Slipped disc surgery - how to select a consultant

[pia1361]

Hi

I have recently had an MRI scan and am now considering having a keyhole discectomy procedure which I will be funding myself. I have approached a few centres so far and had a range of prices quoted but I'm unsure as how best to assess how each compares in terms of their competency during surgery and quality of care in general. Obviously I don't want to look solely at the cost so how can I get a reliable and objective opinion ?

Any thoughts on this or personal recommendations appreciated

Thanks

John

[davhill]

Can't make any personal recommendation but my GP was insistent that I went to a neurosurgeon, rather than
an orthopaedic surgeon.

[mattikake]

One of my clients is a post-op prolapsed disc patient. He seems to be doing quite well, if lacking flexibility, which I'm working on. They are in the medical profession themselves so were able to select their surgeons personally, but these people are based in Northampton/Northants NHS. Depends how far you intend to travel... but I'm sure they know a few people around...

[Steffan]

davhill said:

Can't make any personal recommendation but my GP was insistent that I went to a neurosurgeon, rather than
an orthopaedic surgeon.

Your GP gave you invaluable advice which may well have saved you a lot of pain and suffering. I would repeatedly thank him for that advice. Neurosurgeons are the real answer here.

My recommendation would be Jonathan Wasserberg who operated on my broken back and restored my lower body to working order after two years of agony and wheelchair or bedridden existence. Jonathan Wasserberg is a Consultant Spinal Neurosurgeon at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, England.

Without him I would still be paralysed from the waist down doubly incontinent and suicidal. Hence my pretty strong recommendation. I cannot speak too highly.

[CAPP0]

My father had a very complex disc problem diagnosed (after several others failed to) and operated on by someone at King's College. He seemed very good. Despite the complexity, he was home and walking within 24 hours. Where in the South East are you? I think his name was Selway but can check if needed.

[MrGRT]

Good luck in your search. I had a bad experience and had to have a 2nd surgery more than a year ago, currently still struggling despite only having a prolapsed disk initially.
I won't name and shame but if you are in the Reading area send me a pm.

[0000]

davhill said:

Can't make any personal recommendation but my GP was insistent that I went to a neurosurgeon, rather than
an orthopaedic surgeon.

I've heard this a lot, after I went to an orthopaedic surgeon.

I can't compare, but I suspect it's good advice.

[pia1361]

Thank you all for your responses so far.

I am near Godalming in Surrey but would be happy to travel within reason to find the right person.

Cheers

J

[pia1361]

MrGRT said:

Good luck in your search. I had a bad experience and had to have a 2nd surgery more than a year ago, currently still struggling despite only having a prolapsed disk initially.
I won't name and shame but if you are in the Reading area send me a pm.

Thanks. pm sent

[Stuart70]

Surgeon by the name of Nick Thomas did my discectomy about a year ago

If you google his name you will get an idea of the quality of his cv

TV programmes, first time surgery and Alan Clark's brain tumour op.
OK so individually might be self aggrandisement but in reality just an excellent range of experience.
Helped as well that he was a really good chap to talk to.

Op was done at Blackheath, but think he mainly works out of London.
All went smoothly and the recovery was about a rigorous month of stretching and walking.
Given I was crippled in pain and stoned on pain killers for 6 months before the op, it was just a brilliant result.

Thoroughly recommended, clearly!

[dreamer75]

I am not far from you, and saw David Harrison, who works out of Windsor and the Royal Orthapaedic in Stanmore.

I don't rate the Princess Margaret in windsor for after-care, but Mr Harrison himself is good, at least I assume so!

He did my micro-discectomy. Unfortunately degenerative discs, complications, and bones on bones, meant a fusion eventually, but he would have done a disc replacement if he could have done.

He's a good guy - PM me if you want his details.

[davhill]

As we're naming...all my lot were at Royal Preston Hospital...

Surgeries 1 & 2 (microdiscectomy, laminotomy, scar tissue dissection, further laminotomy) Beth Donaldson-Hugh - tiny lady, good watchmaker's hands for v. fine work.

Surgery 3 (neurostimulator implant) Mr. Davis - spinal column electrode at the wrong level, not his fault, my wiring was wrong!)

Surgery 4 (open up implant, add another electrode lower down) Nick Park (not the Wallace and Gromit guy). Good man, got positioning right.

My pain is relieved as much as possible (not 100%). All hospital staff concerned warrant praise, I've no complaints whatsoever.

[The_Doc]

Steffan said:

davhill said:

Can't make any personal recommendation but my GP was insistent that I went to a neurosurgeon, rather than
an orthopaedic surgeon.

Your GP gave you invaluable advice which may well have saved you a lot of pain and suffering. I would repeatedly thank him for that advice. Neurosurgeons are the real answer here.

My recommendation would be Jonathan Wasserberg who operated on my broken back and restored my lower body to working order after two years of agony and wheelchair or bedridden existence. Jonathan Wasserberg is a Consultant Spinal Neurosurgeon at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, England.

Without him I would still be paralysed from the waist down doubly incontinent and suicidal. Hence my pretty strong recommendation. I cannot speak too highly.

Disagree with the Orth/Neuro -surgeon argument here.

If I needed disc surgery I would pick an orthopaedic surgeon. I know some truly mediocre neurosurgeons who I wouldn't let near my back.

[Gecko1978]

Save your cash sell me the tvr and put the funds towards a stana stair lift you old fart

[DJRC]

Seems as good a place as any. The wife has just blown a disk, As with all medical types she is useless at discussing herself.

So experiences chaps, how fked is she, how long is it going to take to sort her out?

[0000]

How far down which path is she; NHS or private, has she had an MRI yet?

[DJRC]

Not yet. To be arranged. I only found this afternoon!

[0000]

On the NHS they took so long going through the motions (letter, appointment, letter, action; each with a few months between) that the MRI they took was 'out of date' after it took them over a year to book an operation and I had to go round the loop again. So it might be a while.

[DJRC]

Medical types...do they heed their own warnings or advice? Do they buggery. For a woman who's career it is to identify and fix back problems, then recommend future preventions, lifestyle changes, etc my wife is her own worst patient!

We will do the MRI privately, its only about £200 these days and can be claimed back against her tax next yr. We need to form a baseline and logbook now over the yrs to track the damage.

[0000]

My wife's a physio, I wish she'd take a tenth of her own advice.

DJRC said:

We will do the MRI privately, its only about £200 these days

Good, well worth it! I didn't even realise it was an option at the time.