Advice on neck surgery?

dublinlush

I’m starting a new neck/back surgery thread here as I can’t find a very recent one to add to. I’m probably looking at the surgical route for an on-going neck problem which has literally raised its ugly head in the extreme over the last few months. I don’t have severe pain (until some of the posters here) but I have some pretty intense nerve stuff going on – tingling, numbness, spasms in my left arm and in both feet and sometimes calves. My mri shows DDD (no herniations) and a bunch of other **** including bone spurs which are pressing a little into my cord. I know from horror stories on the net that this not good. I’m doing physio and I swim backstroke three times a week, but the relief is temporary. Anyway without boring the socks off everyone – has anyone had a good outcome from cervical stenosis surgery? My neurosurgeon is Michael Kelleher based in Santry and Blackrock in Dublin. Seems like a good guy but surgery still scares the ***** out of me!!! I’ve stopped looking a US sites, blogs, youtube etc. because it’s full of the worse stories imaginable! Any advice or successful stories would be warmly welcomed. Thanks!!

boredatwork82

Had a hernieted disc in my neck, and bone spurs pressing on the cord. The pain was so bad, i remember one morning been parked outside a pharmacy in tears waiting for it to open so i could get some pain killers, the pain was so bad i couldn't drive or do anything but curl up in a ball. I became dependent on really strong painkillers for a year. Worst year of my life, had the surgery, instantly felt better, was stiff and sore for a few months after as it healed, but it was instantlyt way better than the previous way i was. it about 3 years at this stage, it was the best thing that i ever did, gave me back my quality of life and back playing rugby and training loads. Just my experience.

dublinlush

Thanks very much for replying to this. Always good to hear successful stories. I'm sorry you were in such pain for a whole year though - sounds horrendous. Great to hear that you're sorted now since surgery and playing rugby (yikes!) and getting on with your life. Good for you! My surgeon won't operate unless there is nerve damage so I'm waiting to get an appt for that. And I guess I'm very lucky as I don't have pain but the tingling and pins and needles would make your head explode! You mind yourself and stay well!!

dublinlush

dublinlush wrote: »

I’m starting a new neck/back surgery thread here as I can’t find a very recent one to add to. I’m probably looking at the surgical route for an on-going neck problem which has literally raised its ugly head in the extreme over the last few months. I don’t have severe pain (until some of the posters here) but I have some pretty intense nerve stuff going on – tingling, numbness, spasms in my left arm and in both feet and sometimes calves. My mri shows DDD (no herniations) and a bunch of other **** including bone spurs which are pressing a little into my cord. I know from horror stories on the net that this not good. I’m doing physio and I swim backstroke three times a week, but the relief is temporary. Anyway without boring the socks off everyone – has anyone had a good outcome from cervical stenosis surgery? My neurosurgeon is Michael Kelleher based in Santry and Blackrock in Dublin. Seems like a good guy but surgery still scares the ***** out of me!!! I’ve stopped looking a US sites, blogs, youtube etc. because it’s full of the worse stories imaginable! Any advice or successful stories would be warmly welcomed. Thanks!!

read Dr sarno.. google him, worth a read. I read his book this year and have been fine since!! I'm very sceptical by nature. there's very interesting reading on instances like yours, especially stenosis etc. There's published data by specialist world wide now who believe he's on to something or ahead of his time.

dublinlush

Thanks very much for that. Good advice. Will check him out. I'll do anything and everything to sort this out before going down to surgery. It's amazing how it consumes your whole life. Can I ask what kind of symptoms you had before reading Sarno's book?

nothing neck related realy. all glutes and his perspective seems to make sense.
if you've a few mins to kill, check this video out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjG-8GE2Wf4

Im sure they thought jenner was mad when he injected smallpox into a child. He was actually ahead of his time. Not comparing the two but rather consider the guy who's his biggest advocate is there to disprove Sarno and actually endorses him.

dublinlush

That's very interesting indeed. Wow. Will have to check out his publications. Thanks for the tips!

youcef2013

hi
I have a neck surgery acdf on Tuesday the 17 of July 2018 need some help from you am scared please any one give me some courage before monday thanks

boredatwork82

Hope you got on ok. All you need to do is look at that TV show about brain disease on rte last night. It just highlighted the unbeleivable skill of our surgeons. That would give me confidence in our surgeons.

dublinlush

Hi youcef2013. I'm sorry I didn't see your post until today. I really hope your surgery went well? I agree with boredatwork82 - we have great surgeons here in Ireland and we have to trust them. It's very scary but they want the best outcome too. I ended up sorting out my problem through physio. I was super sceptical at first but my surgeon recommended a particular system called DBC which is a Finnish method used by the rugby physios in UCD (Leinster team). I started to get better after the 3rd session and although he has suggested I needed six of them I stopped completely after the 4th. I also made some pretty radical life changes after that and have been using a standing desk amongst other things. I rarely have neck problems now but I have been warned they could come back with wear and tear and general ageing process... great :-(

Anyway rest up and mind yourself. I do hope you will feel 100% very soon again. Best of luck!!

gingerbeer

Youcef2013, I know I'm late regarding nerves .However I had same surgery a year ago and it's hard to find positivity online . My surgery was a success but take recovery seriously , it takes time so dont rush it . Best of luck and if you want to ask anything feel free .