Microdiscectomy

[Budlet]

My 18 year old daughter has been told she may have to have this procedure. She has had the living daylights scared out of her by the consultant who told her there was a very high risk of total paralysis or at the very least a lifetime of incontinence. We have read up about the operation, but just wondered if anyone had had it and what the result were. Thanks

[yogasun]

Hi Budlet.
Mr YS had one a few years ago, sorted his back problem out. No ill effects whatsoever!

[Sqad]

Jack-the Hat is an ABer with personal experience and should be along shortly.

[Budlet]

Thanks. I was so angry with this consultant. I wasn't there, probably a good job really! My daughter was distraught.

[Buenchico]

http://www.patient.co.uk/forums/discuss/microdiscectomy-surgery-worked-like-a-dream-for-me-i--1504

[ChillDoubt]

The consultant probably felt obliged to point out to her the possible complications/prognosis of having the procedure.
Such instances, particularly of paralysis are extremely rare however they have to be mentioned by the surgeon, just to cover his back as it were(no pun intended).

http://www.wessexspines.co.uk/treatments/lumbar-discetomy-microdiscectomy/

[Sqad]

\\\\She has had the living daylights scared out of her by the consultant who told her there was a very high risk of total paralysis or at the very least a lifetime of incontinence\\\

I think that there is a degree of exaggeration here developed through passing on basic information. I cannot think of any Consultant using those exact terms.

[Budlet]

Sqad, his exact words to her were "because of the very high risk of paralysis, if I was you, I would just live with the pain and not have the operation". Not particularly reassuring!

[Sqad]

My 18 year old daughter

\\\\if I was you, I would just live with the pain\\\

Long time to live with the pain!

Then accepting all the above statements as accurate...I would get a second opinion.

[Budlet]

OK. We have just been to see another registrar and are weighing up the options. His suggestion was to 'modify her lifestyle, exercise, take painkillers and get some physio'. Just wondered which would be better, a physio or chiropractor (she has had physio before and it didn't really help). Does anyone know the difference between the two?