Conversation: The conversation between human and AI assistant.
[|Human|] I am 43 years old. I have a syrinx within my spinal cord from C5-6 - T1, currently 8cm in size. It was believed to be originated from Arnold Chiari 0 due to the protrusion level of my cerebellum tonsils. As it turns out, my surgeon is now convinced that the syrinx developed as a result of a spinal injury I received in an auto accident at the age of 16 where I sustained a severe case of whip lash. I had a Suboccipitial Craniectomy done in December 2011 to decompress the spinal cord with the hope of decreasing; if not, diminishing my syrinx. One year later, it s time to do an MRI to see the progress...it shrank a little. I became somewhat optimistic but, frustrated at the slow progress and the symptoms and problems that I had prior to surgery have gotten worse. Nearly two years later, I ve already had an MRI done and the syrinx has not changed at all!! I m beyond frustrated and now I have carpal tunnel syndrome & De Quervain s Tenosynovitis in my right wrist/thumb; in need of both surgeries AND I have 2 herniated discs, L3-4 & L4-5, that I need to have surgery on as well. The neurosurgeon that I was seeing, who had me go through multiple tests; including a lumbar discogram w/no sedation, to reach his diagnosis (not the same neurosurgeon who performed my suboccipitial craniectomy, he dealt strictly with syrinx). He told me that he believed that the symptoms that I have been having with my arms, hands & wrist issues, muscle, & shoulder weakness was due to the pressure within the syinx and it had to be drained. So, his course of action was (3) SURGIES and it started as follows: 1) carpal tunnel & De Quervain s, three weeks later... 2) Syringo-Subarachnoid-Peritoneal Shunt ....3) Lumbar Disc Fusion I told him that I did not want to have the Syrinx Shunt surgery done and he now refuses to do the other 2 surgeries. He said that I can go to an Orthopaedic Surgeon for my wrists but that he believed I would still have complications resulting from the syrinx. As far as the lumbar surgery, he said that, With the narrow space around the syrinx in your spinal cord and you lying on your stomach for 2 - 2 1/2 hours with your blood pressure lowered while under sedation; you have to keep in mind, Mrs. ......., your blood pressure needs to stay elevated when dealing with a syrinx. ....it s just not safe to do the surgery and I just can t do it. So, that brings me to my question....Is that true about the syrinx during surgery? Will having this syrinx keep me from having my back surgery? Also, he said that having surgery on my right wrist and thumb might still have complications later due to the syrinx. Is that true? -Distressed
[|AI|]  Hi, Thank you for posting your query. I can understand your discomfort due to the symptoms, lack of good success of spring surgery and the need to undergo three surgeries in future too. However, I would suggest that you undergo the surgeries for lumbar disc and carpal tunnel syn Chat Doctor.  This is because you have already had one surgery for spring without good success. If your symptoms do not improve much, then a second surgery for spring may be planned. I hope it helps. Please get back if you require any further information. Best wishes,