Hi ,
I have a few questions about cervical fusion surgery that I am hoping someone may be able to answer, First, my Daughter has had 5 Surgeries due to her Chiari Malformation already in the past 3 years and now this coming Monday she is going to go in for a Fusion. Her past surgeries were ( Decompression, re-exploration decompression, shunt placement, can't remember the next one , then the last one was another decompression.) She is not doing well at all and her neurosurgeon moved the date up due to this. I was wondering how the people that have had this surgery already come out, Does it help a lot ? Are you in a lot of pain after? The surgeon did talk to us but I would rather hear from others that have had it and know exactly what to expect. I am a person that likes to know everything from the start so any information is appreciated. Also, how is range of movement ? Thanks for any information .
Debbie
hello- I have had fusion (c5-c7) before I had decompression HOPING thinking it would help. It helped a little at first but after 3 months I was back to the head pains, hand pains, and everything else. I used an orthopedic for fusion so he was VERY unhappy that I was back to where I was. He was the one who suggested a neurosurgeon. That was 3 years ago September and my decompression was 7 weeks ago. I push/ live with the pain until it is beyond bearable. you can read a little more of my story, just look me up. I've only posted once so far. To tell you the truth, it was a more painful surgery for me. Make sure she has a recliner to sleep in for a few weeks. the neck brace prevents you form getting comfortable.
can I ask how old is she? are you using the same doctor? have you gotten any second opinions? just wondering since she has had so many surgeries already. I have more bulged disks and other issues in my neck and have already been told NOT to have any more surgery unless it is life threatening.
range of motion is not much different from prior to surgery. should not have to worry about that.
Hope all goes/ went well for her.
Hi Brainless,
Thank you so much for writing back to me. My daughter's surgery is now been changed from yesterday to tomorrow due to an emergency. First off I want to say I am so sorry that you are in so much pain, I refuse to say "I know what you're going through" because when people say that to my daughter it makes me upset, no one knows the pain. ( I personally have seizures and Tourette syndrome and know those struggles but they are all different) I can see her pain and want to take it away.
My Daughter is 15 now and her surgeries started at age 12. I have been through 7 other neurosurgeons and other specialists to review her case but the one she has now is excellent. He saved her life, to be honest, her first decompression her brain came out of her head she was so compressed, He said he has never had such a complicated case before. She has had a shunt put in but currently on her new MRI it is blocked. Her neurosurgeon said last surgery he wouldn't do another surgery for at least 5 years unless it was life threatening and when he saw the MRI he said it had to be done within 2 weeks, no exceptions.
I am glad to hear that range of motion is about the same and thank you for the info about having a recliner. We have one but now I know she will need it.
I have made a facebook page that tells all about her surgeries and all if your interested in looking at it, the link is : https://www.facebook.com/aprilschiaribattle/
Thank you again
Deb :)
hope surgery went/ is going good. I will keep her in prayers. Hope this one will do it and she will have relief for a long time to come. glad you have had several opinions on her situation. you should feel you have made the right choices.