Surgery on C3-4 disc protrusion?

Question

does anyone have any information on risks etc regarding surgery on a C3-4 protruding disc which is touching and has possibly pierced the thecal sac around spinal cord. it is affecting my throat ie swallowing/eating, breathing and pulse rate if i slightly tilt my head forward or move the wrong way i pass out. I rather concerned about the possible outcome of this kind of surgery in that area as i have a family and 2 young children.

Answer 1

I am dreadfully sorry to hear about your problems. Clearly I would think that the risks of surgery - and I am one who would not let a surgeon near my spinal cord but who has disc problems but nowhere near as serious as yours, - outweigh the risks that will ensue if you do not have some ameliorating treatment. At the very least, you would have to wear a collar for the rest of your life.

Answer 2

I have a C3=4 central disc protrusion abutting the cord -- I am trying to get some options

Answer 3

I am schedule for lumbar surgery in less than a month, but I often see a woman in my neurosurgeon's off who has a problem similar to yours. She shares your fears as she has a young daughter. The doctor told her that in the long run if somthing happened to her daughter that required her to phycically pick her up and carry her, or do any other sudden strenuous activity, she may do much more damage to herself, and perhaps hurt her daughter. He told her that he had done that surgery several times and all his patients improved, some were back to very close to normal. I suggest you seek a second opinion about surgery (from a neurosurgeon) and if both say to get the surgery, get the surgery. There is no reason to suffer now, especially when your kids may need you, and it can certainly get in the way of your enjoyment of life. You sound miserable now.

Answer 4

Check here a very effective Sciatica Natural Treatment ( http://cure-sciatica.info )
Normally, I would not answer a question like this as my expertise is generally in medication but I had severe sciatica while I was pregnant with my 3rd child (after having had twins) and I had sciatica so bad that I was finding it difficult to walk. I tried massage therapy and physical therapy and could not take medication
I went to the chiropractor and the pain was instantly relieved. My hips and lower back were out of alignment because I had carried twins the year before. On occasion a Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) can also work but they usually only work on one joint at a time - the chiropractor will do your whole back which works faster. Anyone who does not believe in chiropractors will tell you they are quacks - don't listen.
I don't necessarily believe that chiropractors can cure things like diabetes but they can definitely relieve some types of back pain especially if a pinched nerve is involved which is usually the cause of sciatica.