On a serious note, spinal surgery to continue playing?

[kes7u]

repairing the spine today isn't what it was 20 or 30 years ago. I've had a couple of friends who've had various reconstructive procedures. It can take a few months or longer, but usually the quality of life improves drastically. There have been professional athletes who've had similar procedures who went on to resume their careers. Why wait? Yeah, surgery sucks. But, you only live once.

Most of what you say is true. The newest procedures and techniques result in far fewer complications and better outcomes. Everything turns out great..... Until it doesn't. I see complications every day of people who regret the day they ever considered spine surgery.

It does seem as though he may have exhausted options, and remains debilitated. If that is indeed the case, then he may HAVE to turn to this LAST RESORT option.

Kevin

 

[Huggy Love]

Most of what you say is true. The newest procedures and techniques result in far fewer complications and better outcomes. Everything turns out great..... Until it doesn't. I see complications every day of people who regret the day they ever considered spine surgery.

It does seem as though he may have exhausted options, and remains debilitated. If that is indeed the case, then he may HAVE to turn to this LAST RESORT option.

Kevin

*again, thank you to all for the positive vibes and input*

What Kevin says has some basis as I did a bit of research and talking to people involved with spinal surgeries. When I looked it up online I found that there was a 10 to 15% complication rate with spinal surgeries, which is one or more out of 10 people that either had results making things worse or requiring multiple surgeries to correct things that might have happened during surgery. Those odds were scary within themselves so I decided to talk to people, and out of the 10 people I spoke to 80% of them were unhappy with the results or required multiple surgeries. A stark contrast from what I found online, but what really scared me were two of the cases in which I only spoke with their relative because one ended up paralyzed and the other one died. I remember when Les had to make his decision, and I encouraged him to exhaust all options like acupuncture in such, but things worked out for him and his scar looks totally rad. Only thing is an elbow is a lot different than your neck and there's a lot more at stake.

I have a meeting with my doctor on October 3, depending on my condition until then, a fresh MRI, and the options presented to me, we'll see how it goes.

 

[kes7u]

*again, thank you to all for the positive vibes and input*

What Kevin says has some basis as I did a bit of research and talking to people involved with spinal surgeries. When I looked it up online I found that there was a 10 to 15% complication rate with spinal surgeries, which is one or more out of 10 people that either had results making things worse or requiring multiple surgeries to correct things that might have happened during surgery. Those odds were scary within themselves so I decided to talk to people, and out of the 10 people I spoke to 80% of them were unhappy with the results or required multiple surgeries. A stark contrast from what I found online, but what really scared me were two of the cases in which I only spoke with their relative because one ended up paralyzed and the other one died. I remember when Les had to make his decision, and I encouraged him to exhaust all options like acupuncture in such, but things worked out for him and his scar looks totally rad. Only thing is an elbow is a lot different than your neck and there's a lot more at stake.

I have a meeting with my doctor on October 3, depending on my condition until then, a fresh MRI, and the options presented to me, we'll see how it goes.

On the other hand, ALWAYS rely on peer reviewed research and NOT on your anecdotal evidence!!!
I'm glad you are meeting with your doctor shortly. Please don't ignore the option of surgery if it is the only thing that will allow you to resume a normal life, free of misery.
Prayers will be with you!

Kevin

 

[vchizzle]

Hey Tony, I'm sorry things have worsened. It seems like you've exhausted most alternative options of treatment. If it were me, I think I'd have the surgery in an attempt to improve things. Obviously, doctor recommendations hold a lot more weight than my advice(or anyone else's here). Get more than one opinion too. It's a big deal, so seeking out multiple opinions from the best specialists you can is the way you want to go. But you know that already. You're a smart guy that does research. So take that info and go with what your gut tells you. I just know if my quality of life suffered to the extent of being unhappy, I'd do what I could to change that. There's always a certain amount of risk with everything. I'm not sure I could live being unhappy without excersizing the available options.

Best of luck my friend, I wish you well. Let us know how the appointment goes.

 

[tip]

Tony, doing research online is great but have a filter for the pain stricken, multiple pathologies, shaky outcomes accounts.
Read them but remember that in a spine forum (or other med forums), the people that had complications are the ones continually seeking advice or just posting horror stories.
Some are home on disability with their computer and their prerogative.

Try to read between the lines and read and take away most from the ones that pertain to your area, and spine procedure.

Also Tony, on these forums you'll find that the ones that heal and get back to their lives do not continue to write in.
They are over the spine internet forum thing.

 

[kes7u]

Tony, doing research online is great but have a filter for the pain stricken, multiple pathologies, shaky outcomes accounts.
Read them but remember that in a spine forum (or other med forums), the people that had complications are the ones continually seeking advice or just posting horror stories.
Some are home on disability with their computer and their prerogative.

Try to read between the lines and read and take away most from the ones that pertain to your area, and spine procedure.

Also Tony, on these forums you'll find that the ones that heal and get back to their lives do not continue to write in.
They are over the spine internet forum thing.

All true, but I am assuming(hoping) he is getting his numbers (internet derived) from a journal(s) and not from internet forums.

Kevin

 

[LJD]

I recently went through a similar set of choices. I can't make a recommendation for anyone else, but here's how my thing went:

Following open heart surgery last year (talk about scary choices!), two fingers on my left hand were numb. This is not uncommon with the surgery I had, but it usually goes away after a few days or weeks. However, mine didn't. By four months out from the surgery, I began to lose control of the fingers on my left hand. Two of them started to curl and I couldn't straighten them out. I gradually lost the ability to play a simple open G chord. An E was out of the question.

Needless to say, I was freaked out, because I'm a professional composer and musician. I use my fingers!

After a battery of tests, it was determined that I had a pinched ulnar nerve in the vicinity of the elbow (probably not caused by the heart surgery, by the way, just aggravated by it). I was referred to a hand surgeon who recommended ulnar nerve transposition surgery. I was warned that it might work, might not, and that the full extent of recovery wouldn't be known for 18-24 months. I decided it was worth the risk.

I had the surgery the last week of March of this year. The surgeon told me that after the nerve was exposed, it was very obvious that the nerve was very deeply pinched. The operation went well. I spent a few weeks in a cast, but from about the first week, I could straighten out the fingers that had been curled.

I had to wait a month after the surgery to pick up the guitar, because my activities were restricted under doc's orders. But once I got to play again, I could feel improvement, and at 6 months out, I still have numbness in two fingers, but I can control all of them enough to play. I'm not as fast as I was before all this happened, but as I said, playing was utterly impossible by January-February of this year.

So I'm really happy. Was it worth it? Absolutely. The doc said the pinch in the nerve was very deep, and it was clear that no other therapy would have worked. I also feel that I was very, very lucky. Also, I'm now the Frankenstein monster, here's the arm the day the cast came off:

I have this this going on. No curling or immobility, but the bottom half of my ring finger and pinky finger have numbness. I used to lean on my elbow at my desk, never again. Nerve on the outside of your elbow? Intelligent design my ass. Glad to hear you recovered!

 

[László]

I have this this going on. No curling or immobility, but the bottom half of my ring finger and pinky finger have numbness. I used to lean on my elbow at my desk, never again. Nerve on the outside of your elbow? Intelligent design my ass. Glad to hear you recovered!

The same symptoms can be caused by a pinch in the cervical spine at C6-7 or brachial plexus, in addition to the elbow. I'm told that there could even be a pinch at the wrist in some folks.

Maybe not your ass, but I know several women whose asses seem to indicate very intelligent design.

 

[WiredGuitarist]

I've had degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis at the lumbar level since I was 16/17. I'm putting off surgery as much as possible because there's a chance I might need it twice, and as you probably know the more surgeries you get, the more likely you are to end up with FBS or something terrible like that.

It really depends on the person though, and ultimately your doctors/surgeons will know best.

It's definitely worth getting as many opinions as possible though! Never hurts.

 

[garrett]

Sorry to hear, Huggy. I'm just over two weeks post-op for a pulley reconstruction on my right thumb. I was in some level of pain every day The more I used my right hand (my dominant hand), the more pain. I think we all reach a breaking point that makes us consider the risks and rewards. Getting back to enjoying guitar and cycling are my goals, but more so, I'm driven by the idea of living with minimal pain while being able to do all the practical and necessary things in life.

Given the severity of spinal surgery, I think I'd want a couple of doctors' opinions on your specific situation. I don't know what the recovery is like for something like that, but make sure you're well-informed and mentally prepared for it.

 

[Huggy Love]

I figured I'd chime in and as always thank you family for your input.

Kevin-I understand your point concerning "anecdotal evidence", but I can't say I cherry picked the people I spoke to. The stark difference between that and the percentages I found on the AMA and NMA websites led me to keep it all in perspective.

Vaughn-when this whole thing first went down four years ago I got more than three opinions, this time around is only going to be a case of how far it's progressed and what advancements they made in these procedures over the past four years. We'll see what they say.

Tip-I did visit a spinal forum but that's not where I derived my information, I got that all from the American Medical Association the national medical Association and orthopedic surgery whatever organization. Most forums for medical issues are filled with well intending and encouraging people and God bless that, but like most forums there's a lot of fluff there........................................ except the PRSforum!!!!

LJD-what Les says about cervical spine is very valid (but I think it's C5, because I have C6/C7 and it affects my index finger and thumb) I would get that checked and anything that concerns numbness should not be taken to lightly. Not to scare you or anything but it's good to be aware of your situation. (*His remark about "very intelligent design" is just as valid)

Wiredguitarist- sorry to hear that you have these issues from a very young age, I'm past 50, been in a few car accidents, used to box in the Army, and have been typing/computering for over three decades. I don't know how old you are now and I don't know how young people get degenerative disc disease because that's what I have, but I wish you the best and hope that you may possibly get through without surgery. If you can try acupuncture when things get bad for you, it may help you get through. Best wishes, I more than most understand.

Garrett, my HB II brother, I think I speak for everyone on this forum that we all eagerly await a thread or post from you letting us know that you are able to hold the pick with that right thumb of yours and that you're making beautiful music on that axe that was in your avatar....................... what happened to that? You look like a newbie. That said, yes a thumb is a lot different than the connection between your head in your body so yes, I am well-informed but not mentally prepared for it, that's why I refused to go through with it four years ago. Just hoping the reevaluation can lead to a less invasive procedure because what was proposed initially was more than I wanted to subject my body to.

Like I said before, thanks, you guys "step up to the plate", I appreciate that and as you can see I'm trying to keep a sense of humor.

 

[garrett]

Keep that sense of humor and positive attitude. They both go a long way. Recovery can be a b!tch, but it pays off if you fully commit (assuming you opt for surgery, of course).

Continuing on a humorous note, my worst case scenario was I could end up still in pain, with reduced thumb function, and have to become a-- a-- a bassist! Fortunately rehab is off to a promising start. I am playing a bit of bass to keep up my finger fitness, though.

 

[Huggy Love]

Keep that sense of humor and positive attitude. They both go a long way. Recovery can be a b!tch, but it pays off if you fully commit (assuming you opt for surgery, of course).

Continuing on a humorous note, my worst case scenario was I could end up still in pain, with reduced thumb function, and have to become a-- a-- a bassist! Fortunately rehab is off to a promising start. I am playing a bit of bass to keep up my finger fitness, though.

Without a good thumb you won't be able to slap, pop, and lay down da funk. Maybe you might have to start rapping instead.

 

[alantig]

Continuing on a humorous note, my worst case scenario was I could end up still in pain, with reduced thumb function, and have to become a-- a-- a bassist! Fortunately rehab is off to a promising start. I am playing a bit of bass to keep up my finger fitness, though.

So your other choice was to have part of your brain removed?

 

[IKnowALittle]

Keep that sense of humor and positive attitude. They both go a long way. Recovery can be a b!tch, but it pays off if you fully commit (assuming you opt for surgery, of course).

Continuing on a humorous note, my worst case scenario was I could end up still in pain, with reduced thumb function, and have to become a-- a-- a bassist! Fortunately rehab is off to a promising start. I am playing a bit of bass to keep up my finger fitness, though.

Or, worse case scenario ... a drummer!! .
Regardless, hope everyone starts feeling better soon.

 

[Kiwi]

Huggy, this isn't about playing guitar. That's a nice-to-have, not a gotta-have.

Gotta-haves include a daily life of reasonable activity, followed by a decent night's sleep, without chronic spinal nerve pain.

I had a badly herniated disc repaired over 20 years ago. One-inch incision, one hour of surgery, immediate relief, normal life restored. L3-S1 micro discectomy, if you're keeping score at home.

I look back on it with enormous gratitude, that surgery can do these things.

=K

 

[Dancing Frog]

It's been almost 6 years since I've had surgery for a lesion in the Conus Medullaris. It was never a question for me to have spinal surgery given the stenosis and possibility of cancer. And having gone through it, spinal surgery is no cakewalk, but you're right to weigh the risks and rewards. The internet is not really the place for that, unless you can deal with the horror show objectively. Build a good team and take their advice. Above all, try to keep a sense of humor, get a cat to sleep under your arm, and find something that you can do lying flat on your back that doesn't require you to move, because you're going to be spending a lot of time in that position if you get the surgery.

 

[Huggy Love]

Huggy, this isn't about playing guitar. That's a nice-to-have, not a gotta-have.

Gotta-haves include a daily life of reasonable activity, followed by a decent night's sleep, without chronic spinal nerve pain.

I had a badly herniated disc repaired over 20 years ago. One-inch incision, one hour of surgery, immediate relief, normal life restored. L3-S1 micro discectomy, if you're keeping score at home.

I look back on it with enormous gratitude, that surgery can do these things.

=K

Glad to hear your procedure worked out for you, funny how most of the people I spoke with that had lower and mid back issues fared a bit better than the cervical people. My coworker had a mid back surgery and it was okay for him, and a customer of mine also worked well. Unless something has changed drastically over the past four years I don't think my surgery will be done under "micro", it was going to take them to cut a piece of my hip to replace what they cut out of my cervical. We'll see what the doc says, and if I have to have anything done hope it works as well as it did for you.

*I've got lower back issues too L5/S1, and my left leg gets a little numb when I stand up and strap solid body. Because I mainly write and record, and sometimes play a jazz set here and there, I can get away with sitting down.

 

[11top]

While I've never had problems nearly as severe as yours, I have had a go around with sciatica, and it's a b*tch. While I hope you are able to comfortably play the guitar again, I really hope you can become free of the pain. Best of luck!

 

[CVS]

Huggy,

All I can say is that I wish you the best. I know you will make the right decision that is best for you. I have 2 close friends that have had spinal surgery in the past 6 months because they could not longer function and were living on pain meds. Both surgeries turned out well and both wish that they had not waited as long as they did to have the surgery.