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Laser Spine Institute, Tampa FL

United States, Florida

Consumer reviews about Laser Spine Institute, Tampa FL

V from SW Florida
Aug 1, 2018

Surgery cancelled at last minute

Had surgery cancelled by the surgeon on the day of surgery because he did not feel that my situation was best suited to an outpatient facility.
Just as a note, I live 96 miles away from the LSI facility so while it is driving distance, it is not around the corner.
To start from the beginning - Pain radiating down left arm all the way to the hand with numbness and tingling in the hand and fingers...not good when you are in IT and play guitar. MRI shows C5-6 and C6-7 herniations, impingement on nerve roots and pressing on the spinal cord at both levels.
My regular neurosurgeon (I have had 2 lumbar fusions in the past) says immediately – 2-level fusion. Wanted to try the minimally invasive option at LSI.
Went for the "Free MRI Review" and the Dr. said they could bypass doing a fusion and go in and clean up the discs to relieve the pressure. He actually said “Why sell you more than you really need?”
Went for pre-op testing, had blood drawn on the Friday before the procedure was scheduled. The following Monday, day before surgery, I went to meet with the surgeon who told me that the “clean-up” procedure was not an option, that I need a 2-level fusion. I was going to cancel everything then and there, but ultimately decided to go through with it for the advantage of the minimally invasive procedure. Of course, this changed everything with the insurance and that all had to be re-submitted.
A month and some later, surgery rescheduled, I went up this past Monday for pre-op…again…and another blood draw.
Next day was surgery day, left the house at 5:30 AM to beat traffic, got up there well before my scheduled time. Was checked in and ushered back to the pre-op area. Hospital gown on, compression stockings on, nurse reviewing medical history, another nurse made two attempts to start the IV and was successful on the second. IV running, they gave me some meds to help with post-op nausea.
All ready to go, and the surgeon comes in and explains that after reviewing my MRI while planning the actual surgery, he feels that it is not safe to do my surgery in an outpatient facility.
SO – 4 round trips at 192 miles per trip, time off work, wife’s time off work, ridiculous that I could have had this done months ago and been feeling much better by now. Don’t trust the initial consultation, “Free MRI Review”. They may be able to do great things to clear away obstructions in cases where there is only mild to maybe moderate disc degeneration, but I don’t think I’d recommend them for a major procedure unless they were a last resort and even then, what is better, the devil you know or the devil you don’t know?

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