Discectomy - After the Operation

[Gio]

thank you rod!! that was just what i needed to hear. i am attempting to befriend the consultant's secretary...may send chocolates or flowers...and she has agreed i can phone her on monday for an update.

really glad you are doing so much better. your stories do offer so much hope. can't wait to eventually share mine!

jess xx

ps....tried the "can't pee" thing when admitted to the orthopaedic ward last week and the registrar's response was that this was probably due to the discomfort of having to sit on a toilet. bit of an assumption about my peeing strategy, but i'm guessig this symptom gets more of a response if you're male!

 

[Banquetfm]

Sorry to hear about your struggle Jess. How on earth do they expect you to pee? They should of raised some alarm bells just incase as it is supposed to be serious if you can't.

Try to speak to the consultants private secretary. You will probably get a consultation straight away for about £150 to £250 and if you need surgery which it sounds like if you cannot walk - I had the same thing - they seem to be able to operate on the NHS far quicker than going through the NHS route.

I gave up on the NHS after wasting 3 months of getting no where and no indication of any treatment date.

Hang in there and Good luck

 

[SMACK]

Jess if you cannot pee please get back to the hospital it is a symptom of cauda equina
syndrome get them ********* doctors to look in to it please, i hate to see or here people suffer. God dam ********ds(not all of them but some!)
If you were in my town i would help you get there

 

[hezpkbjd]

Oh what have i done nobody will be able to pee when they go and see the surgeons.

It took me 4 times in A&E for them to take a look at me and say that i needed the op within a week. All 4 times i said i found it hard to pee but it seems to go in one ear and out the other.

Keep ringing them and keep badgering them they will give in, in the end.

Olli

 

[Candy B]

I think I may be going insane but have decided to cancel my surgery on the 12th Aug (not the 14th), although I will speak to my doctor first of course. The consultant apparently has to clear his waiting list and so I have to arrive at the hospital at 7.30am.....but have to phone 2 hours before to check there is a bed. I pointed out that I am 16 miles away and don't have transport, the admissions officer assured me that transport could be arranged. I've been arranging hospital transport for 4 years and never known it arrive in this town before 9am, perhaps they have a spare pumpkin. I am more angry that I was also told that if I wanted the surgery then this was what I would have to do, is it me or are they getting a bit heavy handed around here? I can imagine leaving here at daybreak and not saying goodbye to my kids because I won't want to wake them. They are almost grown up, but even so.

I don't think this surgery should be taking place until I know whats happening with the 'multiple abnormalities' of the cervical spine, reasonable? And I am concerned that this surgery will put added pressure on my upper back, reasonable?

Now another question, the surgery is a lumbar mircro discectomy.....in the two minutes spent with the consultant he told me they are taking the disc 'protrusion' away from one of the 3 prolapsed discs, is this what everyone else has had done? I thought Jayboys report was reassuring as far as that is concerned. Can someone reassure me please? Am I right to get stroppy about this planned surgery?

 

[vcedtuyyiieibzelc]

yes that is what i had done on L5/S1. The surgery might take the pressure away from your upper back because you may not be as tense and everything will start to relax. You are no going to be able to sort everything out all at once, they will not do upper and lower back surgery on the same day. My sister had what sounds like the same as you. They did surgery on her upper back first because of head aches and lost of arm strength then they never needed to do the surgery in her lower back as things to sorted themselves out over about 6 months.

Think very hard before you loose your place and then have to wait even longer. Believe me if you are in half the pain you are in now everything is so much easier to deal with. Keep going, keep thinking positive and don't let the wan£ers get you down.

Olli

 

[Kimberley]

melza....my advice would be don't cancel your slot...it's still a while away and lots can happen in that time. 3-4 weeks ago, i was walking and working and living a relatively normal life (although heavily drugged!). back problems can deteriorate significantly and likewise improve significantly in a short space of time. i think you should hold onto your slot, as olli said. they are being total ba$%&£ds but don't let your frustration stop you from getting the help you deserve. you can always change your mind nearer the time.

on a personal note...have just had a quote for just under £5k for private surgery. think i am going to go for it. just need a referral from my gp. feel so excited at the prospect of actually getting this done. so what if i am paying off debt for the next 5 years. at least i can do so while walking (i hope)... the 30th birthday trip to rome is officially cancelled so may as well fork out for a private room in a hospital instead. they have en suites too, so i hear! will keep you posted.

big positive thoughts for all,
jess xx

 

[Deke666]

Hi!

Yeah lets go for it and go for the whole tramp look!

I have tried to get some oramorph today but missed the call from my GP as i was in a meeting at work! Grrr

He left me a message and he seems reluctant to give it to me....but i cannot tolerate tramadol!

Won't get to speak to him until Monday now, but have some codeine reserves!

Melza...crumpled shirts at the ready!!!!

 

[joinme4coffee]

Thanks for the advice everyone, always useful to get other opinions but actually I'm so hacked off I don't know why I bothered to ask for help in the first place! I have trouble deciding which is the most painful, back and legs or back, neck and arms. And Alli, I may not have to make too much effort for the tramp look as washing my hair is getting to be a bit of an ordeal these days anyway.

Well, I shall talk this over with my GP, I'm hoping she can write to the consultant before I see him. I still thinks its bad of him not to respond to the latest scan results and leaving me to battle for some attention, but hey ho.....seems like everyone has gone down this road. I think those of you getting private treatment are very brave, although I can understand your desperation, what an expensive way to get some normality back into your lives. I have a feeling I don't have a job to return to and so don't dare take any financial risks....if only. Thanks again.

 

[dnhakomn]

Melza

For what its worth I agree with the other posts. Don't cancel your slot with the NHS. You can always cancel nearer the time. In simple financial terms it is worth about £5K to £7K. If you cancel it will take ages to get another.

GPs are in my opinion signposts within the NHS and do not have specialist knowledge like a neurosurgeon.

It boils down to whether the symptoms are bad or not. If they are, on no account cancel. If you are getting better by yourself and are certain about this then cancelling is logical and 'conservative' treatment (wait and see) is probably right. This is one you will have to decide by yourself - trust your instinct not a GP, the former is often right.

Do not base your decision on fear of the op. In most cases the post op pain is not severe. In my case it was but was worth it as I have now made a FULL recovery. This is not one of the most unpleasant or risky ops.

To others out there awaiting the knife, it is worth it - the pain is nothing compared with what you have already endured. This thread leaves you with mixed feelings but the point is that these conditions seldom sort themselves (but can do) and in my personal opinion can justify an op.

Good luck in your choice.

Rod

 

[canizzy_123]

Melza if your struggling to wash yourself you are similar to what I was like.
You should seriously reconsider or you could find yourself living like this for years.
I couldn't stand up without holding myself up with one arm and trying to wash with the other. It will be two weeks after surgery wednesday night and I feel more normal than I can remember, I can walk easily, shower and sit at the dining table to eat. It used to be uncomfortable and impossible to get up if I laid on my front, now its no problem. I still have no pain and the only pain I felt after my op was like a small graze on my back which faded away within a week. I only had two paracetamol a night while in hospital to help me sleep. I haven't touched a pain killer since.
Having treatment to even one disc could relief problems elsewhere. I had problems in my neck, shoulders, wrists, hips and knees all because of the extra pressure on them.

Go for it Jess. I was worried about the expense at first, why should we have to pay for it. Now I don't care, it was money well spent. The cost was equal to 6weeks of my overheads, I'm going back to work in 3-4 weeks thank god. To think i could still be in agony without an op date yet and heading for liquidation!

 

[playground.love]

thanks jay! saw the consultant at the private hospital today and my surgery is scheduled for next week. have really mixed feelings but overall am excited at the prospect of things moving on.

i only phoned the private hospital on friday so was in to see a consultant really quickly (am still waiting for an appointment with the nhs consultant and i was referred in may!!!!!!). apparently the theatre is fully booked this week, otherwise i would be operated on sooner, but i can definitely wait til next week. it is wonderful to have some light at the end of the tunnel at long last!

i will let you know how i get on. thank you all again for the inspirational posts. i really feel you have helped give me the courage and confidence to get this sorted and the hope for a pain-free future. i hope i can do the same for others so will keep you informed of what happens!!

jess xx

 

[SusieQ]

Hi Jess

Am so pleased you have decided to go ahead with the surgery. No-one should have to live with the pain we have all suffered with this problem.
Please keep us informed or your progress as soon as you feel able to get on your computer.

All the very best to you, just keep those positive coming and listen to your surgoen and do everything you are told to the letter!!

Take care and I'll be thinking of you.

Love
Fitbird
xxxxx

 

[Cherryblossum]

Reply Jess

You are doing the right thing. The op is nothing to be scared of; the pain is minimal. In just a few weeks this will all be in the past and you will have your life back again.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Rod

 

[shain r]

thank you for those messages. the rollercoaster ride continues however as when i phoned the private hospital this morning to ask what day next week i would have to come in, they told me no surgery date had been requested. the consultant had assured my husband and i that the minute we left his office, he would be on the phone to bookings to get me the first available slot.

someone then phoned back about 10 minutes later to advise the consultant had been on the phone from his 'holiday home' and has booked me in for the 13th. i cried, a lot, and complained tearfully that i had been promised next week; can't go on like this for 2 more weeks etc etc and they agreed to phone the consultant back and try to get it moved forward. considering he told me that he does 4 of these ops in one morning, surely he can fit it in given that he works full time at this hospital. he also told me that this week was not an option because the theatre was full. am i just being cynical here, or was this week in fact not an option because he wanted to be at his 'holiday home'. ok the man has a right to take holidays, but i just wish he had been more honest with me.

ok...moan over. a more positive post to come next time, i promise xx

 

[IM at easports1515]

Hi Jess,

Sounds like you are having a rough time of it but stay in there and try and keep your chin up. Things will get more frustrating now because you are close to getting what you want.

As for me i am nearly 8 weeks post op, I have NO pain. I get a little sore towards the end of the day but i think anyone would if they did 30min walking, 30min swimming and about 1 hour in the gym. Things are going great and the physio has said i should be back on the fire engines by November.

Jess,
just keep thinking that in a few months you will be able to walk to your local pub and have a few drinks and a nice meal.

Stay Positive

olli

 

[Cockel doodle doo]

I had my nerve root block done yesterday. Pretty painful at the time and I had a restless night last night, but no symptoms at all today. Leg feels good and no sciatica. fingers crossed I won't need an op as well.
Wol

 

[dnt4get2luvme]

Hello again everyone, this is getting a bit like 'Dear Diary'!

Really sorry you had that upset Jess....if its' any comfort I think I'm getting the same run around with the NHS, remember the drama about me cancelling my op....? Well, not long after that I had an appointment for pre-clerking (the pointless thing we have done before surgery) which was on the 18th of August. I thought 'How strange, why am I having pre-clerking after my operation (12th August)'. Of course I phoned the admissions clerk but had to leave a message, she phoned back 3 days later and after a bit of searching on her part it was discovered that my op had been cancelled anyway. Don't you just want to.....well, you know. Seems the nurse practitioner I saw at my previous pre clerking appointment had cancelled it, very nice but I wish she'd told me. I expect she felt it would be better to see whats happening with my upper back first, after a 2 month wait!

Appointment on Monday and really hoping he refers me to Southampton, they apparently only do the lumbar spine in my local hospital and cervical spine over there. I don't see why I have to go to two different hospitals for an op on each end of my spine....what next! I'd rather get it all over and done with and get on with my life, what's left of it. And I really don't want to leave my house at daybreak without seeing my kids, or anyone else I know, so that I can be there for 7.30am. That arrangement is what upset me most, they obviously assume we all have a loved one to escort us. Told admissions clerk I'd really had enough and was ready to just give up and stay a cripple...and I really am that fed up!

And Jess, you can give your consultant hell because you are paying a lot of your hard earned cash for that surgery, the cheek of these people!

 

[Black Panther]

oh my goodness melza! just when you think things can't possibly get any worse! our health care system is just so disempowering!

my good news is that the private hospital found another consultant to do my surgery. hopefully they didn't find him on the street somewhere and he is actually a qualified and experienced practitioner... he told me he is a neurosurgeon....does anyone know why discectomies are done by neurosurgeons and orthopaedic surgeons and what the difference is?

anyway...i am due to go in on tuesday morning, have the op tuesday afternoon and be home by thursday or friday. post-discharge physio is not included in the 'package'. do you think i should arrange this anyway?

sending happy thoughts to you all! will be in touch...
jess xx

 

[lonely_soul]

Re Wee probs...

Has there ever been a case of a disc pressing on a nerve so much that it makes them pee endlessly?

I have noticed a dropped foot, i keep tripping over on flat ground!...Has been happening for some time but didnt even know what a dropped foot is!

I kinda feel really abandoned cos i am still awaiting my appointment letter (2 weeks on). My surgeon is on holiday AGAIN....!

Melza...am so sorry to see that you are still desperate for help, you poor thing.

Olli...Am glad to hear that your are almost pain free!

Rod...I hope you are well.