Success rates and trade offs – what are your expectations

[fortitudine]

Okay, so here's my dilemma.My c-spine is a mess. I haven't had surgery. I am 100% fine! NO PROBLEMS. I can do everything I want to as far as my spine is concerned. I feel good. I cycle as much as possible in the summer. I like being able to turn my head and look behind me for traffic.
BUT
My MRI says my c-spine is compressed at at least 2 levels. Docs recommend surgery at at least 2 levels. Probably at least 1-level fusion, maybe more. Apparently there is severe facet arthrosis at one level too.
I was first diagnosed over 4 years ago.I have been watching and waiting. Nothing has happened in the interim. But apparently the films look worse.

I am terrified to have any surgery and end up being left in pain. I had a total knee replacement last year, and while my knee feels way better, I still have lots of pain. I can deal with it because it is a vast improvement over my previous situation.
But ANY pain after neck surgery would be a BAD result for me. And there are no guarantees.WHAT DO I DO?

[dshobbies]

Fortitudine,

I agree that you've got a problem. Common sense dictates that you don't fix something that ain't broke but it is broke, you just have no pain which usually is the guideline.

Would postponing the surgery cause adjacent discs to deteriorate? Would postponing cause nerve damage or some disability? Could an emergency situation develop? Specifically what are the consequences of waiting? Pain is a huge motivator. Without it what is there to be gained from doing surgery now? These are your questions. If there is no consequence and you're not in pain, voila! End of difficult decision. I do suspect that the answer isn't that simple though. Is what might happen a good enough reason to risk surgery? How many doctors have you seen? Do they all agree on the treatment? Do they all agree on the dangers of waiting? Fear is also a huge motivator so until you're satisfied that you have no other alternative perhaps waiting is your best bet.

I hope you get the answers you seek but...
Good luck, Dale

[Maria]

That'd be a difficult call. If it's looking like I'm going to have significant damage (permanent) by waiting that might make me think seriously that I should have the surgery but that would have been before my failed L4 percutaneous discectomy.

Now I'd be hard pressed to do anything without any symptoms and being completely pain free and not limited in any manner in terms of activity.

Again, it's going to depend on the number of surgeons consulted and what they say with regard to actual necessity for surgical intervention (weighted with what I feel like doing now). Is this something that is going to save me from spinal devastation?

I just don't know what I would do...