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Just an update 1 year and some months

Hello everyone. I had decompression surgery and laminectomy on July 7th 2014. I am now pain free and living life as I guess "normal" since I feel no pain. I was skeptical about having any surgery down but since i was only 18 when I had the surgery, i figured better now that I am young and fairly healthy rather than at an older age when I have a family to support or my health isn't so great so recovery is longer. It took me 8 months to recover but 1 year to feel comfortable to do things like I used to.

Now, for anyone reading this thinking about surgery, I suggest you speak with family and your NS, to see what is best for you. Yes recovery was a bit difficult but for me it paid off and luckily my family was there to help me with whatever I needed. Unfortunately, it doesn't go like that for everyone,

SIDE NOTE (this happened yesterday)

So the nurse who's noting all my vitals down is looking at my medical record and asked me about Chiari (the reason I had my surgery). So I started telling her about it, dumbing it down, assuming she has zero idea about what I'm talking about. When I finish telling her she tells me that she was diagnosed with it too. She had a different form of it and has a shunt. It's crazy to meet someone who has the same thing as you and you can ask each other questions. She's 42 years old and had her surgery at 19. I never thought I would run into someone who has the same thing as me.
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4237959 tn?1356137806
Thanks for giving hope to those unable to have surgery yet.
. It'll help everyone stay positive, thanks
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620923 tn?1452915648
COMMUNITY LEADER

  Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

It is always great to hear from those that have had surgery and a good recovery as well....

I had surgery 6.5 yrs ago, at age 49....and it took me longer to recover since I also have related conditions like Tethered cord, and EDS....age can sometimes be a factor...

That is great you met someone like that....it is nice to see we are no alone at there and I really feel there are more of us then are reported....Chiari is not rare as some say, but well informed and experienced  Drs are.
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