Hello MJ,

"and it is scheduled for Nov. 6th. I am so looking forward to it.... " - AHHhhh MJ you have such a very positive attitude about your upcoming surgery. I hope when that day arrives for me I can be as postive as you are. I know we will all be thinking of you and praying for you in the days to come.

Yesterday was a very uplifting day - My computer came back to life!!!! Thank goodness for a son who helps guide me and takes the time to help his ole Dad.

Regarding the ole spine - I'm getting to the point of making another appointment with my PM doc to get his thoughts on when I should have another epidural, etc.

Take care MJ (Mrs. Spiderman LOL).

RichT

Hello Carrianne,

WONDERFUL that that third blood patch worked. Okay a question - What is a "blood patch"?

I hope today is even a better day than yesterday!!

Your Mom is a very special lady.

SOOOoooo nice that you could be home to celebrate your first anniversary with your husband. I wish you both many more. Your love for each other has helped both of you through this time. Now the meaning of "through sickness and health" will have special meaning.

Take care.

RichT

Thanks Guy - I'll check out the METRx system tomorrow.

RichT

Hello Fran,

Thanks for sharing your info regarding floaters and surgery. I have had floaters now and then and they are a real pain in the butt.

Just another reason to put off the knife.

Have a GREAT Day!

RichT

Good evening RichT.....You have a wonderful caring son I can tell.........That is the greatest!! Funny how we get attached to these magical machines isn't it??? What did we do with out them........LOL..

I am certainly keeping a positive attitude towards this surgery.........my pain level is getting quite unbearable here lately and it is really taking a tole on me. I've become a bit withdrawn.....it is difficult to sit at my computer at work with out busting into tears.........I've come close a few times.....but I pray for strength and when it is really bad I get up and go outside a walk around.....it gets difficult to focus....the pain just takes me somewhere and I have to fight to regain my focus on what I'm doing........

I'm glad the epidural is helping you some.........I know those things aren't good for you after so many. They can do more harm than good.

I had a series of three done on my neck before my 2 level fusion back in July of 06.........those things made me meaner than a snake......and they did me no good. But there is a process we go thru to get from a to b.
Now if they had caused that spur to dissolve and not press on my spinal cord........then we'd of had a success!!!! But I knew in the back of my mind.........that ain't happen.

Still no word from Joebob, Huh??........I'm sure his super busy now. Later RichT.........mj (ms.spiderman)

Hi everyone!
I've just caught up on all the postings! Very interesting conversations not to mention all the good news! I don't even know where to start, other than saying that I've missed reading all the posts and keeping up with everyone . . . just know that I've thought of you often and I'm keeping those prayers coming!

Welcome Shpla . . . I may be checking in with you regarding the number 1 surgeon in Dallas. So far my last epidural seems to be doing the trick! I sometimes think that I have restless leg syndromem, since night time my muscles seem to spasm quite a bit!

Best news . . . Carianne's HOME and definitely on the mend. JoeBob must be doing rather well himself, since his posts are less frequent . . . I'm taking this as a good sign!

Rich is back and MJ is getting ready for surgery!

In response to the added problems of spondy . . . and minimally invasive surgery . . . I always thought that removal of matter would increase instability. That is why with spondy they usually recommend a fusion, to make things more and not less stable.

Before I submit my post, I've gotten in the habit of copying my reply to a word document just in case my reply times out. Let's see what happens . . . . hmmmm.

Take care everyone and just because I may not post as often doesn't mean your not in my thoughts and well wishes!
C

Rich,

A blood patch is a non surgical attempt at fixing a knick or tear to the dura (the very thin and easily angered outer layer of the spinal chord). Basically they drew blood from my arm and injected it into my spine so that it would coagulate there and seal the leak. The fluid was leaking out and that is what caused the spinal headache.

The first one I had done was right after my surgery. They knew because of the headache. They did the second one 2 days later to reinforce it, but the antibiotic I started taking the next day made me unable to hold food down. When I vomitted, it caused so much strain on my back and abdominals that it "blew the patch." That's why they put me on complete bedrest (and off the antibiotic) for the 3rd and final blood patch.

Sorry for the lengthy explanation. I admit I can be wordy! hee hee

Yes, "through sickness and health" does hold a new meaning for sure! We had a great day together. My mom made us breakfast and went to Red Lobster for dinner! It was so great to be able to be home for it!

Sounds like your epidural is holding up well. How are you feeling? I'm praying for you and wish you the very best!!!

God bless you,
Carrianne

Look at this thread! 14 pages already! Rich, thanks for sharing this us and offering a comfortable place to post!

Best wishes and God bless,
Carrianne

Hello everyone
Sorry I have nt posted in a while. My son is playing on 2 ice hockey
teams and it is consuming most of my free time. My lower back is
feeling great.No leg or lower back pain at all,even with activity.
My muscles in my mid back and shoulders are slowing me down some
but nothing a good massage cant fix. I guess after a few years off
the muscles are slow to get back into shape. I was talking to a boys dad
that my son plays hockey with and I mentioned that I had back surgery.
I found out that his wife has a back problem.Long story short she went
to a bonati seminar and is scheduled for surgery at bonati in october.
Small world. Hope everyone is well

Joe

Good Morning Joe,

Thanks for taking the time to give us an update. Always a pleasure to read your posts.

Great to read about your continuing excellent recoverry. I'm sure your son enjoys having you watch him play ice hockey as much as you enjoy watching him play.

Joe, so nice that you had an opportunity to speak with the other dad. AND great of you to share your experience at Bonati. I hope the fellow's wife has a successful surgery at Bonati in October, and a recovery as super as yours.

Have a GREAT Day!!!!

RichT

Joe, it was good to see your post again. If Rich is our cheerleader and a source of comfort and encouraging word, you are the mascot of this Forum.
You were the one that made the decision, took the chance and moved on to laser surgery and gave us blow by blow decision. You broke the ice.

A subject was being discussed in regard to the position a body is put in for spine surgery (not necessarioy laser surgery) and some have experienced side effects because of that position. I recall you saying that you could even watch the procedure from, I assume, a monitor. Could you tell us if the table you were on was flat, or was it jack-knifed or if not either, was your lumbar region lifted in anyway for easier access by the surgeon? And where the heck was that monitor located that you could view during the procedure?

Marie B.

Carrianne, I am so happy that things are going well for you. I pray you never have a symptom of a spinal problem every again. You experienced enough pain from the problem that laser surgery took care of. Viya con Dios!

Carol! You went back to work! That's great! If spinal injections do the job for you, may you never see the need to have surgery.
Yes, I understood the same as you that when material is removed from the spinal area it can increase the instability of the spine. If you are able to control the pain without surgery that is a good thing. At least that is what my pain manager said to me.

Does anyone...perhaps Fran, know what is considered a "too high" dose for Celebrex? I know they recommend keeping to low doses such as 200 mg or 400 mg. I wonder if the powers that be would look at 600mg as too much.
I am having some help with the pain with this amount of Celebrex.
Marie B.

Carriane, I remember when you first were planing to have laser surgery, Joe posted and said to you, I envy you that Dr. Bonati is doing your surgery.

There are no pictures of Bonati on his web site. Is he an older man or in the 50 year range. And I've read the name of Dr. Moffit doing surgery on others.
There are several doctors listed on the B Institute's website, but do all of them do the spinal surgery or does just Bonati and Moffit? I guess I was just curious.

I'm pitiful. I really would like to send my info to the Institute at least for some grasp of what they do when there is at L4, &5 disc herniation, Stenoses and Spondy all in the same place.

Is there any pressure after they have your info about getting on with the surgery? I was just hoping someone could speak on the subject.

Marie B.

Marie,

Thanks for your prayers! I really appreciate them so much!

Dr. Bonati is 67 (or somewhere around there). Dr. Moffitt also does the surgeries. To the best of my knowledge, there aren't any other primary surgeons. I could be wrong though.

From my experience, there was absolutely no pressure from The Bonati Institute on rushing the surgery once my MRIs were reviewed. They called and let me know what the doc found and if I was a candidate or not (and how much it would cost based on my insurance info). They asked me on the phone if I'd like to make an appointment, but there was no pressure at all. They made me feel really comfortable.

LSI was a little different. They kept on top of me for a while and eventually stopped calling. Then when it came down to the wire to decide between the two and I mentioned that Bonati would accept my out-of-network benefits, they trashed him a bit, even gave me a website address to back up what they were saying. So, I wasn't incredibly impressed there.

With that said, everyone is different and I'm certainly not trying to steer anyone here or there. Just commenting on my own experiences. When it comes down to it, you have to do what makes you feel is best for you.

It certainly wouldn't hurt to contact them both and see what comes of it. It's free, so keep that in mind!

Hi Marie.........if you go to Bonati.com.......and up in the top left it says Home.......if you click on that a little screen opens downwards......and it lists all of the Doctors names and you pick which one you want and it opens a window about all of the experiences and their education and training.....hope this helps.........mj.......

I am so glad both of you, Carriane and MJ, for having responded to my questions.

MJ. I guess I just missed that 3rd click on the Bonati website. I would read the doctors names but never thought to put my cursor over the names to see if there was more information available. Dense of me.

Bless you both.
Marie B.

Marie B..........You are very welcome..........that's what friends are for.

always......mj

The table was concave so you could not roll sideways.I would say you
would lay flat from your head to your butt and your legs were lower.
The table was also heated.I think there was a pillow under my stomach.
The monitor was just to my left ,so I did not have to move my head to
See it. Most surgerys are less than 3 hours so I dont think there would be an issue with the position. I have herd some others say traditional
surgery such as open back fusion has taken up to 9 hours,and that may lead to other problems in that position. Dr bonati and DR moffett do the
disc surgerys and Dr Hillier is operating with them and will soon be up to speed. Dr wecksler does most facet surgerys,he did mine. Dr hirshaure
does all the diagnostic injections ,epidurals,and also assists in surgery.
I would say to send them your MRI and see what happens.
They do not pressure you in any way.and its free

Joe

Good morning Marie,

Just to let you know that the moderator moved our two posts to the above thread. That is fine with me and really a good idea I believe.

Hopefully others will join in.

RichT

Thanks Joe for the info.
Did the Bonati Group advise you to continue visits post op with your Primary Physician just for temporary oversite or to at least have one doctor in your location to have knowledgable of your laser surgery since you are not from Fl.

I will send them my information but first, I have to follow through with the north east surgeon my Pain Management Dr. referred me to. I will listen to what he says and if it is the usual approach, fusion with instrumentation, I will advise my husband that I definitely will look South for help. With my MRI saying "No spondylolithesis seen." I was ready to jump south. But 6 months later when an X-Ray showed spondy, I mentally got all tied up in knots. The surgeon who did the X-Ray did not provide any information other then, "You have Spondy". I don't know the slippage or any details about it. I'm not even sure Bonati will take me under the condition of Spondy without knowing the degree of slippage.

I was not impressed with this surgeon's approach.. so "I'm not involved and I can't give you the back of a 22 year old" talk. He was such a Neanderthal. Last person in the world I would send somebody to.
In this town, the groups of doctors send patients to Medical groups that they know or who are in the same network. It's difficult to get an independent MD or surgeon. People who have no major health problems never worry about it but when it comes down to "nuts and bolts" I want other choices.

Marie B