I am a 41 year old Mom, and YOUNG Grandma. I am having a myelogram in the morning. I am nervous, but trying to not panic, and stay positive. I had one in 1997 and it was a horrible experience, as I had THE HEADACHE, and had to wait 4 days to get a blood patch.

I had a cervical lamenectomy in July of 97. After PT and time I was as good as new, and have been able to do aboput anything I wanted , until last fall. when the numbness in the hand and pain in the arm showed up. I had a MRI in Dec. NS informed me that I needed surgery. He slowed down his urgency when he found out I had no insurance. I had had to jump through hoops to get this far. I hope to have my surgery within the next couple weeks. The pain has taken over my life!

I, like others, have tried to tell myself, that I feel better and don't NEED the surgery, then one of the worst days will happen. The pain will take over every minute of the day AND night. I know it has to be done, and that I will be trading one pain for another. My hope is that i willl heal as well as I did the last time. I am older and the damage may be worse, but hope is the only thing FREE about this situation.

Has anyone had the ACDF and felt 'complete' again?

Thanks for listening! I will be on in a few days, hoping for no headache!