To those lovely people who responded to my post about my husband’s cervical stenosis diagnosis, then I’ve got an update for you.
We had the meeting with the neuro surgeon last week and he’d met with the MDT. Without saying it in so many words, the consensus was that the surgery couldn’t guarantee my currently fit husband a better quality of life, in view of the possible high risks involved with the surgery and in fact they couldn’t guarantee the surgery to be a success. But they had to offer my husband the choice and it would have to be his final decision..
He said that the surgery (posterior procedure) could make the neck muscles weak and at worse the surgery “could” possibly cause some paralysis.
As my husband is currently very fit, and atm just has bad pins and needles down his arm, he’s decided to leave alone and not go ahead with the surgery.
He’s been discharged from the clinic but he does have the option to get a re-referral at any time.
He’s confident he’s made the right choice, so we’re now going to go full steam ahead and get our December trip to Oz booked and enjoy life.
Onwards and upwards…
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Doraflora
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I am pleased. I didn't comsider your husbands symptoms bad enough to warrant spinal surgery, which comes with significant risk. So go forth young man! Wishing you many years of active life.
What an honest neurosurgeon and, yes, I do think your husband has made the right decision. I thoroughly recommend Henry Marsh’s three books which he wrote when he retired. He had been a consultant neurosurgeon for many years. They are, “Do No Harm”, “Admissions “ and “And Finally”. The best of luck to you both!
I have just read your two posts about your husband's cervical stenosis. I went down that road also after a major PMR flare left me some loss of strength in my right arm. I was sent to a neurologist who sent me for a MRI that showed cervical stenosis and a pinched nerve in my neck. The neurologist and my GP were absolutely pushing surgery which caused me no end of anxiety as this was no minor surgery and comes with much risk. Well they sent me to a neurosurgeon who after examining the MRI told me that at this time surgery wasn't warranted and maybe it might down the road. Well when I heard this I was filled with relief and thankful that he wasn't one of those surgeons that feel there is nothing a scalpel won't fix!
Hi micpenn22. Thanks for your message and for reaching out.
Well, the neurosurgeon on our second visit was more or less telling my husband not to go ahead with surgery due to his current great health and mobility. But he said he had to offer the surgery nonetheless.
As the outcome could not be guaranteed, my husband immediately decided he didn’t want to take that huge risk - especially at 78 years old.
We’re just going to live life and enjoy things.
Hope all goes well for you and you stay as healthy as you can too.
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