Endoscopic Microdiscectomy - opinions?

  • Thread starter Thread starter dlib44
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No I am so happy for you!!! Our Doctor told me after my surgery of the story of the patient that he had prior to me ( you-picnica) that couldn't lift the bed sheet with his foot. I said " Oh my buddy Jim, he gave me the referral" I think he was so pleased to have successfully completed your endoscopic fusion- or whatever your procedure was called. The fusion representative who observed your surgery I believed was very happy and with the surgery also- you were a difficult case for them. I really think they gave you 100 percent that day. After my surgery our Dr told my mom " I love my job" I think he was thrilled with the success of his surgeries and how much he helped two people in a ton of pain get better.

Hypersensitive again!!! yuck... not fun I'm sure...glad the pain is less and hoping you are walking around now and on your way to recovery.

I wanted to see you walk but they had the curtain up and I was still feeling the anesthesia a bit. Generally I would have asked them to move the curtain but I could hear that you were well and everyone was happy with your improvement, so I was very happy for you.

Perhaps, we should shoot for no more back surgeries. But if it happens to both of us you can definitely have surgery that same day as me again.
My family and I can't thank you enough for the endoscopic information. I was in pain for 14 months trying everything. I never wanted open back surgery, never felt comfortable. But we all felt very comfortable with the endo procedure and the doctor.
Thank you again
 
If your herneation is three months old, wouldn't there still be a chance of improving the toe strength with surgery? However, my reflex was poor at 4 months with diminished strenth in my toe, and I have had improvement in those areas without surgery. I hope you do to. Does the surgeon you are seeing do endoscopic discectomies. Is there a place to send MRI's to get an evaluation to see if the endoscopic procedure would be appropriate?
 
Holly,

That is great that the surgery worked for you and you feel great but please take it easy for a few months. Make sure you let your body heal it takes a long time. I'm sure you already know this but no bending lifting or twisting.
 
I was told 3 months for full recovery or return to all normal activities. I think if the surgery works you would be feeling fine after 2 weeks just no bending lifting or twisting. This however was not the case for me as my disc is still herniated .I can function but I am still in pain. I felt fine after surgery because they nurab up your disc during surgery . I went home a couple hours after surgery and was walking the next day. I had surgical pain for about a month but it was not bad. I did and still do take pain meRAB for the pain.
 
I am not sure, I know my pain doctor was a trauma surgeon for many years, he is in brick, nj. He was one of the first to do the endoscopic disectomey. I have had both kinRAB and the endoscopic disectomey is a piece of cake.
 
An Open or Mast microdiscectomy is when they use a tube to go down through your back, drill out the bone and remove the fragment. I have seen it on a couple of spine websites as both names. The second one (Just done) is a Endoscopic Microdiscectomy or Selective Endoscopic discectomy or Endoscopic Pertanious discectomy. All of them seem to be the same, the procedures are exactly the same. Instead of drilling the bone in the back, they can go into the side by the hip and use a small cut, or they send down a guide wire and streach the skin and muscle. Then either laser or radiate the disc to shrink it and seal the tear. I have been on pain meRAB for 8 years. I have 5 ruptured disc 3 of them are causing me pain at the moment. From 22 to 28 I just went to the Chriopractor and sometime anti inflammatory meRAB. Then 28-30 I had bad pain and the surgeon I was using just did MRI's and a wait and see approach (MeRAB.) Around 30 I had my first fragment break off, it caused drop foot and nurabness in the leg, I was having trouble urinating. I was in surgery 6 hours later and had a Laminectomy/Discectomy (Mast system) I didn't have time to research it. I never got allot better, I still have foot drop and nurabness. But the surgeon wanted to wait and see. Finally, I started to get other opinions. I went through 4 more doctors "protocalls" It took 4 years of epidurals (12) and PT. The epidurals would only work for 2 months than 2 weeks. Then, both legs started to give me trouble and then my groin. Finally I saw a doctor who was not into pain meRAB but was into listening and was willing to try the surgery.
Now, I am not going to be pain free, that would be silly,
My good days are good. My bad days are better. The nerve pain from the surgery (common occurrence after that procedure) is getting better. I still have the foot drop but, I am able during the day to take Tylenol, but at morning and night at my worse I still am taking Darvocet. Better than taking percocets for the last 4 years. Comparing both surgeries, if you fit in that surgery, it was much better than the first one. Hope this clarifies my other post.
 
Well, it's 4am and not sleeping but this time it's cause I have a headache. To answer your question. I have a "mild herniation at L-2/3 a Partial natural fusion at L3-4. I had the fragment 4X8mm removed in that canal area. The full fusion could take another 2 yrs. to complete. (just had a MRI yesterday morning it looked about 3/4) Grade 4 tear and bluge at 4/5 (just operated on so I don't know if the large bulge is there) Grade 4 tear at L5-S1 and also medium bulge. (same as above) There is DDD from L3-S1. Scar tissue is everywhere (endoscopic picked it up) Osetoarthritis L-3-S1. Spinal stenosis L-4-S1. I have (before surgery) 60-70% strength on the right foot with no movement upwarRAB on the entire right foot. Not that is a huge problem. You can still do most things. I am sure I missed something. Not bad for 35. I didn't even have a car accident. Hope that helps you decision.
 
I started walking this morning. The nurse has been on the phone with my wife 5 times a day since Wednesday. The hyper sensitivity is down 70% Now to get my staples out tomorrow I'm sure it will get better. He is an awesome dr. I had a fusion with a part called the Aspen Spinous Procees, a device to aid in the fusion of the back. Instead of putting screws in my back they just clamp it a set screw. I was his first patient. It feels weird inside.
I was still woozie after surgery, I could barely talk because of the surgery. It was weird. Just started talking strong Thursday. I am so glad you had the better surgery, soon it will be the gold standard in Medicine. I will try to have no more surgery but I still have 3 levels left that are bad. I have been to 11 back doctors and they all tell me just how good they are, then they look at my MRI's and tell me that they can't help me. He took it one by one level.
 
Picnica,
I am glad to read your experience with doing Endoscopic Microdiscectomy. I am planning to find a doctor who can do it in my area instead of doing Microdiscectomy.
Thanks!

Holly 120,

Did you already do Endoscopic Microdiscectomy or not? Would you please tell about your feeling if you did ?

Thanks!
 
I forgot to answer the last part of your question. I have been getting opinions on what to do next. I have been offered an open to remove the disc off my nerve however if he goes in and there is not enough disc left he would do a fusion. The Dr. that did the endo took out twice as much disc as he normally does because it was such a large herniation. My surgery was suppose to be an hour it ended up being 2
 
Picnica,

How bad is your foot drop? I have it too, but in a mild form. I can lift my foot and move my toes normally, but I don't have much strength in my toes. Makes me limp because I can't push off with the toes on my left foot when walking.
 
Picnica,

did you have any complications from the endoscopic and how was your recovery? I am 29 and I am bringing my parents with me to brick this week to help make the final decision. The endoscopic surgery would be the following week-Aug. I feel like the microdiscectomy that i am scheduled for will just lead me on the path to future surgeries.
What did you do to feel at ease with the endoscopic procedure? Did you research, talk to previous patients? What sold you on the endoscopic option?
 
Yes I had it done on Tuesday!!! In Brick NJ. There are very few Dr's that do the procedure that Picnica and myself had done- I checked NYC and everything. I have no more sciatica pain, my ankle and butt do not hurt anymore, I can stand with no issue. I went out to dinner right after the operation with my parents, I never took any pain pills, I only had aching pain the night after the surgery, but this doesn't compare to the pain I had daily before the surgery. I feel it was a great move for my back, I had a 3/8th inch incision right above the pants pocket area and I believe that the dr did nothing to compromise the integrity of my spine. If he had cut anything I would have hurt after surgery. So the benefits are no pain, fast recovery, no scar tissue, 4 stitches, and spine still intact. And he still took out my 1.5 cm herniation 3.5-5 inches long when they took it all out. The worst part is you have to relax after surgery and heal inside, but you feel like you are ready to go.
Please do your research and know that there is a difference between endoscopic and a microdiscectomy where they use an endoscope and 3/4 incision over your spine and spread muscle and cut bone.
 
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