Hi strangers. In keeping with the fact that my body seems to have been falling apart in recent years resulting in quite a lot of operations, this years body fail is a prolapsed disc in my neck compressing the nerve canal and causing pain, numbness and tingling in my left arm and hand. Confusingly the neurosurgeon thinks it originally prolapsed quite some time ago but it wasn't until a mountain bike accident in February that it began compressing the nerve canal.
Anyway, after several months the NHS finally diagnosed the prolapse and referred me to the neurosurgeon. Reluctant to operate he seemed to think it would heal itself with medication and physio and time. It hasn't and there is some concern that it has actually got worse and so I have to have a second MRI.
Having bigged up the risks of surgery he seems to think that is where I'm headed. Removal of the disc and replacement with a carbon fibre cage and titanium plate.
I just don't know what to do as I am terrified of the surgery - the risks of damage to the spinal cord, nerves and voice seem quite high at 1in100. Equally there is no guarantee the operation will stop my symptoms. In my case I've been told the likelihood is some permanent nerve damage already. But equally I'm suffering. I still can't run - the last attempt left me unable to move my neck for two days. Driving and other day to day stuff aggravates it and I'm starting to struggle to play guitar now too. But my Physio doesn't seem to think surgery is the best option and I should just give it more time.
Has anyone had this op and what was the recovery like and did it relieve symptoms? I'm definitely confused and scared.com 😕