| Author | Message | ||
     Xdigitalx |
Just wondering has anyone here used laser spine institute?? I have L4-L5 and L5-S1 problems... previous microdiscectomy many years ago always had pain... not too bad though, but re-aggravated it a few years ago and made it worse... tired of dealing with it and would love to be rid of the pain. I hear epidurals work for some but are temporary if they even work, the laser spine procedures look permanent. I got a call from them... they do it quickly,... 3-5 days and I am done. I make the call,.. once insurance is set up, they go spend 2 days figuring out what is wrong,....one day deciding what procedure to use,...another day to do the procedure and next day or two I am out of there. cost?? 10-25k? The phone call gave me impressions it was like a meat market and they tell everyone that they are a candidate (I did send them my most recent mri) I got a similar impression from the Epidural doctor,...who wanted to give me a shot without a new mri....1200.00 per shot. Will Obamacare cover this for me??? | ||
| Rotzaruck |
One of our previous employees that is still a friend had been down there and was very pleased with the results. I think it is the same group. He had some problems and recently went back for more. I'm not sure how or if that has all come out yet. Send me your number and I'll see if he's willing to give you a call and a first hand report. I'm sure, like most things in the medical area, there are always a lot of varied results. Rotzaruck | ||
| Hootowl |
The shots work, but you've got to keep getting them. My dad gets one every few months. | ||
| Hootowl |
Dad had partial disk removal several years ago. Bone spur I think. The scar tissue eventually pushes on the nerve again. The shots help. Do you think you're a candidate for surgery? They've told my dad the surgery is one time deal, and all he can do now is get the shots. If they can operate again with this laser technique, I'd love to hear more about it. | ||
| Zane |
My brother had laser spine surgery about 3 years ago. His was up higher on the spine than what you need. His results were 100% positive. Felt better immediately and had ver little discomfort from the procedure itself. | ||
| Xdigitalx |
Rotzaruck, your friend was very informative. I'm still looking into it. | ||
| Griffmeister |
It really depends on what the problem actually is to determine the best treatment. I had back surgery five months ago, traditional slice and dice, on L5-S1. Joint was pretty much bone on bone, hardly any disc left with stress fractures and misalignment. Doc made about a four inch incision, cleaned out the rest of the disc, realigned the bones and put in a spacer. Then he removed the fractured bone, ground it up and used it to fill around the spacer and screwed everything together with a titanium plate. After two and a half months I went back to work on light duty. Before the surgery I got opinions from both a spinal surgeon and a neurosurgeon. They both came to the same solution independent of each other. Even at that, they still wanted to see that I tried therapy, cortisone shots and pain management before using surgery as an option. That being said, I would definitely recommend having your MRI read by doctors of at least two different disciplines so that you can make an educated decision. | ||
| Xdigitalx |
oh man that's what my back feels like... bone on bone.... pain radiates left and right of my spine... between my hips. It is pretty much constant when it appears. Your procedure seems like what I need and what I imagine is needed to fix my problems. Cortisone shot: The thing about shots is,... it just masks the problem,..doesn't fix it... and... I could possibly mistake the feeling for a cure and mess it up more. I been in various degrees of pain for so many years.. I just want it fixed.. cured... gone away once and for all. But, I guess while I am waiting.. if I can rid myself of my belly... that process should build my belly/back muscles enough so maybe I can deal with it for another decade. Maybe that and the cortisone shot. Moving to warmer area may do it too. (I wish) | ||
| Ourdee |
I had muscle back problems for years, not the skeletal problems. After being put through an exercise program to build core strength and learn to properly do stretches I felt great. Just recently I've developed some skeletal aches. The weird part is I almost like the pain. The part I don't like is knowing there will come a time when I wont be able to turn it off. There was a Jewish (he wore the hat) doctor specializing in arthritis that I saw back in Indianapolis. He steered me in the right direction last time. Also diagnosed my gout. I guess I'll need to look him up again. There is no substitute for finding good doctors, and paying them for their knowledge. | ||
| Britchri10 |
I had an L4-L5 discectomy/laminectomy in 1991. (I was 31 years old-rugby injury) I have had problems since but nothing like what it was like before the surgery. The physician who did mine was the lead orthopedist for the Arkansas Razorbacks & knew his stuff. I still stretch every morning & work on my core strength. Prior to the surgery I could walk c50 feet before I had to sit down for a minute. After, I played rugby for another 16 years. No real problems since, other than a couple of "episodes" induced by riding my X1. (That's why I ride a Uly now) My advice: get several opinions & make your choice. Laser spinal surgery was not available when I had my back fixed. Good luck, Chris C | ||
| Griffmeister |
+1 on several opinions. A good doctor will tell you that there are many people out there with horrible looking MRI's that are symptom free and yet others with minor looking issues that experience great pain. This can make it difficult to arrive at a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. That "Laser" surgery is kind of a misnomer anyhow. If you look up the actual procedure, the laser is one of many tools used in what is basically laparoscopic surgery. Check the credentials of the doctors at the med centers and you will see that most of them are conventional orthopedic surgeons. It's basically a Roto-Router operation to enlarge any restrictive openings that the nerves go through. I asked about it when I was looking for treatment and was told that in my case I wasn't even a candidate. In the meantime, stretching/core strengthening is a pretty good plan to follow. Can't hurt, in fact don't let it hurt, and you may actually feel a little better. | ||
| Swampy |
Two years ago I could not walk anymore, I was scheduled for shots, I opted not to do it. I instead started going to the chiropractor ALOT and taking the pain meds to stop the muscle spasms (vicoden is taken before you go). Inversion table, lots of jello, and no raking leaves, for some reason that will cripple me. I am ALOT better now almost a year later, no pain, only going to the chiropractor when I start feeling like I need to. It takes alot of time. 15-20 years ago I had a meeting with a surgeon but opted out of that also, instead I have been nursing it through the years with visits to the chiropractor and physical therapy when needed and a electrostim device. I know what I just said doesn't mean much, I hope you the best of luck whatever route you go. |
