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Spinal Disorders & Back Pain For discussion of all spinal cord injuries, spinal issues, back-related pain or problems. |
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04-02-2008, 12:46 AM | #1 | |||
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LizaJane,
I had a discogram done from T11 to S2...Not a pleasant experience...but I got through it...I had one discogram done in NYC and another in Philadelphia...U of PA...If I were having it done in NYC ...I would use Dr. Bakshi...He is absolutely the best...I just had a cervcial discogram done with him...I was scheduled with another doc in the city and it turned out to be a nightmare...I actually crawled out of the CT Scanner, walked up to the doc told him I was leaving then called Dr B and told him the Doc was incompetent and left.....so the only doc that I will allow to do a discogram in the city is Dr. Bakshi....He is kind, compassionate.....and makes the discogram as painless as possible...His staff is wonderful too...His office is off Park Ave...around Lenox Hill...you go from his office over to Lenox Hill for the CT Scan... Dr Bakshi is actually with Dr. O...so I imagine Dr. O scheduled a visit with him anyway....Dr. B did a discogram...a Spec CT scan...Ct Scan.... http://doctor.spine-health.com/doctor/SanjayBakshi/
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4/06 - Lumbar Fusion - L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, S1 Anterior with cages and Posterior with rods and screws. 8/17/05 - Cervical Fusion - C4-5, 5-6, 6-7 - Anterior and Posterior Fusion with plate in front and rods and screws in the rear - Corpectomy at C-4 and C-5 and microdisectomy at C6-7. 1/4/05 - Lumbar Laminectomy -L3, L4, L5, S1, S2 Obliteration of Tarlov Cyst at S2. Failed surgery! |
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04-02-2008, 08:54 AM | #2 | |||
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Actually, he scheduled the discogram with my pain guy, Dan Richman. He's done my epidurals. Dr Richman is an anesthesiologist turned needle jockey, so I'm hoping he is good at keeping this pain-free. He's also in-network.
http://www.hss.edu/physicians_richman-daniel.asp He's had the same training as Dr B, but as not-so-distinguished places. I tried to get a private myelogram and Dr St Louis, who was said to be "the best" wouldn't take my Oxford. The HSS folk have been. Had a qi gong healing session yesterday for butt pain, as I'm taking qi gong classes, and thought it would be interesting. It made an immediate difference in the pain. I have no idea how is, but my take is it's similar to using magnets for pain, but clearly better. Weird that these things can actually work. Quote:
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LizaJane . --- LYME neuropathy diagnosed in 2009; considered "idiopathic" neuropathy 1996 - 2009 ---s/p laminectomy and fusion L3/4/5 Feb 2006 for a synovial spinal cyst |
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04-03-2008, 07:15 AM | #3 | ||
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Hi,
I don't usually post here but I happen to go in by mistake and saw my doctors name so I thought I would give some feed back. I have been with Dr.Richman for many years he is a extremely smart doctor, very gentle and a wonderful person and is not just my doctor but has become a friend. He has truly seen be through some of the darkest days of my life and has really helped me in so many ways. He is definitly the correct doctor for pain management and the Hospital itself is also wonderful I have had many surgeries and procedures without a complaint to speak of. Good Luck...... H Quote:
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04-03-2008, 01:01 PM | #4 | |||
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Hi Annbon, thank you for writing. I, too, find Dr Richman a sweetie. I appreciate his gentleness. Still, I'm totally ambivalent just now about the surgery, no less the discogram.
It's next week. Quote:
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LizaJane . --- LYME neuropathy diagnosed in 2009; considered "idiopathic" neuropathy 1996 - 2009 ---s/p laminectomy and fusion L3/4/5 Feb 2006 for a synovial spinal cyst |
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04-03-2008, 06:00 PM | #5 | ||
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Hi Liza,
If I had to do a procedure like that I would only do it with him. As I stated previously Dr. Richman and I have gone through a lot together, so many procedures, blockst etc. So you are in great hands. He always treats you as he would want to be treated. Good Luck and keep us posted. Ann |
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04-03-2008, 09:48 PM | #6 | |||
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Thanks for the support, Ann.
It's scheduled for next Friday, but I'm going to see if can be the following Friday, so I'll have a meeting with my neurologist first. I'm very confused. The surgeons all hate the way my spine looks, with no fusion and loose screws, instability. But I'm feeling "relatively" comfortable. I mean there's never a day that I don't think about my back, how it's doing, how to protect it; I'm scared of falling or getting pushed, but again, relatively stable in terms of pain, not taking pain meds except unusual days. I'm limited in activities but I've begun to accept that.
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LizaJane . --- LYME neuropathy diagnosed in 2009; considered "idiopathic" neuropathy 1996 - 2009 ---s/p laminectomy and fusion L3/4/5 Feb 2006 for a synovial spinal cyst |
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04-04-2008, 06:06 AM | #7 | ||
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Hi LizaJane,
Are you having surgery as HSS? If yes who is doing it? The hospital is a amazing facility and as I stated before I have no complaints to speak of. Being admitted so many times the care is superior time and time again and Dr. Richman has always made himself available. Again good luck. Also, it's the only hospital I have ever been in that does not spell like a hospital. Ann Quote:
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04-06-2008, 12:49 AM | #8 | |||
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I had a bad experience with HSS ....Someone recommended one of the surgeons there for me...He is the only surgeon I have seen out of almost 20 to recommend nothing for me...Well I should not say nothing....He referred me to another doctor ....a neurologist that does not accept any insurance...In other words, he just dumped me ...It was one of the strangest appts I have ever had with a doc....Someone since suggested to me to go back and see Cammissa or Sandhu, but I found Dr. Bitan instead and like him very much.
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4/06 - Lumbar Fusion - L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, S1 Anterior with cages and Posterior with rods and screws. 8/17/05 - Cervical Fusion - C4-5, 5-6, 6-7 - Anterior and Posterior Fusion with plate in front and rods and screws in the rear - Corpectomy at C-4 and C-5 and microdisectomy at C6-7. 1/4/05 - Lumbar Laminectomy -L3, L4, L5, S1, S2 Obliteration of Tarlov Cyst at S2. Failed surgery! |
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04-16-2008, 10:54 PM | #9 | |||
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On Gloria's advice, I made and appt with Dr Bitan, who surprsingly, saw me the day after I filled out the online request for an appt. Of the three surgeons I've talked to, he gave the clearest and most believables scenario of what would happen if I did not have surgery.
As I have zero fusion at L3/4/5, I am held up by two titanium rods. I have 4 or 5 loose screws. He says that surgery is elective as to time, but is inevitable. The hardware has to fail, as it was not make to withstand the pressure of my upper body. The rods could break, or the vertebrae could break, and either would be excruciating. The screws could break. It could be a mess. It might not happen for years and years, maybe decades, but it will happen. I believe him. He did not want me to have a discogram to find my pain generator (thank goodness). Instead, he said an EMG, and if that's not helpful, selective nerve root blocks. But the neuro who did the EMG and the one I usually see both say the pain is from L4 clinically, and they do not see a need to extend the fusion down, nor to do anymore localization procedures. They say the location of the pain says it all: buttock to FRONT of thigh, stops at knee. Both said only L4 does that. So, it's June 19 at Lenox Hill. College kids home for the summer, so I won't be alone. If recovering from this differs from a straight posterior fusion, I'd like all advice about preparations for surgery anyone has to offer. thanks all.
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LizaJane . --- LYME neuropathy diagnosed in 2009; considered "idiopathic" neuropathy 1996 - 2009 ---s/p laminectomy and fusion L3/4/5 Feb 2006 for a synovial spinal cyst |
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04-17-2008, 12:18 AM | #10 | |||
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LizaJane,
I am so happy that you are having your surgery....I am certain you will have a good experience at Lenox Hill and like Dr. Bitan... Gloria
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4/06 - Lumbar Fusion - L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, S1 Anterior with cages and Posterior with rods and screws. 8/17/05 - Cervical Fusion - C4-5, 5-6, 6-7 - Anterior and Posterior Fusion with plate in front and rods and screws in the rear - Corpectomy at C-4 and C-5 and microdisectomy at C6-7. 1/4/05 - Lumbar Laminectomy -L3, L4, L5, S1, S2 Obliteration of Tarlov Cyst at S2. Failed surgery! |
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