My four month old needs surgery for a tethered cord

My four month old presented with a cafe au lait nevus over her spine as well as a deviated gluteal cleft. After two ultrasonds they ordered an MRI that showed her to have a tethered cord and a probably a lipoma? I am obviously extremely scared to have my little girl go through surgery escpecially that of the spine. I believe the diagnosis is a tethered cord resulting in the filum terminale connected to a lipoma or something of that nature. How worried should I be about this surgery? The neurosurgeon made it sound like my daughter would be back to her good ol self within a week of the surgery. The pediatrician is saying she will most likely need physical therapy. I feel as though the surgery and recovery is being downplayed to ease my mind. I want to know what we are in store for to better prepare our life in order to take care of her needs. Should I plan on keeping her from rolling, moving around for weeks? How long will she be in pain? If anyone can shed some light on the surgery and what to expect with recovery I would be greatly appreciative.

[selmaS]

Hi...as long as u have a NS that is well experienced in this proceedure u r in good hands. And it is best to get this done ASAP.....children to recover much better than those of us being dx as adults.

Plus, it u were to leave this go, it would only be the root to other conditions presenting themselves.

All of us deal with pain diff, so it is very hard to give a time line.....at her age she most likely will not remember it.....but if it is put off till she is older.....she may carry the memory as well.

If u r not comfortable with the dr....get a second opinion...and make sure u r comfortable with the dr and his abilities.

We do have a forum here that deals with chiari, syringomyelia, tethered cord right here on MedHelp...I hope u choose to stop by....a member bubbles has had tethered cord release as a young adult....mine was put off and am going for more MRI's in a couple of months.

Good luck
Godspeed
"selma"