Back surgery

[valeriedl]

I'm having surgery for a herniated early in January and I was wondering if anyone else has had it done? I sort of know what to expect from the surgery in general and what it will be like afterwards. But I was wondering if it might have any effect with having epilepsy.

They are going in from my back and not the front. The dr said that's a surgery that you heal faster but I've got too much scar tissue there for them to do it that way. They are also taking bone marrow from my hip to use for the operation.

I'm pretty sure they said I'll be in the hospital for around 3 days after the surgery. I know sometimes when I've have things done they've kept me in the hospital longer because I have epilepsy.

People that have had it done told me that it hurts pretty bad afterwards. I don't know what type of medicine they will be giving me after the surgery, or any other meds. Pain meds like Percocet and Vicodin (usualy the generic ones) are usually what I'm given don't do anything for me, I don't know if it's the epilepsy meds that I'm on cause this or not so I don't know if there is something stronger that they can try. But I'm pretty good at dealing with pain in general because of this.

If anyone has had this done it would be great to hear about what you went through with the surgery and afterwards. - Thanks

 

[CathyAnn31]

Hi Valerie

I've not had back surgery but I want to wish you well and hope you have an easy, speedy recovery.

 

[CQ:)]

Hi Valerie,
I haven't had back surgery so can't give you any advice but I hope the surgery goes well

 

[MuayThaiFighter]

No experience with any surgery but I wish you the best for you.

 

[Elsie]

I sure wish you a speedy recovery. No back surgery for me, but my DH had a bad disk and he recovered very quickly. There are all types of surgery, yours sounds like it might be more extensive. His was called a microdiscectomy though I mighta spelled that wrong. His incision is only an inch long and the neurosurgeon went in with little tools and scope of some sort and lopped off the protruding stuff between the disks.

He told me it was so bad that when he went in he couldn't understand what he was seeing and he had to look at the mri again. But DH knew as soon as he was coming awake that the pain was gone.

He didn't have any of that stuff done where they fuse one disk to another, or make artificial stuff between the disks. I understand they can do this type of procedure with lasers too, though sometimes they can't do enough that way and then it requires more surgery. His was done through his back way down low.

Hope your experience is an easy one.

 

[valeriedl]

Thanks alot everyone. I think the hardest part of having the surgery done is that I probably won't be able to get on the computer for a while, so I'm going to miss everyone here.

Thanks too Elsie. That sounds similar to what the dr is going to be doing to me, if I understood him right. I had a myelogram done last week which is a test done with x-rays to see where the surgery needs to be performed. I think the dr will be looking at those pictures alot during the surgery to make sure he's in the right place. I'm having the lowest disc in my back fixed so that's where my scar will be.

Don't worry about your spelling. I'm the worst speller out there, I'm not even sure if I passed it in school. Spell check is one of the greatest things invented!

 

[CathyAnn31]

Hi Valerie

If you're unable to get online, please ask hubby to update us here on how you're doing.

 

[RobinN]

I just read tonight that surgeons are able to move a disc with a laser. Cool
I hope you have the latest technology during your surgery.
Good luck

 

[valeriedl]

Hi Valerie

If you're unable to get online, please ask hubby to update us here on how you're doing.

I wish he could but he doesn't know how to turn on the computer let alone get on the internet and go to a web site! Plus it would take him an hour just to type 'hi' because he has no idea where the keys are :roflmao:

I'll find a way, I don't think I can go to long with out being on here.

 

[Nakamova]

Good luck with the surgery Valerie! I've had two surgeries (on my shoulder) but neither of them involved an overnight stay in the hospital. I didn't have any epilepsy-related problems with them. You might want to double-check with your neuro, but I would think that as long as your anti-seizure med levels can be consistently maintained you should be fine.

 

[valeriedl]

I've had two surgerys since I've been diagnosed with epilepsy and they both went fine, both I had to stay in the hospital after.

My dr called my neurologist to make sure that none of my meds or VNS would be effected by or have any effect on my surgery or the testing that was being done before it. He even called the company that made the VNS because my neurologist wasn't too sure if some of the things that were being done would ok with having it.

I'll be taking my morning meds before I go in for the surgery. I'll probably be taking them a little earlier than I usually do though. And I should be out of surgery by the time I take my afternoon meds.

I'm just hoping that I get my meds on time while I'm in the hospital, they aren't too good at doing that. When I was in the hospital one time, and this was a major hospital in Pittsburgh, I got my meds 4 hours late. I kept telling the nurses that I needed them but they just wouldn't bring them to me. I was released that day and ended up having a siezure in the car on the way home and about 2 others later on in the day.

I'm having this done at a local hospital and I've never had any problems with them there. Just hope it stays that way.

 

[MaryK]

Thinking positive thoughts for you Valerie. I have had several surgeries and had no problem with seizures that was shared with me anyway. I have had problems with medication on time though, especially since phenobarbital can be given just once a day, but old habits die hard and my body is used to 3 or 4 times a day.

Mary