Any help for L5S1 pain???

[lindawsa]

Hi everyone,
I used to follow all of these forums as madd a long long time ago. Basically, my back to again feeling bad and I am starting to wonder if it is now time to surgically take care of it!
I have been told by surgeon after surgeon that I need to have L5S1 fused. I don't want a fusion, I want an ADR. I have Blue Cross PPO and I want to know how much financially I will have to put into my back. Also, I need to find a good dr. (and compassionate too) in the Los Angeles area.
I am currently on Neurontin once a day, Lyrica 4 times a day and Norco 4 times a day. I am scared that once they do surgery they will leave me with no alternative but to go through rough withdrawls from all of the medication that I have taken for years!!
I work full time as a secretary and it is getting unbearable to work a full day without taking extra meds.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Linda

[Gil Denis]

Hi Linda

A fusion at L5-S1 is not a bad thing, How is your L4-L5 and so on.

Fusion have been around for a long long time Adr not so long,

Fusing at your level with no other issues you will be fine or even ADR But if you have other issues I would do more research.

In Santa Monica there is Dr Delamarter and lots of other ADR surgeons.

All The Best

Gil

[Maria]

Linda,
I think that the doctors wouldn't be taking you off pain meds prior to surgery or the Lyrica or other medication used for neuropathies perhaps anything such as Aspirin or Non steroidal antiinflammatory meds one has to stop taking a week before surgery or so..

I'd see Dr.Regan here in LA area and Dr.Delamarter in Santa Monica and there are other good surgeon in this area as well to consider. The two mentioned previously are Orthopedic Spine Surgeons. There's Dr.Coufal a Neurosurgeon in San Diego (also has an office in Long Beach I think) who gets excellent reports and actually I've seen all 3 surgeons (and done nothing further than my 2 discectomies).

For myself I've waited too long most likely and fusion may be my only option and as some people have reported very good to excellent results more than likely part and parcel of a good decision is a great surgeon.


Good luck with all

[mmglobal]

where in LA are you?

Good luck with Blue Cross... they have not been much help w/ADR yet.

Mark

[lindawsa]

I'm in Torrance. I talked to you via another website and you mentioned that you used to fly out of Torrance. I saw Dr. Regan once and was not really impressed with him. then his office sent everyone a letter saying that he was not going to take Blue Cross patients anymore.

[dshobbies]

Quick reply Linda, - and welcome

You have good info on LA docs. Now ask yourself - do the want the best doctor or a good one with compassion. You have only 1 decision to get this right the first time. I'd go with a great one professionally. Personality and compassion is a plus few back surgeons have.

Dale