[joes_grl]

hello,
I am new here as have been reading lots here and learning. I just wrote an entire post of our story and what is going on with my hubby, only to lose all the information by pressing the wrong key. I am going to attempt to sum it up and make it short , and not be so detailed.
Hubby had neck fusion in 2003, C4-C7, subsequently resulted in an infection which nearly killed him. Now to present, has numbess again and severe pain in his neck, even though he is on pain meds for life. The infection has left a scooped out large areas of no muscle or tissue at the surgery site. We went to his neurosurgeon roughly one month ago, due to worsening pain, test results show a spinal cord compression at C-2 , C-3 above where the fusion took place. Oh the hardware broke too and left that way. Surgeon told us he needed to have surgery again to relieve the compression and that surgery is not elective, however told us the time he chooses to have the surgery, is his choice. He told us a fall, "jarring", sudden move, etc could possibly cause a severage of the cord and leave him paralyzed from neck down. He fitted him with a neck brace. We looked at the films, and one can CLEARLY see the cord is being compressed and does not look good.
My husband has thought alot about this and has chosen not to have the surgery for fear he would not live through it. He feels blessed and "lucky" he states, to have survived the surgery in 2003. I told him I would support whatever decision he makes as it is his to make.
I am constantly worried however. He is on full disability and at home alone, while I work full time outside the home. I am so so fearful of coming home one day and finding him on the floor passed away or something due to sudden paralysis from a fall, or something else. He walks with a cane, and his symptoms are worsening. He admitted to me the other day that he had an incident where when he woke up, he could not roll over, could not move. He said he decided to just fall back to sleep. He said when he woke up again later, he could move and got out of bed, albeit ever so slowly. Am I over reacting? Dont you think with what the surgeon told us, my fears are a true possible scenario? PLEASE any comments, questions, suggestions, reactions etc are absolutely welcome, and needed. Oh, it is my hubby and I alone, our children are grown, he is 47 years old , a diabetic, with hight blood pressure, overweight, and smokes a pack a day. Thank you all so much for reading our story and PLEASE leave comments, advice, anything. Hope you all have a good day. Thanks again.

[cate]

Hi Joe's girl. That is a difficult call. my daughter is c5/6 and has the hardware . it has been successful for her, . and she is able to walk with crutches, Her cord is completely flattened, and will not rejuvernate, the longer the compression on the cord less chance of it recovering. Your husband seems to have been throught a lot, just wish you both well, and hope you can find the right decision for him.
Cate

[smokymtn memories]

I had bone fusion surgery aug 06. I was already using a cane and was close to being in a w/c. Mine was C 4-5-6.

Everyone has to make up their own mind, but I would do the surgery and take my chances again, if it meant I could still get around with a cane and not be totally bed/chair bound. It's bad enough the way I am.

Tell him I'm ten years older, could stand to loose some weight, have a heart murmur and high blood pressure, and smoke a pack a day.

Whatever you decide, good luck.

This post has been edited by smokymtn memories: 31 December 2007 - 10:22 PM

[kewlcatkez]

Hi,

I can only imagine your worry. It bet it takes a lot of gumption to not beg him to have the surgery, yet at the same time I am sure that the thoughts of surgery is very scary for you too.

Further to the advice of the others above, I wondered if your hubby and yourself had been able to talk with anyone who has been in a similar situation? The Spinal Injuries Association (SIA) in the UK 0800 980 0501, in the USA= National Spinal Cord Injury Association (NSCIA) Helpline: 800-962-9629, or google for other Countries will be able to give you advice and may be able to put you in touch with someone who has gone through similar, and had the surgery. Likewise, they may be able to put him in touch with those who chose not to. It just may of help to talk to someone who has been there, in the exact situation - like the previous poster has.

I feel for you both, and at 47 years old, he is very young to be living on such a knife edge for the foreseeable future. If he was 90, perhaps that would be the best option. Of course, I am over simplifying the choices and it is obviously a very serious surgery and choice.

I would also suggest that he seeks a 2nd or 3rd opinion. He is the UK a person is entitled to request and see a second or third opinion even, especially if the situation is quite rare or complex, which it seems your husband fulfills. In other Countries, similar medical rights exist.
It may be that they suggest the same, but you never know, he may see someone who has performed more of these risky surgeries or has a fresh idea. Again, if you are struggling to find such an opinion, then do get in touch with the Spinal association or similar for their advice.

Please let us know how things progress and how you and hubby are/get on,

Take care,

K

[robert ayres]

Hi

My wife had a fall causing c4/c5 injury she had surgery and neck brace fitted plus bone graft and plate
after just over 2 months in hospital the brace was removed. She had physio to learn to walk and came home that was 5 years ago. The M.R.I scan shows the cord is damaged and she is slower walking and seems to get more pain in her neck and back now. If surgery is going to benefit your partner making life better then maybe it is worth discussing with your surgeon.



robertayres