the surgeon says i should have surgery. shocked, i'm shocked

[mopinko]

i tell ya. i love how doctors show you your test results when it is what they want to tell you, and give you some platitude when they don't. (looked at some stuff in my file while the doc took a phone call. rheumie said a bone scan i had was "pretty unremarkable". i knew that meant- there are some abnormalities, but i don't want to feed your 'head case'. slight to moderate arthritic changes in my shoulders. :eyes:)
but surgeon did show me my mri, and i do have a couple of nice little pinches there. he can get me in with a week or 2 lead time. i pointed out a that my bone density was falling, so he wants to do a dexiscan, and a cat scan. i want to talk to my pcp, but she seems to still be sick. guess it's time to spin the old 'pick-a-doc wheel'. fun.
can't say the epidural is doing too much for me, but it did quiet down the amazingly sensitive index finger thing. phew. still there, but dropped the wattage. man. so annoying.
anyway, more or less full speed ahead, i guess. i want my f'ing arm back.

[Warpy]

1. As I said, surgery is the cure for radiculopathy

although some lucky folks can forestall it for years with medications and physical therapy. It sounds like you're not one of the lucky ones if your doc wants to go ahead with the surgery.

The good news is that they've been good at cervical surgeries for a very long time and the overall prognosis is very good. However, there are always risks with any surgery, and your surgeon will go over all that when you are scheduled.

Anything that drops the wattage is a good thing. Take what you can get until you can get that sucker fixed for good.

[mopinko]

2. yeah, he went over the possible bad outcomes.

one good thing about these guys- they have built one of the best networks in the country in the last 10 years. i think losers are out of there pretty quick. all hi-techie up to your eyeballs.
he didn't seem to think that anyone in their right mind would say no. i see no point in dragging this out any longer. i am ready.

[Warpy]

3. Good.

I worked neuro constantly for about 4 years. The worst outcome I saw was a failure of the graft leading to the patient wearing a halo vest for several months. He lost no function and eventually made a full recovery.

I hope that's reassuring. That was 20 years ago, and they've gotten much better at all back surgeries since then.

The worst part is learning how to eat with a rigid neck brace on, although things like bathing and especially shampooing are also challenges.

If you need to diet, after surgery is the time to start. :evilgrin: