SurgeryBound
10-27-2003, 12:57 PM
Hi
I have herniated disc at C5-C6. I scheduled for surgery this Wednesday. I am having second thought. Since I have scheduled for surgery my pain is going down. I am more or less functional. Taking care of 1 year and 4 year old. I am wondering if I should cancel my surgery? I called the doctor office and waiting for a response. Is there anybody out there cancel their surgery last minute?
I have herniated disc at C5-C6. I scheduled for surgery this Wednesday. I am having second thought. Since I have scheduled for surgery my pain is going down. I am more or less functional. Taking care of 1 year and 4 year old. I am wondering if I should cancel my surgery? I called the doctor office and waiting for a response. Is there anybody out there cancel their surgery last minute?
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10-27-2003, 01:49 PM
I called my surgeon two days before surgery to tell him I was not having the pain anymore and wanted to cancel. I had explained to him I fell down a few stairs and the pain had gone. He indicated to me what probably happen is the nerve that was being touched by the herniated disc probably moved in my fall. He also indicated it was up to me - but what this probably meant was the nerve moved but it would probably go back in touch again at some point in the future. He also explained the less pain may indicate it was getting worse.
He said my falling was probably as a result of the cervical disc problems affecting my balance more.
Listen to your surgeon (if they call back). Also remember if you have been in pain for a long time and through diagnostic tests they determined a need for the surgery more than likely it is needed now or in the future and if put off now will mean waiting for all the tests to be redone in the future - you need to weigh this into your decision.
Good luck with your decision and let us know what it is and what the surgeon says when he calls back.
He said my falling was probably as a result of the cervical disc problems affecting my balance more.
Listen to your surgeon (if they call back). Also remember if you have been in pain for a long time and through diagnostic tests they determined a need for the surgery more than likely it is needed now or in the future and if put off now will mean waiting for all the tests to be redone in the future - you need to weigh this into your decision.
Good luck with your decision and let us know what it is and what the surgeon says when he calls back.
Mag311
10-27-2003, 02:17 PM
I too have surgery this wednesday on C6-C7. I have had many doubts about the surgery and thinking maybe I should cancel it. I am 23 and too young to have this kind of surgery. However, I have to keep thinking that I have been in pain for 3 years and I have tried everything possible before surgery. I am sure your doctor wouldn't recommend this surgery unless you needed it! You must need it! Just because the pain is not there for a couple of days or has gotten better does not mean it won't come back to bite you in the butt! Trust me! I had two pain free weeks with my neck and I thought I was all better. The third week I was in so much pain I couldn't get off the couch. Your problem is still there and it won't go away until it is fixed. I guess that is my point. I ramble a lot! Sorry! Goodluck and I hope you reach a decision that you are comfortable with.
mistyone
10-27-2003, 02:42 PM
my surgeon told me that the longer i waited to have all this done (am now 47)the more painful it would be as when you get older this is a tough bullet to bite. so rather than having myself go through this when i am 50 or 55 or 60 i opted to do it now to get it over with since the pain was not going away and the n/s said it needed to be done sooner or later but i didnt want to wait to be painfree so i had to do it when i did so. but what i found out was that i traded one type of pain for another so the jury is still out for me if it helped me more than hurt me. i guess i have to wait and see what else develops along with my conveslescense so far it has not been good for me ut everyone is different and what one person can tolerate another may not be able to, also what types of procedures are done and the skill of the surgeon has. my constitution could not tolerant this procedure and the effects afterwards thereof.
[This message has been edited by mistyone (edited 10-27-2003).]
[This message has been edited by mistyone (edited 10-27-2003).]
SurgeryBound
10-28-2003, 01:32 AM
My NS called me back. He talked to me at length. He thinks I should go ahead with the surgery even though my pain is less. Because my herniation is too big to heal itself. He thinks I am ideal candidate for the surgery. According to him I will be wearing soft collar for 1 month. So I decided to go ahead with the surgery on Wednesday. I hope I am making the right decision. Now I have to find a way to not loose my mind before the surgery.
nero
10-28-2003, 08:05 AM
Dear SurgeryBound,
I too have been vascillating about surgery. My pain seemed better because I am doing less and not setting it off. Also, I awake now with heavy arms and pins and needles in my torso (upper) with means the disc is compressing as I already know.
It is really hard. I too have driven myself crazy and then realized its like winged phantom said to me, "you have to have faith in the surgeon and your decision".
I am emotionally tired of the waiting and then guess what just when i get ready (psyched) they phoned yesterday that my Nov 10 surgery is not cancelled but surgeon just coming back from holidays this weekend the 1st of Nov. to have surgery from a very bad break to his foot. Therefore it is unsure if he can stand for six hours and do my surgery but they are just putting me on NOTICE. After all this time, I do not want to be operated on for six hours with a surgeon who himself is in pain or may have some other chap do the surgery and he assist. Anyone else in my family agreed. He would have less than a week to recover himself from his own surgery or may have to be on pain killers. Not now my idea of an ideal surgeon Thanks.
I have to hire someone to drive my kids as no bus available, my husband has to have week off during busiest season etc. etc. and then its Christmas.
Because my pain is not an 8/10 anymore but either a 3 or a 10 I am going to ask to do it in January/04.
I've waited this long but still feel unsure and I figure GOD has granted me some thinking time.
I wish you luck... everyone's answer for them is different... when, where, how .... BUT the inevitable seems to be surgery and we only kid ourselves.
My pain is less but more disabling when it rears its ugly head and it frightens me when I can't feel my arms vs. the pain I can feel. So hang in there and remember don't pressure yourself to answer what others want to hear... but get ready in your own stead.
GOD BE WITH YOU and with all of us who suffer this debilitation that must end.
Nero
I too have been vascillating about surgery. My pain seemed better because I am doing less and not setting it off. Also, I awake now with heavy arms and pins and needles in my torso (upper) with means the disc is compressing as I already know.
It is really hard. I too have driven myself crazy and then realized its like winged phantom said to me, "you have to have faith in the surgeon and your decision".
I am emotionally tired of the waiting and then guess what just when i get ready (psyched) they phoned yesterday that my Nov 10 surgery is not cancelled but surgeon just coming back from holidays this weekend the 1st of Nov. to have surgery from a very bad break to his foot. Therefore it is unsure if he can stand for six hours and do my surgery but they are just putting me on NOTICE. After all this time, I do not want to be operated on for six hours with a surgeon who himself is in pain or may have some other chap do the surgery and he assist. Anyone else in my family agreed. He would have less than a week to recover himself from his own surgery or may have to be on pain killers. Not now my idea of an ideal surgeon Thanks.
I have to hire someone to drive my kids as no bus available, my husband has to have week off during busiest season etc. etc. and then its Christmas.
Because my pain is not an 8/10 anymore but either a 3 or a 10 I am going to ask to do it in January/04.
I've waited this long but still feel unsure and I figure GOD has granted me some thinking time.
I wish you luck... everyone's answer for them is different... when, where, how .... BUT the inevitable seems to be surgery and we only kid ourselves.
My pain is less but more disabling when it rears its ugly head and it frightens me when I can't feel my arms vs. the pain I can feel. So hang in there and remember don't pressure yourself to answer what others want to hear... but get ready in your own stead.
GOD BE WITH YOU and with all of us who suffer this debilitation that must end.
Nero
SurgeryBound
10-28-2003, 09:57 PM
I cancelled my surgery. I couldn't go through major surgery when I am feeling so well. So for now I will wait and see.
Icaaa
10-30-2003, 10:54 PM
My pain had totally gone away and I couldn't believe how good I felt. I was even back to sleeping on my left side. Something I thought would never happen. I was an absolute basket case before surgery. I kept remembering what that herniated disk looked like and I knew there was no way it could squeeze back in. That would be like putting the toothpaste back in the tube.
I did go through with it--4 1/2 weeks before kindergarten and they found that it had ruptured and there were 14 pieces floating around the spinal cord. I am very lucky that none landed or lodged somewhere dangerous.
Carla
Carla
------------------
Ruptured retrieved 14 pieces ACDF with plating and donor bone C6-7. (7/18/03)
[This message has been edited by Icaaa (edited 10-30-2003).]
I did go through with it--4 1/2 weeks before kindergarten and they found that it had ruptured and there were 14 pieces floating around the spinal cord. I am very lucky that none landed or lodged somewhere dangerous.
Carla
Carla
------------------
Ruptured retrieved 14 pieces ACDF with plating and donor bone C6-7. (7/18/03)
[This message has been edited by Icaaa (edited 10-30-2003).]