posted for Bennie, a new member

[Harrison]

Bennie did not have the chance to post this, so here is his introduction. I hope his visit went well, as his situation is very stressful and difficult. Wishing you well, Bennie!
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Hi, I am new to this forum. I am meeting with my spinal surgeon again tomorrow, Dr. Robert Byers in Greenbrae, Marin County (Golden Gate Bridge). Looks like I will be having disc replacement surgery as soon as my insurance approves it. Had discogram/Ct-Scan 3 weeks ago. I have been in pain since I fell down the stairs 3 years ago. The pain is so intense...it's barely tolerable. I have been taking pain meds (oxycodone, morphine, duiladid, fentanyl patch...) since the fall. Eventually I became dependent and had to detox -I was home 8 days detoxing - it was awful, then check into Domus Retreat in Anaheim Hills. I was off meds for 6 months but started to take percocet (10/325) just a couple of weeks ago. The pain is too intense at this point. I have it undercontrol - I would never want to go through the process of detoxing again.

Can you suggest to me some questions I should ask my doctor at the appointment tomorrow?
I am very scared about this surgery because Dr. is going through abdomen. I had a minor surgery last year. I was in hospital for 3 days afterward because of abdomen pain then I was sent home after doctor said "you're being too sensitive to pain - we are in need of beds so you need to go home". 2 days later I was in the ER with massive internal bleeding. The doctor had knicked a vein during the surgery. I lost 2 liters of blood and doc told my family that he did not know if I was going to make it. I was in hospital for a month. My left lung, ovaries, right kidney, liver, small intestine were damaged because the blood ended up by coagulating on my organs. I was on a 6-minute diladid pump the entire time I was in the hospital. It took 9 months for my body to reabsorb the coagulated blood and recover. So although my spinal surgeon is one of the top surgeons in the Bay area, I am scared to have this surgery. Any words of advice??

Thank you for your advice, help, suggestions...
Bennie
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[Slackwater]

Originally posted by Harrison:
Bennie did not have the chance to post this, so here is his introduction. I hope his visit went well, as his situation is very stressful and difficult. Wishing you well, Bennie!
_______________________________

Can you suggest to me some questions I should ask my doctor at the appointment tomorrow?
(deleted text)
Thank you for your advice, help, suggestions...
Bennie
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Late in response, you may be beyond this stage with questions
given your prior adverse experience (assume it was Marin General for previous surgery)
see this link, 38 questions before surgery.

The Spinehealth.com questions are good, althought some appear
out of context to me. The are repeated in other forms on other
web sites:
http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/972937152.html
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/h...a/surgryqa.htm
http://www.medicinenet.com/surgery_q...ns/article.htm
http://www.gwdocs.com/health/eHA-eHA_Content_C-Generic_...e_1131123683311.html

Add to the above (some of the questions are hard for me to ask):
Which ADR device do you plan to use and why?
How long ago were you trained in ADR?
How many ADR procedures have you assisted with?
How many ADR procedures have you done?

Do my facet joints qualify, or allow me to have ADR?
What is the chance of heterotopic ossification (HO) & of what grade;
will HO be clinically significant?
What is the chance of osteolysis?
What is your view of the survivorship of the implant?
What % of implants require revision within 24 months?

What level(s) is/are affected?

Do you want a woman surgeon, or at least a 2nd opinon?
My thinking is yes to both for your sake. Possibly see (say you want to see a female doctor)
<UL TYPE=SQUARE> <LI>Dr. Serena S. Hu
<LI>Professor and Chief, Spine Service
<LI>Dept. Orthopaedic Surger
<LI>400 Parnassus, 3rd Floor
<LI>SF, CA 94143
<LI>Appts: 415-353-2793
<LI>http://www.ucsfhealth.org/adult/medi...ine/index.html , www.ucsfhealth.org[/list]The UCSF staff got me the cost for 2-level ADR
surgery plus hospital stay in x days. Dr. Hu was straight,
no fuzziness, plus she has a sense of humor when allowed.

[ans]

Great help here Slackwater.

ans

[Slackwater]

Originally posted by ans:
Great help here Slackwater.

ans

TBD on help, thought about this today. Not sure if
Bennie is online.

If cervical, Dr. Hu is good and there may be an
alternative, although a male, doctor
doing cervical study specifically, same hospital and
phone number: Praveen V. Mummaneni, M.D.
He's still semi-local to Marin County, done a few surgeries,
given a few talks, Prestige Cervical IDE, and other complicated issues.

Net result, get a second opinon.