About using cadaver tissue for surgery

Hi all

this may sound odd, but I would sure appreciate some honest answers. I am all in favor of donating my entire body should something happen to me. I oddly enough find myslef at the other end of the stick.

Saw Neurosurgeon am having a discectomy of three vertebra in neck, they will use cadaver bone as replacement, and a titanium plate and screws to hold it all together. I have no issue with the surgery, Long complicated story, I need it, I have no problem with the titanium or screws'" holding my neck together'...

I am honestly a bit freaked out about having cadaver bones in my body,,,is this weird, have ony of you experienced similar, how would you feel?

[teko]

It would not bother me at all. Pig bones might, but not cadaver. Am I weird?

[ChitChatNine]

I guess in the beginning it would keep me thinking about it a bit, but if it's a cure for something I had that was extremely painful (which I'm assuming it probably is for you if it involves the vetebrae in your neck) then I'd have the surgery.  Perhaps I'd work thru the initial emotions and then come to feeling ok that somebody has saved many lives and helped so many others (like you).

[mikesimon]

I wouldn't give it a moment's thought - if I trusted my physician. But, I'm walking around with a cadaver liver in me so I probably see this stuff differently than most.
Mike

[zodiacqueen]

The cadaver bones are another form of organ donation!!!  Look at it like that!!!  =)

[jollyman069]

Cheri if it werent for cadaver kidneys lungs hearts livers and so on many people would die each year that have another chance at life

[gokuangel]

I have no problem with it! My lil cousin was 14 and underwent a back surgery for her scoliosis and they used the cadaver bone for replacement. I had asked my mom what it meant and what was the other option and the option was to use a piece of bone from her pelvis!! Which would have meant my poor lil cousin would have got cut on her back and her side and the back surgery was enough pain for her so im very glad she had another option!!

[redheadaussie]

It's funny, even though I am medically inclined, it had not occurred to me that bone would be used from deceased donors.  For some reason the word cadavers is such a cold and horrid word for me! Reminds me of morgues with bright lights and cold temperatures...deceased donors, is a nicer phrase. Evokes a kind of caring by the person that they wanted someone to benefit from their passing on.
I am also on the Organ Donor Register here in Australia. All my children are too. You can choose,certain things you want to donate, I chose the box that  said, "All"
  So to answer the question, at first I was stunned at the word cadaver, and all it evokes, but now i have re-thought it, I really have no issue. I hope some day that I can help someone's quality of life after I pass on.

[Cherie762]

i agree with you on the word carvers, thats what the neurosurgeon said i think it would have set in my mind better had he said donor bones, same thing just seems less creepy.

thanks for your thoughts, I strongly very strongly believe in organ donation, infact one of my life goals is to raise public knowledge about it, maybe thats why this is happening to me, I can share my story, my beliefs and encourage others to get on the donor lists, we sure dont need our organs once we are gone. i personally would love to help others to live when my time comes.

[zodiacqueen]

The word cadaver would've freaked me out too!  Donor bones would've sounded soooo much nicer and much less creepy!!  =)