Nerve Sparing Surgery....
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From: NB on 16 Jul 2008 11:36 Why do they call it nerve sparing surgery when some of the nerves are removed? Also, why don't they tell you in advance that nerve sparing doesn't mean that you will have all of your nerves after the surgery. I lost just over 20% of my nerves on both sides. Lots of post surgery complications too. Impotent and incontinent at 4 months post surgery. Surgeons need to be more upfront about what the surgery entails and the aftereffects. Nick
From: Dwight on 16 Jul 2008 11:50 On Jul 16, 8:36 am, "NB" <Some...(a)somewhere.com> wrote: > Why do they call it nerve sparing surgery when some of the nerves are > removed? Also, why don't they tell you in advance that nerve sparing doesn't > mean that you will have all of your nerves after the surgery. I lost just > over 20% of my nerves on both sides. Lots of post surgery complications too. > Impotent and incontinent at 4 months post surgery. Surgeons need to be more > upfront about what the surgery entails and the aftereffects. > > Nick I think it's kinda hard for them to know what will be entailed until they get in there and see. I think nerve sparing means they don't just cut through everything and to hell with it. I think it means they try to save the nerves where possible. I keep saying "I think" because I'm not trying to defend them or take their side. Just some feedback.
From: safire on 16 Jul 2008 11:57 NB wrote: > Why do they call it nerve sparing surgery when some of the nerves are > removed? Also, why don't they tell you in advance that nerve sparing > doesn't mean that you will have all of your nerves after the surgery. I > lost just over 20% of my nerves on both sides. Some do tell their patients exactly that. Were where you treated? The general idea is that the surgeon leaves as much nerve tissue intact as is consistent with securely removing the cancer. Lots of post surgery > complications too. Impotent and incontinent at 4 months post surgery. The incontinence is certainly longer than average; potency could return between 6 and 40 months. "Exercise" and medication may or may not speed up the recovery process. > Surgeons need to be more upfront about what the surgery entails and the > aftereffects. The surgeon should certainly have told you about the risks. > > Nick >
From: I.P. Freely on 16 Jul 2008 13:39 NB wrote: > Why do they call it nerve sparing surgery when some of the nerves are > removed? Also, why don't they tell you in advance that nerve sparing > doesn't mean that you will have all of your nerves after the surgery. I > lost just over 20% of my nerves on both sides. Lots of post surgery > complications too. Impotent and incontinent at 4 months post surgery. > Surgeons need to be more upfront about what the surgery entails and the > aftereffects. I'm SHOCKED at your experience. *NOT!* (And nerve-sparing, in the case of prostate cancer treatment, explicitly means sparing either or both of the two nerve bundles that control our erections.) People criticize me for expressing concern over patients being misled by their doctors. The MANY stories like yours reinforce my insistence on telling it like it is. Thank you, and we all hope your problems clear up soon. but I wouldn't classify impotence and incontinence at 4 months as "post-surgery complications" and more than I'd call a cast a "post-broken-leg complication". You're still healing, so you should not EXPECT to have normal function yet. Start treating both now with Kegels and masturbation, but don't start WORRYING unless and until spring rolls around and you're still incompetent and impotent. OTOH, I.P. Freely going on four years, and will apparently never have another stuffable erection. Both beat the hell out of having cancer.
From: JerryW on 16 Jul 2008 15:53
"I.P. Freely" <fuhgheddaboutit(a)noway.nohow> wrote in message news:Snqfk.177$RM1.98(a)newsfe01.iad... <snip> >....but don't start WORRYING unless and until spring rolls around and >you're still incompetent and impotent. > Ouch! A new side effect of prostate cancer treatment! -- JerryW Please respond to group; email address is not valid 2/11/04 PSA 2.6, Suspicious DRE (age 62) 2/23/04 Biopsy: Gleason 3+4=7, T2a, left lobe 5/18/04 RRP, Path: Gleason 4+3=7, T2c, both lobes Fully continent by 9/04 PSA through 4/22/08: <0.1 |