tethered cord

[snowwoman03]

Hi,

I am not sure I am posting this in the right forum, so please let me know.

I was diagnoised with chiari malformation and syrnix in the spine that goes from C3 _ T4. I had the decompression surgery for the chiari and a shunt placed in the syrnix with a revision once. This has been a total of 3 surgeries. I have recently been told that I now have a tethered spinal cord at C3-C4. It is affecting my neck, arms and hands. My neurosurgeon said that it will require another surgery to free up the spine. I was hoping that this could wait but my primary care doc feels it needs to be done as soon as the neurosurgeon can scheadule it.

I have tried to find information on a tethered cord in the C spine and have come up with very little. I am trying to find out the pros and cons of the surgery, what will happen if I choose not to have the surgery and the long term affects of a tethered cord are. I am trying to arm myself with as much information as possible before my next neurosurg appointment which is December 4Th.

I am not sure if a syrnix and tethering would be considered a spinal injury. This site was recommended to me by a person on the WACMA site.

Thankyou for any help you can provide.

Leenie

[~Patrick~]

I am sorry you had to find us under these conditions. I am sure Dr. Young will be able to answer your questions. We have all sorts here and the one thing that binds us together is the spinal cord. Please feel welcomed.

[mikek]

Leenie,
There is much info here on the subject, just use
the "search".Untethering is not to be taken lightly and a few of us including me have had it.Mine didn't come out to well but other's have.

Good luck and Welcome.

Mike