When you go to see the Ortho on Monday, if you can, take your husband or friend. If that's not possible take a tape recorder. Sometimes the info coming at you is overwhelming and you won't take it all in.
Prior to going. Write a list of any questions you may have. Unfortunately, some people go blank when they're at the doctors and forget to ask questions.
It certainly is a good idea to get a second and third opinion, but also, do your research. I was advised by four surgeons to have discectomy and fusion/ADR, but 3 years later, my radicular pain and parathesia has resolved from a 10 + pain to a handleable 3, without medication. I have learned to moderate my lifestyle and hope to avoid surgery altogether. It was my NS who advised waiting as long as possible before submitting to surgery.
Hucky
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MVA April 2003 - Whiplash
C6/7, MRI shows large right paracentral disc protrusion with extension centrally. Mild compression of cervical cord and obscuring the neural foramen and exiting nerve root. No uncinate process hypertrophy no facet joint degeneration. no left neural foramina narrowing.
1200mg of Neurontin.
In the last 3 years have seen 1 gen surg, 2 neurosurg and 1 ortho surg. All rec fusion, only 1 recommends ADR or fusion.
Have been off Neurontin since Nov 2006
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