...He had better take his time talking to me and listen. If he "pops in and out" I may just lose my calm disposition. wish me luck.

duct tape him to the chair.



do you have a list of what you want to talk to him about? if you do...make a copy for him. it really does help.

I hope it goes well for you!

Good luck Sir Earl~ Let us know how your appt goes.

Ok, so it went VERY WELL> this doctor is the neurosurgeon that was recommended to me by friends. ... first a bit of back story.

I have been diag. with MS for 13 years next month. I started using a cane 12 years ago, 10 years ago I moved to fore-arm crutches, 7 years ago I moved to a manual chair 70% of the time. 4 years ago I fell while in the shower and compressed L-5 - S-1 in my lower spine. This caused sig. impingement on my spinal cord. I wasn't given any hope to ever walk again (gee, I wonder why I hate doctors) anyway this is the first time seeing a neuro since then.

This doc says he wants to do a surgery [next Friday] to replace two of my disc's with artificial, fuse the spine and take the pressure off of my nerve roots. he said 80% chance I can walk again (after lots of rehab and p.t.)

so, March 7 I am going under the knife, I have never had surgery but am not too nervous about it.

Thanks for your prayers which I know you sent. GOOD DAY!!! finally..

Earl,

Well, may the force be with you! I send you lots of good wishes for the success of the surgery and your recovery. If you have looked into i all thoroughly and know the risks as well as the good possibilities, you've done everything you can to make an informed decision.

All the best!

Good luck Earl!

I am also glad that the doc listened to you and didn't pull one of his hit and run visits! I hate those!!

Glad it went so well!

I've heard good things about ADR (artificial disc replacement). SO much better than fusion, IMHO. Even if not for getting your walking back, Earl, to keep other sx from happening. Who needs more nerve damage?

You've been around the block enough I shouldn't have to say this, but do your homework. ADR is still pretty new. Some docs have more experience than others, and I want to see you end up with the best you can find. Maybe check in with the Brain Talk bunch - a lot of ADR vets there, you know?

Earl, I hope all goes as well as expected! Did you just have 'MRI' that showed the root impingement, or did the do an 'EMG', as well?

I have a disc herniation in that location with no definite root impingement, but an 'EMG' showed acute and chronic denervation in the vastus, increased duration during polyphasic, and positive sharp waves. + fibrillations.

One doctor I saw in N.Y. said it was from the disc herniation, but did not give me a referral to get it fixed.

I had 2 abnormal biopsies. Just trying to put my own puzzle together. I quit on the doctor in N.Y.

Thanks!

I'm so glad you found a doctor you like! Maybe it was a good thing nobody did anything before, since this surgery is relatively new. We'll expect to see you running marathons in the near future!