Spinal cord compression Can I wait

[newneck]

I have a herniated disc at C6-C7 that is compressing the C7 nerve root and the spinal cord.......my physician wants to do a anterior cervical discectomy with artificial disk placement......I thought this would be done immediately....but he said it could take a month to get insurance approval etc.

I thought spinal cord compression was an absolute emergency. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[Dolphind]

I waited a year with mine-and they say its not a good idea.  You need to be careful, but I had the same exact thing and it turned out fine.  Might I also suggest you calling your insurance company yourself and asking for an advocate to help you get the approval-especially if your in alot of pain.  I also did this and I had it in 48 hours.  Hope this is helpful.

[bhups1]

Hi, relax; spinal cord compression is no emergency. Please keep on taking your routine medications, pain killers etc. Surgery is indicated when the symptoms are unbearable, leg weakness, loss of urinary control etc are present.

[magsprice]

I would seriously try a chiro practitioner first before you think of surgery please take my advice he can get your xrays from the hospital faxed over and he can see if it can help you I had surgery ands it isnt an easy option its left me damaged with left side weakness ataxia bowel and bladder probs walking probs (ataxia) and im on drugs unable to work for life so please think carefully

[patsy10]

I had cord compression as well.  I had surgery and am also left with some problems.  If the cord compression is severe there will weakness of the legs and difficulty walking, bowel or bladder problems etc....  If you don't have these symptoms then it does not sound like an emergency.