Jeannette's Surgery - Background

Jeannette has been having significant pain in her back and legs for the past year. The pain is caused by pinched nerves in her spinal column which has a slipped disk. The slipped disk constricts the space for the spinal column, pinching the nerves. She had 3 vertebrae fused in back surgery in 2000 and had been doing fairly well for 9 years.

She has had 2 cortisone shots in the last 9 months, the first in June relieved her pain considerably, but the second one in February hasn't helped very much. The options she has been given by the spine specialist at UCSF Medical Center are to continue with pain meds and cortisone shots or have another surgery.

We aren't thrilled with pain meds or cortisone shots because of the long term effects of drugs and steroids, not to mention that it isn't really working. So we have elected the surgery even though we're not wanting that option either. The surgery is scheduled for Tuesday, March 16 at 7:30am & estimated to take at least 5 hours. We are asking for prayers for the success of the surgery and for a quick recovery.