Hello have any of you guys been treated by any of these neurosurgeons. Im looking at Konstantin Slavin in Chicago, Dr Joshua Rosenow or Babrak Jahromi from Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, or Dr Joshua Osbun in St Louis.
Hey @Mexiboii95 ,
I’ve just gone through and looked at each of the listed Dr’s reviews and they’re all glowing reviews (if that’s anything to go by). I don’t hold too much faith in some of those reviews, especially in regard to something like neurosurgery. Surgery is big call, especially neurosurgery. I say this as I’ve required a few neurosurgeries and although the operations have managed an issue, each time they’ve gone in has left me with what I call ‘Gifts’ or side effects.
My initial neurosurgery was supposed to be the ‘Fix’ but unfortunately it didn’t fix and I’ve subsequently required 5 further surgeries to try to manage it all and even after all of that I’m still trying to manage some awful after effects. My Advice: Try to eliminate EVERY other option available to you BEFORE going surgical, because once they start cutting, there’s no going back.
Best of luck with it all.
Merl from the Modsupport Team
I agree. Im 30 years old, and all the other Facebook pages seem to say its better to fo MVD now then later IF therss a visible compression, since it’ll cause more damage in long run. Any truth to that?
Hey @Mexiboii95,
Firstly, I have to say I’m not a dr, just a patient (without much patience 
). It seems, for some MVD works well, with some reporting 90% reduction in pain. BUT of that 90%, 40% report a reoccurrence after a few years. Doing the math, that takes the success rate down to around a 50/50 success rate.
Now, logically, if there is visible compression now, relieving such pressure ‘should’ help, but as with any surgery there is always ‘Best case scenarios’ and ‘Worst case scenarios’. These need to be discussed with your medical team as each case can be very individual. I am yet to hear of 2 exact same experiences, surgeries or outcomes on this journey. It is VERY difficult (to almost impossible) to draw a direct line from one person’s experiences to another’s. I was given the best/worst case scenarios too, worst being ‘Death’, best being ‘Fixed’. The reality for me was somewhere in between these 2. It certainly is not ‘fixed’, but I’m still here (Well, the last time I checked my pulse, I found one ).
I would add a word of caution. The internet can be a great resource, but online or Dr Google or Farcebook does not take your personal circumstances into consideration. Some reviews like to sow ‘Roses and Sunshine’ but the reality can be a little shocking when we get ‘Weeds and thunderstorms’. Sometimes surgery isn’t the ‘fix’ we’re hoping for.
Merl from the Modsupport Team
I am in Tucson Arizona and have had 2 MVD’s. First was by a neurosurgeon I had gone to for my back. He did the MVD 3 weeks after the back surgery. Results 100% pain free for 3 years than needed meds. Saw another surgeon I found from the facial pain association website and was lucky he is also in Tucson. His name is Dr Sanan. MVD’s are one of his specialties. That was 2012 and 
pain free. He found a lot of scar tissue from the 1 st surgery ( not the surgeon’s fault) pondered stopping but thankful he took it slow and obviously a success. At the time he said I was cured and don’t even think about TN. I used to take my meds on trips even though they were expired “ just in case”. I had been ready to go to John’s Hopkins or Duke as at the time 2 of the best were there.
I can’t say enough about Dr Abhay Sanan. His patience and manner are very reassuring and a genius in my opinion. Not saying the drs you mentioned aren’t excellent but perhaps check the facial pain association website for “referrals “. If I can help let me know. My only negative is that the “ site” was apparently numb for several years ( no problem) but now is tender. Not a problem at all and caution my haircutter when washing my hair. A small price to pay for relief. Good luck!