Well that's me off my bike for a while

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Hope things move ahead in whatever is the best way.

Mrs S was on Pregabalin last year, but had side effects so came off it

I'm putting up with the side effects because my leg is useless without the pregabalin and I can't even straighten it or stand without. Even missing a dose is agony now and I can tell when my next dose is due. Little things like not being able to straighten my leg or stand on it in the morning, the morning dose being at the 9 hour mark rather than the required 8 hrs after the evening dose. Little things like that. If I take the evening dose at 10pm then the morning dose at 6am and not get 8 hours sleep my leg is ok but I'm not! So 9:30pm and 6:30am it is. It may not seen like much of a difference but it definitely makes one!
Still I'm tired so a quick shuffle around the site and then some shut eye.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Just seen the 2nd consultant who has agreed to do a more extensive decompression and spinal fusion. He's going to do it from the back rather than the front because it apparently gives more chance of them operating successfully if I every have problems with L4-L5 which there is a chance of even thought the disc looks fine. His experience is that this disc L5-S1 probably went because of a minor deformity at the base of the spine meaning it probably never formed correctly in the first place. The shape of the next disc up is apparently the clue (it's more of a wedge shape than it should be even though it looks fine). He says there is a 60% chance of improvement in my condition which is enough of a chance for me to take the surgery and hope! He going to restore the gap between the vertebrae, fuse the spine and do another decompression, this time more extensively. There's little chance that the paralysis will improve but we never know. It's the pain in the spine that's the biggest issue. Also the spine will be fused in a non-neutral position to help alleviate the pain and I get the same anaesthetist as last time which I'm happy about. So pre-op next week and the op on the 11th May.

Fingers crossed.

He is clearly more experienced than my other consultant and has that senior consultant feel to him which is reassuring. We had a good long chat and he even speed about my wrist issues and the complications around them plus who operated on them. He knew the consultant and professor that I was under for them and knew that I had ended up there due to issues similar to this. I'm a patient that falls outside of the norms! Yep that's me alright! Anyhow I'm feeling much more hopeful and positive having spoken with him though it was fun explaining why I don't have a job! Re the quitting my job to go off and cycle around the world bit!

 

[Stonechat]

Just seen the 2nd consultant who has agreed to do a more extensive decompression and spinal fusion. He's going to do it from the back rather than the front because it apparently gives more chance of them operating successfully if I every have problems with L4-L5 which there is a chance of even thought the disc looks fine. His experience is that this disc L5-S1 probably went because of a minor deformity at the base of the spine meaning it probably never formed correctly in the first place. The shape of the next disc up is apparently the clue (it's more of a wedge shape than it should be even though it looks fine). He says there is a 60% chance of improvement in my condition which is enough of a chance for me to take the surgery and hope! He going to restore the gap between the vertebrae, fuse the spine and do another decompression, this time more extensively. There's little chance that the paralysis will improve but we never know. It's the pain in the spine that's the biggest issue. Also the spine will be fused in a non-neutral position to help alleviate the pain and I get the same anaesthetist as last time which I'm happy about. So pre-op next week and the op on the 11th May.

Fingers crossed.

He is clearly more experienced than my other consultant and has that senior consultant feel to him which is reassuring. We had a good long chat and he even speed about my wrist issues and the complications around them plus who operated on them. He knew the consultant and professor that I was under for them and knew that I had ended up there due to issues similar to this. I'm a patient that falls outside of the norms! Yep that's me alright! Anyhow I'm feeling much more hopeful and positive having spoken with him though it was fun explaining why I don't have a job! Re the quitting my job to go off and cycle around the world bit!

Well at least it gives you confidence to see such a consultant. Not sure about being outside the norms! Hope it all goes well Emma

 

[vickster]

Good luck, very glad there's a plan to move forwards and you have confidence in the surgeon

 

[raleighnut]

Hope it goes well.

 

[Katherine]

Just seen the 2nd consultant who has agreed to do a more extensive decompression and spinal fusion. He's going to do it from the back rather than the front because it apparently gives more chance of them operating successfully if I every have problems with L4-L5 which there is a chance of even thought the disc looks fine. His experience is that this disc L5-S1 probably went because of a minor deformity at the base of the spine meaning it probably never formed correctly in the first place. The shape of the next disc up is apparently the clue (it's more of a wedge shape than it should be even though it looks fine). He says there is a 60% chance of improvement in my condition which is enough of a chance for me to take the surgery and hope! He going to restore the gap between the vertebrae, fuse the spine and do another decompression, this time more extensively. There's little chance that the paralysis will improve but we never know. It's the pain in the spine that's the biggest issue. Also the spine will be fused in a non-neutral position to help alleviate the pain and I get the same anaesthetist as last time which I'm happy about. So pre-op next week and the op on the 11th May.

Fingers crossed.

He is clearly more experienced than my other consultant and has that senior consultant feel to him which is reassuring. We had a good long chat and he even speed about my wrist issues and the complications around them plus who operated on them. He knew the consultant and professor that I was under for them and knew that I had ended up there due to issues similar to this. I'm a patient that falls outside of the norms! Yep that's me alright! Anyhow I'm feeling much more hopeful and positive having spoken with him though it was fun explaining why I don't have a job! Re the quitting my job to go off and cycle around the world bit!

Wow. Sounds good. Good luck. Xxx

 

[theloafer]

Hope it goes well. will have fingers crossed here for you also.. SNSSO

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

That sounds a lot more positive. I hope all goes well and you'll be up and out on the trike again quickly.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Great to hear you a bit more upbeat, and great that you have a consultant with whom you can build a bit of a relationship.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

That's very good news, much better outlook than previously.
Best wishes for all going well @SatNavSaysStraightOn

 

[cyberknight]

Your positive attitude to life i got to say is an inspiration, it sure puts the whinging you hear from most into perspective .

 

[gavgav]

All the best. Hope it goes well!!

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

[QUOTE 3666596, member: 9609"]so are they going to fuse the bottom two lumber joints ? (L4-L5 & L5-S1)

best of luck with whatever the are doing.[/QUOTE]
No, they are fusing L5-S1 only and I suspect I will end up with routine appointments to monitor the situation with respect to L4- L5 because the disc whilst an interesting shape appears to have formed in that shape and looks sound on the MRI so may well be fine for the rest of my life or may fail in the same manner as this one. They simply don't know, but operating through the back will allow them to replace that disc if there are future issues with it, rather than only being able to fuse my spine at the next level up in future. Hope that makes sense!

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Just had my consultation for my PIP claim as all. Thankfully that has gone well as well. So fingers crossed on that front as well. They know I'm due more surgery and have changed consultants etc.

 

[Ganymede]

Interesting news IN A GOOD WAY, @SatNavSaysStraightOn! I somehow feel it's a useful development that you've become the focus of attention of a senior consultant - you might become his pet project!

I hope it all goes well for you - and well done on getting the PIP claim sorted too.