Hi,
The past week has been an emotional roller coaster...I am really hoping that I can get some helpful information to help me make a decision regarding having a revision surgery. I am 34, had Harrington rods installed from my lower neck (not sure the number/letter) to L4 in 1986. For the past six years I have been in and out of doctors, PT's, massage therapists, yoga, pretty much everything to help with stiffness in my lower back, extreme pain in my hip and numbness in my leg. I was told that it was due to a herniated disc. After this pain worsening in the past year, I finally decided to take care of it and go back to the partner of the original doctor who works wtih herniated discs. Dr. Casden at Beth Israel, NYC. He saw me and said it wasn't a herniated disc but DDD and flatback. Surgery had to happen at some point, now or later to relief my symptoms. Here comes the problem.. my husband and i would like to start a family and now on a daily basis, hourly sometimes, our minds change as to what is best. My gynocologist says that my age is a factor in that come next year (this magically year of 35) fertility decreases. So, she suggested having a baby first, understanding that the pain will increase (Dr. Casden also said this). I can totally see this point of view and was set on this decision for two days. Now, after talking with someone who had back pain before pregnancy, I feel differently. She had told me that she would never do it again, that emotionally it was difficult, etc.etc. I am told by the doc that it would have to be 6-9 months before we could try for a baby after the revision. For those of you who have gone through this, can you attest that my body would be able to carry a child? I can see the plusses and minuses of both sides. Surgery first means cutting into fertility time, the possibility of a longer recovery, yet hopefully the ability to have a less painful pregnancy and less painf after being able to carry and pick up child. Surgery after a child means pain throughout the pregnancy, difficulty managing child after, and having to have the surgery when I have a small child. If it weren't for the fertility thing, I would just have the surgery now. I really hope that there are people out there who can give me some feedback, I jsut feel like screaming because it is a very hard decision. thanks for your help.
Debbie
The past week has been an emotional roller coaster...I am really hoping that I can get some helpful information to help me make a decision regarding having a revision surgery. I am 34, had Harrington rods installed from my lower neck (not sure the number/letter) to L4 in 1986. For the past six years I have been in and out of doctors, PT's, massage therapists, yoga, pretty much everything to help with stiffness in my lower back, extreme pain in my hip and numbness in my leg. I was told that it was due to a herniated disc. After this pain worsening in the past year, I finally decided to take care of it and go back to the partner of the original doctor who works wtih herniated discs. Dr. Casden at Beth Israel, NYC. He saw me and said it wasn't a herniated disc but DDD and flatback. Surgery had to happen at some point, now or later to relief my symptoms. Here comes the problem.. my husband and i would like to start a family and now on a daily basis, hourly sometimes, our minds change as to what is best. My gynocologist says that my age is a factor in that come next year (this magically year of 35) fertility decreases. So, she suggested having a baby first, understanding that the pain will increase (Dr. Casden also said this). I can totally see this point of view and was set on this decision for two days. Now, after talking with someone who had back pain before pregnancy, I feel differently. She had told me that she would never do it again, that emotionally it was difficult, etc.etc. I am told by the doc that it would have to be 6-9 months before we could try for a baby after the revision. For those of you who have gone through this, can you attest that my body would be able to carry a child? I can see the plusses and minuses of both sides. Surgery first means cutting into fertility time, the possibility of a longer recovery, yet hopefully the ability to have a less painful pregnancy and less painf after being able to carry and pick up child. Surgery after a child means pain throughout the pregnancy, difficulty managing child after, and having to have the surgery when I have a small child. If it weren't for the fertility thing, I would just have the surgery now. I really hope that there are people out there who can give me some feedback, I jsut feel like screaming because it is a very hard decision. thanks for your help.
Debbie
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