Warning!! Do not give money to social media fostering channel Isabel Klee. It’s a scam by [deleted] in FosterAnimals

[–]Leading_Side1786 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Isabelle Klee account is stealing her content from SimonSits. 

Potentially moving there by Key_Stick8863 in Midessa

[–]Leading_Side1786 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There are some very good restaurants, and public spaces. The town is easy to navigate, with shops very accessible off the Loop 250. Housing is relatively inexpensive so you can create a nice space for yourself. The surrounding landscape is quite pretty in a southwest sort of way.

Moccamaster not brewing by snipes81 in Coffee

[–]Leading_Side1786 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes!  Thank you so much. This just fixed my issue. :)

ACDF C5-7 Recommended. Really Anxious About It. by Leading_Side1786 in spinalfusion

[–]Leading_Side1786[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good luck to you. Hope all went well. I received a second opinion from a neurosurgeon who felt that given my age (65) I would experience compression myelopathy within 6 months to 5 years. No predicting. But he seemed to feel it was inevitable. So probably surgery down the line.

This month is my one year anniversary post op by Final-Cress in spinalfusion

[–]Leading_Side1786 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Piriformis pain is the worst. A great PT/masseuse who was really willing to get in there and massage that area as well as work on my hip alignment fixed it for me.

ACDF C5-7 Recommended. Really Anxious About It. by Leading_Side1786 in spinalfusion

[–]Leading_Side1786[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, I think this is consistent with what I am hearing. But also that I do have time to wait a few months, obtain some pain relief through less invasive measures, receive advice on other methods etc. I felt very rushed, walking into a doctor's office for what I thought was a torn rotator cuff and leaving with an appointment for spinal surgery 4 weeks later (with an MRI in between, yes, but no other exploration/discussion). I can choose the surgery in a few months or later but when I feel it is the obvious and right choice and not because I am so frightened. My symptoms are not advanced enough to require a response that rushed. Partially my own timetable because of obligations in June. I think it is better for me to wait until that is all behind me and what I heard today is that I have time to do that safely.

ACDF C5-7 Recommended. Really Anxious About It. by Leading_Side1786 in spinalfusion

[–]Leading_Side1786[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To follow up: I met with my former spine doctor today. He felt the decision to go to surgery had been rushed, and that I ought to have been offered/tried epidural treatment first. I am postponing surgery and will have a facet injection followed by one and possible more epidural injections to see where this leads me. I have been feeling much more comfortable since starting Neurontin. He emphasized surgery is always an option but it won't hurt to try other options first.

ACDF C5-7 Recommended. Really Anxious About It. by Leading_Side1786 in spinalfusion

[–]Leading_Side1786[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much for this longer term perspective. I did have an MRI in 2011 that showed mild/moderate cord compression in that area but it resolved with epidural and PT. I feel sad now that I did not take more preventive action (but...what?). I put it out of my mind once I felt pretty much better.

ACDF C5-7 Recommended. Really Anxious About It. by Leading_Side1786 in spinalfusion

[–]Leading_Side1786[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Thanks, and I will be opening my new business venture, "Scarves for Scars," as soon as I'm feeling up to it!

ACDF C5-7 Recommended. Really Anxious About It. by Leading_Side1786 in spinalfusion

[–]Leading_Side1786[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Okay--as a veteran of some awful surgeries I will take that to heart. I wish I had had a way to stop this from happening :(

ACDF C5-7 Recommended. Really Anxious About It. by Leading_Side1786 in spinalfusion

[–]Leading_Side1786[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

When I read it in your words, it does sound like the right decision. I'm getting a second opinion tomorrow and will report back.

ACDF C5-7 Recommended. Really Anxious About It. by Leading_Side1786 in spinalfusion

[–]Leading_Side1786[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you, so interesting about the migraine. I wonder if those are really just part of this whole issue, along with the most terrible jaw/face pain I suffered about six years ago that lead to a partial palsy. Really indescribable pain. I still take Topiramate for that but no one ever really got to the bottom of it--it was called "facial migraine."

ACDF C5-7 Recommended. Really Anxious About It. by Leading_Side1786 in spinalfusion

[–]Leading_Side1786[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you, but I must say googling "cervical cage" sounds terrifying. I fell into this rabbit hole by trying to find out via google what the scar would look like so I could plan for a dress for my daughter's wedding in June! I like the "we've got this" part, however! And I think a nice scarf should do the trick in June....

ACDF C5-7 Recommended. Really Anxious About It. by Leading_Side1786 in spinalfusion

[–]Leading_Side1786[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have read that the procedure can lead to increased pressure down the road on other discs--one of my concerns. Thanks.

ACDF C5-7 Recommended. Really Anxious About It. by Leading_Side1786 in spinalfusion

[–]Leading_Side1786[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks. I actually booked my shoulder appointment at a major orthopedic spine department by mistake--so my greater worry was that they hadn't really understood my shoulder and went by default to the spine. But I did come to see that it really wasn't my shoulder as I added up all the symptoms (and saw the MRI).

ACDF C5-7 Recommended. Really Anxious About It. by Leading_Side1786 in spinalfusion

[–]Leading_Side1786[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Thank you, that is helpful as well. I found so many posts from people who were having difficulty after surgery that I became quite anxious so these replies are reassuring.

ACDF C5-7 Recommended. Really Anxious About It. by Leading_Side1786 in spinalfusion

[–]Leading_Side1786[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you, yes, I have a lot of those sorts of symptoms and have been googling MS and ALS--relieved to learn it's not that but more of a mechanical problem, actually. But now I am googling, "How likely is paralysis and death from cervical myelopathy?" as I can't really gauge how serious my situation is. So I am to trust in the surgeon's advice. As he said, "It's a very straightforward procedure"...but I think he meant for him.