Am having surgery on the 27th of this month and am petrified!
Posted , 7 users are following.
Had an MRI 2 weeks ago and have just been told I'm having surgery in 2 weeks-27th March!
Am just trying to process it all as I thought it was at worst a bulging disc. Turns out it's a bulging disc, arthritis and two slipped vertebrae. I was told the day after my MRI to go to hospital prepared for surgery as I was at risk of cauda equine syndrome. Fortunately I have bladder and bowel control so was told to expect a 4-5m waiting list. Got a call to come for a pre-op yesterday. Operation is decompression and instrumental fusion.
I hate hospitals with a passion and have never so much as broken a bone and now this!
Please reassure me all will be well!
0 likes, 23 replies
richard25778 Surrogate71
Posted
I struggle with your heartfelt comments and will be praying for you.
It seems that your doctors know what's best and have concluded that surgery is what you need.
Trust them or say no... it's your decision.
Monday I see my own specialist after I dropped off my latest test.... surgery is my only option and I'm terrified
Surrogate71 richard25778
Posted
CHICO_MARX Surrogate71
Posted
It's simple. You go to sleep...you wake up...you feel better. Easy peasy. Laminectomy at L4/L5 five years ago for a bone spur "crushing" (doc's word) my sciatic nerve root. Immediate relief. Done.
Two years ago, L3-S1 fusion. Yeah, this was harder...had to wear a brace for a few months. But I got through PT in a breeze (leg pressing 230 pounds in six weeks) and the back was like the op never happened. No, I cannot touch my toes anymore but at 69, couldn't do that anyway.
Your worst nightmare will be getting past TSA at the airport. DING! DING! DING!!!!! The rest is easy after you do your PT which you have to take very seriously if you want to get past this in one piece. Really. The op is easy; PT takes work and commitment. No excuses...do the work!!! You'll be fine.
Surrogate71 CHICO_MARX
Posted
I promise to stick at physio!
melm1972 Surrogate71
Posted
Nothing to worry about. If you are in pain now and it's impairing your ability to lead a normal life and the pain controls you, you need to have surgery. I'm fairly young and healthy and have had 2 surgeries in the past 2 years. Cervical and lumbar. Just stick with the pt after and walk and you should do fine. It's not the easiest surgery, I won't lie but they keep you comfortable in the hospitable. Two weeks post at home just take it easy, you will want to rest and do so, have someone who can do the heavy stuff like cooking, laundry, housework, etc.. you need to focus on healing and rest. I was driving about a month post and started pt 5 weeks post 3xs a week. Good luck and don't be afraid to ask for pain meds and something to calm your nerves if you are stressing about it.
Surrogate71 melm1972
Posted
Thanks for your advice!
Good to hear that it wasn't too long before you could drive.
I will need to walk the dogs and keep active as I have 3 children too.
Much appreciated
melm1972 Surrogate71
Posted
I hope you have help after surgery with the kids and dogs? No lifting, housework, etc for at least a month after surgery. You won't feel like lifting a finger and this time is for you to heal. Do you have a support network in place? I hope so. Take care.
yvonne26776 Surrogate71
Posted
I had a fusion done in my neck 15 years ago. Recovery took a couple of months. First 2 weeks were the worst. But it was the best decision in my life! You will be fine. It is scarey but we'll worth it.
Surrogate71 yvonne26776
Posted
Thanks Yvonne, it's so helpful to hear how others have gotten through it and don't regret going down the surgical route.
Diamond14 Surrogate71
Posted
Hi looking for some help plz.
Basically im in my early 30s, I was injured & resulted in 2 slipped/bulging discs l3/4 or 4/5, right at bottom with them compressing bilaterally on the nerves. I have had many numerous facet joint blocks, sleeve root nerve blocks, epidurals, steroids, I have also had a nucleoplasty all to of which have not had any major success, I have regular root blocks every 5/6months which help give me abit more movement & a little help with pain but I still have to take a mix of meds- currently ranging from minimum 400mg -500/600mg morphine daily (mix of slow release & fast) alongside I take amytriptaline 75mg, & various others for depression/anxiety, I have built up a very high tolerance & even at these doses they only help me to function minimally, I can't bend, I can't walk distances, I struggle with everything. I have issues with severe leg pains, pins & needles resulting in numbness & no feeling for periods of time, burning sensations in the soles of my feet & bottom like I'm been prodded with a poker, also get really bad cramps & hands/feet seize up & unable to release them. Since the injury I have incontinence problems, frequent retention, both urine & faeces.
so after many years of having blocks etc, my consultant as now said he's concerned due to the fact of having issues with bladder & level of pain & non successful treatments for long periods as informed me many times I will always have long term problems & this will never go but will not continue to give blocks & says no further options available, when I've asked about surgery he says they don't like to do this as not guaranteed to work & he cannot do the surgery, I would under no terms be able to cope without regular blocks & just mess, do I push to be ref to a neuro/back consultant? Would surgery help? I'm so young & my quality of life is rubbish.
Thanks
Tuckerraz Diamond14
Posted
Seek a different opinion. You sound like you NEED surgery and soon. If they've left you without it and you've developed what essentially could be cauda equine syndrome, or the start of it, this is very serious. See another specialist (one who can and will operate if appropriate) ASAP. Also see a pain management specialist and get those meds revised. You may always have some issues (I do, post C6/7 ACDF) but at least they won't get worse. You need serious help to manage this. Best of luck. x
Diamond14 Tuckerraz
Posted
Thanks, they ruled out cauda equine. But the discs still bulging & must be pressing still on nerves as the pain in my legs/foot/bottom aren't improving. I'm under pain management consultant & have been for approx 3yrs, he's going to do my last treatment blocks/epidurals shortly but said it will be final one as can't continue & with not much improvement & as I'm having bladder problems at times. I had nucleoplasty (part of the disc removed,suctioned out) last year which realsed abit of pressure but its back to been the same amount of pain, limited movement etc. I'm just so concerned as he's said he will not do them again & I know I cannot manage/function with just medications alone. As I am only young it is so debilitating. He said surgery would not work & no other options available as they do not like to remove discs, but surely that should be my choice to try & see if it would help give me better quality of life.
He also went on to say have I seen a chronic pain team/psychologist - to which I know this is not in my head it is real & affects everything I do. He is the only one who would ref me to neurosurgeon but still states they will not do anything.
Thanks
Tuckerraz Diamond14
Posted
Neurosurgeons do discectomies all the time. You must see one. No, it's not done lightly because they are big ops, BUT they do them regularly. And bladder/ bowel issues are what's known as red flags. You really must try and push for a second opinion - I can't emphasise this enough. Take up the chronic pain team option as you have nothing to lose, but don't stop trying to see another consultant. Good luck. x
jessica_78456 Diamond14
Posted
You don't have to have cauda equine for for ur bowls and bladder to be affected , I've suffered for yrs with mine all down to my bck
Diamond14 Tuckerraz
Posted
I a man going to push my pain management consultant to ref me to neuro team when he does the blocks as he says there is nothing else that can be done & that they would not remove the discs but surely quality of life & pain needs to be considered I have had blocks for 3years with minimal effect & cant continue, he wouldn't listen when I said having issues with bladder/bowels & it's only now I'm under gynae that he is reluctant to do more blocks & trying to ref me to chronic pain team which I have had in the past & they tell you it's in your head & nothing can be done when I should be ref to a neuro specialist due to the ongoing issues.