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Dan Monahan
Jun 25, 2008 - 9:49AM
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Microdiscectomy??
Hi
I had a talk with my Neuromuscular Therapist last night, and he is wondering if it is time now to put me forward for Surgery!!
Have been seeing him for 3 months now, and we have made some progress, but not enough progress as he was expecting, I have a Side Shift to my right, as I have a bulging disc at L4-L5 and it is protruding posteriorly and to the left, which has caused my upper body to shift to the right to get away from the disc.
I have put in alot of effort these past 3 months, working on my flexibitlity and performing the exercises he has advised, and it has become very frustrating that this is now the scenario I am in.
As some of you know, I have has this problem for almost 4 years now, and am only 23!!
My Therapist has only ever had to refer 2 people in his 10 years in the field, and those were 2 guys over 60 due to numbness and bladder dysfunction.
But he does not want to continue to take my money, and not see the improvement he is expecting and would usually get from his clients.
He will be calling me at the weekend to discuss some options with me, and said he will stick with me all the way and really wants to help me, he even cut the cost of the sessions by half the other month to ensure I stay with him as he genuinely wants to help me, and would sometimes have sessions that would go on for possibly 2hrs+ and would only charge me for the hour.
Just want anyone on here, to post if they have had a Microdiscectomy.
How much pain after surgery?
How long before relief after surgery? If any?
Any problems since? What problems?
More pain since the surgery?
How long before being able to go back to work?
Just need some good advice, as I feel I have tried every angle now!
Thanks
Dan
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Lak
Jun 25, 2008 - 10:05AM
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Re: Microdiscectomy??
Hi Dan,
I received your PM and replied back yesterday giving my mobile number. Call me to discuss what my experiences are so far with Solihull Back Pain Clinic. Before you go under the knife it may be worth having an informal chat with them or even visitng them to see if they can help you.
Anyway await your call mate.
Lak
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Dave Hutchieson
Jun 25, 2008 - 8:52PM
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Re: Microdiscectomy??
Dan
I know you've worked so hard at the LTBP system and the CHEK system.
Before you even think of surgery , please call the Solihull clinic and Al Meilus.
1-727-547-1233 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-727-547-1233 end_of_the_skype_highlighting USA
Al worked with me this afternoon to show how quickly he can correct scoliosis.
We took a permanent marker [ it will come off skin within a day or so ] and he marked the spinous processes [ the knobbly bits ] on my spine.
One dot for each spinous process.
I could see my back in the big mirror and my wife watched intently.
Both of them saw a small amount of scoliosis [ as did I ] around L2-L3.
You could see the bend from the pattern of dots.
Now, we've already worked on my quadratus lumborum [ which as I've mentioned before is one of the main causes of scoliosis ]. So, the scoliosis [ very slight ] was not coming from there. So where was it from ?
Al laid me down on my back, and he and my wife placed their fingers one on each ASIS point .
Immediately they could see that one ASIS point [ the left one ]was more down towards my feet than the other.
Al put me on the treatment table, and used the robot on my left iliacus and then on the attachment point to my rectus femoris [ my quad muscle ].
I did fifteen minutes on each point.
Then it was time to re-check.
Guess what ?
All the magic marker dots on my back lined up perfectly.
No scoliosis !!
So, what happened.
Well, my left ilium [ hip bone ] was rotated more than my right.
This is more complex than a simple forward tipped pelvis, and many people have this.
The pelvis was forward tilted slightly, but with one side more than the other.
As a result of this, the forward part of the "left pelvis" went down, and the back part went up.
But as it went up, it went higher, this then forced the left part of the ribcage up, and voila - scoliosis.
Now, what also happens due to scoliosis ?
Well, at the point of maximum curvature, there is maximum pressure.
And what does that affect ?
Discs.
If I had money, I'd bet every penny that your disc problems are a result of your scoliosis.
If you get the surgery Dan [ and that's your decision ] you will not have cured what has caused it, and you could end up in the same boat one year later [ believe me, I see it all the time ].
Please call Al.
Also call the Solihull people. You need to get your SI joint checked out .
Al is the only person in this business that I know of whose business card reads "We'll make a difference in one visit".
What other doctor or therapist on the surface of this earth dares make such a claim ?
Answer - nobody that I know of.
Several years ago, the former head of Wimbledon Tennis came to see him after having back pain for many years and having had the best people in the UK, US and Cayman Islands work on him to no avail.
Al fixed him in one day.
You've come so far Dan, don't dive straight into surgery just yet without checking out what has been said.
Visit the guys at Solihull.
If that doesn't work, scrape together or borrow some money and get yourself over to see Al.
With the way the pound is just now, you can get a week in Florida with car and hotel and flight for less than a week in a hotel in England !!
ALL surgeries are serious business, even micro ones.
Scar tissue build up and a bunch of other things.
They wanted to fuse half my back and cut me open in the front and back two years ago.
The w!@#$s !!
I've seen your photos and know he can help you.
Dave
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Dan Monahan
Jun 26, 2008 - 6:14AM
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Re: Microdiscectomy??
Thanks Dave
I have emailed John Williams from Sollihull clinic recently and am considering taking a trip down there, it's a 2 1/2 hour journey from my home, but it just might be worth it!!
The reason for the suggested surgery is that, he believes it's not so much scoliosis but a side shift, my lower body has shifted to the left to allow the disc room, and to not affect the disc, and the only way to get it corrected is by over correcting the shift with side shifts to the opposite side, but due to the disc bulging, it hurts like hell to do this, I get loads of pain down my leg front and back, and we need to correct the shift before we can go move on.
I've also spoken to Malton Shexneider, a fantastic expert on Back pain, don't know if you know his stuff, but he is great, has helped many people, and celebrities also "Barry Manilow", he has suggested having the part of the disc removed and then working like hell to restore the dysfunctions, and muscle imbalances, because at the moment the disc is stopping any progress.
It's such a difficult decision to make, but I definately am not going to rush into anything, and as you say I could end up with scar tissue!!!
I will get a calling card and give Al a call, and I will arrange for a visit to see John Williams from the Sollihull Clinic, and try and go down one weekend.
I think I have to really look into taking a trip to go and see Al also...I'm fed up existing now, I want to start living
Thanks
Dan
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Dan Monahan
Jun 26, 2008 - 7:12AM
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Re: Microdiscectomy??
Forgot to mention
The side shift or Scoliosis, has only appeared since about November 2007!! I've had this pain coming up to 4 years...But only had the MRI scan confirming the bulging disc at L4-L5, 7th Feb 2008.
So did I have a bulging disc originally when the original pain started in my glute and back? Guess will never know...And has the continued Muscualr Imbalances eventually over the past 4 years caused the disc to Bulge and press the nerve?
Just don't want to remain lobsided or shifted to one side for too long, because the muscles will become used to being in their new shortened position.
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Dan Monahan
Jun 26, 2008 - 7:14AM
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Re: Microdiscectomy??
Forgot to mention
The side shift or Scoliosis, has only appeared since about November 2007!! I've had this pain coming up to 4 years...But only had the MRI scan confirming the bulging disc at L4-L5, 7th Feb 2008.
So did I have a bulging disc originally when the original pain started in my glute and back? Guess will never know...And has the continued Muscualr Imbalances eventually over the past 4 years caused the disc to Bulge and press the nerve?
Just don't want to remain lobsided or shifted to one side for too long, because the muscles will become used to being in their new shortened position.
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Dave Hutchieson
Jun 26, 2008 - 12:56PM
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Re: Microdiscectomy??
Dan
If the disk is bulging, there MUST be something pressing on it.
Have you had a front view pelvic x-ray done yet ?
Have you had a full leg length check done yet for both anatomical and functional discrepancies ?
Have you had someone check your ASIS points to see if you have rotation of the pelvis, and if so is it equal on both sides ?
This will give a lot of information.
Dave
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Dave Hutchieson
Jun 26, 2008 - 1:07PM
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Re: Microdiscectomy??
Dan
The big problem that all these guys have with "treating" scoliosis is that when the adhesions in the quadratus lumboruum and iliacus get really bad, these guys can only stretch as far as the knots - anything more and they would tear.
So, how to get rid of the knots ? In most bad cases they can't.
Their fingers get too sore trying to apply constant pressure.
There is not a single massage therapist alive today who treats msucle knots and who has been working for more than five years who do not have some form of joint pain in their thumbs and fingers.
If there is one, then they were either born with some very strange hands or have not been doing their jobs properly.
It is brutal on these joints.
Our thumbs and fingers were made for grasping and holding, not for pushing downwards on the joints.
The robot cuts through those adhesions like a knife through butter.
There is a guy called Joe Kissinger form this website who said he'll be seeing Al on Monday.
I hope he puts up his story.
If you had lost bladder or bowel control, then I'd say immediate surgery, but the disk is only bulging.
We need to get your pelvis sorted out.
Cheers
Dave
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Dave Hutchieson
Jun 26, 2008 - 11:54PM
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Re: Microdiscectomy??
Dan
There is another way scoliosis can be helped to a great degree.
I am not sure yet exactly how it works, but it does.
With the Pettibon System.
It is a chiropractic system and my wife has used it over the last year and a half.
The chiropractor ONLY adjusts her C1 [ neck vertebra ] and works on her neck.
Her scoliosis has reduced by about 75%.
For the remaining amount we'll work on her spinal muscles with the robot.
The Pettibon people believe that provided the C1 verterbra is in the correct position, some form of self correcting mechanism occurs further on down the spine.
They have found that every single person with scoliosis that they have examined has had a "military neck" i.e. the 43 degree "arc of life" from C2-C7 is not present.
It appears that when the neck does not have the correct curve [ including having the C1 vertebra "off" from its correct value of 31 degrees relative to the horizontal ] for some reason, the thoracic and lumbar curves change.
Frankly, I would never have believed this if someone told it to me, but we get x-rays performed, and we can see the dramatic difference.
We have also seen x-rays of other patients and they have had the same results.
Check with the Pettibon Instsitute to see if they have anyone in the UK.
Take a look at these pictures of what they can do:
http://www.pettiboninstitute.org/system/index.php
Cheers
Dave
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Dan Monahan
Jun 27, 2008 - 7:24AM
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Re: Microdiscectomy??
Hi Dave
I have not had a front view X-Ray done yet, but I know of a local Chiropractors that have their own X-Ray machine and do X-Rays for £50, might get one done!
My therapist has said it is difficult to get a correct leg length discrpency done as my Pelvis is too rotated and misaligned, need to correct this first before looking for a natural leg length discrepency.
He has checked my ASIS points and PSIS, with a CHEK Inclinometer..See below
http://www.chekinstitute.com/products_specific.cfm?product=283
And has said there is some rotation on my left ASIS, but he said it is hard to take that has fully accurate, as the side shift I have will cause an incorrect reading!
Regarding the neck adjustments from the Pettibon system, there is something special that he performs, but unfortuntely is has not worked fully on me. He has tried to reset my atlas, apparently there are 2 small bones in the skull, that mimic the same pattern as the pelvis, so if you have forward rotation in the pelvis then this will cause forward rotation in those bones.
Now he had one client where he would continously correct his pelvis and it would go back into it's dysfunctional state after he would leave his office. When he addressed his atlas, (he performed this same technique on me) basically has you on the couch on your back, head hanging off the end, held in his hand, and depending on weight shift and rotation, he rotates the head to the side, applies pressue to the side of the face in designated trigger points, and has you look hard down to the floor, this in turn resets the atlas, and in one session this corrected the clients pelvis and it stayed in this place, and I have spoken to the client and he is still corrected 6 months later, with no further therapy!
Unfortunetely Steve beleives due to the extent of my bulge and my shift, and because I have had it for 7 months now, my muscles have adopted new set positions and my QL and glutes are rock solid....
I have spoken to him regarding Al Meilus and he said it sounds fantastic and is very interested in it, will discuss with him about visiting Al, he is going to phone me later today, with my possible alternatives, as he doesn't want me to have surgery, but also doesn't want me in the pain that I am in.
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Dave Hutchieson
Jun 27, 2008 - 12:44PM
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Re: Microdiscectomy??
Hi Dan
Good stuff.
The Atals vertrebra is the same name for the C1 vertebra.
This guy that you are seeing has a lot of knowledge, and I'm glad that he is aware of this technique.
Just got a call from Al's office re you phone number.
I'll tell them to drop the zero at the beginning [ when you call international from here, any national codes such as UK zero have to be dropped ].
Please get an x-ray done so that Al can see exactly where the scoliosis is in your spine, as well as any pelvic misalignments.
Try to get the x-ary on a CD as well, so you can send the copy to him electronically.
Just hang in there, you've come a long way and this CAN BE FIXED.
Dave
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Dan Monahan
Jun 27, 2008 - 1:10PM
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Re: Microdiscectomy??
I kind of guessed it was similar stuff!
Yeah he is very knowledagable, been all around the world to study, and is very open minded, if it works then he uses it, no matter where it was developed, or from what school, results are what he is after!!
Thanks, look forward to Al calling... :)
And I shall make phone calls regarding the X-Ray, hopefully they can get it on a CD....If not I guess I'll have to send it via post if I have to.
Might be able to scan it????
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Dave Hutchieson
Jun 27, 2008 - 3:12PM
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Re: Microdiscectomy??
Hi Dan
Yes, you could try scanning it.
Dave
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Weight Training Paul
Jun 27, 2008 - 5:36PM
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Re: Microdiscectomy??
Hi Dan
Agree with Dave
If it's just not getting any better, your best bet is to some how find a way to see Al in the States
It sounds like it would be worth it, from what your saying, if it's that bad
Stretching the tight muscles and strengthening the weak, was like turning on a light switch with me
The only problem I have now is a numb leg if I sit for a long time and a grinding sound at the bottom of my spine ( which is painless, but feels really wrong )
Your the same age as me and I know what's it's like
My mates are always saying
" When are coming back to play for the Sunday league team, when are you coming back to play 6 a side football, when are you lifting weights again "
It kills me to say no, but I know it would hurt me
They seem to think because I can walk around fine, there's nothing wrong with me
On top of this I've watched myself slowly turn back into a slim jim because I don't eat like a weight trainer or lift weights anymore
I know a lot of folks probably don't care how there built, but I really hate been slim, I want my size back
I have been light weights but just to help where I'm weak
Anyway, like Dave says your probably best looking down other roads first before surgery, Dave didn't have any surgeries and he was right bad
I really hope things work out for you mate
Paul
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Dan Monahan
Jun 28, 2008 - 3:48PM
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Re: Microdiscectomy??
Thanks Paul
Yeah I know exactly what you mean, they don't realise the amount of pain I'm in, but I just get on with things and do the best I can, try not to let it stop me doing anything, maybe that's just my stubborn streak.
It's the silly little things like have a game of footie over the park, or shopping can only go for a lil while, and if I do I have to keep sitting down, so can't go for that long with the Girlfriend (Although that ain't a bad thing at all...lol)
I've looked into seeing how much it would cost me to get over to Al and Flights and Accomodation for 7 nights works out around £620!! But that's without any sessions or spending money...
Really gotta start saving asap....
I'm waiting for him to ring me back, and going to have a good talk with him, and send him my MRI Scan's and try and get an XRAY done as well.
Good to hear your getting much better mate, and try not to worry about losing muscle, just think once you get 100% you'll be in that gym pumping Iron and your gonna have great motivation because you had to work so hard to get to that point!
Dan
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Dave Hutchieson
Jun 28, 2008 - 10:13PM
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Re: Microdiscectomy??
Hi Dan
Try contacting some of the US travel comapnies like Travelocity and Hotwire.
They advertise really cheap trips.
Keep hunting, you should be able to knock off at least a third of that amount.
I know how hard it is with money.
I've spent all of my life savings on getting well, but now that I'm getting better, I'm determined to make the most of every minute of my life.
Dave
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fred
Jul 3, 2008 - 11:20PM
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Re: Microdiscectomy??
Who is this guy Al that you speak of? is he in Florida?
Email
Dave Hutchieson
Jul 4, 2008 - 7:44PM
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Re: Microdiscectomy??
He's a muscular therapist who developed a robotic device.
You can read about him at www.meilus.com.
He lives in Pinnelas Park near Clearwater Florida.
Dave
