discussion Tomorrows surgeon appointment

[Guest]

i wasnt going to say anything for fear of jinxing this, but i have an appointment at John Radcliffe Spinal department tomorrow,


Its with the surgeon who did my spinal surgery to mve fragmented parts away from my spine, to prevent permanent paralysiation.


Im in a wheelchair, because the T4 and T2 vertibrae were smashed apart, leaving me unable to hold my own bodyweight. The surgeon removed erronous parts of spinal bone, and pinned the vertibrae with an external wire. Not supportive for walking, but prevents my spine from collapsing.


However, i was told last week that he wanted to assess me for a new procedure whereby they may be able to insert a rod from T1 to T5 underpinning the spine and permanently fixing the short thorrasic area.


If they agree, and i decide to go ahead, it will mean with some extensive physio, i MAY walk again! Albeit with aids, but its a prospect that i wish comes true.


So if any of you see shooting stars, a wishing well, or four leaf clover, please spare me a wish to walk again.


Thanks

 

[Dave Jay]

I'm sure everybody will join me in wishing you well for tomorrow and we will send our wishes, hopes, prayers and left over enamels your way.


God bless you fella all the way.

 

[Dave Jay]

For you my fellow Dave.......


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[Guest]

You can count me in, I have my toes and fingers crossed, and my hopes go with you.

 

[Guest]

Fingers crossed mate.

 

[takeslousyphotos]

I wish you all the luck Dave.

 

[PaulTRose]

best of luck, mate

 

[Lee W]

Good luck Dave, here's some shooting stars


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Lee

 

[grumpa]

All our prayers are with you on this end............Jim

 

[john i am]

Good luck may all you hopes wishes and dreams come true

 

[Guest]

Its always a difficult decision on whether to go for extensive surgery or not.


When my wife had appallingly agonising sciatica for several weeks recently. She was offered an op. to relieve the pressure on the sciatic nerve. We had confidence in the surgeon. Surgeons, good as they are, must be remembered as specialists and, like alls speialists, fairly keen advocates of surgery V doing nothing or other therapy etc.. This enthusiasm is tempered by their professional detachment and the ethos that the patient comes first. Still, its difficult. My wife continued with the physiotherapy and after a chat with her GP decided to go with that and only consider an op. if it came back strongly. Your case is similar in principle because you can choose to go for it, or not and carry on. (But don't be influenced by my wife's decision to leave it for a while. Everyone's different.)


My wife's surgeon was open about the risks. 90% success. Witthin that remaining 10 % was a range of disappointing outcomes with 1% chance of ending in a wheelchair (as a result of the op.). The op was as successful as hipe replacements, and better that total knee replacements, both of which are done every day and mainly successfully.


You should ask (press if necessary) the surgeon to give you a similar view of the outcomes. Don't be shy or diffident. You are the boss, not him. If you are thinking of going for the op, let a few days go by for reflection before saying a firm "Yes".


Good luck.Hope this reaches you before you go for your appointment.


And let us know what happens and how things are going (if you have the op.).

 

[Robert1968]

Hi Dave I'm sure we will all be wishing you the best and that you will one day get your dream come true


I send a picture of a shooting star to wish you luck and I'll be thinking of you


Best of luck


Robert


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[Guest]

I wish you all the luck in the world.

 

[Guest]

Good luck Dave, I'll be thinking of you & wishing you a successful visit - fingers & kitty tails crossed!

 

[Guest]

I can't begin to imagine what you are facing but wish you all the very best for a speedy recovery and the best possible outcome from your surgery.

 

[monica]

wishing you all the best and things shell go well,you will be in good hands.

 

[BarryW]

Good luck Dave, fingers crossed for you.

 

[Guest]

Heres all best wishes and good luck for Today's appointment mate from all here in the Roberts household.


Cheers Andrew

 

[Guest]

All very best wishes and I look forward in time to hearting some great news.

 

[Guest]

Thankyou guys, ive arrived home and have had some good news but need to consider everything before i say yes.


The surgeon says that my MRI on the spine shows good bone thickness in the medial area where the rod would be placed. The anterior sector of the T4 is malformed now on healing, but wont cause issues further than possible uncomfortable ache later on, but id have that anyway.


If i decide to go ahead, they will remove the pins, and the truss bar and insert a solid bar, with attachments to the medial and posterior parts of the spine, allowing the thorrasic area to become solid. It does mean ill have no ability to bend that part of my back, so bending down to pick things up or ducking undr things wont be possible ill need to relearn simple tasks, but the prognosis of the surgery is normally good, within 90% of cases.


The downside is, the spinal bone tissue can develop and grow over the entire bar, becoming spurred and that wpuld cause increased pain, requiring aditional surgery later. I think that i can live with that if it means i walk, and can drive a normal car, do normal things.


If i go ahead, the possibility is i go under in jan 2016, with an outlook to being up walking by May next year.


Thanks all for the fingers toes and everything crossed, it seems i may have a reprive!