OT- Laser Spine Surgery

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: OT- Laser Spine Surgery
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Terry Woods, Richmond, Texas on Saturday, August 16, 2014 - 10:53 pm:

Has any Forum reader had, or know of anyone who has had, the minimally invasive laser spine surgery from any neurosurgeon? I have two bulging discs plus spinal stenosis and I have had two conventional surgeries in the last ten years for other back problems. The pain is getting unbearable now, and I have had to quit working on my T's. If I knew this type of surgery would be successful, I'd sell one of my T's just to afford it. (Insurance won't cover it)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Stroud on Saturday, August 16, 2014 - 11:20 pm:

Terry, I don't have any info on the back surgery, but does Texas have an agency that oversees the insurance companies? My late friend had some problems with his insurance not covering his anti rejection medicine a few years after his heart transplant. A week or so after a call to the MO. state agency he got a letter from his insurance co. apologizing for their "oversight". He had been fighting with them for months. Don't take their word for it without a fight, they seem to do that sort of thing thinking that no one will fight them. We have run into that before ourselves. Might be worth checking into. Dave


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Terry Woods, Richmond, Texas on Sunday, August 17, 2014 - 12:00 am:

Dave, the way one surgical group explained it was that insurance companies still consider it "experimental", even though it's been done for twenty or thirty years. Also, they said each surgery can vary in time and the procedures done, and even though they have my CT scans to look at before the surgery, the cost depends upon what they find inside and the time the whole procedure takes. Since there is no set amount for each surgery, insurance won't pay much, if any.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hal Schedler, Sacramento on Sunday, August 17, 2014 - 01:29 am:

My wife had LSI (Laser Spine Institute) surgery in December. We went to Tampa to have it done and it worked great!!! A lot of insurance companies will cover it but we happen to have the military stuff and Medicare and Tricare didn't. $18,000 for the first one and $12,000 for the second, all done in a week and we were on our way home. She even rides the short wheel base, bumpy Model T and does great. To call them and get the straight skinny costs NOTHING. They are great people to deal with.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Terry Woods, Richmond, Texas on Sunday, August 17, 2014 - 01:32 am:

Thanks, Hal for responding.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Coiro on Sunday, August 17, 2014 - 02:26 am:

Laser surgery is a wonderful alternative to the more traditional sort, but in my case, the damage was too severe for the laser to do any good. Not everybody is a candidate. Three spine surgeries later, I'm very grateful for a surgeon who knows how to make these repairs. I was paralyzed twice and by the grace of God, I'm up and walking. I can also say from experience that knee replacement surgery is way more miserable than a spinal fusion.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steven Thum on Sunday, August 17, 2014 - 08:32 am:

If it wasn't for my laser surgery three years ago I would not be walking. I had 2 surgery's before the laser, one was just 1 year before and that one did not help. Go for it. recovery is shorter and your chances of it helping is much better than conventional surgery.

That's just my opinion.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ed in California on Sunday, August 17, 2014 - 09:39 am:

Just curious, what was the reason or cause for the onset of some of the members individual back problems? Age, injury, abuse? Could some problems be avoided?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Michael R Beary on Sunday, August 17, 2014 - 10:16 am:

A week ago, a friend of mine had a 30000k stem-cell shot in the back. They are supposed to double every day. I hope it works for him as he has been in misery for months if not years. Four days after the shot, on a scale of 1-10, he said he was at 4 in pain. Before the shot, "fifteen". He will know if it worked after 4-5 weeks.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Terry Woods, Richmond, Texas on Sunday, August 17, 2014 - 04:51 pm:

Stem cell shots are one thing. Laser surgery is entirely different. My sister-in-law suffered a bad stroke and my brother took her to Russia about a decade ago for an experimental stem cell shot. I helped but not enough to put her back on her feet again. Then, a few years later, the same shot was available in Mexico, so they went there. No help at all.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Eugene Adams on Sunday, August 17, 2014 - 06:15 pm:

There is another Spine Institute in nearby Hudson Florida called Bonati.
Click >> http://www.bonati.com/ppclandingpage/bonati/?utm_source=Google&utm_%20medium=cpc &utm_term=Bonati&utm_campaign=Search-Bonati-FL&gclid=CISbju-5kr0CFcli7AodSmgAPw

I had contact with both thinking I had bone spurs on my spine irritating the Sciatic nerve in the left leg. I mistakenly surmised this when my doctor suggested why I was having arthritic type pains that would appear at different locations up and down (front or back)of the left leg.

On another visit he said, let's see an orthopedic surgeon about the possibility of needing a hip replacement. http://www.virginiaorthopaedicspecialists.com/our-specialties/direct-anterior-ap proach-jiffy-hip-replacement/

My hip never hurt me enough to have me say, "Oh, my hip hurts". But that sure was the problem. Medicare and Anthem has totally paid the cost for this
Gene


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Eugene Adams on Sunday, August 17, 2014 - 06:35 pm:

Here is a video interpretation of an anterior hip replacement procedure.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9AirIq0Yno. This is a little over 6 minutes long.
Gene


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gary H. White - Sheridan, MI on Sunday, August 17, 2014 - 07:12 pm:

Terry, I've had lower back problems for years. Tried one conventional surgery that helped for a while. Later I had an evaluation by a very good surgeon who advised against any further surgeries. Problem is I have various problems with bone spurs, calcium build up, herniated disks, and pinched facet nerves. I now have a pretty good pain management specialist that has done a lot with epidural injections and a rhizotomy to block the pain from the pinched facet nerves. The epidural injections last about 3-5 months and my previous rhizotomy lasted for a couple years. Currently I am pretty much pain free unless I do something to agrevate things (like mowing the lawn on a bumpy tractor). Anyway some thing to think about.


Ed, All three. I cringe when seeing people jumping from heights or other functions where the spine is abused. Sooner or later they will likely pay for it. Some things can't be avoided such as bone spurs and calcium build up.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Terry Woods, Richmond, Texas on Sunday, August 17, 2014 - 08:51 pm:

I meant to say "it helped", not "I helped" in my post about stem cell shots'


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Robert Poane on Sunday, August 17, 2014 - 10:23 pm:

Terry, laser is a viable option. It is very expensive with no guarantees - nothing is guaranteed.

Have inquired about micro discectomy?

Here is a link to a video on Micro endoscopy:

http://www.spine-health.com/video/lumbar-micro-endoscopic-discectomy-video

Keep in mind, surgeons are like Model T guys: we all like the year that we like the way we like them. Surgeons opt to choose training in what they like. One surgeon does conventional surgery, one does micro and one does laser. Find the one that you works for you.


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