Doubt about the surgery - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

SurgeryBound · 10-27-2003, 09:57 AM

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?

more · 10-27-2003, 10:49 AM

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.

Mag311 · 10-27-2003, 11:17 AM

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, 11:42 AM

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).]

SurgeryBound · 10-27-2003, 10:32 PM

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.