My adult son lives in Beijing and has been suffering for 8 weeks with severe lower back pain. The Doc's in China told him he needs surgery. He has been confined to bed for the most part.

I have his xRay and would be grateful if someone can take a quick look.

It needed we will fly him home for proper medical diagnosis and care.

Thanks all!

Damn good to get a second opinion!! I had one that said I needed surgery years ago, very glad I got a 2nd opinion, although my back isn't always wonderful, it IS easy to live with.

A. NO. Not there. Did he injure it there?
He is an adult right?
What is he thinking?

Need more than an x-ray to determine if surgery is needed. Is it an acute injury like a fx? Reach out to Bill (William) Miller in Waynesville, NC. I went to school with him, know his family and can vouch for him as a doc (Orthopedic Spine Surgeon). Email me and I will give you my name if you reach out to him.

Hit up bone doc. He is an orthopedic guy.

Jeff - I am NOT a "bone doc", but have had TONS of experience with spine surgeries. I am as confident as I can be of two things: That the experts (and there are many) on this forum will probably tell you that your son should have an MRI before ANY "procedures" are undertaken; AND that the United States is THE place you want to be to have ANY procedures performed. No way in this world would I have any procedures done in China. Fly him HOME..... FredT

What is the diagnosis?

Is it a bone issue, muscle issue or neurological?

Lower back operations are notoriously/terribly ineffective compared to other kinds of bone surgeries.

Get his butt home (even if it takes 12 hours of pain - get meds - don't OD, lower air pressure in plane means less O2) and get a proper MRI - get at least 2 opinion here stateside.

This is always complex, and I would only trust US Western medicine, and even then only with a lot of extra advice and scrutiny.

No way in Hell should he have surgery in China....get him back home to a real doctor!

An X-ray is wholly inadequate for assessing the need for, and planning the approach to back surgery.

This is not something you get a second "first chance" at. The best spine surgeon cannot undo what a suboptimal first surgery does.

Get him to the US. If that's not practical then Switzerland.

He's not having any surgery unless is here. He is planning to come home in July if he can wait that long.

He sent his Xray and asked me if any of my imaginary friends was a bone doc that I could share the X-ray with.

This isn't to diagnose anything. It is so he can learn more about his condition.

Thanks guys

quote:

Originally posted by SIGnified:
What is the diagnosis?

Is it a bone issue, muscle issue or neurological?

Lower back operations are notoriously/terribly ineffective compared to other kinds of bone surgeries.

Get his butt home (even if it takes 12 hours of pain - get meds - don't OD, lower air pressure in plane means less O2) and get a proper MRI - get at least 2 opinion here stateside.

This is always complex, and I would only trust US Western medicine, and even then only with a lot of extra advice and scrutiny.

It is a bone issue, probably a congenital spine issue that has deteriorated. He would never consent to any medical care in China. He is coming here for treatment. Getting him here will be expensive. He will have to fly Business to lay flat.

General question:

Should he come home now! If he waits until June, is there a chance things will get worse?

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Yarchin:

quote:

Originally posted by SIGnified:
What is the diagnosis?

Is it a bone issue, muscle issue or neurological?

Lower back operations are notoriously/terribly ineffective compared to other kinds of bone surgeries.

Get his butt home (even if it takes 12 hours of pain - get meds - don't OD, lower air pressure in plane means less O2) and get a proper MRI - get at least 2 opinion here stateside.

This is always complex, and I would only trust US Western medicine, and even then only with a lot of extra advice and scrutiny.

It is a bone issue, probably a congenital spine issue that has deteriorated. He would never consent to any medical care in China. He is coming here for treatment. Getting him here will be expensive. He will have to fly Business to lay flat.

Ask the airline for help re: medical.

Will do, thank you.

Jeff the main things he needs to watch out for are saddle numbness (numbness of the groin area) and loss of bowl or bladder control/function. These symptoms may be signs of cord compression which is a big problem that can lead to permanent paralysis. If it were me and I couldn't make it home I would make my way to Japan. They have state of the art medicine and a very efficient system. An MRI in Japan is easily attainable (walk in) and costs less than $200. As far as a congenital issue with the lower back I would think maybe a pars defect causing peripheral nerve impingement. Good luck

I am a chiropractor, deal with LBP every day. You could send them to me if you like. My email is in my profile.

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Jeff those images are actually MRI scans. I forwarded it to a neurosurgeon friend. There's a pretty significant disc herniation at L4-L5 pushing in on the cord.

Thank you Dustin, we really appreciate it.

Im no medical doctor BUT I lived in china for the past 6 years AND I also suffered a bad back injury in China so I'll pitch in my 2c.

Firstly, thats a shitty spot to be in but at least hes in Beijing (I was in Yuncheng). I think theres an American hospital in Beijing or at least one staffed by doctors with overses training.


The good part of being in China is that he can get MRIs Xrays and all that stuff not only for cheap (like 60 bucks for an MRI)but you can also get them almost instantly, no refferals or any BS, just ask for it then go pay and get it.

The bad part is the surgery for that sort of thing is sub par in China, I had a hernia repaired in China,it was cheap and has been perfect but I know a lot of Chinese doctors and medical students who will even tell you that you shouldnt do orthopedic surgery in China.

If it was me, and I didnt want to pay the insane prices of surgery in the USA, Id look at japan, Taiwan or possibly even India.

Im still in china for a few more months, My wife used to work in the medical field and we still have lots of contacts with doctors, Im also still working at a medical school here bout 2 hours from Beijing if theres anything I can do to help please contact me.

Jeff, I know things are pretty challenging right now. I hope that you and your boy are going to be fine.