Is a second opinion possible on nhs

  • Thread starter Thread starter anneo90
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anneo90

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Hi

Can anybody advise. Been suffering from ruptured disc (L5S1) for approx 4 years, had discogram & epidural Nov 07, discecomy & spacers inserted May 07, pain free for approx 10 months, then after another mri, review discectomy Aug 08, pain relieved for approx 10 days, then agony again, given epidural Oct 07, only lasted approx 14 days, have now been put on waiting list for another epidural. My consultant won't even scan me again to see exactly what is going on, just keeps fobbing me off with the excuse ' a little bit of disc may have ruptured again, but will probably disolve', so why am I back to the pain I have been suffering for last few years with all the same symptoms and back to taking Gabapentin and Morphine again.

Does anybody think fusion would be a better option after 2 failed discecomy's?

Any advice suggestions would be much appreciated.

RegarRAB


AnneO
 
Hi Anneo90,

I can't tell whether or not a fusion would be an option for you because I am not a doctor. But I fell when I was 18 and pregnant with our first daughter and fractured a disk in my lower back. After she was born I had my first diskectomy in 1991. I have always had back pain since then, but in 2006 I went back into my back surgeon with pain that was very severe. He did an MRI and scheduled me for another diskectomy on a disk right below that one. And for the last two and 1/2 months or more I have been hurting so bad again that I went back, he ordered a MRI and diskogram. After having them done I went back and they told me my only option was to have either a disk replacement and a fusion, or a two level fusion. (lower back L3-S1 area)most insurances don't pay for the disk replacements because it is still fairly new. So my only option was the two level fusion. I am having a anterior and posterior fusion on Deceraber 29,2008. It is a pretty lengthy surgery and recovery time is long. But for as much pain as I have been having it will be worth it. Sorry to keep rarabling on, but to get back to you. If you feel that maybe you would want to see if a fusion is a possibility, you may want to get a second opinion. Make a list of questions you would want to ask that doctor and take any copies of tests that you have had done, so maybe you won't have to redo them. Anyway, I hope this has helped a little.

Hope you find the answers you need.

Tami
 
Hi Tami

Thanks for the advise, I have been back to my GP this morning and discussed my thoughts/worries with him. He has advised I go ahead with the planned epidural, but if that makes no difference, or only lasts a while and the pain returns, then he will refer me to another consultant at a different hospital.

Anyway best of luck for Deceraber 29, and wish you a speedy recovery and good outcome.

Kind RegarRAB
Anne
 
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