Minimal Evasive Thoracic Surgery

[thecooleygirl]

Hi all, I just was at PMgmt today, Doc is sending me to Spine Clinic at the CClinic. I have three ruptured and three protruding discs in my Thoracic spine and a buldge disc in cervical.  I'm having trouble with shallow breathing, the pain in my ribs is unbearable. I'm usually in bed by two pm.if not earlier. All from a fall on the ice this past december. anyway, the doctor that I'm going to is the "Best" he says in Minimal Invasive Thoracic surgery. I looked it up and I'm flabbergasted by the new technology in back surgery today. Has anyone in the forum had this surgery? if so can you give me some heads up on the entire process, length of time for hospitalization, back to work, all that stuff. Please let  me know. thanks.


This discussion is related to Spinal Surgery.

[thecooleygirl]

Well Doc, ended up to be 5 level thoracic ruptures. T 7/8 8/9 9/10. with a posterior ligament occsification and all were compromising the spinal cord. I am 1 month into recovery and slowly but surely getting better. Doctor couldn't stop the leakage on the first disc for quite awhile, he finally removed everything he could to stop it. No fusion. We are going to see if this posterior laminectomy/desketomy will work first. Thanks for all your help and advise.

[thecooleygirl]

Thank You!... cross my fingers I'm eligable for the Minimal Invasive vs. Open.

[S. Kaul, MD]

Hi again!

Minimal invasive endoscopic spinal surgery is essentially aims at the same results as an open surgery without disturbing the structures by using small-size instruments, introduced in the body by small incisions. It would not be possible for me to write the entire details that may be applied in your case but a minimal invasive surgery would reduce the risk of doing a procedure significantly as compared to an open surgery with possibly a better precision with technology and improved postoperative recovery, decreased blood loss, decreased pain, and relatively faster return to activities. The hospital stay is decreased from a few weeks to a few days and recovery from almost an year to a few months. You may discuss the procedure in detail with your doctor.
Hope this was useful.

Take care!