Thanks, that's useful. I know the surgery will be tricky because of two things:

1) Coming in from the front and moving the trachea and esophagus aside will be a problem, because I had my esophagus created/stitched up at 2 days post-birth; it has loads o' scar tissue....

2) There are bony protrusions on both the front and the back of the neck, and they're impinging on the spinal cord. They need to be removed, in addition to the fusion. Working that close to the spinal cord, I really do want a neurosurgeon.

Thanks for the comments, all. I'm really glad I have a lawyer working to make sure I get to choose my surgeon.

Sandi

Hi, just a note to say I am seeing Dr, Jho on April 2nd and I see Dr. Spiros at UPMC tomorrow on feb 20, 2008 who also does endoscopic surgery. I have one oppinion from Dr. Kang at UPMC (orthopedic surgeon of renown) and I am going to also get two more from the neurosurgeons listed above as I am getting mixed remarks from the medical community. All I can say is try and get a few oppinions to be make a good decision about who you want to do your surgery. Dr. Lee at UPMC (orthopedic) also does endoscopic surgery, but I think I will have enough oppinions to satisfy me when I am done with the last visit with Dr. Jho.

I so wish I had gotten a 2nd or 3rd oppinion before my fusion done in 2005. I was trusting the surgeon to be honest with me and tell me of other options and he told me I had no other options which was not true. A specialist is not going to refer you to another doctor so YOU have to do the leg work yourself. It is sad, especially when you are counting on straight answers, but they make their money doing surgeries and are wanting to do what they do and not what is best for you in the long run. I never even heard of cervical or lumbar endoscopic surgery until I found it by accident on the web. Why wasn't I given that choice before when I was asking very explicit questions of my surgeon?

If I could do it again I would have had endoscopic surgery and not a fusion, but it is done and now I am at the crossroads again. I have heard great things about Dr. Jho and I know many surgeons say unkind things about him, but I am not basing my decision so much on others as I have been misled so much before. There are sites on can check on Dr.s to see how they are rated or what others say. I feel real comfortable with considering Dr. Jho. I am taking my time as I am managing my pain somewhat tolerable, but don't rely on your specialist to give you much help is what I have found unless they are not in competition. You will always find someone unhappy also so be very careful about how much weight you give them also.

I am going by my heart, the facts I find, and a good dose of prayer to make my final decision. The endoscopic route just seems to make more sense to me if I am a candidate.

good luck

Hi Sandi, I had a 2 level fusion in 2004 done by a neurosurgeon. I had a 2 level lumbar fusion done by an orthopedic surgeon who is a spinal specialist. If you do decide to go with an ortho make sure he has a fellowship in spinal surgery. If not then I'd go with a neurosurgeon. Like you I wouldn't just let anyone operate on my neck. Hope everything works out for you. Dee

I had a fusion at C-4 through C-6 because of DDD performed by a neurosurgeon. My ortho sent me to him, so I would say find a good neuro. Mine is wonderful. I also had a laminectomy of L3-L5. I still have sciatica because of nerve damage which we are investigating. He doesn't want to do a fusion there because he said it would basically mess up the rest of my back because the lumbar region is designed to be mobile. Make sure you find a neuro you can TALK to and who answers your question and is concerned about YOU as a total person. I went to one who looked at my MRI and said, flatly, "There's nothing I can do for you," and walked out. I chased him out of the room, in tears, asking if I had to endure the pain forever, and he said until I am 60 or 70 years old! I'm only 54--that's along time to be in agony! The fibro is bad enough, along with the sciatica, without all the numbness and pain from the DDD!!!

Good luck and God bless you! Let me know how it goes. Email me if you'd like.

Hi Sandi and others who have responded to this thread.
I wonder if any of you with C1 to C7 problems could give me a brief history of what has happened to get them to the surgery stage?
I'm presently having steroid facet injections to C5-6-7, with great success for 2 months after. So I'm just wondering if you started out this way too. Trying to see what's ahead for me.
Thanks

Hi Peter,
I too had problems with C5-6-7.. Started with steroid injections which worked for about 2 weeks for me. Shortly thereafter, I progressed to massive pain meds as the injections no longer worked. Mind you I found out that both discs were completely "blown out" as my Neuro-Surgeon put it. I had surgery on Feb. 14th of 2007 and am doing fine. I was back to work lifting normally 3 weeks after surgery.. (yes, it was the ACDF..yet my Surgeon used cages and plates ...no bone at all) I still had swallowing issues, and some muscle spasms, but all in all...very good results. I am normal now, and living fine. Prior to surgery, I could not sleep...was working a max of 3 hours per day, and had given up everything I lived for. I strongly suggest if you reach surgical stage to ask your Doctor about the cages and plates. I would be happy to e-mail you a post-op xray of them to show your Doctor, as it worked well for me.

Cheers Mate!
Dave

Attached Images

post op xray 001.jpg (211.6 KB, 164 views)

Hi...Me again,
Figured out how to post the xray here... just click on it for the full size image. If you want to chat, I am available by e-mail and msn messenger at hansmathias8@hotmail.com

Hi Dave, that's just the sort of thing I'm interested in, and so good to hear that it has had such a good result for you. I can well imagine the relief.
My last injections have given very good relief for 2 months each time-like night and day. I forget how bad it is between times while the injection lasts-but I have had a good reminder this week!
The X-ray pic was excellent. Did you scan it?

Yes I scanned it ...turned out pretty good! If you ever need to chat about anything more specific, you can e-mail me or add me to your messenger and we can talk. I have friends in England I speak to almost daily and would be happy to hear from you.
Dave
hansmathias8@hotmail.com