Hello,
I realize that this forum is dedicated to Acoustic Neuroma (brain tumor), but because I had a largely unsuccessful, traditional major lumbar surgery involving L2-L5 in 2010, in Portland, Oregon, I am searching for a neurosurgeon that employs a minimally invasive procedure. I still have chronic pain and the only relief I have found is through high doses of oxycodone.
I have tried various palliative non-surgical measures, including epidural steroid injections of the affected nerve areas and acupuncture administered by a Chinese American, Internal Medicine physician (practice dedicated exclusively to acupuncture) who graduated from Stanford University Medical School, successfully provided traditional allopathic western medicine, and then spent several years in China studying acupuncture at a respected institution. I have had extensive physical therapy and continue to use NSAIDs (ibuprofen and Voltaren Gel). I have visited several neurologists (now in Tucson, Arizona) as well as a
respected neurosurgeon at the University of Arizona Medical School - who said there was nothing he could do for me.
I am trying to look "outside the box) at this point, and today discovered some miraculous reports of the work they are doing on brain tumors at the Skull Base Institute in Los Angeles. Does Anyone know if they do spine surgery (degenerative disc disease with spinal stenosis) or of other neurosurgery practices in the United States that employ minimally invasive spinal surgery with a high success rate in terms of relief of chronic lower back pain? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!