Junior Member
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Join Date: Aug 2021
Posts: 6
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2021
Posts: 6
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Thank you all for the replies. There seems to be a lot of caution against having surgery, which I totally understand and appreciate. I've asked my surgeons what happens if I don't have surgery now. The ones who aren't recommending surgery now say that I will likely develop more neurological symptoms as my cervical structure degenerates as part of the normal aging process and I have will show symptoms of myelopathy. They seem to think that if caught early when I develop those symptoms, they can be reversed. The surgeons recommending surgery say that if I don't have surgery in the near future (~ 6 months) that I will also develop worsening neurological symptoms and they may not be reversible because it may be due to increased myelomalacia. They also add that if I don't have surgery soon and am in some sort of traumatic event, my likely hood of paralysis is greatly increased. This is where my dilemma is, who do I trust with these conflicting opinions? I think going with the masses makes sense, I just wanted to get 1 more opinion before making a final decision.
As far as types of surgery, I'd definitely be looking for disc replacement and have seen a few surgeons that perform those procedures. The most recent surgeon I consulted with was fresh out of school and said that in a few years from now, that'll be the norm instead of fusions. I've been told by a few surgeons that because I have so many levels with issues, I'm not a good candidate for disc replacement, though others have said they would do 2 levels or a hybrid of fusion and replacement. Again, conflicting opinions...
I'll post back after I have my final consult at the end of the month. So far I've seen only orthopedic surgeons. My last appointment is with a neurosurgeon. I'm curious to see his take on it.
Thanks again to all who have replied. I'll definitely look into some of the recommendations.
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