Surgery should be the last option. Your quality of life is what is important. If this is putting you into the position you can do nothing, then maybe you need to start an investigation with a good neruologist. I am fused C3-7 after a failed first surgery at C6-7. My surgery worked for me, and it was worth all I had to go through to get to this point. Your idea of weight loss is a good one too. I didn't have this second surgery until I had lost 65 pounds, and got my weight where I should be. I did that to make the second surgery a little easier to go through. I was terrified of another failure so I did all I could for myself, and did the homework about my condition, and the neurologists before I went ahead. You can loose the weight, and it will help you with what ever decision you make about your back. I couldn't excersise eithor, and I would try to help you with that. I know from your post you are in some terrible pain. You may also try a pain specialist. I had one before my second surgery. He kept me going for 6 years, until we discovered I continued to degenerate in my spine. I do have degenerative disk disease, and joint disease. In my case I had no choice about the surgery as the pain specialist couldn't control my pain anymore and he was the one who got me to a new neurologist after looking at my MRI. Your quality of life is whats important. If you are to that point, please go ahead and look for a good neurosurgeon. Sometimes you can get a name from Neruo talk for what state you are in. I do wish you all the best. If you have a question, or if I can do anything for you, please tap back. Lots of people have knowledge on readings of your tests too. take care ginnie

Hibiki, You mentioned at one point you would lay on your side and cry. I had reached that point over 5 years ago. If I moved when laying down, it was more like screams, along with the tears. I had wanted to go to a orthopaedic surgeon (specializing spine surgery), but it would take a couple of months to get to see him and couldn't wait any longer. (My MRi showed degenerating disc disease, along with spinal cord narrowing, vertabrae problems, etc.; but didn't show the culprit that was causing the screams. I had surgery at Rush Medical Center in Chicago. My vertabrae was crushing a major nerve. The surgeon said he had never seen such a raw red angry nerve before. I am still in a lot of pain; but no longer screaming.

I did develop periphereal neuropathy PN. Also, am under the care of Pain Management because I still have severe pain. Was the surgery a success??? Hard to say how much worse off I might have been. I was told I still had a lot of issues; but did have L4-5 fused which took the pressure off the "red angry nerve" and a laminectomy (removed some of the lamina)to allow more space for the spinal cord which was narrowing. Had I not had the surgery, i think I would be even worse off. "Failed Back surgery" to some degree "yes"; just don't know how much worse off I would have been if I hadn't done it. Wishing you the best in whatever direction you choose.

The Pain Specialist will probably do a series of injections, along with meds for the pain. This of course, will not change any of your issues; but might help to handle the pain. It really is a hard call.

Hi ~ First, you definitely need another MRI with and without contrast material. You need to know exactly what's going on.

The ONLY reason for spinal surgery is cauda equina (loss of bladder & bowel function) or the possibility of permanent nerve damage. Plus if the spinal cord is being impinged, you'd need surgery too! Surgery for herniations/bulges isn't the best idea because you're not guaranteed that the pain will be relieved. Many times the pain is WORSE after surgery! Plus surgery increases the chance that the levels above & below the surgery site will fail.

I agree with Doc Smith --- I've had 2 open spinal surgeries, and I'm worse now than I was before! I had these before the internet, so I couldn't do alot of research. Since then, I've had surgeons say they wouldn't touch me, as things would probably be worse after surgery.

I wish you the very best. Make sure you do your homework & research your condition thoroughly!! But don't jump into surgery. It should be a last resort. God bless & take care. Hugs, Lee

Leesa was right about one important thing. After my first fusion, I did indeed have trouble with the vertrebre above and below the fusion site. I was not informed of this additional trouble, it was known however at the time of my first fusion. I had no option in my case as I risked being paralized. Nerves were involved, due to deterieration. Do all you can to aviod the surgery if possible. I did finally get wonderful results, but it was very difficult to go through that second surgery. Please do all your homework and get that MRI to find out exactly what is going on. I wish you all the best. ginnie

hello


no
no
no
no
no
you went 6 years and thank you system
for jumping right on in SHAME ON THOSE WHO TOOK THE OATH AND ABANDONED IT FOR THEIR OWN SELFISH REASONS
you have nothing but time
do ALL your HOMEWORK
TALK TO THOSE WHO HAVE HAD WHAT IS RECOMMEND
WHAT DOCTORS WANT TO CUT
NO SO QUICK!

I think the reason the neuro surgeon didn't do all the surgery the first time is because I had no insurance. It would have been more involved, and it would cost more. Therefor he only did what he had to, to prevent me from being paralized. He did not address the other severe problems in my neck, never told me. Thats why there was a six year break. I didn't know any better as I didn't have my records at the time. The pain specialist could see what was really happening when he did a Katamine infusion with the xray guilding the needle. He realized something bad was happening and got me the top neuro surgeon in our area. The first guy in my opinion was negligent in every senseof the word. I learned to research after that, and thats what I try to tell people who think about having surgery. It sure was no bed of roses. ginnie