My MRI - Pray For Me!

Well I heard today something I did not want to  hear.I have told a lot of you my fears of having  back surgery. I have had an aunt and 2 sisters  and 1 cousin that have had back surgery with  what I would call not good results.

They suffer pain still and seems to me they were  not any better off after surgery. My cousin died at  38 years old in her sleep from a blood clot  exploding her heart. Now I know a blood clot can  result from any surgery. But up until she died she was more bed bound  than she was before her 3 back surgeries. With all of them they had injured there back which  led to surgery, which is not my case. My problem apparently have been coming on for a while. It has taken time for the narrowing of the  spinal canal. The doctor that looked at my MRI  films today saw a spinal stenosois in my cervical  and lumbar spine with the lumbar area being worse.  I have I believe he said L3, L4 & L5 that are bulging and pressing against my spinal cord and then I have either joints - bone spurs or tendon/ligaments  pressing on the other side, which means my spinal cord is being squeezed between them. Which all of that together is what is causing me so much back pain & leg numbness and other extremity pain.   He will call me monday once the radiolgist gives his report on the MRI. He wants to have a neurosurgeon look at the MRI  also once the radiolgist has given his report, and  then depending on what they see I will see the neurosurgeon.  And then he also would like for me  to see a rheumatoidolgist (sp) to maybe help  me with the fibromyalgia and CFS. So right now I am scared, I have had 9 other  surgeries and had some anxiety about  them, but the thought of them going in there  and messing around my spinal cord  scares me to no end!!! So I asked him what would happen if I just said  no to surgery. He said that I would end up most  likely in a wheel chair with my spinal cord  compressed and basically be paralized. So if you all would please pray for me. Not only for healing but if God chooses not to heal me, then I am gonna need help dealing with the surgery. Thank you in advance. And thanks for letting me rave on and on.

{{{{Brenda}}}}  I'm lifting you up in prayer.  

You are in my prayers! 

Brenda, try not to stress too much about surgery. I've had back surgery twice, first for a ruptured disk, then for a seriously herniated disk and believe me the pain you are experiencing now is worse than anything you can expect from the surgery itself.  They'll just put you into a nice sleep and when you wake up that pain will be gone.  Trust me, it's a HUGE relief.  The most important thing is to follow your doctor's instructions about limitations for 6 months after surgery so your back can heal completely.  Do not try lifting more than they instruct even if you're trying to do everyday things like housework. You'll be feeling better and will be inclined to return normal activities, but please don't.   Please don't delay your surgery.  The longer your spinal cord is compressed the more likely the damage will be permanent. Good Luck.

 

 

Karen 

Oh Brenda, That is not what I wanted you to hear either. A lot of what you stated is what I have wrong as well. I too, was told without surgery, I wont be walking around much longer.  I understand completely, because I am scared as well. Maybe with all of your relatives surgeries being the direct cause of them harming their backs somehow-that your surgery will be much different? I was talking to Susan once-and sharing my fears of surgery, as she has undergone back surgery too-and she told me that when she went into the surgery, she looked at it this way-IF she did end up paralyzed, at least she wouldnt FEEL that pain she was living with daily. I know its not a wonderful thought, trust me, but that is the way I am looking at it now. I really dont have any other options but to trust that God will guide me to the right surgeons and I will be in HIS care. Only he knows whats in store for us, and you are such a fighter-and with all of us praying for you-I am claiming that you will be a-ok~ Maybe you and I can get the same surgeon and share a room? Do you think the hospital staff could handle us together? LOL....I just thought maybe that would make you smile? I love you-and I will be praying for you, and I am here for you-no matter what time, day or night, if you need to talk. Please try not to worry too much and enjoy your Thanksgiving day with your loved ones. Love, Janet

HI! I just wanted to say that fear does not come from the Lord. He came to give you life and give it more abundantly. I have had 3 hospital stays in the last month, with 2 surgeries. I was so scared! I have also been in the hospital 7 times since last Nov.; I have lost my home, I have had a division in my family. I was feeling really Job-ish. So... I decided to read Job. It made me feel so much better. Job said, "Though he slay me, I will praise the Lord." I know God is not causing these affiction but satan is. BUT even if God was, I say the same thing as Job, "Though he slay me, I will still praise the Lord." Consult the great physician before making any decisions. He will lead you in the right direction. I have not been everything I am suppose to be, BUT, I know GOD is everything he has said he would be. I would like to say I have been all fired up and full of faith through each surgery but I have not. GOD was still there for me. He helped me through every decision. I know God will be with you through no matter what decision you make.  As a nurse, I know that they have air boots they can put on you to keep circulation in your legs to help keep your legs from clotting. This helps reduce the risk of clots in the lungs. You can do this if you decide to. Don't think on the past think on the future.  May GOD bless you on whatever decision you decide on. Elisa