Can herniation get worse

[Kim60]

Hi All,
Hope everyone is doing well. I've been to 2 NS and both have told I need surgery.  I am having a brain MRI in a couple of weeks and still in the process of thinking about things.
I was thinking about waiting until the spring for surgery (or later if I can).  Any of you who have waited for surgery, did you find that your herniation get worse or was it just your symptoms that got worse over time?  The way I've been feeling for this week, it's like I don't have anything wrong with me.  I have to say, I only have a dull headache (which I can live with)..
The Dr. did say not to do much to strain myself but he made it sound like it could cause me pain not that I could get worse.  Like I said, I'm still in the process of thinking about things.  I'll talk to the Dr. more after the brain MRI.  I just wanted to know the opinion of all of you knowledgeable people here!
Take care and thanks to all of you!
Kim

[selmaS]

Hey Kim...I am having an issue with hair color.....but I let my hair long and in pulling it into a ponytail it helps cover my gray....I also am very slow to heal, so I am at the point at 6 months post op to do something with my hair...coloring included : )

"selma"

[Kim60]

OK, forget that surgery question Andrea. I just checked out your profile!  Nice pictures.  Also, thanks for help on the hair color issue.. that was one of my top 10 questions.  I usually have it colored every 5 weeks or so.. If/when I have surgery at least I know I'll just have to suck it up for a while. :(  Maybe by then my hair color won't seem so important. MAYBE, but doubtful.
Thanks again,
Take care.
Kim

[Kim60]

Thanks Andrea,
I'll have to try real hard not to fall or hit my head! Best of luck to you.  Did you have surgery?
Kim

[plumsaki]

Hi there Kim!

I experienced both a worsening of symptoms and an increase in herniation, but it was after a fall where I hit my head.  My herniation was stable at 8mm and my symptoms stayed pretty much consistent for years until I fell.  The herniation went from 8mm to 16mm and I had a rapid onset and progression of symptoms immediately after the fall.  

I don't know if any of this information is helpful to you at all, but I just thought I'd share!  Hope your MRI goes well!

Andrea

[selmaS]

Oh Ok...that sounds better......a 9 mm herniation with overcrowding is one to look at with more testing......all u need to know now is how often ur dr has done this surgery...ect......if ur conversation goes back to surgery.


Good luck with the MRI

"selma"

[Kim60]

I had a cervical MRI. Both of the dr.s said I had a 9mm herniation. They both also said that it looked a bit crowded at the base of my skull.  The second dr. said thought based on my symptoms (on and off since May) that surgery would help.  He said it was not a cure but would help with symptoms. He said to only have the surgery when/if I'M ready because some people have a long/hard recovery.  He also said that he wouldn't do anything on me until I had a brain MRI to be sure there isn't something else going on. After that he said we'll take it from there and what he finds.
Kim

[selmaS]

HI Kim,

The symptoms can cycle and u may be lucky in that u may be able to go a long time with out things getting worse....and surgery would not be recommended or needed.
However, u should be checked once a yr and if symptoms change, get worse or u notice new ones.

I am confused as to how the NS made a decision to do surgery if u have not had a brain MRI?....what test results did they use to make that suggestion?

Make sure u see a true chiari specialist and  have all the testing to see what is going on with u.

"selma"