Although my own back is relatively OK, barring a fractured coccynx and a fractured sacrum (twice) recently, it's actually my husband who has the major back problems in our house.

Every disc he has in his lumbar spine is protruding, and some of them are actually dangerously squashed (on his last CT & MRI).

He's in so much agony that he screams out in his sleep every night!

Our GP said just last week that he was in danger of becoming paralized if he didn't have an operation soon. I have to assume she meant spinal fusion although she didn't say, but that scares me!

My husband has been actively refusing surgery for several years now because he's scared of what may happen........we've heard of far too many failure stories with spinal surgery.

He did see a neurosurgeon a while back and that Dr wasn't happen to operate on him, because of the extent of DH's spinal damage....now I think my worries are starting to compound.

We've moved to a brand new state so know non of the surgeons.

His pain is sometimes unbearable......how does one decide?

Sounds as if he may have stenosis - if the cord is being compressed.

The way I'd determine is by obtaining the names of more than one surgeon, doing a consult with each, checking the docs' standing with the AMA or with governing agencies or boards for each doc's profession/area of specialization, keying the names via, i.e., Google, and asking around once the potentials have been narrowed.



P.S.: I'd lean more toward a surgeon who also details potential risks, along with benefits, and who does not come across as "put off" by questions and follow-ups. After-care is as important as the pre-op; if a surgeon hasn't the time prior to surgery or acts as if patients are an imposition, that type of demeanor just doesn't sit well with me.

I have surgery of my own coming up (2 level fusion L4-S1) for injuries sustained in a car accident. One of the deciding factors for the Docs was 1) my age and state of current health ( I am a 39 yo Police Officer), and 2) I dont smoke. The Docs said that they would not opperate on me if I was overweight or smoked; apparently smoking causes restrictions in blood flow and puts a big damper on healing. Although my pain is bearable from most days to most days; the impact on my life is not. I have 2 toddlers who want more and more attention, I cannot enjoy the outdoor activities I once did (I am a Ski Instructor, and have not been on the slopes in 3 years). After much conversation with my family and Docs, it was decided that narcotics and Gin was a bad way to deal with pain, and why sacrifice the next 10 years of my life to wait for surgery. Convince your husband that we never know what tomorrow will bring, and does he really want to go on knowing that things could have been better. And remember, the internet is a great place for advise, but you are going to get the extremes. Rather than use the internet 'nightmare stories' as fodder for not having surgery, talk to family, friends, and coworkers who have actually had surgery. To a person, all of the people I know that have had surgery said the same thing, "I cant believe I waited so long, I wish I had the last 10 years back." Keep you rhead up, and best of luck,
Mike

The first post in the following thread may be of some use:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread171.html


Links to material that you might want to look over:

Neurosurgeon or Orthopedic Surgeon? Does it Matter?
http://www.spineuniverse.com/display...ticle2471.html

How to Select a Spine Surgeon
http://www.spineuniverse.com/display...ticle2462.html

Guidelines for evaluating a spine surgeon
http://www.spine-health.com/Treatmen...e-Surgeon.html

Red Flags from a spine surgeon
http://www.spine-health.com/Treatmen...e-Surgeon.html

Please forgive me Bobbi for not thanking you properly for giving me those fabulous links, but it was about then that things in our house started to go downhill. We had illness and two deaths (my brother's and a close friend's) to preoccupy us, and I always meant to get back to you, and hadn't.

My husband's back pain seems to have gone from bad to worse over these past few weeks and our local doctor finally referred him to a neurologist. Somehow he got an urgent appointment, and only had to wait a week to see the neuro, and yesterday was the day.

He did nerve conduction studies, including an Electro-myelogram one where DH was wanting to call him every name under the sun for sticking him with those nasty needles.......and it seems that he wants DH to have a spinal fusion post haste!

Here comes MY problem! DH has decided now that the neuro is a quack (he's the same one I see for MS and I don't think that), and that there's no way he'll have spinal surgery. I'm half convinced that if the Neuro hadn't stuck those needles into him without any warning or explanation at all, he may have been more open to listening to the pros and cons of this surgery.

The neuro said that surgery is indicated and that it should be soon. Now I'll be worrying myself sick incase the nerve involvement increases and he's left with permanent spinal nerve damage.

He could seek another opinion; I would. He's not comfortable with what the neuro. stated, so, what's the harm in attaining another specialist's take on everything?

If he does go for another consult, he might want to ask, when the appointment is being scheduled, whether there will be any tests (done or results from earlier testing needed.

I'm sorry about the losses you've recently felt.

Thanks Bobbi. There's a Spinal Specialist in town, and he's agreed to go see him. I'll wait now and see what that one has to say, and how DH feels about the possibility of surgery if it comes from that doc as well.

If it was/were me? I'd go to the appointment with an open mind. Possibly, your hubby might discover some things/info. he hadn't known previously .

I hope that his appt. is a productive one - for him.

Hi Koala, sorry for your losses. Before surgery your husband should get a discogram. That will tell the doctors for sure which disks are truly causing the most pain.

I had a fusion of L5 S1 last year and it took care of the problem. I did not have them go through the back. They went through the front. Not an easy recovery, but less chance of them cutting nerves to my legs.

Good luck.

Thank you Starfish.

He saw the neurologist 3 weeks ago but we don't have a neurosurgeon here where we live, so DH has been referred onto a spinal surgeon. Unfortunately the first appointment he can get is not until October, so he has to bide his time in terrible pain until then.

He's been started on a new patch for his pain which is doing zilch, and Sodium Valproate (eplipsy drug) and that one has helped a little.

I'll post again when we know more.