@resawaller my recovery went well. I had no pain after surgery. I only dealt with nausea and an airhead headache. These results are not typical. I was in the hospital five days. Off work for six weeks. My numbness and tingling got better, but occasionally I do have some. After surgery I noticed I was light headed in a good way. Never realized that I had so much pressure inside my head. I had done a 180 in how I felt. I wasn’t going thru life on autopilot and having to push myself to do anything after surgery. Was the best thing I ever did.

My brain was herniated 17mm below the foramen magnum and the syrinx was at least 11mm starting at my foramen magnum down to my t6. I was warned I would be in pain even with medication after surgery. But at this point I was so ready to deal with it as I knew I would feel better after. There would be light at the end of the tunnel. Reminder that surgery is not a cure. It is done to stop the progression. My surgery was considered a success. My syrinx decreased in size greatly. The brain is now in a relaxed position. It now has been four yrs since surgery and the brain and syrinx are still looking like they did three months after surgery.

In dealing with the time before surgery I told myself over and over that it was a waste of my time and energy to stress over it. I would only make myself more stressed and worried. At this point I knew I could not control the surgery and recovery, but I could control how I reacted to the situation. I had faith in my GOD and faith in my doctors. I prayed and asked others to pray that I was calm, cool and collected during this journey. I found out that prays do work. I was so relaxed before surgery I was actually counting down the days to surgery. I kept a positive attitude. Which helped me a lot.

I will pray that you find comfort and peace during this time. Just remember how much you have gone thru to now. You gotten thru all that, you will get thru surgery. You are a lot stronger than you think you are and a lot braver! You got this!! Let me know how things went.