Comments on: Laser Spine Surgery – The Latest in Back Surgery

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:58:40 +0000

After going to three different neurosurgeons and all of them telling me I wasn’t a surgical candidate I was at my wits end. I had 3 herniated discs, bone spurs impinged nerves,narrowing of the spinal column & two discs were bone on bone. Whew, yes, I was a mess and in a whole lot of pain day and night. The only way I lived through each day was my regiment of pain medications. I knew I could not live the rest of my life like this because I had a 8 year old to raise and she just wanted Mom to be able to throw a ball and play catch with her. Well this just broke my heart so I was determined to find something and I didn’t care what I had to do because I was basically useless the way I was. I couldn’t clean my house, I couldn’t cook, or grocery shop. I couldn’t even attend my daughters school activities. Then I came across an ad for a laser spine institute and looked into it. The bad thing is they don’t take any kind of insurance but the good thing was I was in a position at that time to come up with the cash. I needed two surgeries, one cervical and one lumbar. I could only afford to have the lumbar done at this time and I am so thankful I did! This was less painful than having a tooth removed! I was in surgery for just around 1 hour and 15 minutes and then wheeled into recovery where I only stayed for about 45 minutes and then I was helped off the gurney, stood up not knowing what kind of pain to expect and I felt NONE! I had arrived at the institute at 8 AM and I was back in my hotel room by 12:30 PM. If they don’t think they can help you they will tell you that. Everything has to be just so or they won’t operate. I had two small scratches on my lower leg, not even 1/2 long that I recieved when I bumped into something and they would not operate on me until they were completely healed. At first I was very angry about this until I realized they were doing it for my sake. These people were just fantastic and being a nurse myself we tend to be a little more critical than other patients might be. But my opinion is if you have run out of options why not go for it? What other choice do you have besides living the rest of you life in pain? The procedures they did with that laser was just short of a miracle. Plus they don’t knock you out, your more like in la la land. A few times during the procedure they stopped the anethesia to talk to me……… lol I asked them to get the coffee break over with and finish what they were doing. I hope this helps someone make a decision that could change there life. And no, I do not work for anyone in that field and I have not been paid to write this. When I walked into my pain management office after my surgery I just wanted to yell out….. hey everyone you don’t have to be putting up with all this pain…… go see these people, and I always carry there pamphlet in my purse.

By: Judy

Judy — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 05:52:38 +0000

I had fusion on my L4-L5 and it is now pinching too tight on my right side sciatic nerve. The bones have fused. Am I a good candidate for this? The bone needs to be trimmed away to loosen the pinched nerve.

By: Debra

Debra — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:27:30 +0000

I have suffered for 3 years now. It took 18 months to get the diagnosis of 2 herniated discs. I also have very low bone density (minus 3.1 and working to improve it). I have seen every kind of doctor and had every type of procedure you can name. Now one orthopaedic surgeon and one neurosurgeon tell me they DO NOT recommend surgery at all. I have had chronic pain for 3 years. I have even had SED minimally invasive. I don’t have much faith in anyone. So called great doctors haven’t been able to help and I don’t know who is a quack. I would love to hear from a board certified, great doctor, who is not just looking to make money. Someone who really cares about helping. Is there such a thing?

By: Laura

Laura — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 23:43:31 +0000

I have so many things going on in my back, I don’t know if I can remember what the doctor said, but here goes. DDD, Osteroarthisits,bone spurs on both sides of spine from neck to tail bone, ,spinal stensis,pinched nerve, ruptured disc. bulging disc, something about my scatic nerves. I think that is all.OH! a ruptured disc in my neck. I have had repaired in my neck in the past, one was 1999& another one in 2001.I have no Insurence, would laser spine surgery be right for me?