FIVE QUESTIONS to ask your surgeon

[@dionysuspapadopolous4395]

L4-5 then foot drop, somewhat tolerable. L3-4 surgery, then bad drop other foot. Now braces on both legs. Ask your Dr if this has ever happened to any of their patients?! This sucks

[@Vernunft2024]

Excellent explanations! Thank you so much, Dr. Khan. Your videos are always helpful. Greetings from Germany.

[@SpineSurgeonSpeaks]

Thank you for your kind words, much appreciated ❤️

[@gracedavis-ci2fb]

Awesome, as always. Please continue with your videos. Such informative information for patients and all disciplines of healthcare. Thank you!

[@gracedavis-ci2fb]

Greetings from the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia.

[@SpineSurgeonSpeaks]

Thank you for your kind words, much appreciated. Very happy to hear from you, thank you for watching 🙏

[@heretolearnCA]

Thank you for these fantastic videos, you are such a help!

[@SpineSurgeonSpeaks]

Thank you for your kind words, much appreciated! 🙏

[@omax5281]

I got L4/L5 disc bulge and spinal stenosis. Been dealing with this for a year and it's definitely better then it was but now I'm thinking it's as good as it's going to get. Ive done the whole PT thing and chiropractor, have not done injections because I feel the risk/reward is not for me. I can get by with painkillers enough to work out 2hrs a day and do chores around the house. I can do everything i did before but i have to endure pain to do so. Ive been thinking of surgery but with all my research all the surgeries seem to have an experration date, with second surgeries increasing risk of complications Ive been putting having the first one off but also im 26 so if there was a time for successful surgery one would think it would be now instead of when im 50. I don't want to spend my prime years in such pain either. Im torn between to surgery or not to surgery.

[@its_ari5458]

Hello friend how you doing now

[@davidandujar4416]

Thank Dr. Khan , for you had done for me. God bless you.

[@SpineSurgeonSpeaks]

God bless you, my friend. Thank you for your confidence in me, and I wish you all the best 🙏

[@markreich6465]

Thank you for sharing your experience as a spine surgeon. It’s helpful, but to share my experience I’ve found that you don’t have enough time to ask these questions as the surgical consultation is only set for 15 minutes! Scary. 8:25

[@SpineSurgeonSpeaks]

You are correct. Unfortunately most physicians (surgeons in particular) don't spend enough time with their patients. This is unfortunate and troubling. It is a system-wide problem, getting worse. I don't know how it can be fixed.

[@greenbears1382]

Thank you Dr Khan , very informative.

[@SpineSurgeonSpeaks]

Thank you for watching, appreciate the compliment.

[@Jameelurrahman41339]

Best explanation..it is very helpful for every patient.. I had a thoracic spine tumor surgery d5,d6,d7, my left rib is removed because the tumor has reached towards chest... But I still have pain in the incision

[@SpineSurgeonSpeaks]

Thank you for the compliment, appreciate it. Hope you are doing well after the surgery, best of luck 🙏

[@indianproud8535]

from India Bangalore ,thanks a lot doctor for advice

[@SpineSurgeonSpeaks]

Thank you, appreciate it 👍

[@mafrana5845]

Hats off to you for these golden words ..realy very very important and valuable guidance 👏 ❤👏

[@SpineSurgeonSpeaks]

Thank you for your kind words, appreciate it 🙏

[@sanjayshah3015]

Thanks A Lot Sir 👍

[@SpineSurgeonSpeaks]

Most welcome

[@sujitsadanandan4900]

Hello doctor, I have seen many videos i youtube mentioning about resurgery after spinal fusion. Is it common thing that other parts of our spine get damaged due to spinal fusion at L4 L5 S1

[@SpineSurgeonSpeaks]

What you may be referring to is adjacent-segment-degeneration. This is a condition which may develop after spinal fusion, due to added stress at the discs above/below the fused level.

[@its_ari5458]

Hello friend how you doing now

[@TeeAnn]

Hi Doctor! I am wondering… it seems to me that removing the lamina leaves the spinal cord exposed. Is this not an issue?

[@SpineSurgeonSpeaks]

Good question. Yes, we do remove the lamina, but the spinal cord (dura) is very deep from the skin. There is a lot of muscle/ fascia/ fat/ skin that (when healed) provides it with excellent coverage/ protection.

[@TeeAnn]

@@SpineSurgeonSpeaks Thanks so much for this explanation :)

[@mvp2503]

Hi doc in another video you mentioned about cauda equina syndrome how rare is that to happened to someone that has a l5-s1 extrusion herniated disc

[@SpineSurgeonSpeaks]

Cauda equina is rare, but it can be associated with a large disc extrusion. I am going to make a video about it, stay tuned.

[@MrKen59]

I’m facing surgery and they want to do a laminectomy. I’m am so afraid of this because I don’t want to remove a section of my vertebrae. I am an active person, I lift, I walk, I work on cars and do electrical work. I’m deathly afraid of ending up with an unstable back where there no do-overs. I’d be ok with a small section to open it up, but this is scary. I’ve had minor symptoms for years, but this winter was a step from a minor irritation to it’s hard to walk without weakness. I’m not asking for advice, I’m only venting.

[@charlottehayward5943]

My husband had that.

[@robertbarsic3908]

I was recommended for laminectomy several years ago. My symptoms were intermittent sharp right leg pain, which responded to icing for 4 months. Physical therapy was the best thing at the time, almost two years. Then last week the pain doc gave a transforaminal steroid injection at L4/L5. This third injection finally hit the sweet spot. Pain is down 70 per cent. Now I can start to rehab my right leg from muscle loss. Surgery at age 77 is a last resort. In three months another injection is ok if it works.

[@MrKen59]

@@robertbarsic3908 I don’t have pain per se, i have weakness in my legs and if I lift something, I can feel the effects of nerve compression. Big thing is tender gluts. Any activation of those muscles takes my breath away.

[@Lord_Don]

I had this surgery I live alone it’s very challenging I think I’m failing to fuse. My bottom level is now starting to sink😞

[@SpineSurgeonSpeaks]

Sorry to hear about your difficulties... Recovering from spine surgery is not easy. Wishing you the best of health and the best of luck in the future 🙏

[@Lord_Don]

@ I have 3 Interbody spacers with no plate. They have one screw up and one down. I believe the screws from c6-7 is starting to touch my c5-6 screw. Hearing a click/tap sound when walking! Is this normal?? The surgeon is away on FMLA I have a terrible time getting answers. Please let me know something

[@Berrylucy50]

Had a laminectomy…did not work. C3,4,5. X-rays look bad. Fusion recommended. What if I do nothing but, PT . Is that possible? NO surgery?

[@janetwilliamson4301]

Have you ever done AME ND surgery?I understand it's quite new.I'd like to hear more about it

[@SpineSurgeonSpeaks]

Sorry, I am not familiar with the procedure.

[@daveelliott2629]

Since 2002 to 2008 I had back fusions with rods and screws from S1 up to T6 that has restricted every thing I do in my life then a cage fusion at S1up to L1 and then another cage fusion through the front at L4 to L5 and since then I've been at home unable to work and then permanently on morphine and tramadol and panado too help with the pain day in and day out So in total I've had 9 back operations in the time before I landed up at home and now I have broken screws and rods in my back and the doctor's keep saying that 1 more operation will fix it all but I'm just so tired of doctor's keep saying that one more operation will fix it all and I've now have given up with the doctor's in South Africa !!! .............

[@SpineSurgeonSpeaks]

Sorry to hear about your difficulties... hope you find the help that you need soon 🙏👍

[@rajuprajapati2602]

Sir, CT scane report showing spondylosis with grad 1 spondylolisthesis But MRI report not showing this Mri showing mild disc bulge only. Which report is correct CT or MRI? Please tell

[@SpineSurgeonSpeaks]

Thank you for reaching out. I cannot make recommendations about your case because I haven't reviewed the studies. However, if the spondylolisthesis is seen on either the CT or MRI, it is likely to be present. Sometimes the spondylolisthesis corrects in the supine position so it may not be seen on MRI.

[@thelenny38]

Do most surgeons use a plastic surgery closure in acdf

[@SpineSurgeonSpeaks]

Yes, it is a simple closure, dissolvable stitches

[@tamarawright2279]

I had a laminectomy last year, felt great for 5 months and then the pain came back Now they want to do a fusion. At first they said alif at the L4-5 level where they didlaminectomy. Since i got an injection at L4-S1 and avtually felt relief for a week. So now if they go in i want both levels taken care of so i dont become a surgwry customer.

[@SpineSurgeonSpeaks]

Thank you for reaching out. Since I don't know the particulars of your case, obviously I cannot diagnose your condition or make treatment recommendations. However, the situation you described is unfortunately not uncommon: Fusion after a previous laminectomy is sometimes the right answer (in certain cases). I have a video which may be of interest to you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kH_Cg396hKp1o6M Wishing you all the best, good luck 👍

[@Chriscendo_]

Would you consider artificial discs "new technology?"

[@SpineSurgeonSpeaks]

Thank you for reaching out. I just recently made a video about disc replacement surgery, hopefully it will answer some of your questions: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aafXXqSChLyXl6c

[@azsport9097]

Dr right now i can walk more than 1 minute so how would you advice me and the doctor asked for a surgery Please answer this doctor

[@its_ari5458]

Hello friend how you doing now

[@chodge57]

Do you believe that Tarlov cysts cause pain?

[@SpineSurgeonSpeaks]

Most Tarlov cysts are benign and do not cause any significant problems. However, in rare cases, this can happen. Unless other causes of pain are ruled out first, Tarlov cysts should be assumed to be benign.

[@tirtraz3174]

@@SpineSurgeonSpeaks. I have Tarlov cyst as well, for years. The physicians I know have also shared the same information. Thank goodness mine hasn’t acted up.

[@nazali5457]

👌

[@bernardlandman1]

But would the surgeon be truthful? No way of knowing

[@SpineSurgeonSpeaks]

You are correct. It is very difficult to know who to trust. But: When in doubt, get a second opinion.

[@muneraliokz]

❤❤

[@SpineSurgeonSpeaks]

Thank you 🙏