Saw the neurosurgeon yesterday

[yasmina27]

What a difference from the dr. (and I use the term loosely) that I saw last spring. First of all, when I went into the office, a nurse sat down and took my entire history, asked all kinds of questions, and was very thorough. Then Dr. El-Kadi came in. He took one look at my MRI and said I definitely need surgery. The L4 disc is completely degenerated, and the vertebre below is shifted out of place, which is pinching the nerve causing my pain. I'm going to a laminectomy with fusion, which means he's going to insert a plate and screws to realign and hold the vertebre in place. My mom always said I have a few screws loose, so I guess he's gonna replace them!

I don't have a date yet, his scheduler has to call to set it up, but I have about a million tests to have done before. It could be as early as next week (I hope) or w/in a few weeks.

I almost cried when he said surgery. I am so sick of being in pain 24/7 and taking meds round the clock. I don't care about missing work. I don't know who they'll find to teach middle school French, but that's their problem.

THANK YOU to everyone here for all your support and kind words. Thanks for listening to my whining and all your helpful suggestions.

[ThomCat]

1. I hope it is soon and goes very well.

No complications! Full recovery! :hug:

[Warpy]

2. You will go to sleep with a bad backache and

wake up with a worse one. Expect to be awakened every 2 hours over the next several days to be turned from side to side in bed. It will be extremely painful, but the alternative is bed sores and they're worse. You are permitted to be a whining crybaby. You're not permitted to fight back.

You will likely have a "turtle brace" to wear when they get you up and out of bed, first to a chair and then to walk. The time frame to wear the brace is a little different for each case. It's a good thing minor medical incompetence has delayed your surgery because those things are pure misery in the hottest part of the summer. It will fit over some light clothing, under things like sweat shirts and coats.

You should get the whole candy store prescribed post op and don't be afraid to take it. The meds are a tool to get you moving as soon as possible and prevent complications. If you think you might have a dependence, trust me, it's easier to get over that than it is to go through post op pain unmedicated. Done 'em both.

They have gotten much, much better at back surgery even in the 30 years since I went into nursing. Your chance for a good outcome is excellent.

[Nite Owl]

3. Oh I'm so glad the visit

went well. Surgery, not easy to face that but now maybe there is some light at the end of the tunnel, some hope that this will pass and you can get your life back.

Whine all you want, that's what we're here for. :) :hug:

[flamingyouth]

4. Good luck.

Back surgeries have gotten a lot better in recent years. My friend had a similar one and it saved his sanity, he said.

[yasmina27]

5. Thank you all for your support

Now I have a few questions.

We live in a 2-story house. Our bedroom is upstairs. There is a bathroom up there. When I come home from the hospital, will I be able to go up and down steps, or will I be a prisoner up there? Should we plan on setting up a bed downstairs for me?

Will I need a walker or cane? Raised toilet seat? Shower seat? A long handled grabber?

Should my husband plan on taking time off when I first get home to be there round the clock? If so, how long?

Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions/advice/help.

[Warpy]

6. In the short term, try to live downstairs.

As you continue to recover, you'll be able to navigate the stairs more easily. When you first get home, you'll have to stay on whatever floor the bathroom is on.

In any case, make sure you have a gizmo called a Hi John, a plastic ring that raises the height of your toilet seat. It will make a huge amount of difference. If the hospital doesn't send one home with you, visit a health supply place on the way to get one. It's that important.

You will have physical therapy while you're in the hospital and they'll determine whether you'll need a walker for stability. It will be temporary.

You won't be able to shower for some time, not until the incision is reasonably well healed. It'll be bird baths: face, hands, pits and pubes. You need to be medically cleared to shower and by then you'll know whether or not you'll need a shower seat.

If your husband can take a week off, that's great. A week will give you time to work out the logistics of being home and whether or not you'll need things like grab bars in the bathroom. In any case, make sure there's a list of people you can call if you find yourself on the floor and unable to get up, the worst case scenario and one I don't expect to happen.

Just make sure you don't lose that TV remote. :evilgrin: