In Sept. of 2014, Meilan Zhang’s left leg could not undertake somewhat longer walk. As time went on, the pain was intensifying, whose ability to walk was weaker than mine. After all I had a lame right leg. When we took a walk, she could only complete two circles, about 300 meters, and had to sit down to rest. She could not go to her designated hospital on foot, let alone to her favorite Lotus Supermarket to do shopping. In April of 2015, the diagnosis was confirmed that she suffered from Lumbar Disc Herniation (LDH). The orthopedics of the Central Hospital of Xuzhou wanted to operate on her and we expressed no. Section 27 I recalled the misdiagnosis from which she suffered. The pain lesson appeared in my mind clearly. This time I should learn that lesson and make a slow, and steady decision. I should probe into different treatment plans, not easily believe in one certain doctor’s suggestion.
We decided to begin with conservative medical treatments, including the illicit advertisements in the bus at which I also had a look. First we used the Chinese medicine: physiotherapy, traction, acupuncture and canales sacralis injection, which had no obvious curative effect. We had to continue to explore. I lost confidence in secret recipe plasters, and all kinds of therapeutic instruments exaggerating their curative effects. I began to look into the radiofrequency therapy and the foraminal mirror. There were foraminal mirrors in Beijing, Shanghai and Nanjing hospitals and I was wondering whether Xuzhou Hospital also had them. I began to investigate by phone, asking all over the big hospitals in Xuzhou, receiving the answer of no such an apparatus. Later I was told that Hospital No. 2, i.e. Affiliated Hospital to Xuzhou Medical College could do such a minimal invasive surgery but did not know what department it belonged to. I asked one of my students who worked in that hospital and she said perhaps it was in the pain department. She further told me the director of the department was Shen Wen. I phoned the department and got the affirmative answer.
On Oct 19, 2015, we went to the pain outpatient department and saw Shen Wen in her office. After she watched the radiography, she determined the location of the lumbar disc herniation(LDH) and told us it was fit for the minimal invasive surgery with foraminal mirror.
On Oct 26 we completed the procedure for being hospitalized and began to be examined with kinds of apparatuses, which lasted three days. The operation was decided and we were interviewed by a young doctor Mr. Chen and not Ms. Shen. What he said was frightening. He said the patient was an old woman, already 70 years old and the blood pressure was high. Although it was a minimal invasive surgery, it still had a risk and he asked us to get ready to undertake the hazard. We had thought that the operation would be performed by Shen Wen why she did not talk with us. I found her and told her our wish that she do the operation. She promised and said the date would be postponed. We agreed and signed on the operation contract.
Nov 3 saw us getting ready to receive the minimal invasive surgery. Doctor Shen Wen, the director, came and entered the operation room with other young doctors. Xinshun Zhang, Meilan’s brother, and me stayed in the waiting hall. At three o’clock p.m. they went in, and the surgery was processing until 7 p.m., causing us anxious. Finally, Meilan was carried on the stretcher vehicle and we pulled it to the bed-ward. The first words Meilan said after the operation was “hurt me, a lot of pain”, making me extremely nervous. Later she told me that the surgery was done by Chen, the younger man doctor. Director Shen Wen comforted her in a few words and left. It was said that all such surgeries were done by him instead of her. Chen was friendly to her and when she felt pain and could not bear, he did his action more lightly. Although advanced anesthesia method was used, pains were not avoidable because there were a lot of nerves spread close to the vertebral canal. Cut off the prominent part of the lumbar disc and you must push the nerves on it aside, which will cause the patient to suffer severe pain through the whole leg to the heel. Doctor Chen worried that Meilan could not bear so he left a little, not completely cut it off. When I heard it I was afraid the surgery was not perfect and ideal.
Because the surgery was minimal invasive, the nursing care was simple and after three days she could leave hospital, namely on Nov 7. She herself walked to the street and we took a taxi to our building. She went upstairs to our home herself, relaxing me greatly.
However, in the later many days, she always had pains, causing me to feel ill. I went to the hospital to see Director Shen Wen, who said although it was minimal invasive, it injured the bone and tendon. The patient had to experience a recovery period and patience was needed.
The case was developing just like what Shen Wen said. Two months passing, she improved markedly and began to do a lot of homework. She could go downstairs and take a walk with me. At first, shorter distance and then longer and longer, making me very happy. Thanks to the science, and the advanced medical apparatus and instruments! Thanks to the doctor grasping such a good technology, who relieved the patient’s pain and made he restore health. We are able again to go out travelling and when our sons and daughters-in-law need us we can go there for help. Too fortunate!
Our sons were not with us and we decide everything ourselves. Thanks to the nephew, Haitao Zhang, who often provided us with help and came to the ward to see his aunt. Thanks to her brother, who waited outside the operation room with me, adding strength to us!
Nov 21, 2018 in Xuzhou
Proofreading on Jan 7 2019 in Xuzhou
Uploading on Aug. 11 2023 in Xuzhou
