To have surgery or not to have surgery!!!?? - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

alex12 · 10-04-2007, 05:48 AM

What do you do when everything fails to heal your pain? I am so lost, my pain management Dr. said my only option is surgery on c5-c7. Two neuro's said the same, and I am terrified since there are no guarantees! When I don't work I dont get paid and I just don't know what to do. I am in tears! I cant handle the pain and am stuck in a corner.

The pain, the pins and needle and shocks in my head, i can't focus, can't deal witht he drugs! It's a mess I know all of you deal with too.

Thanks for reading my vent!

sunshine221 · 10-04-2007, 06:22 AM

Yes there are no guarentees about surgery and there are mixed results. Remember that many of the long time posters you see here are people with ongoing problems but the vast marjority have their surgery, it helps and they move on. I was totally scared going into surgery, I had never had anything major like this and there was a minor problem when I came out of anestesia (when they took a neuro probe out of my skull it started bleeding there) but all in all it was an ok experience and while my results werent 100% many of my issues were resolved.

It sounds like you are at a point wherre I was at a different time (long story for another time) but the bottom line is that it sounds like you are at a point where "doing nothing is not an option"

Good luck in your decision process.

alex12 · 10-04-2007, 06:28 AM

Thank you sunshine... I really am terrified!!!!! I am just so dpressed over this and am wondering how I got llike this, what did I do wrong?? Ugh!
I know all of you understand. I just need the courage!

babsinga · 10-04-2007, 07:24 AM

Hi Alex,

I feel your pain. Some days I wake up and say, why do I need surgery??? By the end of the day when my arm is burning, my fingers are numb, I have the worst occipital headache known to man and my shoulders are spasming and I am on my third valium, I then wish I had a neurosurgeons cell number so they could operate on me the same night.

I finally made a decision to have 2 level fusion. I still dont know which doc is gonna do it yet, since the one I like is knife happy, but very good and the one who I like the most is not the right surgeon for me. I am meeting with a new one on monday. Have faith that you are making the right decision. I am in the same boat. I own my own company and dont make a dime if I am not working.

HUgs!!! BB

Jessarr · 10-04-2007, 10:54 AM

Hi Alex12, Scared, itis very scary and you have every right tobe scraed, I was before I had my 3 level ACDF. It took a month from when I found out I needed the surgery to havingthe surgery. I stay home with my kids and had time to research and research and get opinions form several neuros to feel as comforatble as I did with my choice tohave surgery. I cried for the month but knew I could not live with the thought that one day I would have to fix myself if not by choice then in the E.R. Speak to your Doctors ask questions ask questions to the patience in the waiting rooms (peopel like to tell their story) listen to what the doctors have told them, this was a great way for me to get a feel about my surgeons. I wish you the best and always try and forsee a successfull result for your choice.