Spine surgery: Sharing experiences and support

Thanks, Jeffrey Sullivan11! I'm heading there first thing Monday morning, so I'll hit you up once I have some news. Thanks again. Best,

Jeffrey Sullivan11 said:Look, you don't get a disability percentage just for the surgery itself, but if you have nerve damage in your legs—like foot drop or something—that counts. I had paralysis in my right leg, which I still deal with, plus a brain lesion, so I managed to get some benefits from those. If you really do have that 60% rating, take those papers down to the nearest local disability association. Once you get a membership card, they can file a request so you can get half off your phone bill and stuff. As for the actual cash benefit for physical impairment, you can't claim it yourself, but whoever takes care of you—like a spouse or kids—can. That usually comes out to about $200 depending on the percentage. Some things take forever because they try to stall, but seriously, DON'T GIVE UP. Let me know if any of this is confusing, hope I covered it all.

Can anyone give me their take on this? I had spinal surgery and was diagnosed with left foot paresis. I recently had an MRI of my spine which showed a 3mm fragment is still there. Anyway, I’ve been referred to the disability board, so I’m wondering what kind of disability percentage I might realistically expect to receive.

Hey everyone!

So, I’ve got a question for you all...
My mom is scheduled to have surgery on her C5-C6 and C6-C7 discs. She's headed to a specialist in Chicago to see a neurosurgeon, Dr. Miller. I was wondering if anyone here has any firsthand experience with him—is he actually any good? Also, if anyone can shed some light on what the actual procedure is like or how the recovery process plays out, I’d really appreciate the insight.

Thanks in advance! 🙂

Hi there.

What’s the patient's diagnosis—and what kind of surgery are we talking about?

If they're covered by Medicare, Dr. Smith at Mayo Clinic is probably your best bet.

Ronald Green31 said:Hi there.

What’s the patient's diagnosis—and what kind of surgery are we talking about?

If they're covered by Medicare, Dr. Smith at Mayo Clinic is probably your best bet.

It's amyloidosis. From what I gathered, her vertebrae are basically shot and they need to be removed because they're causing all this pain.

I'm honestly just wondering how risky these kinds of procedures actually are and if they even make a difference, because I'm freaking out about my mom and the last thing I want is for things to go south.😢

To those who have been through this: does anyone have any recent experiences following cervical spine surgery? I’m scheduled for an anterior discectomy and C5-C6 fusion in about two months. What happens once the procedure is over? Specifically, what kind of rehab facilities would you recommend, given that we're dealing with the neck? Does anyone here have firsthand experience using the facilities in Palm Springs after a cervical spine operation? Any insights would be appreciated. Thank you.

So, do you actually have some kind of neurological deficit or what? Because if you don't—just get the surgery and move on with your life!

I certainly hope so... Including the cap and everything else through number five...

Cervical spine surgeries actually turn out pretty great most of the time, especially ACDF... Good luck, I'm sure you'll be just fine.

So, who's the surgeon performing the procedure?

Thanks... Professor Smith

I mean, honestly, he’s pretty much the best guy we've got for that over at Medicare.

bluegardener4 said:Cervical spine surgeries actually turn out pretty great most of the time, especially ACDF... Good luck, I'm sure you'll be just fine.

So, who's the surgeon performing the procedure?

Hey everyone! I've got my ACDF scheduled at the Napa Valley medical center in just two weeks. Does anyone have any experience they could share regarding life after the procedure? How long does the recovery take? How many days did you spend in the hospital? I'd love to hear about anything and everything related to this! ☕

Tyler Thompson3 said:Thanks... Professor Smith

How have you been? How is your recovery progressing?

Anyone have any feedback on Dr. John Doe? He's a neurosurgeon over near Napa Valley.

I’ve never actually heard anything notable about him...

I didn't see anything about him either, yet they still sent me over there.

What do you mean by "they ordered me around"? Didn't you choose your own doctor? And didn't you look into where you were going or who was seeing you—you know, based on your own preference? It seems pretty strange to me, honestly...

I didn't really have a choice here—it's my first time seeing a neurosurgeon. My doctor pointed me toward this hospital, and I already sent all my paperwork through the online portal. Does anyone have a specific doctor they’d recommend? I'm thinking about switching if there's someone better.

I am scheduled for an ACDF C4-C5 cervical spine surgery. I would appreciate some advice regarding the risks involved and what the recovery process looks like... anything you can share? Marasanov would be performing the procedure at Rib.