Back Pain Support Group
Back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical care. In fact, about 3 in 4 adults will experience back pain during their lifetime! The term back pain includes pain affecting the neck, midback and low back. Acute back pain may begin suddenly with intense pain but typically lasts fewer than three months. Usually, chronic back pain is persistent, steady, and...
I have severe neck issues. C4-5 and 6 have huge herniated discs sitting on the spine with stenosis and as well spondilosis. I have had three failed back surgeries to date and have partial cauda equina. Now they want to fuse my neck. I have bad pain down my arm at present. The issue is that I am very afraid to undergo neck surgery after three failed back surgeries. I am at my wits end.
I have had 4 cervical disks removed - 3 of which had cadaver bone placed. Last surgery was in Oct - C 3-4 and C 4-5. C 4-5 had a disc and bone spur that was pressing on my spinal cord and had been for quite some time. I would highly recommend clearing your spinal cord compression and stenosis. Mine was left untreated for so long it left me with a problem with my spinal cord that affects my arms and legs.
No one wants surgery - especially if you've had failed ones before, but you need spinal cord to remain healthy and to do that it's must be decompressed. They usually do it through the front of your neck and it isn't a walk in the park but I didn't find any of them to be terrible.
I hope I helped you a bit, just don't want you to end up like me. Of course it is a personal decision and I'm certain you'll get many more responses on your issue.
I wish you all of the best. Please keep us posted.
Hugs
Terri
The reason that I am doing it is because I need to clear the compression that the disc is putting on my spinal cord, plus I can't stand the pain, numbness and constant problems.
Surgery is a very personal decision. I always ask people, "can you live with this pain for the next 6 months, what about for the next year?" If the answer is yes, then put the surgery on hold and see if things get better. If the answer in no, then get a second opinion and then look at your surgery options. Good luck with your decision and take care.