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iSpine Discuss Met w/ my surgeon again today....surgery in 4 days! in the Main forums forums; Hi all, I met with my surgeon again today to go over the Cat Scan, have another thorough physical exam, ...

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Old 03-06-2009, 04:15 AM
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Default Met w/ my surgeon again today....surgery in 4 days!

Hi all,

I met with my surgeon again today to go over the Cat Scan, have another thorough physical exam, and receive my pre-op forms, which I'll take with me tomorrow a.m. for the pre-op physical. I really do like this doctor. He is so thorough. I guess since most of his patients are obese that he operates on, he said I was a gift for him, and he thought it would make surgery go more smoothly too. Glad I could oblige. He remarked over and over what incredible work "this Dr. Bertagnoli" did to install my 3 lumbar discs, looking at the films. He said impeccable work. And when I was asking him about transfer of load issues, he said it was actually very good that I had the artificial discs already in my spine, and the fusion at L6-S1. These would all work together nicely. He said typically he only has to fuse one SI joint. The most painful side. And that does the trick of making it less mobile. I wish I could explain it as good as he did. I have a few things to pick up for the night before surgery (guess anyone?! ). We have to figure out the bed situation for me still. All of our bedrooms are either upstairs or downstairs, w/ none on main level. And they said they really preferred "no stairs" for those 6 weeks. I hate to have to shell out for a hospital bed rental. Other than that, it's almost all systems go.
I've been doing the Zycam and I think it's helping my sore throat.

Cindylou
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bicycle accident 6/01: 2 compression fractures @ T12-L1; vertibroplasty; 4/06: right hip labral tear & arthroscopic repair; 4/07: lumbar prodiscs @ 3 levels, L3-6 by Dr. Bertagnoli; 7/02/08: ALIF L6-S1; 7/30/08: reopened to remove bone cement, leaked onto S1 nerve root; 8/08: pulmonary embolism, double pneumonia, collapsed left lung, pleurisy, pleural effusion; ALIF fusion complete; 3/10/09: SI Joint Fusion by Dr. Stark; Jury still out.
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Old 03-06-2009, 04:31 AM
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Location: orange county ca.
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I cannot believe that you are almost there. I am wishing you the best. It will be hard not to go up and down stairs for 6 weeks. Eeeks! I know you better now and I hope that you are very careful and follow all the instructions. If they say no stairs then NO STAIRS. Be a good patient and you will have a good result. I hope your sore throat goes away too, you really don't want to be sick for the surgery. Take care.
phylly
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Cervical fusion C4-6 March 2002
Fall on tailbone causing sciatica and back pain April 05
Conservative Treatment and PM for 2 years
Discogram concordant pain @L4-S1 Aug. 07
Prodisc ADR's at L4-S1 November 2007
Foraminotomy July 08 for Sciatica
Continued problems and back pain worsened
Prodiscs removed and discs fused at L4-S1 Feb. 09
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Old 03-06-2009, 04:58 PM
Gil Denis's Avatar
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Hi Cindy Lou
I am glad to hear you are moving forward with your surgery
I wish you the best
Take Care
Gil
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L5-S1 lam 1994
L2 to L5 DDD
L3 -L4 hern Dec 2007.
L4-L5 Annular fissure with mild central stenosis and moderate facet hypertrophy.
L5-S1DDDDD
L2-L3 Right-sided neural foraminal narrowing at and L3-L4 related to posterolateral hypertrophic spurs and facet hypertrophy.
C3-C4 limited DDD
9 injections Depo. P.T. 13 months 5 dose packs,
Nerve Block Injections.4 ESI S1
L5-S1 foraminotomy 09
L4-L5 Microdiscectomy 09 Reherniate 4-2010
Coflex-L Implants L4 to S1
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Old 03-06-2009, 05:59 PM
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Default here you go

Hey CindyLou,
Glad to hear your surgeon is so thorough and sounds like someone very good to talk to and/discuss what's planned as well. You sound very ready for the surgery and I think the mental headset is quite helpful esp. if you're prepared for the "other side" as well in terms of recovery time.

Wishing you the best results and can't wait to hear more about the surgery and outcome! And glad the Zicam is helping you out. I really like the product and have used it for about 8 years now when needed. Seems to help reduce the amount of time I'm feeling viral or just abort the symptoms.

take good care!
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Old 03-06-2009, 07:37 PM
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Great that you're good to go! I'll be that you'll be glad to have that hospital bed when you get home. I'm 24 days out from an ALIF and I still find myself trying to minimize trips up and down.

Good luck!
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Old 03-07-2009, 03:21 AM
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CL- I know you are so ready to have this surgery done and get back to living. Sounds like you have a very good surgeon, that really cares about people and listens to you. I can't imagine not being able to do the stairs for 6 weeks, I swear that is why I stay fit (I don't need a stairmaster, because I live in the stairmaster!) I'll be praying for you, Kathy
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34 years old-
1/06- In wreck with 18 wheeler
Numerous MRI's, PT, chiropractic, accupuncture, TENS therapy, massage therapy, facet injections, epidural injections, Nerve study, Discogram, confirms pain in L4/5, IDET, decompression, Bi-lateral neurotomy L3/4/5, denied by insurance twice, in Active L clinical trial, had surgery March 17, 2009 in Miami, FL- received Active L disc
Had Baby #3 after ADR!
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Old 03-07-2009, 04:46 PM
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Location: Harbor Springs, Michigan
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CindyLou:

You are in Elizabeth's and my thoughts and prayers. I wish you nothing but the best and a successful outcome. Let's hope this is the; "Magic Bullet" and your quality of life grows in leaps and bounds to make up for the "He double L" you've gone through for the last several years since the accident.

I am eager to hear of the outcome and see you on the other side.

Terry Newton
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1980 ruptured L4-L5
1988 ruptured SI-L5
1990 ruptured C5-C6
1994 ruptured C6-C7
1995 Hemi-Laminectomy C5-C6, C6-C7 Mayo Clinic
Bicycle Accident 2004
MRI, EMG, Facet Injections, Epidural Blocks, Lumbar Discogram.
Stenum Hospital Surgery November 4, 2006
Prestige Disc C5-C6, C6-C7
Maverick Disc S1-L5, L4-L5
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Old 03-07-2009, 10:59 PM
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Location: Douglasville, GA
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Cindy Lou,

You'll be in my prayers for a tremendous outcome to your surgery. I hope Mark gives you comfort by being there. It sounds like many people will be there in spirit.

Good luck,

Bob

Mark,

PM me for some ideas on harmless practical jokes you can pull on CL while she's sedated.........
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04/06 L5/S1 Rupture
05/06 MRI shows DDD @ L2-S1
06/06 Diskectomy/ Laminotomy L5/S1
04/07 Recurrent Disc Surgery L5/S1
3 Ortho and 1 Neuro Surgeon, 3 MRIs, 1 EGM, 1 Myleogram & 11 EDIs later:
03/27/09 Maverick ADR at L4/L5 & L5/S1
03/27/09 The Lord and Dr. Ritter-Lang returned my life to me.
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