7 replies to this topic

[GottaHaveFaith]

My brother's surgery is 2 weeks from today. My sister told me that there is a 25% chance of him coming out worse than when he went in. I read the letter; it says 25% - 35%.

It is his body and his decision. I'm just wondering if any of you would have the surgery if you had his particular SCI and had made the gains he has. So far one person on the forum is against it.

Here are the facts:

He has C3 central cord syndrome with partial quad below C3-C4.

It has been 3 months since the accident and he can sit up and transfer with only a light hold on the Posey belt. He can pedal on a recumbent bike (no hand involvement). He is just starting to be able to pick up lightweight items without them falling from his hand (example: a metal fork is too heavy to grasp and hold onto, but he fed himself some potato chips on Saturday).

The operation is to stablize his neck (he has servere DDD in his C vertebraes). They will fuse vertebraes, install spacers between some, and make more room for his spinal cord.

Faith

Edited by GottaHaveFaith, 15 February 2011 - 04:36 AM.

[Wheelsonfire]

It sounds like there is no choice, try to keep what's there or possibly lose it down the line due to the area being unstable.

No one can give a true answer, you have to be in the position to answer truthfully.

But, to surmise, yes, I would go for the surgery.

[Soryfam]

If it were me, I would have the surgery. I've had several subsequents surgeries after my initial SCI. They all had positives and negatives to them, but overall I would have them again if needed. Good luck to you. I know it's a scary situation.

Sandy

[Smileyblue]

Every operation has its positives and negatives.. The trick is to make sure you find out as much as you can about both sides of the coin before you make your decision.. No one else can do that for you, as no one else is in exactly the same position as you.. It is scary, just like Sandy said, but ultimately it is a decision that has to be made.. Just ensure you have ALL the information, and then the decision will be that much easier to make..

;-)

[Soryfam]

Smiley-- how are you doing after your surgery?

Sandy

[GottaHaveFaith]

Hi Smiley!

So would you or would you not have the operation?

And regarding your operation, what type did you have and how is your recovery coming along?

Faith

[Smileyblue]

I had a few surgeries in the past few months..

Firstly I had the Mitrofanoff and bladder augmentation, in which the Mitrofanoff was given 70% chance of working.. The augmentation worked out fine, but the Mitrofanoff failed miserably.. But I had to try solve my problems somehow, so I took the chance..

I also just had DREZ to try to stop the spasms.. It seemed to have worked brilliantly for the first few days, and then every day the spasms started to incrementally return.. At this point I would say they are still about 50% better than what they were before, but I have no idea what they'll end up like.. ;-) Can only try to remain positive and hope for the best.. At least I can manage them the way they are now, and once the healing is complete, I hope to regain my independence..

My surgeries were, for me, a choice that I had to make.. The Mitrofanoff for trying to curb the constant bladder infections from the foleys, and the DREZ for regaining my independence as the spasms were so bad that I couldn't even sit up or turn over unassisted anymore..

It really is a personal choice, getting all the information, weighing up the odds, and deciding what you can and cannot live with..

;-)

[dangerousdave]

It really is a personal choice, getting all the information, weighing up the odds, and deciding what you can and cannot live with..

Couldn't agree more Smiley

Surgeons aren't Gods
Just our fellow citazens doing what they think is best
That of course might not be best for you

I will have to have neck surgery done one day, and it could be as bad as having a solid no movement neck
That for me will be totally life changing and might be to much for me to accept
So after many talks and tests and MRI's - nout will be done until the pain is unbareable
A decision made with input from all - but exclusivly mine in the end

A note of laughter - my back has so many scars that on the final op, they finished with a nip and tuk to get it back to one scar