Herniated Disc in Neck - Surgeon wants to operate

[ray198196]

Hi,

I am 27 years old guy and would consider myself very healthy. I have recently had problems with my neck.
About 6 weeks ago I woke up with a severe stiffness in my neck. It did not go away and on the 10th day I decided to see a Physiotherapist. He said that I may have a problem with my disc and decided to put me into traction. However after 3/4 minutes into traction I started to feel nauseous and light headed. I then passed out. (I'd like to ad that the physio had left me alone and I had called out several times to get help but no-one came).
Following this even I went to my GP who advised and MRI scan (attached to this post).

Picture 1.png
This showed a herniated disc in my neck and I was sent to a Neurosurgeon. The surgeon says I have 'brisk reflexes' with myeleopathy(almost certain thats what he said). His recommendation is to have disc replacement surgury but I really don't feel happy about having this surgury for a number of reasons

Overall my symptoms have been,
1. Mild numbness/pain between shoulder blades - sometimes feels like a burning sensation (this has been for over a year now.(mistook this for trapped nerver/knotted muscle and so my hesitation in seeking medical help)
2. When my neck became stiff I had loss of power in my left arm for half a day and and shooting pain down my arms/back if I moved my neck in certain ways.
3. Some numbness in upper arm and shoulders(constant)
4. Pain in neck when sitting in any one position for more than 2/3 minutes

The surgeon says there is a danger this could get worse and cause permanent spinal chord damage but the chances of this are 50/50. There is a 1 in 400 chance that I could be paralyzed in the surgery.
At the moment I am not allowed to swim, surf or do any sports because of the dangers or causing further damage. These are all things I love to do as I am an active person. I would appreciate if anyone could help me and possibley offer alternatives to surgury or give me your opinion on what I should do.

Thanks in advance,
Ray

[ray198196]

Hey guys,

Thanks a mill for your support and advice. I feel a lot more assured about having surgery now so here's hopin that it all goes well. I will post any updates on my progress.

Cheers :)

[LLWB]

Conservative measures are usually tried for at least 6 months, unless there is a medical emergency to do surgery immediatly. Physical therapy,, first one that comes to my mind, drawing a blank tonight on others, sorry about that.You are fortunate only one level seems to be involved, but you don't want the problem to be long-term so that you do have permanent nerve damage. I had C5-6 discectomy and fusion a year and a half ago. I can do anything now I did before the surgery. In the summertime I swim a lot, walk, and ride horses. Too old to surf! LOL  You should schedule a visit with a neuro-surgeon, and discuss the different treatment approaches, your fears, (yes, we all have them)  and your options. Another very excellent website directly for spinal issues is Spine-Health.com It also has lots of articles and information about the ADR's. Good luck.

[kittyluv1]

Hi --
   Doing research regarding ADR can be very helpful. Making decisions based on facts and figures is always better than pursuing surgery not knowing enough details.
There is a web site that is devoted specifically to the types of questions you are now asking.  It can be found at www.ADRsupport.org.   It does include information regarding FDA approved artificial discs as well as discussion forums among individuals who have had the procedure as well as those considering it.  It may give you more detailed information.
   As far as the issue of harming your voice --- I think your doctor is referring to the fact that doing an anterior approach (as is common) the surgeon needs to move aside the esophagus, trachea and the recurrent laryngeal nerve (which supplies the voice box) to gain access to the spinal column.  It is possible that your voice may be hoarse for a period of time after surgery, but the risk of permanent damage is quite low/
My voice was a bit raspy for only a few days.
  Hope this helps ----

[ray198196]

Hi,

I'm still awaiting the report from the neurosurgeon so haven't been able to discuss my consultation GP yet. Does anyone know if there is any one artificial disc that is better than the other? I was just thinking that I don't want a museum piece put in my neck. Also, there have been some other questions I never got to ask the neurosurgoen like will I be able to surf and do yoga again? He mentioned a possible danger to my voice, is this very real and has anyone heard of anyone having their voice damaged. I'm a teacher so my voice is crucial to my job.
I also haven't been able to find a comprehensive list of pros and cons of the procedure. Also the 1 in 400 chance that I could be paralyzed, is it me or are they really bad odds?

Sorry for all the questions but I haven't been able to talk to anyone about this properly.

Thanks

[ray198196]

Hey,

Thanks for the quick response. I just wanted to say that I have uploaded the MRI scans to my profile for viewing. Couldn't add them to the post for some reason.

[kittyluv1]

Welcome to the Back and Neck Community. Members are  here to provide assistance and support to individuals experiencing symptoms related to possible abnormal conditions of the spine. Advice given is non-professional and is primarily based on personal experiences

I am sorry to hear of your prolonged health problems.  It is difficult to cope with pain and the hurdles it presents when desiring to remain active and participate in the sports you enjoy.
The symptoms of myelopathy are consistent with your stated symptoms.  Generally a herniated disc and disc degeneration can produce symptoms of pain  and numbness, tingling and weakness of the affected extremities.  This is known as radiculopathy or radiculitis.  Myelopathy is a much more significant finding and your neurosurgeon is correct in informing you of the potential dangers involved without surgical intervention.
The risks of permanent damage as this process continues are quite high while the possibility of paralysis from the surgery itself is minimal.
Disc replacement surgery is being offered as an alternative to discectomy and fusion in order to maintain as much movement and function in your spine as possible.
Fusion surgery could result in restricted movement and also increases the risk of requiring surgery to adjacent discs at a later time.
I am now 5 weeks postop anterior cervical discectomy and fusion C4-C7 due to extensive degenerative changes and spinal stenosis that was compromising my spinal nerves and spinal cord.  Fusion was my only option due to the multiple levels involved.
I am happy to report that most of my pain was gone within 3 hrs of the surgery and I continue to progress in my recovery.  I have only a minimal change in the movement of my neck and the surgery itself was not as difficult (for me) as I had imagined.
The decision for surgery is a very personal one and you need to evaluate all the risks and potential complications as opposed to your current activity restrictions and the chances of permanent damage.
You also have the option of obtaining a second opinion from another board certified neurosurgeon who can explore this issue with you in greater detail.
Post again with an update and any additional questions/concerns you may have.
Best wishes ---