Hello, and a warm welcome to Neuro Talk. It is OK to feel scared. We all do when we face surgery. You found the right place for support. I found it the same way you did, and in the same state of fear and anxiety. Please know that this surgery can turn out OK. Just do your homework. Make sure you have a second opinion. Write all questions down, and understand your MRI. You want to ask your doctor about the condition of the vertrebre above and below the site, and make sure they are in good shape. Even if you are in pain, don't rush this, but get that second opinion with a good Neuro Surgeon. We will be here for you. I have had two cervial fusions, and have been on this site for almost two years. I received lots of help while I went through my last fusion. It will be OK, and you can talk about any issue you have concerning your surgery. Welcome again to Neruo Talk, ginnie

Yes this is VERY stressful! I have had numbing and tingling for years i was atleast in my 20's but they could NEVER find anything! i have had so many tests blood work mri ctscans...i have had a heart at attack and a stroke..all before my 30's....i also have degenerative disk diease in my back l4..l5..s1...n1
I really dont think a 2nd opinin will really h elp bc i see the damage and have talked to many of my doctors and if i dont get it done then i will wake up one day and not be able to walk and really dont want to risk that either...honestly all this has opened my eyes! I really havent LIVED i mean really LIVED... i have let stress....work..etc run my life well i am done and READY to LIVE and be HAPPY i mean really HAPPY!!!! I will def keep everyone posted...i now feel like i am NOT ALONE thanks....

Ok, regardless of what I said above (and I'm not flip-flopping), I believe that where surgery is concerned, multiple opinions are ALWAYS in order, and here's why....

First and foremost, we're not doctors here; we're peer patients like you, with all the same concerns, doubts, fears, questions, emotions.... SOME of us have acquired some experience and wisdom with the desire to impart/share, and support others through this process. It's not easy for anyone, and no-one knows that better than the folks here who've been through it and/or are going through it. Also, some of us have some experience dealing with doctors, and with what they sometimes - don't/forget to - tell us.

If a second/third opinion comes in agreeing with the first, you have some peace of mind that this is the right course to take. There are never any guarantees with surgery, and there are situations/possibilities where you could/might conceivably doubt/question yourself afterward for NOT getting a second opinion - coulda/shoulda.

If, OTOH, a second opinion disagrees with the first, there may be some hope/solution without undertaking the risks of surgery (which are many) OR there may be a difference of opinion on the particular procedure (or particulars OF the procedure) in which case a third opinion might be in order to assure some agreement and that all bases have been covered. (Again, we're not doctors, so we don't know.) This goes toward your peace of mind as well.

You want as much information as possible about your condition and ALL available options in order to make the best informed decision possible for your and your family's futures.

We'll all support you whatever your decision is, but we do hear all too often, "If I had only known then what I know now" or "I wish someone had told me...", etc.

The time is now to ask all the (right) questions.
Google: questions ask spinal surgery (and play around with the search criteria to find out exactly what you want/need to know).

Doc

You stated that you had many doctors telling you that you need the surgery. Even though you said, you don't think you need a second opinnion. As long
as others have looked over your records, you can feel assurred that what they are telling you to do is correct. I was in danger of being paralized, and had to have surgery to prevent this. I was in the same kind of situation. I was a success for the proceedure I had. I do want you to know that all this can turn out OK, and that you can go back to being a full time mommy again.
I wish you all the best. Please let us know how you are when you are recovering. ginnie

so you had the same thing?? similar how?? this is very stressful with all involved! please explain your condition... so i can feel a little better about this situation.

Hi Mommy. I had a business where I looked down into a magnafier for thirty years. I destroyed my neck basically. I didn't quit when I should because it was my only income, I was a single mother, and I had no health insurance. so I worked with pain for many years. I didn't stop until I could not move my head up, down or any which way. At this time, or 6 years ago, they said I damaged C6-7, and it was bent to such a degree, I risked being paralized if I didn't do the surgery, and they told me, there was a risk of "doing" the surgery. What this surgeon did wrong, was he didn't tell me there were many other things wrong with my neck. He said he did all he could do. So I lived with the result until 22 months ago when my pain specialist did a Katemine infusion, with that screen he could see what was happening to my spine. He no longer could control my pain. I had reversed the curve of my spine altogether, and ruined all vertrebre above. they fell like dominos. So I had fusion C3-7, and had my neck given a new shape, to be what it should be. This took the very best neuro surgeon in my area to do this correction. Unfortunately with degenerative disk and joint disease, I am not stable in my neck today. C1-2 is hurting, and so are the ones below at T-1-3. The instabilty of the entire bracket does put pressure on the remaining verterbre. I am very careful in any activity. This first doctor, should have done the revisions needed all through my neck, he did not do this as I had no health insuance. He only corrected the immediate danger, and left the rest alone. I hadn't gone for the second opinion, which I am sure I would have been told there was more wrong with my neck to begin with. I was too in a hurry to get the pain over with. My moral of the story is to go for that second opinion, get your records, research the records, and understand all they want to do before you agree to the surgery. I feel very strong, that we need as patients to understand the whole situation and the proceedure before we do the surgery. I sure do wish you all the best, Nobody likes these kinds of situations. I will be here for you. ginnie

I have arachnoid cyst with a herniated spinal cord. Can anyone assist me with finding a surgeon who has experience with this surgery? I am in the albany ny area.
I would assist any help I could get.

I just googled: spine surgeon albany and there doesn't seem to be any shortage, and you're not that far from NYC, where I'm sure there are many more.

Is it specific referrals/recommendations you're looking for?
First, I'd google: how to find best spine surgeon and read up on it.
Then I'd email those that turn up in searches, ask all my doctors, their staffs, my insurance company, and try Angie's List:
http://www.angieslist.com/companylis...e-and-neck.htm

Doc

If you are just reasonabley close to a teaching hospital, gather up your records and head that direction and get an opinion from an ortho/neuro spinal tag team. Just my opinion but the greater the challenge, the more you need to have the two spinal specialists who will bring his/her specialized gift to the operating table. I have had tons of spinal surgery and the "big boys" weren't a dime more expensive than a local ortho or neuro surgeon. We have one spine. Treat it well. Best wishes.

Welcome to Neuro Talk. Glad you found this site. Doc smiths post is right about how to find help. Go for more than one opinion and don't give up. things can turn out OK. I will be thinking about you. ginnie