Quality Of Life Better After Surgery

I am listening to all the stories and I would like to know does anybody feel the surgery was
totally worth it and has their quality of life improved after surgery.  

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40%

 (2) 

Yes

40%

 (2) 

Somewhat

20%

 (1) 

No, not really

5 Members voted

[*Stormy*]

Right now I only say somewhat b/c even though my legs have improved...I still have a lot of pain, some headaches and many symptoms are still there from before. I am awaiting my 6 month MRI to see how successful the surgery has been. So...my answer may change down the road as things continue to heal and improve.
One things is for sure I am still 100% positive that I needed to have the surgery done..the main thing is prevention of any more progression!!

Carolyn

[selmaS]

Ditto...I had my 6 month post op in Dec, but I do have other related conditions....so hard to say when I have symptoms, but the surgery has stopped progression and I did need the surgery...drop attacks have stopped so far...and that is a plus : )

[scottcwsc]

I think the success in Chiari Surgery all depends as to the degree one is suffering.  I myself was told without the Decompression Surgery I was not going to live long, I was herniated at 18mm.  Althought my Surgery was somewhat of a failure I am still alive and look for additional Surgery to hopefully eliminate some more symptoms which all came back afterwards.  I will never be who I once was but I have a loving family andwife who help me along.  

[*Stormy*]

I totally agree...the outcome shouldn't really be measured by what symptoms have been resolved...it should be measured by what it prevented from happening in the future. That is why I would never regret doing the surgery even if I had every single symptom that I had before...at least I can walk and am here for my husband and children :)

[selmaS]

Hi and welcome to our chiari forum and our little chiari family.

I am so happy u found us and r willing to share ur experiences with us, and I am so sorry that u r yet one more affected by this condition.

I agree too, the surgery helps this from progressing, but we may have to deal with symptoms we had b4....I was told to expect to continue to have chiari symptoms as I still have chiari.....

Again, glad to have u here  ; )

"selma"

[pdxmomof3boys]

I'm still recovering, but do not at all regret having surgery. I am so grateful to have my life back, even if not completely yet. I already feel an enormous difference! Long way to go, but feeling optimistic for the first time in years. I had to vote a resounding YES because my life isn't what it was yet...but I am so hopeful that it will be soon!

Rosemarie

[huskys2]

I had my surgery 12-17-10 and was the best thing I could have done. The only thing I have to deal with now  is migrains every now and then but 1-2 a month is much better then 3-4 a week. I felt better when i woke up from my surgery . My husband laughs when ever we talk about it when I woke up I said look I can move my arms with no pain. I had my surgery on a Fri and came home on Sunday so a year later still very good.  The only thing bad about the surgery was being fired from my job when I said I had to have surgery. The other good thing is I only take one pill now much less then before surgery.
Huskys2

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

Thank u for sharing ur post op  experience with us....sorry u lost ur job, many of us also lose our jobs during this process of surgery and recovery as some require more time to heal then others and some have developed issues post op and it takes a bit longer then originally projected.

  It is good to hear u r doing much better then b4 surgery....

  may I ask, did u not have FMLA benefits where u worked?

     "selma"

[ladsmith]

Hi. I had decompression surgery in May 2010. My quality of life has improved greatly, but lately I have been having a dull headace at the back of my head, with neck, shoulder and back pain/discomfort. Could I be having acm symptoms? A muscle relaxer seems to give me as much relief as the expensive migraine medicine.

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum...
.......it is possible that u had scar tissue form.....have u been checked lately?..when was ur last MRI?

Did u have a syrinx?..if so, do u know did it shrink post op?

     "selma"