Having neck surgery

[lisasmom]

I am a 44 year old mother of five grama of five. I began having pain in neck,shoulders and arms about a year and a half   ago.Then I began having pain in both arms and hands with numbness and tingling.I was referred to a nuerosurgeon who says I need surgery.The surgery is fusion at c4-5,c5-6 and c6-7 with possiable corpectomy at c5. Sounds scary to me is there any advice for me.Recovery time?risks?

[paulfnz]

I have fusion and fixation of C2-C4,a Corpectomy at C5 ( Dec 2000),with soon another operation of fusion of C6-C7.I am not a doctor,but sounds like you may require surgery.1.Recovery time?.even though people go through " similar" operations,it seems everyone goes through different recovery,and recovery times....excercise is very important,doesn't matter how small, just do something. 2.Risks..when dealing with this type of operation,the word " risk" is part and parcel for the operation.We way up the risk also of not taking ( the operation ) also.Hope this helps.

[alarmman]

Not a doctor, My friend had similar surgeries. He has had several vertebrae done. Its a major surgery and he took a long time to heal but pain much better and he's back to work.
alarmman