I have a blown disc at the c5 level, doctor says the only answer 4 relief is surgery, has anyone had success?

Answer 1

Yes, my surgery was as successful as i expected. Unfortunately, I wasted time trying therapy, drugs, etc. and by the time I had the surgery there was irreversible nerve damage. I was left with numbness in my left forefinger and middle finger. Which was hard on me, since I've been a guitarplayer all my life. But I've worked through it and now I can compensate.

One tip I picked up from others who I met before the surgery who had had it was to make sure that the doctor uses a donor graft for the fusion. Folks reported to me that the place where they took the bone from for the graft, generally the hip, was painful years after the surgery.

I assume you are in a lot of pain. I had horrible pain radiating down my left side, and my arm felt like it was on fire. When I came out of surgery, I was completely pain free. I was in the hospital overnight. Took a day off, and on the second day post-op I walked a mile to my workplace to let everyone know I was OK. Of course, I couldn't drive for 6 weeks, so I continued to walk to work for 6 weeks, and lost 10lbs!

Don't be afraid, surgery these days is much safer, almost complete free of pain post-op, and almost always gives a good result.

Good luck, and feel better!

Answer 2

Did your "doctor" use the term "blown disc"? I assume you are referring to a large disc herniation with effacement or compression of the spinal cord and/or nerve root. Rarely do competent surgeons recommend surgery as the First Resort. Generally, surgery is the Last Resort. Unless there is serious cord compression (which can literally be life-threatening), surgery is usually not considered the first resort. Be sure to get a 2nd and 3rd INDEPENDENT OPINION before surgery. Be sure one of those extra opinions is from your family Chiropractor.

In regards to the first answerer, it is IMPOSSIBLE to know what his outcome would have been post-surgically if the surgery had been performed sooner. If the doctor told him that he waited too long as if that was an absolute fact and not just the doctor's bias/opinion, then the doctor lied to the patient.

Finally, surgery is often the final resort, but it is not usually the first resort for a major disc herniation. Unless there is major cord compression, there is rarely any major risk from trying a period of conservative treatment first. And, just to be clear, surgery is ALWAYS DANGEROUS (which is why it is the last resort).

Best wishes and good luck.