What would you do.

swiftflo

swiftflo

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Peter
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I have been having problems with pains and aches down the back of my legs for the last 2 years. My GP has given me various pain killers, but none were much good.
After at last convincing my gp that I need to see a consultant. Now after an initial consultation and 3 MRI's he is convinced I need an operation on my back to remove lesions from my spine, top and bottom.
Has anyone had this done, if not what is your opinions on this as I have heard of the dangers of spinal operations.
 
Listen just get it done. This time last year I had a spine operation cancelled because of my blood. Investigations showed that I had a large 42mm tumour on my only kidney. So I was faced with legs I could hardly use due to the spine condition. (Cervical spinal stenosis with myelopathy) and major surgery to attempt to save my kidney and live life without cancer or dialysis.

Bricking it doesn't come close!

25th October had the cancer surgery, didn't know if I would wake up, wake up with no kidneys, wake up with some kidney left but dialysis, or the kidney functioned. Thankfully my kidney was wired up completely wrong front to back rather than top to bottom. 8hr operation the kidney continued to function.

Recovered from that to a point where fast forward to Feb 1st this year could hardly walk due to spine.

Operation to remove 3 discs through my throat and 2 vertebrae replacing them with a titanium cage and screws. The relief was immediate I can walk miles have no pain and my legs are like new. I was terrified of both ops.....

Trust the doctors and specialists, I feel lucky just had my first clear cancer scan. I walk miles with my dog and life's good. Just go for it buddy.......
 
Good to know you have got over all that lot, puts my problem into the shade. After talking to the consultant he gave me a lot of confidence in him, but there is alway's that chance of something going wrong, which knowing my luck this could happen.

I have left word on his secretary's voice mail to make me another appointment, so will have another conversation with him, then it will really be make up your mind time.
 
Honestly i know where you are coming from I really do. In my case my prognosis (18mths to live and slow paralysis) didn't give me much choice, I can see from your profile you are much older than me. I'm 57. However I also know how miserable the lack of mobility and the pain affects you day to day and especially at night. I cried like a baby before the cancer surgery I was convinced that was it.....

If you go for it I will cross everything and send you my luck. I was lucky the cancer was found by accident and in 18mths untreated that would have been it....
 
swiftflo said:
I have been having problems with pains and aches down the back of my legs for the last 2 years. My GP has given me various pain killers, but none were much good.
After at last convincing my gp that I need to see a consultant. Now after an initial consultation and 3 MRI's he is convinced I need an operation on my back to remove lesions from my spine, top and bottom.
Has anyone had this done, if not what is your opinions on this as I have heard of the dangers of spinal operations.
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I really sympathise- I've had quite a few surgeries myself and it's never without its risks. Having said that, no surgeon will ever recommend an unnecessary operation - if they say you need it then you need it and you will no doubt feel better for it.

Maybe you could go on some specific back surgery forums and speak to people who have had the surgery?

http://www.healthboards.com/boards/back-problems/

Good luck with whatever you decide. X
 
swiftflo said:
Good to know you have got over all that lot, puts my problem into the shade. After talking to the consultant he gave me a lot of confidence in him, but there is alway's that chance of something going wrong, which knowing my luck this could happen.

I have left word on his secretary's voice mail to make me another appointment, so will have another conversation with him, then it will really be make up your mind time.
Click to expand...


There's a chance of crossing the road going wrong!

I had an interesting conversation with my surgeon as he was getting my signature on the consent form. It went along the lines of...

"There's always a possibility that something might go wrong but it's a fairly low probability"
"So, what are the chances if I don't have the surgery?"
"Probably about 3-6 months."
"Bit of a no-brainer!"
"Well, yes!"

4 years later, after having a brain tumour removed, I'm still here and enjoying life to the full.
 
Yep feel lucky to have lasted 12mths so far. After that sort of shock every day is just that another day. Live every day.... There is risk obviously everything
 
There will be risks, it's part of the territory with backs I'm afraid. But you can't leave it until they're telling you if you don't have it done then you'll be in a wheelchair.

Jeez Denny that sounds like a rough experience..
 
neil_g said:
There will be risks, it's part of the territory with backs I'm afraid. But you can't leave it until they're telling you if you don't have it done then you'll be in a wheelchair.

Jeez Denny that sounds like a rough experience..
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yep that's why I'm saying the risk is worth it. I was actually told "don't have any sort of incidence or car accident that jolts your neck, it could paralyse you".

It does deteriorate and the risk is the spinal cord touching any part of the spine. I used to wake up with no arms and legs some nights, it was pressure on the cord sheath blocking signals. The cancer being found was just good bad luck if that makes sense.!
 
Absolutely. My dad had to have dual arch laminoplasty ops as his cord was getting constricted. Gp was great at throwing meds at it, finally got a consultant referral and had him in ASAP as he'd be in big trouble real quick otherwise.
 
neil_g said:
Absolutely. My dad had to have dual arch laminoplasty ops as his cord was getting constricted. Gp was great at throwing meds at it, finally got a consultant referral and had him in ASAP as he'd be in big trouble real quick otherwise.
Click to expand...

I was on 110 pills a week, if you want any incentive for surgical intervention over throwing pills and physio at it. I am now on 1 tablet a day and have never felt fitter. Any shooting pains are signs of the cord being squashed. Exactly what was happening in my neck.
 
swiftflo said:
I have been having problems with pains and aches down the back of my legs for the last 2 years. My GP has given me various pain killers, but none were much good.
After at last convincing my gp that I need to see a consultant. Now after an initial consultation and 3 MRI's he is convinced I need an operation on my back to remove lesions from my spine, top and bottom.
Has anyone had this done, if not what is your opinions on this as I have heard of the dangers of spinal operations.
Click to expand...
All spinal work is rissy but all invasive work is.

I have had 2 pperations which included danger to the spinal cord following a backward fall which displaved 2 discs (C3 and C7) and cause small fractures to C4/5/6. I will be havkng another operation in Jan/Feb 2017. It vannot come soon enough. The original ops eased some pinching of the spinal cord by the displaced discs which was causing some mobility issues.

It is understandable your being cautious about such a procure being offered. The main thing is risk against outcome. Yes you can acclimatise to.persistent pain but pain is there to nag you there is a problem going on. At the end lf the day do you want a better quality of life or a life of pin? Only you can make that choice. We live with risk every day. The rate lf medical failure is minute. The medicos do incredible things. Illnesses that were once deemed impossible are now routine with more to come. For me Genomic Medicine is emerging which has staggering potential.

I remember the first successful heart transplant. No it has almost become routine as both techmology and improved preventative processes have emerged.

Good luck.

Steve
 
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Had a letter from the consultant and he has decided that I have nerve sheath tumours (benign) in(or near) my spine and an operation would be the way to go to remove these tumours. Bricking it at the thought of a spinal operation.
 
Just as long as you or the surgeon don't get hiccups at an inopportune moment I'm sure it will be all fine :)
 
swiftflo said:
Had a letter from the consultant and he has decided that I have nerve sheath tumours (benign) in(or near) my spine and an operation would be the way to go to remove these tumours. Bricking it at the thought of a spinal operation.
Click to expand...

I bet you are....completely understandable.
But you have to put your trust in the surgeon. These guys are good!!
All the best and I hope they sort out your issues quickly.
 
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swiftflo said:
Had a letter from the consultant and he has decided that I have nerve sheath tumours (benign) in(or near) my spine and an operation would be the way to go to remove these tumours. Bricking it at the thought of a spinal operation.
Click to expand...

It is really scary, but let me list my problems since birth.

Born with a fibrosis cystic kidney in 1959 and I was premature. The kidney had to be removed to save my life even then back then it was touch and go.

Age 11 tonsils it (routine but all surgery carries risks).

Age 14 complications from kidney problem at birth ended up losing a testicle and having appendix removed. Devastating as a young man. ...

Ok then till early 50's.....

2 knee operations to remove cartlidge and debris.

Age 54 car accident causing the blood flow to right hip to be disrupted. Ended up on crutches and a hip replacement.

Unseen from accident-the cervical spinal myelopathy was causing issues with my walking and slowly paralysing me.

Age 56 agreed spine surgery and day before op blood was all over the place low platelet count so low it looked like I had leukaemia.

Saw haematologist who as a precaution scanned my spleen. On the scan he spotted a 42mm tumour on my only kidney. The blood was also diagnosed as platelet sattelitism so rare you wouldn't find 5000 people in the UK with it. But bit before it looked like leukaemia. (This happened in 3wks). I still needed the spine surgery.

Tumour removed Oct last year recovered from this then immediately. ..

Had 3 discs 2 vertebrae removed through my neck. A cage, plate and screws holding all together now forever.

I couldn't lift my feet off the floor before the spine surgery and pain was horrendous. It's insidious with spine and it will get worse.

After op I can walk miles, no stick anymore and no pain. This was immediate it's very similar to what's happening to you slowly. The spinal cord is getting constricted.

I'm not listing all of those ops to say look at what I've been through. Every op was essential and apart from the op as a baby I dreaded every single one. Ultimately I got through it. ...

Don't know where you live but if you were near me I would come and help you through this. It's down to one question.

Can you live with the pain and potential disability from not having it done? Whatever you decide i wish you all the very best. You can get through this my friend. I did. ....!

Best wishes

Dennis
 
Dennyboy,
WOW you certainly have had a rough time, the main thing is you are over it. If I was 20 years younger I would not hesitate over the OP but at 82 (coming up to 83 in a three weeks), my age being the problem. However saying that the consultant has offered me the chance of the OP so he must think I will be okay. I have plenty of time at the moment to think about it and discuss with the CO as I am waiting an appointment with the consultant to discus things more(this being his idea.
 
wow tough one, but as folk say what are the vhoices going forward without?
make sure all your docs are up to day old chap and just sign up.
 
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