I had my surgery 3/2/09 - laminectomy, decompression, and fusion of L3 to L5. Not a small job. I'm still recovering.

So when I follow up with the surgeon, he congratulates himself on the great job he did curing my stenosis.

Ah duh.... I asked you to cure my PAIN. You told me the stenosis was the cause of the pain. Now we know that my back pain is NOT caused by stenosis. What's next?

He tells me to get pain shots (spinal blocks), increase my meds and take therapy.... and sends me to a neurologist who decides I'm depressed.

I'm not depressed....

I'm pissed, I have permanent nerve damage because we delayed the surgery to try alternative treatments, and I'm in pain. There's a difference.

Anyone have any experiences with spine surgery?

Did you have to go more than once to get it right?

2nd opinion time and not from a bunch of wackjob Mercedes enthusiasts.

There have been some recent studies showing that surgical patients see comparable improvement to non-surgical patients when it comes to back pain. Wish the news was better.
Try the Braintalk spinal disorders forum for more information.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

My right hip replacement went so well, I couldn't wait to get my left hip replacement, which was done 11 months later.

Based on those two experiences, I was looking forward to getting my spine fixed, after 30 years of pain.

I'm still hoping to find someone with the magic bullet .....



But I also believe in the Easter bunny.

Sorry about the surgery back surgery great when it works and f---- terrible when it doesn't.

I would go see another doctor, where are you located?

Westchester, NY.

My spine surgery and my hips were done at Hospital for Special Surgery, which is a terrific place.

I highly recommend it to anyone, even if you don't need surgery.



Get this - 7 MRI machines, no waiting

Yeah - I had heard that.

I was really psyched that I was going to be the one that it worked for!

I guess that's sort of like the theory behind trying to hit the lottery.

Wow - sorry to hear you've been dealing with your pain for so long...

I've been living with my back pain for about 5 years now (it's in my spine between my shoulder blades) - I cannot determine the reason for this pain or point to any single event that started it. I do a lot of computer work so I guess that's the general culprit. So far, noone can come to a definitive conclusion about what's causing my chronic pain in my spine. The only time the pain is NOT there is when I lay on the floor flat on my back. Other than that... it's pretty much ever present.....

I feel what you're going through - sorry again to hear about it. Hang in there and best of luck -
James

__________________
1987 Mercedes 300SDL; SOLD
1985 Mercedes 300D; SOLD
2006 Honda Pilot - wife's ride; 122K;
1995 Toyota Land Cruiser - 3X locked; 182K

I go for one next week.

At least wackjob Mercedes enthusiasts speak in plain English.



This is NOT MD bashing - I think my surgeon did a good job of fixing what he thought was the problem.

I'm NOT going to sue him - I just want him to admit it didn't work, and let's move on to the next plan. That seems to be difficult for him to do.

Don't hold your breath. Admitting it didn't work would be admitting they aren't gods.

__________________
Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Here's a link to Braintalk. I found a lot of help there:

http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=251

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I had L3-L5 fused using metal cages in 1998. Had to be done, no other course to repair 2 herniated discs. Couldn't hardly walk, with pain in my shins and toes. My sister who is a nurse, told me that neurologists do a better job than orthopedists.

Best advice I ever took. Lost some mobility due to the fusion, but pain was gone immediately. Still have numbness in toes, but I would do it again in a heartbeat.

I had a fusion on L4/5 back in 1997. it did not go smooth at all, I am doing ok now. I am about to have another fusion in my neck at the end of the month.
The Dr. said he uses a type of stem cell to grow bone in a plastic cage like device. I hope it works out. Good luck out there everyone with back problems, we need it.

__________________
1976 240D
1976 240D parts car
1970 220D daily driver

There are artificial discs available now in the USA for both the lumbar and cervical spine. They've been available for years in Europe. That's what MedMech has. I'd certainly look into an ADR before getting a fusion. There's info at ADRsupport.org. I had cervical spine surgery that did not require a fusion with Dr. Jho in Pittsburgh. I posted about it a few years ago.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

My surgeon said I was not a candidate, since my back was too unstable.



OTOH, he also told me to expect to have my pain cured.



He also told me that he didn't expect that paralysis was going to be an outcome, so I guess he was right on that one, fortunately.