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What helps spinal stenosis besides surgery?
Spine Health | Last Active: 1 day ago | Replies (193)Comment receiving replies
@grandmaraines You're welcome. Perhaps a counselor could help you sort through the fear. I know how it is the deal with fear knowing that surgery is inevitable, but facing the fear of the unknown can be done. You can start by writing down why surgery scares you and what events in your past have brought you to these feelings of fear. That would be the beginning of understanding it. I also found music very helpful, and I was doing deep breathing and listening to music to say calm, so I had a routine I could fall back on in my mind any time I needed it. I was lowering my blood pressure significantly doing this because I took measurements before after my listening/breathing sessions. There are also a lot of good TED talks about facing fears. I watched a lot of those. Your nephew can probably help you find a good surgeon, and you will want one who only does spine surgeries. Patients have talked about Mass General in Boston as a good place and they are ranked as the #6 best hospital in the nation by US News and World Report.
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@grandmaraines I know surgery is scary. I don't know what kind of surgery you are having, but it sounds like a spine surgery. As you probably know I went through 9 hour fusion surgery for degeneration that had caused a scoliosis and also had stenosis in my L-4 & 5.
I went to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. which I know is too far away for you. It was 3 1/2 hour drive for us. Forgot to tell you the surgeon had to go from T-10 to my pelvis.. Being you have a nephew being neurosurgeon hopefully can help you.. I saw a Professor of an orthopedic Spine surgeon that had 4 caulifications (SP) I use to be such a good speller but my computer underlined the last word. Well any well I think you would be safe to travel to Mass General in Boston. I'm sure they would have the same Covid policies as Mayo and the Hilton we stayed in was santized. We had no problem even eating in the restaurant. They all wore masks and every thing was clean and they had menus that they wiped off. I wasn't scared of the surgery, because I was in so much pain, but I feel bad that you are scared. Are you on any anti-anxiety medicines? Jennifer Hunter had good suggestions too. Take care and I will send my thoughts and prayers to take away your fears.