Anyone had back surgery to correct where a disc has completely disintegrated due to degenerative arthritis? I have hip pain, foot drawing/clinching up type pain, pain shooting my leg.

Just curious if anyone has experienced this? If so, was successl? If successful, how long has it been successful? Lastly, any clue what it cost? I don't have insurance and I cannot get anyone to even quote me a price. I have called 5-6 place and none will even quote a ballpark price such as $1000, $10,000 or $100,000, or more. My gp keeps telling me I won't be able to find anyone to give me surgery because I smoke. Is that it, or does she think I can't afford it?

Thanks.

[CANDC]

Lunatic Fringe, if you are in US you could have signed up for health insurance. They cannot exclude you for preexisting condition. May have to sign up in Oct for 2016 now. Can you wait that long.

Spinal fusion cost $90,000 on the bill but insurance beats them down.
Cost of Lumbar Fusion surgery - $90 K

Depending on the insurance you choose may be deductible and copay. Pick insurance plan wisely. Make sure it covers the procedures you need. THere are agencies that help people like you find a plan.

I'm out of work. Can I sign a up for health coverage for 1 month to have surgery, then drop coverage until I get a job.

Do you live in a state that expanded their Medicaid program after the ACA was implemented? If you do, you may be eligible for Medicaid.

[slummerville]

You won't be discounted for surgery if you are a smoker. They really don't care. Obviously if you were having surgery to correct something in your thorax or general respiratory system, they would probably advise you quit because you need surgery to correct it.. but they won't refuse an elective surgery on the basis of smoking. Your GP probably hates smokers and is intimidating you.

I don't think it would be a good idea to get coverage for a surgery and then drop it. Especially for spinal surgery -- it carries risks and you may have to do physical therapy afterwards.

Are you eligible for insurance/medicaid?

[pinkflower17]

Originally Posted by Lunatic Fringe

Anyone had back surgery to correct where a disc has completely disintegrated due to degenerative arthritis? I have hip pain, foot drawing/clinching up type pain, pain shooting my leg.

Just curious if anyone has experienced this? If so, was successl? If successful, how long has it been successful? Lastly, any clue what it cost? I don't have insurance and I cannot get anyone to even quote me a price. I have called 5-6 place and none will even quote a ballpark price such as $1000, $10,000 or $100,000, or more. My gp keeps telling me I won't be able to find anyone to give me surgery because I smoke. Is that it, or does she think I can't afford it?

Thanks.

Some surgeons will wait on elective surgery until people stop smoking because of all the complications associated with being a smoker and not only general anesthesia, but also the overall healing process. You can probably find one that won't however. I have a C1-C5 fusion and I had three discs removed due to infection, so my situation was a little different, but surgery was a success in that it cured the infection (eventually, with months of IV antibiotics), but I still deal with a lot of chronic pain from the surgeries themselves. I don't know if that helps any. It's definitely expensive. Like in the hundreds of thousands of dollars range. Try to find some kind of coverage first.