Posted on 09/25/2001 4:26:46 PM PDT by ChemistCat
I was informed today that I may need surgery on at least my #7 cervical vertebra. The words "urgent" and "severe" have been bandied about, and I was so upset (I didn't even go IN to see about this!) that I didn't ask any questions. I don't know anyone who has had a happy outcome from any kind of back surgery, and the upper spine is scarier still. This is definitely a small thing in light of world events, but like the tornado in Maryland, it's definitely added to the grief in my little corner of the world. Any input would be much, much appreciated. My gut feeling is NOT to let anyone cut on me up there. I've had tonsils and gall bladder out but I haven't missed those like I'd miss all bodily functions below the neck.
I agree with getting a second opinion, especially with anything that involves the spine.
(My point is that if you have non-surgical options, a good doc will advise you. If you have no options, worrying makes even less sense, in an odd way!)
Get it done soon. Don't wait. That will only allow the nerve to get permanently damaged. I was told don't wait longer than 90 days past the incident that caused the rupture of the disk. In my case it was my kid on my sholders at Mardi Gras for a long time.
Your back won't be as good as new. BUT, it will be much better and over time if you exercise it, it will get stronger. But, from time to time you'll pick up something or do something that will make it hurt. I can't do everything I used to do. But, the nerve problems with my legs and numbness and all that are long gone.
Good Luck.
I was told that the surgery would not be for improvement, but would be to slow down the rate of deterioration, and that they hoped it would hold me for five years or so. They also said there was a 20% risk of coming out of the surgery para- or quadraplegic, or dead.
That was back around '93. Last year they said they wanted to fuse C6/C7 -- I'm having lots of pain again, differernt places. I've also developed arthritis all over the place and bone spurs going up and down my spine, poking into my spinal cord. I am scared of the surgery (from having gone through it once) and am stalling. They are giving me fairly heavy duty painkillers for all the pain I'm having, and the neck pain just sorta fades out with the rest of it when I remember to take my pills. (If I forget, I'm quickly reminded, and I'm out of commission until they kick in. The trick is to take them before they wear off...)
I'm not trying to scare you, just trying to be honest. If I had to go through the first surgery again I would, the pain and loss of use of my right arm was intolerable, and painkillers didn't really help. Although, between the time of that severe attack and the time the surgery was scheduled for, a lot of the pain had subsided. That seems to be the nature of these things, at least for me. Things would be sorta OK for 6 or 8 months, then *boom*, living hell. The reason I went for the surgery (at the last minute they asked if I still wanted to go for it, considering the risks) was because I knew that each "attack" was worse than the previous, and I didn't think I could take anything worse than the one I'd just gotten over.
BTW probably the worst part of the recovery was the hip pain from where they cut out the graft. They warned me that it would be real bad, but it was really a lot worse than I anticipated. I opted for that rather than cadaver graft because (as I told them) "I know where my bones have been". :) Since then, I spoke with someone who was offered (and opted for) calf bone. I'd probably consider that, but I'd also have to weigh the CJD ("Mad Cow") risk. (When he had his graft, it was before anyone was talking about "mad cow disease", so it wasn't an issue. For all I know, they're not offering calf graft anymore. I'd be very surprised if they are offering it in the UK.)
About 2 years ago, I had an extruded lumbar disk that ruptured into my spinal canal. It began showing itself with pain and what I thought were muscle spasms. I went to an ortho, who told me that I might have a ruptured disk. When it was confirmed, he did some more tests and noticed that I was starting to show a foot drop. It got worse, as did constant pain in my right leg, as well as a loss of motion and strength. I wanted a neuro surgeon, and got an excellent one (by luck... he was the first one who could see me...) 2 days later, I was in the hospital for the surgery, and they kicked me out the next morning.
I had immediate relief from the pain, and have had no problems, although it looks like some of the nerve damage is permanent (not from the surgery, but from before).
So in closing, I have had lumbar back surgery, and it was well worth it (otherwise, I'd be paralyzed).
Mark
The DAY after the surgery we could tell the difference! Her primary pain was gone!
The surgeon had told her to expect 7 to 10 days in the hospital recovering... she was walking with a walker on the third day post op and was released on the 5th day! 45 days later she is walking normally without a walker (except when going out doors) and can walk around the block. Her mind is back to normal (sharp as a tack) and she is in no pain.
The surgeon was Dr. Gupta of the University of California, Davis, Medical Center.
Nothing Heals Like Stainless Steel!
Mark
I tried Vax-D three years ago. I could not get my insurance company to pay for it. It relieve about 75% of my pain for about 2 years. I then started to have more and more pain. By about 3 years post treatment, I was barely able to walk, and my pain increased every day. I went to a Neurosurgeon who was recommended to me by a friend. The neurosurgeon said that my symtoms did not match the MRI images that had been taken 3 years before. He suggested that I should skip doing another MRI and have a myelogram done to conclusively diagnose my problems. This procedure uses an iodine dye injected into the spine to image soft tissues on a fluoroscope. While the dye was still in my spine, I was taken to have a CAT scan performed. I got a call from my doctor 2 days later and told that I needed to call his office and have his secretary schedule surgery as soon as I possibly could. He said that the images showed that the ruptured disk had greatly increased in size and that they "look like crap," and that I risked permanent neurological loss if I did not have surgery. He told me to call him anytime of day or night if my pain got any worse. He was concerned that I might need to emergency surgery and said that he has had patients who have come in for a first appointment at 3:00pm and been in surgery at 4:00pm. I got my surgery scheduled for 7 days after discussing my diagnosis, and I stayed at home lying down most of the time while I waited for surgery.
The before surgery I had my pre-op done. I had to have an orderly take me in a wheelchair from the hospital to my doctor's office in a building across the street via a skywalk. I then talked to my surgeon about the surgery and had him show my images. The CAT scan showed that my spinal chord narrowed from about 1 inch wide to 1/4 inch wide at the level of the herniation. By the time I got my surgery I was more afraid of crossing the street than having a surgeon cut on me.
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