ANTWERP: Specialist herniated disk?

Nousch New member

Member since 18 September 2023

NouschNew member18 September 2023 10:07:42

Hi!

My 33yo partner, who lives in the Netherlands, was diagnosed with a really bad herniated disk. Moving is extremely painful and has gotten to a point where it has an effect on bladder and bowels, as well as on the right leg, which has started to drag recently.

Despite the severe complaints, my partner was sent home by the neurologist in the hospital and told to take paracetamol (which don't help, which was also communicated) and to sit it out for 3 months with some physio to then come back if there's still pain.

In the meantime the complaints have worsened and we asked for a 2nd opinion from the specialist from the insurance company. We were told he's on a holiday for a month, so too bad for my partner. Working has become daily torture since walking is barely possible, and there is no hope at the end of the hernia tunnel if we have to rely on the healthcare system in the Netherlands, since apparently paracetamol cures everything in this country.

It's not the first time the Dutch healthcare system has failed to provide help in a dire situation, so the plan is to go to a specialist here in Antwerp. The only hospital that has a contract with my partner's Dutch insurance company is UZA, but I have no experience with the department of neurology there.

Do any of you (who have/had a herniated disk) have experience with the neurologists of UZA, and if so which neurologist do you recommend? I do have to mention that my partner doesn't want a surgery. This should be the very last resort, since there isn't really any reliable data yet on the long term effects.

Other recommendations in other hospitals are welcome as well if UZA doesn't turn out to be the right place.

Thank you so much for your feedback!

See also

GuestPoster491 Guest

GuestPoster491Guest18 September 2023 10:40:34

Try an orthopedic surgeon, I had an almost identical problem years ago and had an orthopedic surgeon fixed it without a problem. They might be more accessible than neurology.

And from what you're describing of symptoms, surgery might be the best option. It's not that bad. 18 years later, I don't regret it one bit. My back had more flexibility and strength after recovery than it didn't before I had the injury and surgery. To say there isn't reliable data to support surgery for this in not correct!

Nousch New member

Member since 18 September 2023

NouschNew member18 September 2023 18:16:11

@romaniac Thank you for your reply! I'm happy you've been pain free for such a long time. It can be a very painful condition that has a huge impact on your stability in daily life. What type of surgery did you have?

With long term I am thinking more in the direction of 50 years. I can imagine taking tissue out of the back could have a negative impact on the spine at a later age, since the discs in your back keep wearing out more and more. This could cause the need for more surgeries, impacting the quality of life in a bad way and bringing more risk since the body doesn't recover that easily anymore at a later age. So I'm also very curious about the experiences of older people in their sixties and seventies (and older) who had a surgery around their thirties.

GuestPoster491 Guest

GuestPoster491Guest18 September 2023 18:34:34

@romaniac Thank you for your reply! I'm happy you've been pain free for such a long time. It can be a very painful condition that has a huge impact on your stability in daily life. What type of surgery did you have?
With long term I am thinking more in the direction of 50 years. I can imagine taking tissue out of the back could have a negative impact on the spine at a later age, since the discs in your back keep wearing out more and more. This could cause the need for more surgeries, impacting the quality of life in a bad way and bringing more risk since the body doesn't recover that easily anymore at a later age. So I'm also very curious about the experiences of older people in their sixties and seventies (and older) who had a surgery around their thirties.

-@Nousch

I had surgery for a herniated disk L5-S1, when I was 30, which was nearly 20 years ago. Guess what, no matter the choice, your joints and spine will deteriorate with age, that's just the nature of the human body for the majority of people. IMO, it seems silly to worry about 50 years down the road when you say your partner is essentially disabled right now and in dire need of treatment. I won't get into it further than this. His choice is his choice, but I would suggest he gets fully informed before discounting the benefit of a surgical procedure, which a doctor (ortho or neuro) should be happy to help him with.