Need input guys....On Back Surgery

[plumnuts]

A couple of things

Artificial disks for other than cervical level by many insurance companies is considered investigational and not reimbursable (not enough peer reviewed studies to show long term improvement).

Most literature does not support multi-level artificial discs.

When you have proposed surgery and honest surgeon will tell you post-surgery he or she hopes you will be better, but you may be the same and you may be worse

You want an MRI (unless this is emergency) to look at soft tissue and bone involvement so the surgeon can then make a determination of the type of best benefit

Always (unless an emergency) get a second opinion from another doctor not associated with the original physician.

Watch out for the NDs, DCs that tell you they can cure you if you buy their vitamins and minerals

When deciding to have surgery have an honest conversation with the surgeon of can I put this off and not cause any further damage. Then make a decision to do it now or later.

Back in January 2004 (when I raced)... 8 weeks post-op from L5 micro discectomy

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

Hi guys, figured I would give an update..well as of now I am waiting for the surgeons scheduler to set the date for my neck sugary..hoping soon..I had expected to already have it done but lawyer ran into some snags..they all seem to be worked out now and it should be full slice ahead soon...got obamacare policy and my uninsured motorist coverage from my policy and hoping to get at least these first 2 surgeries taken care of before I run out of funds....(holy cow is this stuff spendy....just the surgeons fees for the neck is over 30grand..not counting anything else needed...) gonna be fun for sure........

 

[MORSNO]

Thanks for the update Mike, you're probably going crazy waiting this long. Pain meds are not fun.

 

[smwizzz]

Good Luck!!!

Hi guys, figured I would give an update..well as of now I am waiting for the surgeons scheduler to set the date for my neck sugary..hoping soon..I had expected to already have it done but lawyer ran into some snags..they all seem to be worked out now and it should be full slice ahead soon...got obamacare policy and my uninsured motorist coverage from my policy and hoping to get at least these first 2 surgeries taken care of before I run out of funds....(holy cow is this stuff spendy....just the surgeons fees for the neck is over 30grand..not counting anything else needed...) gonna be fun for sure........

Stinks having to go through this. Funds are the hardest to manage. I am not sure the names, but there are t-shirt companies that do fund raising by putting something on a shirt and selling them. Maybe this is something to consider. Just a thought. I'd buy a cool t-shirt for your cause. Just put something cool on it!!!

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

Thanks for the update Mike, you're probably going crazy waiting this long. Pain meds are not fun.

LOL..Yeah, I do have days that drive me nuts..and yes drug addiction scares the crap out of me.....

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

Stinks having to go through this. Funds are the hardest to manage. I am not sure the names, but there are t-shirt companies that do fund raising by putting something on a shirt and selling them. Maybe this is something to consider. Just a thought. I'd buy a cool t-shirt for your cause. Just put something cool on it!!!

Thanks Swimmz, The boys(and girls here and on BCR did do a fund raiser for me back before Christmas..I was extremely humbled ..still am)for right now I am ok funds wise..all the bills are paid, theres a roof over my head and food in the cabinets, so thats all good for now, and with a little luck what funds I have will at least get these first 2 major surgeries done and the other issues all figured out....Thanks again...Mike

 

[CatRpillar]

Thanks Swimmz, The boys(and girls here and on BCR did do a fund raiser for me back before Christmas..I was extremely humbled ..still am)for right now I am ok funds wise..all the bills are paid, theres a roof over my head and food in the cabinets, so thats all good for now, and with a little luck what funds I have will at least get these first 2 major surgeries done and the other issues all figured out....Thanks again...Mike

You forgot something! What about a new sled after the successful surgery? lol

I remember buying a new motorcycle in 2009 when I could hardly walk! Not sure what the hell I was thinking! Not that that is unusual......

 

[m8magicandmystery]

thanx for the update , keep us posted Mike , we all hope the best out of this situation for you..

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

Well, Monday morning I go in for surgery.. it's been a busy two weeks with pre-surgery appointments and test but got the go this morning..thanks everyone for all the support, it means a lot to me...Mike

 

[MORSNO]

I wish you well Mike!

 

[CatRpillar]

Well, Monday morning I go in for surgery.. it's been a busy two weeks with pre-surgery appointments and test but got the go this morning..thanks everyone for all the support, it means a lot to me...Mike

Never met you but will be thinking of you. The way I looked at things before my two back surgeries is that I couldn't live the way I was living and so surgery was the only option. That said, it wasn't a guarantee that I was going to come out better or worse. But at least I'd come out the other side saying we tried what we could. And then use that to keep your spirits on the bright side if things don't go as planned.

I remember being told by a woman once that she had gone through child birth and a bad back (NOT the usual sore back!). She says she'd give birth to another kid in a second if it meant that she wouldn't have a bad back.

Keep us posted and all the best! The only person I wish better luck to is the surgeon! lol They have both a rewarding and terrible job imo.

 

[go high fast]

Good luck on all this!!

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

Well I lived thru surgery, all 4+ hrs of it...body is sore as heck, and my neck got a couple more scars.....hopefully this is the first step on the road back to life..

 

[go high fast]

How to go dude!!

You should use a laxative if on the pain pills for any period of time. Sounds silly but constipation can become a serious issue.

Glad to see the first and biggest step is behind you.

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

pain meds arnt the issue...when the doc woke me the first time after surgery I went nuts(I assume I felt like I was being choked out) took 7 of them to hold me down so they could put me back under and then bring me out slowly...if everything goes right the next surgery should happen in 3-4 months(rotator cuff/slap tear in left shoulder), then after that the left wrist..so a long ways to gout at least I am on the road now...