Off Topic.....Back Surgery

Well tonight my wife and I went to the mattress store and ordered a Tempur-pedic mattress!! Holy crap are they expensive!!!
Guess I wont be getting my dream lenses anytime soon

Dan

You will do fine with the surgery. The absence of pain is a pure pleasure.
ANow about those lenses. Work the mercy angle. My surgery was good for a big screen T-V

Thanks Skip...How long ago did you have surgery? Damn bed is a morgage payment but boy is it comfortable.....

Skip Souza wrote:
You will do fine with the surgery. The absence of pain is a pure pleasure.
ANow about those lenses. Work the mercy angle. My surgery was good for a big screen T-V

Six years ago this I had a radical retropubic prostatectomy. Say that three times fast. I was off work for seven weeks recovering then went on a month long road trip to Alaska.

Dan,

Hope all goes well with your Dr. visit and you can find another answer other than surgery.

I can appreciate what you're going through as I've recently been told by 2 prominent neurosurgeons & a neurologist that I need 2 disks removed and fusion of the vertebrae in my neck. The extreme pain has subsided, but I've lost some abiltiy to use my left arm, due to stenosis and bulging disks pressing on the nerve, so I've got no choice.

Our American system is not a lot better than your Canadian one, as in my area, most good neurosurgeons at teaching hospitals don't participate with our private insurance plans. Fortunately, I can afford the hefty difference between what my insurance pays for non-par, but, I'd much rather buy new camera gear! I feel sorry for those who can't afford it and angry at the a**holes who've really screwed up what was once the best system (for patient and provider) in the world. All these so-called Managed Care (I refer to them as "Mangled Care") companies have done is to transfer any profits from the actual providers to themselves, without decreasing anybody's premium. Its not unusual to have rates go up 20-40% per year with decreased benefits.

Anyway, I digress. Please make sure that you are treated by the best surgeon you can get under your system. If you're looking for further information, I've found www.spineuniverse.com to provide good explanations of the treatments.
Good luck,

i have a ruptured disk, pinched nerve and arthritits in my neck.i went to see the neuro surgeon about two months after the pain had started and he said i had to get the operation immeadietly, i waited because my chiropractor said he could help...and he did, for about 6 months. i was painfree till i screwed my neck up again and the pain just wouldnt go away.,. i couldnt sleep, my left arm was usless ( really ruined my drum playing) i was in constant pain, standing, sitting, laying down... my arm was in terrible pain and my neck felt like it had a constant pulled muscle. i lasted about 8 months till i was ready to get the operation... then, on the advice of a good friend, i went to gaylord Hospitol here in Wallingford Ct. after two sessions of therapy i was back to playing the drums and pain free... now, 2 years later, im pain free and back to leading a normal life, and the best part? when my neck does flare up 9which it has on occasion) i know what to do to get it back to normal....or as close to normal as it ever will be) with the exersizes they tought me.
so.... dont get the op till you have exausted every other alternative... it was worth it to me. although, i dont think the back surgery is as bad as neck surgey where they go in through the front and almost take your head off! I guess what made me not want to op was the surgeon telling me, "i wont lie, its a very difficult procedure, which could lead to paralysis or even death... when you decide, come in with your wife and parents and we can go over everything"... that scared the living s**t out of me for sure.
-zacker-

There are plusses and minuses to delaying surgery as there are to most things. On the plus side, you may find that a particular alternative treatment like Physical Therapy is helpful to the point that your symptoms are manageable or abate. On the downside however, the longer your symptoms persist, the less likely they will be relieved by surgery.

Well I went to see the surgeon last week and I am heading in for surgery in January. Not sure if I like the date thow, Friday the 13th

Dan

I hope the surgery goes well Dan, I'm having a beer right now so I'll drink to your speedy recovery........Friday 13th is lucky mate, a good omen!
Roger.

Dan,
Sent you a pretty lengthy PM on a possible alternative to surgery.