Questions about lumbar disc options and docs in Los Angeles

[kimmers]

Amapola,

Used the grabber a lot. (ha, ha).
I don't think mine looks like a transformer but my four-year-old likes to take it to pick up things.
Found the shower chair/commode chair helpful. I was pretty stiff aftter surgery, but have loosened up a bit.
I had excellent pain coverage on the PCA (patient controlled analgesia) but unfortunately, had to give it up quickly because of my sluggish bowels.
Surgery is tough, but things get better bit by bit.
Man, you don't have long to wait!!!
You will be fine. I would recommend the sleeping pill at night. It is just difficult to sleep in a hospital.

kiimmers

[Amapola]

My surgery will be on Monday. I still have so much to do beforehand, such as cleaning, cooking, etc. I was not prepared for all the pre-op things to do. I had to donate blood to myself twice. I had to go for a physical and then because the lab in that physician's building is not in my insurance network, I was sent to the hospital's lab. I had an appointment with the vascular surgeon. Filling out all the disability forms is a drag and I was charged $50 by the surgeon for them to fill out their part. I also got a surprise call from the vascular surgeon's biling office that they demand a $1500 deposit. They left me with only 2 days to scramble to make the payment - very frustrating. I think I'm just starting to realize how screwed up our healthcare system is in this country.

I'll see you on the other side and will post in the surgical outcome forum hopefully by late next week.

Thanks again for all the advice and comments.

[cavalier]

Hi there - I always think it is a good idea if you can do it to get more than a couple of opinions from spine doc's as to what they recommend for you. As to Discograms while they are not fun to have done - as it recreates your pain at certain levels that is also the point to be SURE of which level or levels are causing you most of your problems as others have stated some of the worse MRI's dont always correlate to pain &
vice versa. I had a period of 10 yr's since my MVA when I broke my pelvis & hurt my back & my neck got jarred. During that time I considered a fusion so I had a discogram done & then I decided to hold off as long as I could due to the domino affect that fusions can cause knowing I had many abnormal levels with bulges & a herinated L3/L4 as well as my bad L4L5. I then could no longer walk due to the stenosis got worse during that time so I had a 2nd Discogram then & had the lamatomey, discetomey & facteomy. Then after that I still had disc pain & a progressive spondylo so I had the 3rd Discgram for ADR surgery & I am glad I did as each time the answers still were the same ole L4/L5 however for some over a period of time that can change to include another level etc.
I just think it is using one more tool to try to be sure & be conclusive - there are operations done sometimes with not enough levels done or the wrong level - if one didn't have this & occasionally even after a discogram - make SURE your doc is listening to you. I have Prodisc in my back even with my facets that were worn & had arthritis in them - I have done well for 5 yr's now I just take Vit E, Vit D & MSM with hops & boswelia in it for that it helps.
But everyone is different. Do your homework now as you are doing the payoff is great. Now years later I find myself back in the spinal route again with my neck & tying to get opinions.
Best - Jill

[Cris009]

good luck cant wait to hear from you afterwards.!!!!
Wagner is worth the money for sure !!!
see u on other side soon

[Amapola]

Thanks again, Cris and everyone else.
I am back from the hospital and posted my update in the surgical outcome forum:
http://adrsupport.org/forums/showthread.php?t=10050