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Re: Re: [RC] back pain: Neuro- vs Orthopedic surgeons - A. PerezIt's funny: I interviewed the two most highly recommended surgeons on Long Island for back surgery: one was a neuorologist, the other an orthopedic surgeon. The neurologist would not answer my questions (q: "What is the most common complication with this type of surgery?", a: "I never have any complications! I do these all the time!" etc, ect) and was basically an arrogant jerk. The ortho answered all my questions in detail, laid out all the alternatives, did not push surgery, and did very refined micro-surgery: 1 inch scar, walked out of the hospital 3 hours after the surgery, which took 45 minutes! So not all surgeons, neuro OR ortho, are the same. The key is to get a second and even a third opinion, ask nurses, doctors and physical therapists for recommendations, interview the surgeon before commiting to surgery, and go with a doc you feel you can talk to and who will take the time to explain everything. Also read everything you can about spine surgery (the web is a great resource!) so you know what to expect, what questions to ask, and the options available to you. By the way: my surgeon now practices in California (I believe Sata Barbara), his name is Jean Jaques Abitbol. I recommend him highly. ________________________________________________ Get your own "800" number Voicemail, fax, email, and a lot more http://www.ureach.com/reg/tag ---- On Thu, 4 Sep 2003, rackinfool (rackinfool@xxxxxxxxxxx) wrote: Amanda, I am so glad you posted this. My feeling exactly! No amount of Chiro can relieve or heal a ruptured disc. And you are 100% correct, it can make it much worse. So many ppl think that this type of back pain is due to bone structure going amuck. Wrong! in most cases it is a disc problem and yes! get it tended to ASAP. I have permanent nerve damage down my right leg from a foot drop resulting in trying to "wait it out" with a horribly ruptured disc. and from what I am reading, these women are suffering the "classic" symptoms of herniated disc problems.........worse at night, sitting, etc. And if I may add my two cents worth, go see a Neurosurgeon, not an Orthopaedic Surgeon. The latter using saws, hammers, hacking away. Whereas the Neuro can operate on an egg shell and never crack it. When I had my back surgery done, it was by a wonderful Canadian Neurosurgeon who at the time, in 1985, was way ahead of his peers in how he approached this surgery. I was out of the hospital in 48 hours and back to work in three weeks. When someone is operating that close to my spinal cord, they best know what they are doing, and the order an MRI to rule out a herniated or ruptured disc. Xrays cannot show disc problems, and chiropractic adjustments, Rolfing etc *MAY* make things worse. Prolonged pressure on nerves from a ruptured disc can cause irreversable nerve damage, so PLEASE get an MRI done if back pain continues for more than a couple of weaks! Been there, done that, have the scar to prove it! ________________________________________________ Get your own "800" number Voicemail, fax, email, and a lot more http://www.ureach.com/reg/tag =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.515 / Virus Database: 313 - Release Date: 9/1/2003 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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