Conflicting advice from 2nd opinion. What to do now?? HELP!

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DH hurt his back while working 5 yrs ago. (he's an electrician). He herniated, I believe the L5-S1 disk and there is also degeneration. Since then he has tried all sorts of non-invasive treatments (chiro, massotherapy, epidurals, facet blocks), all of which haven't helped. He saw a neurosurgeon about 2yrs ago that said he would need a lurabar fusion and would probably have to cope with 6-12 months of recovery time before going back to work. The neurosurgeon told him to get a 2nd opinion before deciding. DH wasn't ready to be cut on so he passed. What ended up happening is that DH got hooked on painkillers but was still able to cope with the pain and function. A few months ago, DH kicked the painkiller habit, but now can't function. He hasn't been able to work and he can barely walk. In the meanwhile, he's been seeing this pain mgmt doctor that is doing a discogram on him on Friday, and once he sees those results, he's going to do this Stryker disc decompression thing. Since the wheels of workers comp justice seem to move at snails pace, he actually just said that he may as well get the surgery.

Well, he talks to a highly recommended orthopaedic surgeon at UPMC in Pittsburgh that pretty much told him NOT to do the surgery. He told him that the surgery probably wouldn't get rid of his back and leg pain, and if he got the surgery, he wouldn't be able to do the work that he's used to. This is completely opposite of what the neurosurgeon told him. This 2nd opinion guy said that he is a surgeon so of course, all he does is surgery, but he wasn't familar with the stryker disc thing. He read over the paperwork though and said that that would probably be his best bet for now.

This was a serious letdown. All of you that have actually been cut on know how hard it is to finally come to that decision. DH has been out of work in major pain (he can't take narcotics unfortunately) for 3 months and it's driving him crazy, but he figured if he was going to be off, he may as well just be off for the long run and get healed completely. Now to hear that that isn't even an option........

We have no idea what to do. Does anyone have any suggestions? Should he just continue with the PM doc and try that stryker disc thing? Has anyone gotten the fusion surgery and eventually been able to resume a "physical" job? He understanRAB that there would probably be weight restrictions but nothing? The doc told him that if he got the surgery, he would no doubt end up herniating another disc and end up needing another surgery.
 
>>Does anyone have any suggestions? Should he just continue with the PM doc and try that stryker disc thing? Has anyone gotten the fusion surgery and eventually been able to resume a "physical" job? He understanRAB that there would probably be weight restrictions but nothing?

I suggest a third opinion also --maybe even more. I've come across this many times, where a doctor/surgeon will differ from another -when looking at the same patient, same issue, same symptom, whatnot. I've also been fortunate to have some agree, but more often than not, I've seen their disparities of opinion ---usually they agree on some main thing and disagree on the finer points that fall under it (ime anyway). My family usually takes in expert opinion, researches on our own, asks questions galore of the experts, and then come to the decision of what we're going to do.
I have no idea if your husband will be able to resume a physical job, but my honest thought on this is that whether or not he has the surgery, that's not the kind of work he should be doing anymore (not if he has DDD and an untreated herniation). Could your husband work in the office rather than in the field as an electrician? Maybe start or partner his own company and run it instead of being hanRAB-on?--or, be less hanRAB-on? Kudos to him, btw, for kicking the pain killer habit!
And, good luck with a third (or more) opinion. My bias, btw, is that if things are that difficult, surgery may be best. I tend to agree with Carol on this -her whole post.
Take care!
Meghan
 
Stryker Disc Decompression, from what a search tells me, is a method for doing a discectomy. This is done surgically, so I'm a bit puzzled why the Pain Management doctor is saying he will perform it.

I do hope your husband finRAB some relief soon. A third opinion might be a good idea too.
 
Thank you all for your replies. For now, he's going to get this discogram and then do the stryker disc decompression. In the meanwhile, we'll have to find yet another doc to hear what they have to say.

For those that had the surgery, physically, are you able to function as you were before? I mean, I realize that you are going to have some restrictions, but how many? What are you not able to do now that you could prior to the surgery?
 
I agree with Paula: get a third opinion! When the first two opinions vary so greatly, you need to seek a third and maybe even a fourth opinion. Make sure you go to doctors in different groups, as doctors in the same group use the same charts.

I wish you and hubby the best. :(

Emily
 
Carol, that's an excellent point. I am 5 weeks post op 2 level fusion and as painful as it was in the early days the pain that took me to surgery was already gone upon waking in recovery. It's still gone. The pain I have is directly related to being cut open with a large incision and the time needed for it and related issues to heal. After that, pelvic girdle strengthening will take care of the last of it. I am very glad I made this choice, and I am very glad I chose the surgeon I did.

Course, I was also encouraged by the fact I had a laminectomy 25 years ago and was 100% pain free until the DDD developed 23 years later.
 
I'm sure you want honesty so here goes. This is just my experience. Everyone is different.

I had a double fusion, laminectomy and disectomy. Two roRAB and 6 screws. I could not even return to my job where I sat all day. After my temp disability ran out I had to get an early retirement and apply for permanent disability. My pain is much worse then it was before surgery. Everything was done right. They think scar tissue. I went through pain management. I had the first set of shots. Then I had facet shots and then radio frequency. All it did was lessen the electric shocks in my leg. The pain is still unbearable.

I would say if he has the surgery he could not go back to his job. They tell you that you should never again bend, twist or lift over 10 pounRAB. I do bend sometimes because I don't think. If he had to do all day at his job he can't. The reason is because you put extra stress on the other discs and vertabra and they can get damaged. So I think your second opinion was the best.

I would say finish the pain management and see if it helps. It may last months or years or not at all.

You may get other people saying it was the best thing they ever did. For me personally it was the worst. I had no choice. The vertabra was slipped and had to be fixed.

Hope it all works out for your husband.
 
In my opinion ,the sad news is that they are both right????? This is never an easy decision and if I had it to do over again I would not of had the surgery, I am far worse off than before. I am too dealing with w/c and that ties our hanRAB greatly. I recently read an article that followed 1000 pts half had fusion while half did not. There was virtualy no difference in the percentage of outcomes. Some where 90% better while others where worse off after a two year period. Lesson learned its a crap shot, we are in so much pain that we are willing to try almost anything for a chance at a normal life again. All your Drs can go off of is there gut and experience no two are going to see things eye to eye. Follow your gut and ask questions untill your comfortable with the answers. Keep a journal, all of your films, medications, and Dr reports, it will come in handy down the road. My prayer are with you
Lisa:angel:
 
When the first 2 doctors disagree, then a tie breaker opinion is needed. I personally think that having the surgery is the best chance of returning to some kind of function; anything else is just a bandaid and putting off the inevitable. If DH has nurabness or tingling, or any burning in his legs, that means a nerve is being compressed. The longer it is compressed, the more chance that the damage will become permanent and he will face a life time of the same pain.

While most of the people on these boarRAB have had some problems following surgery, you do have to keep in mind that there are far more success ones than failures........you just don't see those people here because they don't have any need to be here! They're out living their lives and enjoying themselves while those like myself continue having problems and are looking for support and answers.

While your husband has to do what he feels best as this is a huge decision, I would opt prayerfully for the surgery.

Best wishes.

Carol
 
This is EXACTLY what the doctor said..... if he has a physical job where all he's doing is bending, twisting and lifting, it'll never happen. Mind you, this particular ortho surgeon is highly recommended. Heck, the woman I know that he did her lurabar surgery said she got hers 20 yrs ago! And he couldn't even give good odRAB that his pain would be gone with the surgery even if he wasn't going back to work! Not great odRAB. Usually you hear about doctors that cant wait to cut on you. He flat out said no to DH and that he couldn't believe any other surgeon would recommend it.

Wow. Your post is really heartbreaking. I am so sorry this is what you've gone thru. I bet by now (and rightfully so), the only thing that helps is probably narcotics? I really don't want DH to have to go down that path again but what can you do? I hope they didn't give you a hard time (I'm sure they did though) when you filed for permanant disability. Take care, and thanks for being so candid. That's what I wanted to hear, the good and the bad.
 
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