Back Surgery and Neck Surgery
February 3, 2012 - 9:14pm
22 y/o and recommended for lumbar and cervical surgery
Hi guys, I'm relatively new here and honestly don't know where else to go for help. I would really appreciate any advice, information, or reputable sources for me to check out. I would really appreciate someone with the time to read this lengthy note...
I guess I'll start with a little background. My name is Niki and I'm 22. About a year or so ago I started having strange excruciating pain in my back, between my shoulder blades. Being someone who tends to blow things off, I didn't really pay attention to it. It would come and go for a few days, then disappear for a month or so, just to come back.
After that, I started waking up with numb arms and hands (more specifically my pinky and ring finger). I was sure it wasn't from sleeping wrong, because I've slept the same way and never had I experienced this. That lasted for a week or so, then disappeared. Following that, I started having dizziness (not vertigo, but that "off" feeling) 24/7 for 4 weeks. Towards the end of that episode, the hand tremors, decreased fine motor function, pain in my arms/elbows (that good ole funny bone feeling,) and weakness in one of my hands.
That lasted 2-3 weeks. Then the real kicker happened, my feet went completely numb...for a month straight. I would stumble, lose my balance, trip over my own feet, and have pain from standing on them all day at work.
Mind you, I really haven't had any real "abnormal" neck or back pain since that first incident.
So onto what I did about all this. I have no insurance, so I found a free clinic that ran some free blood work, all came back negative. B12 levels, thyroid levels, blood sugar levels, comprehensive panel, etc. So, they referred me to a neurosurgeon (also for free). A very good one at that, so I've read. I outlined my symptoms and he seemed very concerned, but never really told me what he suspected would be the problem...except that he wanted to take me on as a charity case and it probably had to do with my spine, then ordering both an MRI and an X-Ray on my cervical and lumbar spine (free) and told me I need to be open to surgery pending the test results. He also told me to take it easy at my very physical job, so I did. I started discovering that the pain I had in my back was a muscle spasm, and now they were everywhere, and painful...but nothing too intolerable.
Fast forward to today, 2 months later, when I finally got my follow up appointment with him after my tests (still free). It came as a surprise to me, but after some doctor lingo and other stuff I hardly understood...he recommended surgery, more specifically fusion and something to do with "cables."
I was so upset by what he was telling me, that I don't know if I fully understand what exactly he said my issues were. Now I've tried to scan through the pain forums here, the neck and back forum, and the surgery forum, but I feel like everyone's comments that I read are from people with multiple serious issues, and I don't think mine is to the degree of needing surgery. I'm still a little unclear on what he was trying to explain...maybe you guys can help decipher what I do remember, and maybe someone else has the same issues.
He started off with telling me I have soft bones, asked if I was a smoker (which I am), then seriously scolded me about quitting and said to start taking 3000mg of Calcium and 1000 IU of Vitamin D daily. I'm still with him. Then he goes on the explain that even though he didn't see anything major on the MRIs, that I have loose, torn, and damaged ligaments in what I believe he said were C4-7 and in L4-5. He also mentioned that I have a partial lumbarization at L5-S1. Okay, I'm still kind of with him...Then he went on to start talking about slipping disks and dislocations (though I'm not sure if he was talking about the discs or the vertebrae.)
I eventually just started to tear up and get upset at this point (I have a lot going on in my life right now, I didn't need to hear this) and kind of lost him when he was going on about surgery. I could hardly compose myself enough to get out any questions I have now. He explained what fusion was and some other "newer" options for surgery that could allow for more range of motion in the long run, but will put stress on the surrounding areas. He started talking about losing my mobility and range of motion as I got older without the surgery, because of my body "pouring cement" to compensate for what's going on in there, and explained that surgery would basically propel my body forward 50 years and artificially create those "cement pieces" and alleviate pain by 70%.
Now like I said above, this guy is apparently one of the top neurosurgeons in my area, has done all of this for free, and told me he would do the surgery for free if I could show him I have the motivation to quit smoking and get my bones back into shape. Free back surgery? What? People do that? I've been so confused. I'm inbetween, "he wouldn't offer to do the surgery for free if he didn't think it was imperative for both my current and future quality of life" and the good ole "if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail" phrase. I've done as much research as my brain can handle, I still don't understand much of the terminology, I'm confused, scared, noticed that most people are older than I with bigger problems than I, and hope someone who can help has read this far. He didn't really define any of it as a particular disorder or abnormality, so I don't even know what I'm looking up. Though he didn't really suggest conservative options, and when I asked, told me that surgery was the way I needed to go so...
I guess some of my other questions are:
If I'm not really experiencing pain now, does that mean it's not an urgent matter?
Would doing this kind of surgery now prevent all this stories I see about people going through tons of conservative options, medications, pain pills, and PT just to end up getting surgery when it might have been too late?
Even if I got surgery, is it going to cause more pain than the tolerable aches and pains I have now?
I've been seeing him pro bono and I don't know how long I'll have to wait again just to ask some serious questions I have in regard to this...please help me understand.
Thanks in advance,
Niki
User login
New forum topics
Clinical Trials
Who's online
There are currently 13 users and 836 guests online.
Connect with Us
I'm no expert, but I've had 2 surgeries myself. I'm 27 years old. I had issues with L2,L3,and L4. I've had a laminectomy and a spinal fusion (TLIF). I can tell you that smoking WILL speed up degeneration of your disks, as it reduces the amount of oxygen they receive. The disks in your spine are like cartilage, they have no blood vessels flowing through them. They rely on oxygen to be transferred from surrounding bone and tissues. When you smoke, you constrict you blood vessels and reduce the amount of blood flowing to your bones and tissue. That is why the doctor wants you to stop smoking, and it is very important for your spinal (and overall) health to stop. If the doctor mentioned you having slipping and disk/vertebrae movement then it does sound like you need surgery, probably a fusion. The first week after surgery is really hard, and pretty painful. In my own personal experience, I had horrible leg and hip pain due to my issues I had, and surgery completely corrected my pain. Granted, it's only been 3 weeks since my fusion surgery but all of my leg and hip pain is gone. The fact that this doctor is willing to do all of this work probono is amazing and you should not be afraid if you've done your homework on the doctor. Since you don't have insurance you don't really have the luxury of a second opinion, but obviously the guy isn't trying to milk you for your money and rush you in to surgery to make a quick buck.
In short, I'd go for the surgery. AND QUIT SMOKING!
Thank you for taking the time to get through that long winded, emotion filled post. I've been researching and researching, looking for something that describes the bits and pieces of what I understood of him telling me...and I'm pretty sure spondylolisthesis hits the nail on the head.
I was just so confused as to why surgery was recommended right out of the gate...and still worried as to what damage I could do if I didn't take advantage of this incredibly generous offer and the possible regret I could have later. I just can't find much information on what the consequences are of just managing it without surgery, I read much on the pros and cons of having it done, but none on not having it done...any input?
Please give yourself a break. You went from somebody who was having a number of confusing symptoms to sitting in front of a doctor who seemed to be telling you your life needed to change.
Since we can't give medical advice, I would recommend the neurosurgeon's office and explain that you had your appointment with the neurosurgeon, but needed someone to talk you through what the issues were and what this surgery is all about. If possible, when you talk on the phone or have another appointment, bring someone with you. Have a list of questions, and your support person could help make sure all your questions are answered and take notes for review later.
Before my surgeries the person who helped me understand the procedures and what to expect before and after was the surgeon's nurse practitioner. I hope maybe your doctor has someone similar.
I've had some of the same symptoms as you, but not like the combination you've had. I'm sorry if I sound like your Mom, but I'm old enough to be. I have a 22 year old daughter with arthritis and fibromyalgia.
When you talk to someone you could ask what costs would be, if any, for the hospital, surgery, etc.
I hope at least you know that someone's listening at this difficult and confusing time.
KarenD
KarenD
ACDF 4 Level C3-C7
5/2/11
Laminectomy and discectomy, L4-L5
1/26/12
Thanks a ton for trying to help me out, I was afraid everyone was going to see how long my post was and skip it.
That's my exact plan. I want to go back and either talk with him again or someone educated on the matter. As I mentioned above, I've concluded that spondylolisthesis is what he was talking about.He did write me a script for a custom fitted lumbar corset brace with the molded plastic piece, so I want to get that...but I still feel a little in the dark about what I mentioned to the comment above, about the pros and cons of not having the surgery.
Unfortunately, being so young and not having family around to discuss this huge matter with makes it hard and I have to resort to anyone who's willing to lend an ear. It's just such a big decision for someone so young and otherwise pretty healthy.
Niki,
We hear this story often here, when my disabled son needed an operation the surgeon recorded the sessions and gave us a copy to listen when we were calmer and more relaxed, that was code for stopped crying and as Karen said, all this information at once is too much for anyone, you perhaps did not even hear some of the important information.
Many people here have the same dilemma knowing when is the optimum time for invasive surgery and thinking of the consequences of delaying, pain does not discriminate through age, only you can decide what the next step should be, this is not a race, we all wanted to get better the most important thing is for you to make the right decision for you.
You describe lots of confusing issues that do not seem to relate to you or your future, so you need some thinking time and be clear in your own mind, what is suggested and some alternatives. You are still at the diagnostic stage and need to write your questions down and get satisfactory answers that you understand and that relate to you.
My own surgeon suggested that everything possible was done at each stage before we moved incrementally to the next one, higher up the order, toward invasive surgery if that was appropriate and the best possible option, based on current MRI and additional clinical evidence.
Niki, I know you want all this just to go away and be back to normal and all surgery has some element of inherent risk involved, you could have another 70 years ahead of you, do all and everything possible to get some help and additional advice on your condition, you sound positive and will need that motivation in the future. Any surgery is a leap of faith into the unknown, many here are at this point also, deliberation the options and embracing the idea of a new beginning.
Take care and good luck. 22, I have socks older than that........ it was a joke.
John
DDD.1990 Laminectomy, Failed spine fusion, hartshill rectangle RLS. 3 stents
Pain is inevitable, misery is optional. Sternbach et al
Pain is a more terrible lord of mankind than even death itself.
Albert Schweitzer 1953.
“It’s not things that trouble us but the views we take of them” Epitectus
Have no fear about the socks joke, it actually gave me a well needed chuckle. Though you're absolutely right, I missed a lot of what he said after "spinal fusion."
And once I quit smoking, I hope to sit with him again and discuss this more, but after waiting 2 months to see him after my tests, I'm going to use the time to focus on quitting smoking. Either way, surgery or not, that's my next step. I lost my father last year to lung cancer and as if that wasn't enough motivation, this definitely hits it home for me.
As I'm sure most of you know, neurologists can be quite intimidating and more technical then the average person would prefer, but as I told Karen, I have no one to talk to about this and just wanted some advice or personal accounts from people who have had this situation at a young age, with no trauma to account for the news.