Neuro Surgeon

[stacekins]

So I'm being referred to a neuro surgeon and I'm scared to death. First of all I think its just scary that I may need back surgery, and second, just the thought of someone messing with my spine and pretty much holding my ability to walk/move/feel in their hands seems really risky to me.

I know that these guys are super specialized, but it still is scary to me. I've never had a whole lot of luck with surgery and the thought of a failed back surgery scares me more than any failed knee surgery that I have had or could possibly ever have again.

I don't even know if I'm even gonna have surgery, but just the thought is scary. I sound totally redundant, so I'm sorry, but I just can't get the thought outta my head.

I'm still waiting to find out when my appointment is, and I'm really hoping that it will be rather soon, although that means that something is wrong. So I guess I don't really know what I want.

Getting my Spine fused sounds scary and not fun. I guess the only good thing is that the area that I live in has AMAZING spine surgeons, so I'm not going to be seeing some butcher or something.

Sorry for the little ranting/venting things...I'm very foggy, so I don't know if it makes any sense I'm in a lot of pain and funky feeling from my pain meds.

I guess I just can't win. :blush:

[ReineDeLaSeine14]

In your other thread I told you about my mom who had a spinal fusion...I'm sure she'd talk to you about it.

I am supposed to see one myself...for Tethered Cord and Chiari Malformation. It is scary because it's surgery on my spinal cord and on my brain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAH

I'm here for you...as everyone else is...but yeah I know it's really scary....but you gotta do what you gotta do (aaaah Rugrats)

[stacekins]

I just got a call from the doctor and my appointment with the neuro-surgeon is February 20th. So they got me in pretty quick, so I don't know if thats a good thing or not...

[stacekins]

I just got the results of my MRI from my doctor and it seems that I have a bulging disk. They didn't give me any other info, but I guess I'll find it all out when I see the Neurosurgeon dude next week.

[stacekins]

So I'm kinda starting to get freaked out a bit about seeing the surgeon tomorrow...well I guess technically it would be later today.:hmmm

[SunsetParadise19]

Thinking of you Staci!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (((((((hugs)))))))

[stacekins]

So I'm back from seeing the neurosurgeon. It went ok. He is putting me on a series of steroids to decrease inflammation in hopes that this will reduce some of my pain. I have degenerative disk disease in one of my disks and this disk is also bulging at this time. I'm also being sent to physical therapy and apparently this generally works for this type of problem. Surgery will be a very last resort.

I'm really not looking forward to taking the steroids...I know that I'm gonna be one of the cursed that gets a billion side effects, but the other option was to get them injected into my back, and I'd rather avoid getting a needle stuck in my back. :blink:

[xxBrittany]

hmm. so how are you feeling now?

[stacekins]

crappy. I had a steroid epidural and its causing me a lot of pain and PT doesn't seem to be helping. Its kinda disappointing, but I'm gonna give it some more time.

[ReineDeLaSeine14]

Yeah the epidurals take some time to kick in...my doc mentioned doing that with me if the Percocet didn't help much.

[stacekins]

I found out today that I have to have some testing done, but its looking like surgery is going to be happening. I don't want it, but I'm past the point of being able to live like this anymore and if I wait much longer I won't be able to go back to school and That would make me SERIOUSLY loose it.

[ReineDeLaSeine14]

What did Dr. Francomano say about this???

[stacekins]

she said to wait the six months that the surgeon originally said, but the surgeon isn't saying that anymore. And I can't wait 6 months cause that would put in at the start of my semester to be finally figuring things out and I need this to be figured out and fixed before I go back to school, otherwise I won't be able to go back. So I'm pretty much between a rock and a hard place at the moment.

[ReineDeLaSeine14]

My mom was out of work for six months after her fusion...she couldn't drive for three or so...and then there's the four months of PT she did (ah mother daughter bonding...)

[stacekins]

well I"m hoping that if I get a fusion done I'll be able to go back to school in August cause I'm hoping that I can get it done in June just after my sister's wedding. and I figure I can do the PT and all that jazz at school just as easily as I can do it at home. I'm just gonna have to get all the info and move on from there I guess. I have to get the tests done on my back before I go and see the doctor again, so I'm hoping I can get that taken care of very quickly.

[ReineDeLaSeine14]

With post op pain and stuff Staci...you may be overtaxing yourself. Is there any way you can go part time????

[stacekins]

even if I don't have surgery I'll prolly be going part time in the fall. I'm just not back up to where I should be so that I could be successful going full time. I have the test scheduled for my back on May 19th and I'm still waiting to here about the psych evaluation that I have to get, but I'm thinking I will be able to see the surgeon before my sister's wedding, so hopefully I'll get the ball rolling on things pretty soon.

[xxBrittany]

Hope all is going well!