I am sorry for your pain and I do understand it. From the sound of it you do need surgery. Get that second opinion, and look up any words on your records that you do not understand on the PC. Lots of information on each word and what it means in relationship to what is said in your records can be found. I had C6-7 fail, and then 10 months ago a big surgery to correct all that was not done the first time by the particular surgeon I had. I had C-3-7 done. This was worth it to do, even though my surgery was really painful. I had curved my whole neck, and the vertebre were folding over on them selves, like the dear old ladies who get real hunched over. I wanted the surgery because of the pain and it worked for me. I wish you all the best and that you will get results with your physicians. Don't give you you have lots of living yet to do. Your kids do need you and I believe there is hope that you can get your life back. ginnie

Dr. will probably do a combination of things, decompress the nerve as you are having disc problems and something is pressing on your nerve root, likely resulting in your loss of bladder control at times, meaning it is severe. Any inflammation or irritation will increase those symptoms. It is sometimes hard to figure out the WHY the disc is leaking in the first place or bulging out of place into nerve space. Sometimes they remove part of the bone at the back to allow nerves more room and sometimes they remove part of disc that is bulging out. If there is actual BONE instability resulting in movement that has caused the disc problems then you are likely candidate for fusion where they do all of the above AND then insert rods and screws and bone substitute so that you grow one solid bone down there so nothing is moving at all and so nerves can't be pressed or compromised again.
Results often depend on your pre-op shape and compliance post op. it is important to get good ab strength pre-op as these get deconditoned during recovery and your back can get overly stressed. Wakling post op is good, but not too much too soon. Ice now and ice after surgery, no heat- to keep inflammation down. if you have a fusion, you can't take antiinflammatories b/c they mess up fusions.
If you have loss of bladder control, pain now before surgery, i would suggest ice and anti-inflammatories and stretching hamstrings and hip flexors. In addition, a muscle relaxer, even valium will help with the bladder and relax your system. Something agitated it and caused inflammation so nerves are even more mad and swollen.
After surgery, there is some time for EVERYTHING to recover. Depending on what you have done- if no fusion, recovery is a lot LESS as you are not trying to grow bone. Fusion is painful recovery wise as nerves ar all messed with and there is like recovery nerve pain - often stabbing while nerves regroup and wake back up. They are probably very inflammed after being pressed on for x amount of time. Sometimes a steroid will be given if your pain is super bad after surgery, i had 3 rounds in IV form and 1 round at home due to the severity of recovery nerve pain.
I now deal with left footed numbness which I dont consider pain and I am 5 weeks out of surgery. I have bladder spasms every so often but I was born with this and avoided surgery for 10 years once bladder started so whatever gains I make i will be happy with considering i was at one point wetting my pants daily.
Anyway, the other important thing is is limit all kinds of stress after surgery, esp. a fusion. My first fusion failed, screws broke at bottom level and I coudl have fused around broken ones but due to extreme stress at work this never happened. Suddenly, i was in extreme pain and wetting my pants agan. I could NOT WAIT to get this most recent surgery done.
I am out of pain and really hoping this is it.
I would invest in a grabber so you don't bend and make sure you have help with the kids.
If it is an outpatient surgery, your recovery will be a lot easier. Maybe a small brace for 10 days - mine is huge and Ihave to wear for 3 months. EW.
Best of luck. Relief is on the way!

I feel for both of you. My OA on my knees seems so little compared to what you two are suffering from. At least I'm almost 61 y/o (almost, a few weeks), I can't even imagine being in that much pain and raising 3 young children.
How do you two manage?

My husband, age 53, has spinal stenosis for the past 20 years. He's in pain, is starting to have a hard time controlling his bowels and urinating sometimes. We have no insurance, I don't qualify for social security disability, my husband may, which would help with medical issues he has. The doctors didn't want to do surgery on him years ago because he was young and would have to go back in every 6 years or so to remove scar tissue. He did serially hurt his lower back and had surgery when he was 21 from a motorcycle accident. His lower back is con caved. But he keeps doing physical work, can't keep him still. He hates taking medication saying it makes him feel lol ie. He'll take half of hydrocodone 10 mg maybe once or twice a day. He's going to end up in a wheelchair I know within 5 years if he keeps this up. I have OA of the knees and was taking 6-8 hydrocodone 10/325 a day plus the same amount of Tramadol 50 mg for pain break through and can barely walk.we make a great couple. Lol
How do people manage to live day to day.with this pain?

My heart goes out to you two and others who suffer like we do.
Bless you both.

I do understand, as I have been in your shoes. I have had two cervical fusions. Last was 22 months ago, C3-7. This did give relief, but no where near 100%. I didn't really have a choice in this surgery when it came right down to it. I sought out mulitpal surgeons and got opinions. I had the very best of care with the surgeon I received. I can only tell you that for me, the surgery was worth it. Make sure the verterbre above and below the proposed sugery site that they are STRONG. Any hardware you have installed will put alot of stess on those verterbre. This has happened to me. C1-2 shows stress and so does T1-2-3-. I am not going to do any more surgery if I can help it. The last was hard enough. I do wish you all the best in what ever decision you make. It is very difficult I know, and so is the pain from cervical and spine issues. Take care....ginnie

No insurance is a big issue. AS I had the same problems. Due to this factor my first cervical fusion, was done to relieve immediate symptoms, but the doctor did not address the problems still remaining in my spine. Later post here tells about it. Make sure you find a compassionate doctor willing to treat. Sometimes there are agencies that can help too. It took me four years to qualify for SS and SSDI. It was a long horrible process as I am sure you know about. I hope a solution can be found to help. I do understand what you are going though. My folks left a trust, the Gov. would grant no benefits until it was gone. It was meant to pay my taxes on this home. Now I am going to loose my home. This is so unfair to do to people who work all their lives, to be reduced to a state of poverty and fear. My prayers are with you both. ginnie