Newbie,,,short notice need answers

[PepsiDoodles]

He and Neuwelt both said will loose partial arms use of both arms and will more than likely be on feeding tube forever, that they both said same on and I love to eat and cook and I am a great cook to,,,just so sad right now, sorry having a huge pity party

[Maria]

I'd be thinking all the same things as you are and having the huge pity party too. All the same wishing you the best with any decision you arrive at and I personally think all too often spine and other surgeons don't go into worse case scenario unless truly there is very strong possibility of something happening and they truly want the patient to know while the option of not doing surgery will likely render severe consequences the option of having the surgery is not without potentially severe consequences as well.

It boils down to does the benefit outweigh the risks. Clearly it appears your previous doctor and one treating you now must think so or at least that it's worth the risk as long as you're clear on "potential" risks.

You do not have any easy decision to make though I understand your considerations and what you're thinking. Meanwhile just do what you need to re prepping for surgery. Ultimately you have the last say on following through.

[PepsiDoodles]

Thank you Maria, yes, been a hard thing to sort out for sure was wondering if anyone else has had something this invasive done all at one time, and what the outcome was?

[Maria]

I worked as an RN/NP and I always advised people not to have let's say two bunionectomies at the same time or cervical surgery and lumbar surgery at the same time if whatever was ordered was elective surgery. When it's of an emergency nature then I feel it's the surgeon's call however I also feel that a number of 2nd opinions would be requisite (time permitting) if it were me having said surgeries...

Now .. because it isn't me and because I do not have the conditions you do nor am I in any way knowledgeable enough to even comment on your situation as to whether you should or whether you shouldn't with exception to whatever I've already commented I'd at least recommend visiting some other well traveled spine websites and also recommend that if you've not spoken directly to mmglobal perhaps you should as Mark may just be able to be enough of a sounding board to maybe help you out a bit more than any other of us could that are responding.

There is one spine website I'd like to refer you to but for the life of me cannot remember it since I no longer frequent it and haven't for a few years. There is the Massachusetts General Neurological forums that I think "were" incredibly instrumental in helping so many of us especially about 15 years back like when Mark (mmglobal) was making his decision to get lumbar ADRs done.

Please start a separate topic post and reach out to see if someone here that is better updated than myself can inform you or reach out to Mark (mmglobal) and also try the search function.

Are you alone in this decision? I am pretty much on my own and I know that everything is that much harder when we are so please .. keep trying to get your answers~ there are so many people out there that have been thru all kinds of stuff spine wise. You need them.. their input, their support.

Godspeed~ Maria

[PepsiDoodles]

Thank you so much Maria! Yes I will tey to email Mark mmglobal, as well look into the other forums,,, Yes am by myself, have a friend who will fly in before the surgery and stay to help once out of hospital should all go ok if I do it...still on the fence..but just talked to surgeons nurse, and she explained that it does all need to be done at the same time and the why's she also answered as well, very nice lady....she also said he is legally bound to tell me of the things that can happen, but was encouraging and said a very large percent of his patients whom have had similar and more at one time have got 100% recovery, not in every case, but that he is very good at what he does and pray for the best outcome and that the surgeon himself is a very spiritual man, and that is why he takes the cases no one else will as he feels it is his duty to try to help whom he can, so that was good to hear if anything, but yes am still looking for answers will be researching all weekend, next week filling up fast with dr apts thank you for taking the time to help me,,you are so appreciated as being alone in this is horrific at best and the thoughts are overwhelming to say the least I am sure you can identify with. xxoo

[PepsiDoodles]

Thank you Maria, got a hold of the ASAP.org foundation, going for another opinion,,,read where the disc's can be totally replaced with no need for fusion if there is an option to that I am taking it, but think fusion is to move c2 back into place as it is at a bad angle right now,,don't know but going to look into it..

[Maria]

That sounds good. I've not heard of that organization before so will check it out. Sounds like artificial disc replacement re replacing discs vs. fusion?

Good luck.. good to check things out while you're still able to (a fact I learned post a failed surgery) although I do understand emergency surgery or surgery done for certain reasons (that practically mandate surgery to try to preserve basic function) is different than elective surgery...