I'm Dr David Oehme, a Melbourne based Neurosurgeon & Spine Surgeon, and minimally invasive specialist.
I created this RU-vid channel to provide accurate information to patients about common spine conditions, and what the role of spine surgery might be.
For more information visit my website at: www.doneurosurgery.com/
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
I h It’s been about four months since my ACDF surgery, and I haven’t noticed any change in the chronic pain in my neck or left arm, nor in the numbness in my fingers. The surgery feels like it was a waste of time and energy, with no improvements at all. The only difference I feel is the elimination of throbbing chronic nerve pain but I still feel the severe pain. 🤷🏽
We will never be same….done c4-c7 acdf 16 months ago and fell more bad then good …the worst part is when my neurosurgeon say I did my job and now you can see pain doctor ….
We will never be same….done c4-c7 acdf 16 months ago and fell more bad then good …the worst part is when my neurosurgeon say I did my job and now you can see pain doctor ….
I went for steroid ct inject today, and Doctor booked me for other 2 root nerve infections for the next few weeks. I still have no idea about this. I have to see my GP to discuss about this. If you don’t mind can you give me ideas?
I saw neurosurgeon surgeon today after a 5 year wait and am in for fusion of C5/6 in 3 days as had signs of myolopathy. Have to admit I am worried about fusion at age 60 as have multi-level degeneration and anteriolesthesis at C3/4 and severe osteophyte formations and stenosis at C6/7, so am worried that it may cause a lot of problems with the joints above and below the fusion much earlier. If it does what happens then?
Why is fusion used instead of a disc replacement or endoscopic surgery to remove the herniation or kyphoplasty for foraminal stenosis? Can this be done in the cervical spine? Thank you.
@@lindamari1000 from what I have researched it seems they have a lot of disc replacements failures too. In mine, I had a lot of osteophyte formation, foraminal and central stenosis and the disc was badly deteriorated and squashing the spinal cord, so there was too much instability for them to do the day endoscopic surgery just cleaning up bony growth and stenosis and nipping off the bulging bit of the disc. Basically I was too far gone and the neck needed stabilising. If I could afford to go to Florida I would have gone to Caring Medical for their prolotherapy and curve correction therapy, but it was too late for me anyway. I am now a month post ACDF and doing OK. Make sure you research eating to support fusion... collagen, protein, vit C, Vit D + K2, calcium, magnesium. Talk to your doctor, dietician or pharmacist/herbalist for a balanced diet or safe supplements. Can't have fish oils, vit E, NSAIDS, turmeric, ginkgo biloba, anit-inflammatory supplements etc as these can hinder fusion. Have to be careful with supplements and liver and kidney so always good to get advice. I have lass range of motion than before, hurts to turn head too far left or right so will see a physio after the 6 weeks to work on that. Good luck, hope you will feel a lot better once its done.
I am 8 days done with my surgery, I am so happy with the result, and the power started to go back to my right hand but I have been having muscle tension in my thorasic spine muscles and they are giving me hard time sleeping. After all I am glad I did this surgery after 22 years of pain.
May not be life threatening but it certainly has ruined my quality of life over the last 9 months. Finally got a microdiscectomy but still have horrible sciatica. Only been two weeks but I'm losing hope.
Had failed laminectomy, failed discectomy, multiple injections, physical therapy.. I’m not equipped with the patience to debate whether or not I can have pain meds. Give them to me.
Thank you for this amazing explanation about the risks around this surgery. I may have to do it, and I have been horrified about the dangers. This offers some degree of comfort, thank you.
Hello Doc, I've been so skeptical about surgery after having a recurrent sciatica with graduating pain over four months, I now make a decision to walk to my neurosurgeon confidently. This pain must come to an end coz it has denied me sleep.
Isn't there any other pains that happen. My Osteopath can't work out what's wrong with my back, but she thinks I could have a herniated disc..... but whenever I look up symptoms of herniated discs the only symptoms mentioned a sciatica..... what if I don't have sciatica, but I have other muscular pains/inflammation/aches/tightness, especially at night when sleeping - specifically after 4-5 hours of sleep..... could this still be a herniated disc?
L4-5. there is a small left foraminal disc protrusion superimposed upon a diffuse disc annular bulge with mild facet arthropathy and endplate spurring. Mild left foraminal narrowing results. The central canal and right neural foramen appear patent. That’s my MRI I have my big toe and big toe areas numb sometimes does it need surgery?
My dad had spinal stenosis and immediately after surgery and was paralyzed from the neck down and ended up passing a month later in the hospital.. he never got to come home and he couldn’t even speak because they had to go through the front of his neck as well. Something just always didn’t sit right with me about his surgery 😢
I had a c4,c5 fusion in 2021(2 years ago) since day 1 the incision did not close properly, leaking pus for the last 2 years. I have been on 8 rounds of antibiotics including 2 rounds for methicillin resistant bacteria. In those 2 years I have had cat scan , mri , esophageal studies, been from dermatologist to ENT to neurosurgery, wound care doctors, ... ENT , this last accessed it 1 year ago and found a tract (a "canula/straw" type of tissue removed, incision is open again with yellow viscous pus draining daily, ) All the studies show only a tract again, no problem with the equipment , no problem with the esophagus.. I am currently with a different neurosurgeon,... and they (as the last) don't have a clue... I'm in North Carolina... who else would you advise me to visit?
I've been advised against the op'ON THE NHS O COURSE)I HAVE THE CONDITION FOR YEARS DOC IS HAPPY (AND SO I MANAGE IT AS INTRUCTED BY HIM .SHOULD I NOT TRUST A DOCTOR.I Have heard very concerning opinions.
Sir kindly help me.. My MRI Report is Posterior annular bulges in L4-L5, L5-S1 levels causing focal mild canal narrowing. No significant neural foramen narrowing / nerve root compression. Early facetal arthrosis in L4-L5, L5-S1 levels. Tiny perineural cyst in bilateral neural foramen at L3-L4 level Suggest me treatment.. Pls
I had lumber herniated microdisactomy surgery, I just want to know that teared annulus is that also fixed and nucleus shouldn't come out with the teared annulus for ahead right?. If not , how to fix the tared annulus? And how to increase volume of nucleus
I'm not a doctor but hell no , once the lesion is there it's there for life , heavy bending and movements will damage the spine more , especially if your grappling
For those who need some first-hand experience thoughts on this procedure, here you go. Got this exact surgery (Microscopic Lumbar spinal decompression discectomy) done on Valentines day this year (2023). Now nearly 3 weeks post op. For me unfortunately it wasn’t an immediate relief. My disc herniation was from 2020 (MRI Proven). Got conservative treatment to avoid surgery per NHS protocol (physio + steroid/block injections). Had 2 spine injections only (as there was a long waiting list because of the pandemic). The pain relief from the 1st injection lasted for 3 months, the 2nd injection pain relief only lasted for 1 month. I was already walking limping and lopsided (I have left L4-5 large disc herniation that compressed my L5 nerve root). I was already crying at work as I work clinically in healthcare. Since my symptoms has been here for long, the surgeon has told me there may still be pain after procedure but should be so much less. This is true in my case. My disc was calcified and it was a difficult surgery as my surgeon said. My surgery lasted for 3.5-4hrs. It was done under general anaesthetic. I was admitted for 4 days post op because of pain control. I was in so much pain. All people have different thresholds though so this may be because of me. I had physio sessions when I was inpatient and was referred to outpatient afterwards. They have provided me with crutches and a commode as I have a downstairs toilet and I have urine leaks already (It was then said not to be cauda equina). I needed the crutches to walk and stand post op as my back felt so sore I feel like falling any minute. I had a drain in my back which was removed 2 days post op. My wound is +/- 3 inches long and the outer wound has healed. 3 weeks in post op and I can walk short distances without crutches but sometimes have some imbalance. I also experience shooting spasms in the back from time to time but not often. I bought a grab stick so I wouldn’t bend when I drop anything and I follow my physio instructions to always log roll in getting in and out of the bed. I bought an orthopaedic mattress and pillow. My left leg outer calf and big toe is still numb up to now. The nerve will take time to heal so I have to wait. I try to be as sedentary as I can be to allow healing for my spine. Thankful for having a great surgeon (Mr. Sherief) and Anaesthetist in the NHS. I hope this helps some who need it. ❤
Way better. The back pain is still there, but not as much as it was. From 11/10 pain score, it is now down to 2-3/10. I don’t have leg cramps anymore although part of my leg and big toe still feels numb. The surgery is worth it. But those who will undergo the same operation should be aware of the risks. My ultimate aim is to have better quality of life as I was warned that my back pain may be there for a lifetime now due to the severity and the length of time I was enduring it (4 years).
I had disk replacement 3 to 7 spinal stenosis, plate 8 screws, I'm almost sixty, I refuse to quit quality of life, some pain but tolerable waiting for it to fuse
Thanks for this excellent informative video. I just wanted to know if a patient ends up requiring a cervical fusion from C4-C5, C5-C6, what flexibility will He-She be left with? Can you still drive a car? Reverse your car while looking left and right? Be able to cut your toe nails or put on your socks? Would be any other restrictions? Thank you.
I’m awaiting disc herniating surgery and terrified but I’m in the most awful pain and don’t want to keep taking all these medications including morphine
