My name is Sharon, I'll be 53 next week. I live on Cape Cod and I have had Lyme Disease for almost 20 years. It's relevent because I have severe osteoarthritis caused by Lyme and now have been diagnosed with severe stenosis in C2,3,4 and 5 with a bulging disc at C6-7.
My MRI also showed thyroid 'issues', ultrasound showed a goitre that is compressing my trachea and esophagus and a 1 inch solid mass that will be biopsied next week [happy birthday to me!] I have had stage 3 squamous cell carcinoma [2004-5] so having a biopsy is in order.
I had total double knee replacement surgery in Jan 2010 and had my gallbladder removed this past March. I am telling you, the very last thing I want is another surgery. It horrifies me.
But I feel so bad, I have for a long time. The nerve pain can best be explained as an electrical current coursing along my nerve pathways, 24 hours a day. I get no reprieve. Everything is numb and tingly, my head hums, sometimes my legs are very wobbly [loss of function] and I have pain everywhere, all the time.
I feel like someone should just take me out to a pasture somewhere and shoot me, put me out of my misery.
Is there anything I can do that is NOT surgical? I do not want cadaver bones or metal rods, plates or screws. I have enough man made parts as it is. I don't want any more.
My quality of life sucks, to be blunt. I am a happy person. I try to be witty and fun and sweet. But it is hard some days. I feel like I am putting on a show so others won't know how bad I really feel.
Is there any help out there for me?
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Personally I think that you very seriously should consider surgery. With the loss of function in your legs that can get very serious. I know surgery sucks (trust me I've had 6 or 7 surgeries in the last 8 years and scheduling my cervical spinal surgery tomorrow as my insurance came through - but I know I've had shoulder surgery, hernia surgery all kinds of random weird stuff), but I think you really have to consider your quality of life. And I totally understand the nerve pain - I have it shoulders to fingers and now I am having the same feelings in my legs/feet so I know that I've got increasing problems there as well. I never had an injury- mine is also OA related. I have 3 bulging discs, spinal stenosis, foraminal narrowing at C5,6 and 7, bonespurs and my neck is pretty straight - doesn't have much of the natural c-curve anymore. So honestly I wouldn't just rule out surgery. What kind of a doctor have you been seeing? Have you seen a neurosurgeon to know what your options are? Get MORE than 1 opinion!!! I know that I did PT, meds, injections and once all of those were a bust, I started to make the decision about surgery. Quality of life is important. Surgery isn't a "silver bullet" by any stretch of the imagination but it really can make things better.
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