Surgery question... kinda...

[ponyboy]

This question is for surgical veterans and their families...
Sometimes surgery is the obvious choice in life; sometimes it's a difficult option, when other remedies also are available... There are times when surgery is the ONLY option, which kind of negates the word "option."

When making a decision on whether to choose between having surgery, or some more conservative modalities, or simply doing nothing at all, do financial concerns ever figure into any of your calculations? Or, the dollar value of the surgical procedure as it relates to the added quality of life or anticipated length of life?

In short, has anyone ever decided that the surgery under scrutiny is simply not worth the cost, considering the expected life remaining of the patient?

Thanks!

[Curious]

very good question ponyboy.

i am a prime canidate for surgery. i'm told that my age ( do i have to tell? :p ), health, physical shape, besides the back, that i should heal well. have less pain hopefully and stop any future slippage of the vertebre.

one...i'm SCARED to death of having the surgery, but i also think that the money would be better spent on da monkeys educations. not to mention the legal fees i'm still incuring over the custody of grandmonkey. nothing really to do with my expected life i guess, but that maybe their lives would be better...kwim?

[carolynms]

Ponyboy,
I hate money, and important issues that come down to whether there is enough or not to do what is necessary.

You cannot put a pricetag on life, or the quality of it.
It has also been mentioned to me, that the amount of a hospital or doctor bill can be negotiated, depending on the circumstances.
If this were your daughter, it wouldn't be a question as to what to do, you would just do what was necesary and find a way to deal with the cost.
You are just as worth it, plus, she NEEDS you.

I would get opinions about conservative therapy, and opinions about surgery.
Ask your doctor, that if you were his son, dad, brother, etc, what he would suggest you do.
Also, I have heard that some insurance companies make you do the conservative thrapy before they will pay for surgery.

It is a hard decision to make, but your life, and the quality of it is just as important as someone who is 10 or 80, rich or poor.
Just my opinion, and I hope it helps!
Carolyn

[Curious]

ponyboy, i asked my mom your question, since she has had many spinal surgeries.

for her the cost never played into the picture. to have less pain...she couldn't put a $$$$$$$ figure on it.

i think back at even the first surgery. i was pretty young. i agree with her. if she hadn't done it ( and all of them ) i'm not sure what type of mom i would have had. it was really hard to see her in so much pain. i had to grow up fast. she couldn't take care of herself, let alone the house.

i'm way different than my mom. not sure if it is a higher pain tolerance or i deal with pain differently. my famliy and ESPECIALLY the monkeys don't know how much pain i have.

i think if your quality of life would better with surgery...then there is no question on the amount of money.

for me right now.....i'm not at that point. if i have more slippage, then i won't have a choice.

[nappsie]

This is an interesting thread. I am seeing a new NS tomorrow. And I have decent insurance. That is kind of my dilema. I wonder if I should have the surgery while I know for sure I'm covered. Not wait til my insurance is no good. One of many concerns. Most of them are that I'm a baby:eek: :D

[Curious]

(((nappsie)))

i have had bad experienes with surgery. if just local and set of head phones with good tunes was all it took...i might not be a baby about it either. ;) the final straw was a c-section ( emergancy one ) before the anesthesia hit.

insurance is a major factor too. sure does cut back on the stress.

[Jane]

My spine is a mess to put it simply and I have had more surgeries than I care to discuss. I would never have surgery unless all other options had been ruled out and I was incontinent and falling. MHO!!!! ;)

Jane

[slogo]

I had C-spine surgery ONLY because I was facing a wheelchair, wearing diapers with someone feeding me. Didn't like the sounds of that! So...surgery and now we are struggling to pay what the insurance did not pay. At my age I would have to be desperate to have surgery again!:eek:

[Fancylady_2006]

Ponytail, I have had 6 spinal surgeries. Not all were sucessful. I did my researh and try my best to do all that I am told to do. Each time I think I'll never do it again, BUT pain drives me there once again. They will get to the bottom of this.

Each person has to make up there mind whether they can stand these surgeries. And how do they expect the outcome will be. beleif in you Dr is very important.belief in yourself is important too it.. They are not for people that stand a lot of pain, Most have to have repeated surgeries too. There is a lot to think about before here. Read all yoou can and if you do think you would profit from a surgery, I say do

Best Wishes,
Billie:)

[slogo]

OK my friend Billie, you got me laughing and THAT is a miracle. I don't laugh at anything anymore so thanks. LOL It was the Ponytail that did it. I thought I was THE only ONE that can spell like that! I love ya, sis :D

[ponyboy]

Ponytail, I have had 6 spinal surgeries.
Best Wishes,
Billie:)

Ummm... "PonyTAIL"??

I've been called a Horse's ***** before, but never a PonyTAIL... :eek:

You're among the unfortunates, Billie... I've only had 4 whacks in the back... :(


Here's hopin' you're feelin' better now, Billie! ;)

[janster]

I've been called a Horse's ***** before, but never a PonyTAIL... :eek:

TOO FUNNY Ponyboy! Thanks for the giggle--I needed that!
Hugs,
Jan :)

[Curious]

:p me thinks ponyboy is awful cute. whatta smile!

[Fancylady_2006]

Sorry Ponyboy, about the name mix up. I do apologize. I will admit I'm not to good with names. Most of the time I come on I am half asleep whether it is day time or night. I am still making up for the sleep I missed at the hospital. I guess that's my only excuse.:confused:
Blessings,
Billie:)

[ponyboy]

Hey, Hoosier neighbor next door!
I hope yer doin' better lately!
I've been where you're at, and it's no picnic... :(

Have a great weekend! :)

Enjoy the short-lived sunshine of the day, okay? I hope it cuts through your meteorological fog as well as your brainfog... http://www.v6power.net/vb/images/smilies/msmiley1.gif

Much love and

[simby]

thankfully, the insurance i have let me NOT worry about the cost. I don't know if i dare say what i was resposible for - i'd have to dodge tomatoes.
It also came in handy when hubs needed his angioplasty with stents.

Its about the best benefit we have being retired military. And, now that we have made excellent use of it, makes up for the tiny retirement pay he gets after 24 yrs.

[JanM]

Ummm... "PonyTAIL"??

I've been called a Horse's ***** before, but never a PonyTAIL... :eek:



Ya know there are people _I_ won't call a Horse's *****, because that would insult every one of the horses I have owned! S'truth!

[Just Jacquie]

Gene - I'm not sure I get where you're coming from with this question, but I will take a little whack at, as I may soon be facing another surgery, tho not back-related (which is a relief!).

You see, I have been slowly 'going downhill' since I started work in March. For the first four and a half months my workday included a train ride from central to northern NJ - Trenton to Newark. Maybe that's what started me on this downward path :confused: . Whatever, my hemoglobin and hematocrit #s are way low - like 9.1 for hemoglobin, when ref range is 11-14 for women, hematocrit is 25.5, instead of in the mid to upper 30's. Anyhoo, I have a genetic Mediterranean anemia, which leads to the early destruction of my RBC. I may have to have my spleen removed, the only treatment for this disorder, and not sure I want to, but may not have any other choice.... Having no spleen leaves a person more susceptible to infection.

The cost? Not monetary, but hope it's not my life :eek: . Any surgery is serious and scary!

This probably doesn't answer your question, but it let me have a chance to vent a little about my current medical problems ;) .

So, are you wrestling with a surgical option, or is this question just hypothetical :D .

Hugs, Jacquie

[ponyboy]

Hi, Jacquie!
(Try saying THAT at JFK...)
Two weeks ago, I visited my friendly Orthopedic Surgeon for my periodic "How ya doin'?" visit. I squawked about my neck pain, and he ordered a set of cervical X-Rays; from the flex & extension Laterals, he saw lots of abnormalities: a couple of autofused vertebral pairs, some missing discs, and a couple of joints with spondylolisthesis. In short, a mess. His comment was "I can fix that for you..."
He then ordered another cervical MRI to inspect the condition of the soft tissue, and compare it to my MRI from October, 2004. I had my new cervical MRI last night, and my cervical vertebrae look like a bird's eye view of a train wreck.
My return visit to him is October 10, and I'll wager a cup of coffee and a chocolate donut that he's going to suggest performing a cervical fusion. None of my previous (lumbar) surgical endeavors have been successful tales, so I'm being plenty gun-shy about starting to operate on some untouched flesh. I'm old; just what will I gain from his proposed excursion? Would I be better off investing my resources in my grandchildrens' educational funds? Would I be happier seeing the little ones have an better opportunity to enjoy life than the limited "enjoyment" I might gain from another gash to my flesh? Is my limited return worth the investment?
I dunno...
Is my old, beat-up body worth putting money into, realizing that I'll most likely gain very little or nothing from the surgery?
Heavy thinking here...

Much love and

[Just Jacquie]

Oh Geno, it seems like "when you hit 50 God doesn't give a damn" -those are the exact words that my hemo/oncologist doc jokingly said when we were leaving the exam room after my last visit to him ! Now tomorrow, I get to go back to him and see how all the tests came out - tons of weird blood tests, and an ultrasound of my spleen. I saw the nephrologist this past Friday, and he is going to 'monkey around' with my meds to see if we can get my glom filtration rate down - blood result lingo. He also told me that shots of Procrit, tho maybe not the most ideal tx for my blood woes, would probably be a big help to my kidneys....So here I am the human pin cushion/guinea pig.... Then on Thursday, I have to see the cardiologist for my stress test EKG....can you spell o-l-d??

Well, we can commisurate together, along with the rest of us 'older folks here :D

Have a great week! Hugs, Jacquie