Wish me luck!

Philandering_Bastard

Sorry to hear that @chandroji
I was in a similar situation in 2008, four broken disks in my spine. Was apprehensive, got a second opinion (always get a second opinion) and eventually had the operation. Very grateful I did it, went from being a quasi paraplegic back to normal in 24 hours.

That was in Hamburg. BW hospitals have an excellent reputation. In Berlin I’d also look at the Charité.

Best of luck, mate!

mjcouche

Praying all goes well. If you do go with surgery make sure you ask your surgeon if he got a good night’s sleep.

ruggedsmooth

Best of luck to you mate, health and happiness is just around the corner

Moderndaycompiler

Wishes for the best outcome possible.

Steaders

In my experience, surgeons see surgery as the last resort.
After much physical therapy and multiple cortisone shots, my wife had surgery for a herniated disc in her lower back and a 3 level fusion in her neck. These are extremely common surgeries and she has been pain free for several years. Hope this helps.

White

Good luck, get well soon

UnoWoo

May good fortune follow you.

[Deleted User]

@chandroji ,
I wish you best of luck!
Still a lot of beautiful things to come!!
Flo

robosardine

Get on that road to recovery- and don’t stop once you are on it. Best wishes.

AtticusL

Good luck @chandroji. You’re going to get this thing done and be playing tennis in no time.

sbcfx

Never give up !

cuscolima

Keep up morale, it's going to be important during the rehabilitation period. Seems to be quite a usual surgery so I'm sure it will be fine!

cabo

good luck, chandroji, I hope all's gonna go well for you

Simon

Good luck and get well soon.

Kühl

@chandroji
Go for it man! I know how it is, I haven’t played my guitars since 2014 when I got this rare muscle weakness syndrome.
iPad has been a saviour for me. Now I’m battling the psychological damage, my mind has become unreasonably pleasant since I lost the ability to play as much as I’d like.

simonnowis

wishing you Luck, Clarity, and Healing

chandroji

@theconnactic , @AlterEgo_UK , @CracklePot , @rs2000 , @donb720 , @MobileMusic , @LinearLineman , @MonzoPro , @Jocphone , @hacked_to_pieces , @JohnnyGoodyear , @Wrlds2ndBstGeoshredr , @[Deleted User] , @McD , @Faland , @Spidericemidas , @kinkujin , @BlueGreenSpiral , @Carnbot , @MrSmileZ , @Paa89 , @echoopera , @marmakin , @Philandering_Bastard , @mjcouche , @ruggedsmooth , @Moderndaycompiler , @Steaders , @White , @UnoWoo , @flo26 , @robosardine , @AtticusL , @sbcfx , @cuscolima , @cabo , @Simon and @Kühl

Thank you so much for all your good wishes and advices dear friends! 🙏🙏🙏 👍 😊

I am really overwhelmed by the sympathy that is shown to me here. I would not have expected so many good wishes in such a short time, especially since I know many of you only from reading and never had a personal contact.

I appreciate your good wishes very much! 👍 😊

As already said, my healthy optimism has shaped my whole life. From there I approach the whole thing quite relaxed.

But I am not only an optimist but also a realist. I am well aware that a possible operation on the cervical spine involves risks and if I could avoid it I would like to do it.

There were still some recommendations here to which I will answer shortly separately.

Thanks again to all of you, I love this community! ❤️

LinearLineman

You are loved in return @chandroji!

Satie

Alles Gute Dir! Wenn eine OP sein muss, dann ziehe es durch. Hört sich nicht an, als ob es ohne geht. Gute Besserung und viel Glück!!

SilverK

@LinearLineman said:
Chandroji, so sorry to hear about your situation. You must make sure you have the best surgeon. Don’t rush into this as it seems you are not racing against the clock. I realize it is scary. Ask the tough questions to your surgeon about his or her record, number of procedures, success rate. Inquire for the best in the business!

This is my story... one day I could not lift my right arm above mid chest. I went to a neurologist. He took xrays... cervical disc compression. Sent to a surgeon. Must operate! Before it’s too late! I was going to get it done and was scheduled, but I had been having a problem with my right back molar. I went to the dentist and had it extracted. However, the surgery was postponed cause of the infection! In the days to come I tried lifting my arm, trailing my fingers up a wall. Slowly I saw some improvement. I cancelled the surgery. Within a month or so my arm was back to normal.

Saw the neurologist.... could it have been the infection in my tooth (lots of nerves happening there)? Answer: No way. Saw the surgeon: Impossible. Asked a couple of dentists: Nope and nope. Finally, a couple of months back I told the story to a lovely dentist in Istanbul. Answer (without hesitation): Of Course!! I’ve heard of similar. Makes complete sense. So many nerves!

These bozos are invested in their game, my friend. I am not saying surgery is wrong, but you better investigate it as much as those headphones you bought a while back! Maybe even a little more!! Please!

One more story.. I have had increased tingling on the bottom of my feet for four years. No diabetes... no circulatory problem. Live with it. And spreading to my hands! Well, after prostate surgery (massive infection) and related kidney problems (due to backup of urine) I am now taking a drug to control urea levels. And, guess what... tingling almost gone now.

Again, I am not saying surgery is wrong, but surgeons got to cut or the kids don’t go to college, or that big boat don’t get no gas. There’s lots of evidence that folks live with herniated discs, no problem. The whole bad back business is somewhat dubious. It does seem to make sense... but it is up to you to take your best shot. There is a reason hospital visits are the third leading cause of death... at least in the US.
Good luck, be hopeful and you must do your homework. The human body is amazing. Check other modalities.
Become your own diagnostician. Work at it like hell! Just sayin’. Please keep us up to date. You are not alone ( besides, I need more album cover photos). Best, Mike

Excellent advice , I have inoperable slipped disc and one bellow is crumbling 😕 it’s a matter of pain control for me ... Maybe check out medicinal marijuana? There are some excellent strains for pain relief that have no psychological effects but as in all things personal , you need to do your homework n search for the best for you and your symptoms.... Nightingale was a particular strain I found to be excellent for me personally... It doesn’t get rid of all the pain but dulls it to a point where you can almost forget about it and I was able to function normally (house husband with 3 kids n a menagerie of cats n dogs ).. Sending healing vibes and wishing you luck ...

chandroji

@rs2000 said:

@chandroji said:
Thanks a lot for your good wishes @theconnactic , @AlterEgo_UK , @CracklePot and @rs2000 ! 😊
Very much appreciated!

I think this is the most important task to find the right doctor or hospital with a lot of experience in this area @rs2000 . I live in Berlin and we have quite a lot of hospitals here. But which would be the best one?
I had already one talk in a specialized clinic but I had no good feeling after I left. So I’m searching for the best alternative using the information on the internet.

Not an easy job... 😎

That's good. Always trust your feeling in such decisions.

I always trust my intuition and feelings. And yes especially when I have to decide seriously things like this. 👍

@MobileMusic said:
With you the BEST, @chandroji !

iPad is there even if you cannot play the Piano, Guitar, etc.

Hehe! At the moment I really try to make sequencers and piano rolls my best friends. In the past, I always avoid much editing in Sequencers because the piano rolls often confused me. It’s a special workflow to set notes on the screen exclusively. I need to learn it, hopefully i will get more familiar with it in future.
But you are right, there will be always a way to make music even when I have to stop playing my guitars and keyboards... 😊

@LinearLineman said:
Chandroji, so sorry to hear about your situation. You must make sure you have the best surgeon. Don’t rush into this as it seems you are not racing against the clock. I realize it is scary. Ask the tough questions to your surgeon about his or her record, number of procedures, success rate. Inquire for the best in the business!

I really try my best to find the best solution for my problem. The internet is very helpful, so many infos available...

In the next days I will visit the BW Hospital i mentioned before and I will get a fourth opinion.
I already had three talks about it and everybody says I need an operation.

Again, I am not saying surgery is wrong, but surgeons got to cut or the kids don’t go to college, or that big boat don’t get no gas. There’s lots of evidence that folks live with herniated discs, no problem. The whole bad back business is somewhat dubious. It does seem to make sense... but it is up to you to take your best shot. There is a reason hospital visits are the third leading cause of death... at least in the US.
Good luck, be hopeful and you must do your homework. The human body is amazing. Check other modalities.
Become your own diagnostician. Work at it like hell! Just sayin’. Please keep us up to date. You are not alone ( besides, I need more album cover photos). Best, Mike

@LinearLineman
My whole life I was my own doctor and my optimism in life prevented most health problems . In the last 40 years i saw a doctor maybe 10 times. Never got a serious health problem... 👍 😊

But this case seems very different, I cannot heal myself , I need help!
I know many operations are not necessarily, sometimes it would be better to search for alternative therapies. But I’m afraid, not in my case.

Here is a MRT photograph where you can see my situation. Even me which is not an medical expert can see a big problem in my cervical spine. The intervertebral disc presses massively into the spinal cord
No wonder I have problems... 😎

I think everybody can see that this is a serious problem. I’m afraid that massages will not fix the situation.
The doctors said, I need an operation as soon as possible...

@Wrlds2ndBstGeoshredr said:
Surgeons see swurgery as the only solution; orthopedic back surgeons are the worst offenders in that regard. Take great care before letting them do this.

I hope I will decide wisely @Wrlds2ndBstGeoshredr ... 😊

To be continued...

Elvisthenrodent

Wish you all the best, my brother and father came thru well from these surgeries. I also have a herniated since 2008, the ipad is a lifesaver to make music when i cant sit for longer periods on a chair.

LinearLineman

Yeah, Chandroji, seeing is believing! Finding the best surgeon as soon as possible... which is what you are doing. Please keep us informed as much as possible as you know we are now all thinking about you!

Jeezs

Good luck.
hope this story be part of your past with better days coming soon.
Send you all the happiness I have!!

_ki

Hi chandroi,

i keep my fingers crossed that everything is going well and that you will get a surgery appointment soon. The image looks quite alarming.

The BW hospital has a very good reputation, but I still ask friends if they know specialists for this kind of surgery in/around Berlin.

I wish you all the best!

chandroji

@Satie said:
Alles Gute Dir! Wenn eine OP sein muss, dann ziehe es durch. Hört sich nicht an, als ob es ohne geht. Gute Besserung und viel Glück!!

Vielen Dank für deine guten Wünsche @Satie !
Ich werde wohl nicht um eine OP herum kommen, leider...

Allerdings, wenn alles gut geht, könnten meine Beschwerden sofort Geschichte sein. Ist schon ein doofes Gefühl kein Gefühl mehr in den Fingern zu haben.

Mein Motto ist ist eigentlich immer „Alles wird gut“. In diesem Sinne... 😊

@_ki said:
Hi chandroi,

i keep my fingers crossed that everything is going well and that you will get a surgery appointment soon. The image looks quite alarming.

The BW hospital has a very good reputation, but I still ask friends if they know specialists for this kind of surgery in/around Berlin.

I wish you all the best!

Thanks a lot my friend!
If you have any suggestions for me please let me know!

You have my Phone number... 😊

Kühl

I don’t believe in praying, but I’ll get Odin 🦅 & Thor 🔨 to give you Norse Viking Power.
Shit... let’s give the surgeons some Viking Power too, to steady their nerves. In the USSR they used vodka 😉
Gutes Besserung, von Norwegen.

Paul16

@LinearLineman said:
Chandroji, so sorry to hear about your situation. You must make sure you have the best surgeon. Don’t rush into this as it seems you are not racing against the clock. I realize it is scary. Ask the tough questions to your surgeon about his or her record, number of procedures, success rate. Inquire for the best in the business!

This is my story... one day I could not lift my right arm above mid chest. I went to a neurologist. He took xrays... cervical disc compression. Sent to a surgeon. Must operate! Before it’s too late! I was going to get it done and was scheduled, but I had been having a problem with my right back molar. I went to the dentist and had it extracted. However, the surgery was postponed cause of the infection! In the days to come I tried lifting my arm, trailing my fingers up a wall. Slowly I saw some improvement. I cancelled the surgery. Within a month or so my arm was back to normal.

Saw the neurologist.... could it have been the infection in my tooth (lots of nerves happening there)? Answer: No way. Saw the surgeon: Impossible. Asked a couple of dentists: Nope and nope. Finally, a couple of months back I told the story to a lovely dentist in Istanbul. Answer (without hesitation): Of Course!! I’ve heard of similar. Makes complete sense. So many nerves!

These bozos are invested in their game, my friend. I am not saying surgery is wrong, but you better investigate it as much as those headphones you bought a while back! Maybe even a little more!! Please!

One more story.. I have had increased tingling on the bottom of my feet for four years. No diabetes... no circulatory problem. Live with it. And spreading to my hands! Well, after prostate surgery (massive infection) and related kidney problems (due to backup of urine) I am now taking a drug to control urea levels. And, guess what... tingling almost gone now.

Again, I am not saying surgery is wrong, but surgeons got to cut or the kids don’t go to college, or that big boat don’t get no gas. There’s lots of evidence that folks live with herniated discs, no problem. The whole bad back business is somewhat dubious. It does seem to make sense... but it is up to you to take your best shot. There is a reason hospital visits are the third leading cause of death... at least in the US.
Good luck, be hopeful and you must do your homework. The human body is amazing. Check other modalities.
Become your own diagnostician. Work at it like hell! Just sayin’. Please keep us up to date. You are not alone ( besides, I need more album cover photos). Best, Mike

Wise words LL, I have a close musician friend who developed debilitating dystonia after some dubious dental work. When he raised it as a possible cause he was uniformly rounded on by all ‘professionals’ questioned, until eventually meeting a specialist who said it was a distinct possibility. It took him several years to get on top of it & back to playing, relearning his chops, etc. He’s now in his 70’s & still going strong.

As amazing as a lot of modern western medicine is, it in no way has all the answers ( thus why Dr’s ‘practice’ ... on you ! ) & as you point out, trusting your own gut instinct over blindly accepting standard protocol & procedures is a must imho, one size does not fit all.

@chandroji - best wishes with your health & healing