I am new and looking for suggestions to help me find more about spinal surgery
 

Hi My name is Candance and my mother's name is Dottie,

I am looking for others that have success with surgery for spinal stenosis, degenerative disk disease. We have tried many options but only more disappointments and more pain, so far no success, last option is now surgery, she doesnt want to live if she can't walk to rest room or live without more pain. She has suffered from FB since I can remember, but she was a great mom anyway.

I pray we can find some others like her to show their is hope for her too. Important we do this soon for her depression is getting worse because of her battle with pain she is borderline bipolar depressive of course. My mother has too much love to give this world and she doesn't deserve the pain she has endured much of her life.

I plan to move her once she has a recovered from spinal surgery, I will take care of her and move her to the big island of Hawaii where she can live a peaceful and serene and full life. I will make her dream come true and she will spend her remaining years looking at the ocean from her front porch chair and take long walks on the beach with her great grandchildren. But first I have to make a decision on a surgery solution and get her back on her feet.

My mission is to get her ready for a new life. I work many hours a the college, so I need people and their experiences, strengths, and I hope this will help me research better and quicker weeding out all the hype stories. Mayo verses Spinal Laser Institute verses back institute non invasive vs minimal invasive procedures verses the invasive traditional "Kaiser" open back fusion, most invasive, and complications are more prone such as infection, scare tissue, risky for my mother. I am already confused on which surgery is the best for my 70 year old mother, who is now wheel chair bound and wearing diapers. She cant think because of all the drugs. This has happened with in the last several years, while trying all other methods from spacers put in to stretching her spine with the unfounded machine GM9000, they keep your 5000.00 if nothing works.....to chiropractors, Aug 24 was the day she scheduled for surgery, I begged her to wait until we checked every surgery option we could find on the internet. Only if that could be simple, one thing sounds great and then another renowned "Mayo clinic" shoots it down and say they would not advise laser surgery.
They use such Language as minimal invasive is misleading, etc. I need other experiences and knowledge of fact to share with me or who can advise me on the best treatment for my 70 yr named Dottie, are you or do you know someone who's had spinal surgery success which can help me determined whats best for my mother.
The human race is more influencial that trying to research everything on the internet whether true or false, hype or not. So if you have had success with these same problems, please email me with your experiences good or bad. thank you. From A daughter whose best friend is her mother.

Also, Looking for answers on spine surgery-spinal stenosis, and degenerative disks disease, prefer less invasive surgery with good results. Also, does FB have some connection, BiPolar disorder treatment

chronic pain
 

First of all, let me say I will be praying for you and your mother that God will reveal to you the path you should take. I know He will. As for my experience with spinal pain surgery was most assuredly the answer. I had my surgery about six years ago and have not regreated it even one moment. I went to the Brain and Spine Institute in Ft. Worth Tx, and had my surgery at Harris Methodist there. I had to spend one night in the hospital as well as another night at my sisters because my doctor would not allow me to travel for 48 hours. Just begin searching for the best Dr. you can find in your area and I know God will do the rest Best wishes.

Hi. Just read your post. Mind if I ask what is FB?

Anyway, welcome to our little corner of the world.

Others will come by and give you support and their experiences.

Take care,

Melody

Great to have you here.
 

Hello and welcome to NeuroTalk. Happy to see you have come to be with us. Just let us know if we can be of any help.

Check the following forums there are a great number of friends there to assist you:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum22.html

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum21.html

There are great number of fellow members here to assist as possible. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around.

Darlene :hug:

Welcome to NT

It's a great place for you to find. There's lots of caring folks here who want to extend a caring hand to others.

I pray you find some peace...

Spinal surgery
 

I had spinal decompression surgery May 11th, 2010 at the Southern Illinois University Medical Center in Springfield, IL. I am still recovering. My problem was between C3 and C7, deteriorating vertebrae and a bulging disc. My symptoms became much worse about a year ago; although I had been treated for some symptoms by a neurologist for ten years. I also underwent two knee replacement surgeries last year; when they were done, I found another neurologist who told me my spinal cord was being pinched in the neck causing these symptoms in both my arms and legs. He suggested immediate surgery to release the spinal cord. It took from December. 2009 to May, 2010 to get referred and to be scheduled for surgery. I was then told that my symptoms might not be relieved by surgery, but it might help them from getting worse. My suggestion is don't wait too long. Also recovery depends on what other problems you might have. I stayed for five days for the surgery and a month in long-term care; because I was not able to take care of myself after surgery.
I also had home health services for about six weeks and during that time I could not leave the house except to go to the doctor. I am 66 and am now staying alone taking care of myself and doing some housekeeping. I am on medicare. I am not driving yet and only leaving the house to go to the car. If you are not going to be there when your mother has surgery consider how long her recovery time might be. Also medicare has limits on length of services covered.

Hi ~ I'm sorry your dear Mom is in such pain. I know how it is as I've been in pretty bad shape for 26 years, and I'm now 61.

I've had 2 OPEN surgeries for degenerative discs, herniated discs. One was done in 1987, and the other in 1995. I can tell you that I wish I had NEVER had it done as I'm in worse shape now than I was before. I now have PERMANENT sciatica which is the most painful darn thing ~ it's pain from the hip, all the way down the leg and into the foot. I had a spinal cord stimulator implanted, but alll that did was irritate the nerve even more, so after 6 months of trying it we had to remove it. Now I exist on opiate pain medications, and all they do is take the edge off because doctors have a history of undermedicating pain patients. They're afraid of the DEA.

Your Mother would PROBABLY benefit from the spinal cord stimulator as MOST people have very positive experiences from it. I was just a weird case, and I say that very honestly. I would ask her doctor to refer her to a pain management specialist and see if she's a candidate for one. This would afford her lots of pain relief. It's NOT a serious operation, and most people go home the same day. You have a trial period before the actual implant, so she could see if it would work for her.

I really don't recommend spinal surgery, as most people end up having to have further surgery later on. After spinal surgery, the levels above and below the surgery site end up failing because they've had to carry the load. This happens VERY frequently, and it happenen to me. I now have several bulges, herniations and because of osteoporosis I am now inoperable ~ thus the need for opiates for pain control. I wouldn't let them touch me anyway! LOL Surgery just begets more surgery :(

I wish you and your dear Mother the very best of luck God bless you and take care. If you have more questions, please contact me. Hugs, Lee

I'm extremely sympathetic to your situation. At one time I was the one in the wheelchair. Three and 1/2 years ago I decided to get spinal fusion of L3-L4-L5. Like 45% of those that opt for this surgery, mine failed. However, I was blessed to be able to walk again. For how long? Who knows. I'm in constant pain and there is no comfortable position. I don't regret the surgery. It's given me 3 plus years of mobility. That's better than many others. I wouldn't give you advice as that would be silly since your mother is older and in a different situation. I will say that at some point the risk becomes worth it. I wish you success andd luck in whatever you try. And I wish I had someone like you looking out for me (and taking me to Hawaii!). Your mother is very lucky! Don't you forget it!:hug:

Welcome! I just want to say what a wonderful daughter you sound like you are. Your mom is blessed to have someone who cares for her like you do.....Best wishes. I think you'll find some help here from folks who have been struggling with their own spine problems.