I believe he did use them but they did nothing. Alan told him to see a pain management specialist but the guy is really disgusted with life. Can't blame him.

And this is the USA??? Somebody better start doing SOMETHING to help people with disc and fusion problems.

It Is Definitely Clear....
 

that you are going thru a BIG case of WHAT IF's/IF ONLY's.

What does your gut instinct tell you? Hasn't it been pretty much on track all along? Go with that and well, if they say SURGERY NOW well, you can always beg off time to 'consider', ponder or whatever.

Heck, you have been thru a food processor of sorts thruout the whole diagnosis, treatment, surgery thing, then got mugged w/the mis-med aspect that surely wasn't anticipated.

All I could add to it is, well, FRUITCAKES! I've loose screws IN ME! I WANT THEM ATTACHED AND WORKING! But, that's my mere human [not a medico] opinions. I really don't think mortals count in such matters..Wish they did?

Still and all Hugs and Fuzzies! for the Duration ! - j

Melody,

That man sounds amazing! You have to know he is probably in incredible pain. So, to retain his sense of humor is a wonderful accomplishment. I truly admire folks like that.

Okay, for the discs and fusions and such. A good NS will tell you that they CANNOT guarantee pain relief. What they are looking for is instability and neurological deficits. If you present with these, there is not much else you can do except opt for surgery otherwise the neurological deficits CANNOT be reversed and you WILL become disabled. It is not like PN where there is hope that nerves will regenerate. This is quite the opposite...it does NOT get better. I have had two cervical fusions for two different reasons. Do I still have pain? Yes, spasms. But not to the degree I had it before. It was the most absolute horrible pain I have ever had in my life! The PN is bad enough but this was screaming, horrendous pain. For instance, I have given birth lol and had a hysterectomy. Both of those count as a 2 for me on the pain scale. The cervicogenic headaches were a 5000! I really thought I was dying.

Anyway, I was NOT a candidate for the cervical ADR. One, because I smoke, I know, I am a bad girl. But the real truth was because I have degenerative disc disease all up and down my cervical spine. Again, the criteria is EXTREMELY STRICT. I could list it all out here. But suffice to say...you almost have to be in the utmost perfect health and basically only have ONE level that is bad. Yes, they do them in Germany and they do multiple levels. But, really, who has the money to fly to Germany? And besides that, from what I have read, a big risk with an ADR is revision surgery which can be life threatening. So, even IF I had been a candidate, and from what I have read, I am glad I went with the standard fusion. Now, there are people that have had them and are doing quite well. But I often wonder, for how long. Fusions or ADR's they both have their risks and pro and cons.