I just removed these 2 huge free fragments from a gentleman in his 30's who has been suffering severely for 2 months w severe left leg pain. His pain progressed, and led to weakness. Over past week, pain got even worse, and he lost ability to walk. Repeat MRI showed his small disc herniation at L45 had become monstrous, obliterating the nerve canal.
His wife, a nurse found me through internet searching, and then dropped me a call late yesterday when he could not walk.
They drove a couple hours up here today from the NC coast where they live this afternoon. We got him in late this afternoon, and took out the huge herniated disc which is shown in MRI image from previous "wow" blog.
I just saw pt in recovery room, and the facial expression of agony in preop is now the expression of relief -- his lg pain is gone.
Spoke to his wife after surgery and showed her the huge disc fragments which were sitting as a very prominent "crab meat" pebble pushing up on a very sensitive nerve bundle. Getting that "pebble out of his shoe" is usually quite a relief, like taking the thorn out of the lion's paw!!
The end of a good day at work.
Worth being a little late for dinner to ease the pain for this person and family.
Dr. Lloyd Hey
Hey Clinic for Scoliosis and Spine Surgery
http://www.heyclinic.com
How can we care for scoliosis and kyphosis and spondylolisthesis better with conservative care like physical therapy, high-tech scoliosis braces, exercise and other techniques? What can be done to improve surgical care, and understand choices for surgery, learning from those around the world? How can we learn from aviation and from Deming's principles of "Standard Work" to constantly improve spine and all healthcare?
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Huge L45 disc herniation now fixed!!
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1 comment:
I am the wife of the patient mentioned in this blog. I would
just like to express my everlasting sincere gratitude to Dr. Hey. He acted in a fast and concerned manner to relieve the excructiating pain my husband has been experiencing for the past 2 months. My husband stated the pain in his left leg had completely subsided before even leaving the recovery room. To those of us who know the pain he has been in and the inability to walk or use his left leg was nothing short of a miracle. It was definitely God working through the very capable hands of Dr. Hey that has given me my husband back. I would refer my own mother to this sugeon and his staff with absolutely no hesitations. We are forever grateful.
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