Hi Blossom,
I had full open, scalpel cut, surgery on my L 3, 4, 5, S 1 Spine. Some months later my Neuro-surgeon starting to do it with a laser endoscope. He used a laser on the inside to help stop all bleeding as he worked. He removed bone to get to my Dura area where I had a huge cyst compressing my cord. I had herniated disks which had fragmented into splinters, that were like wood sticking me inside too. The pain just to walk was awful and was relieved when sitting because the cyst moved off the nerve. It gave me sciatic pain down my leg to my foot too.
I had it late on a Wed night, up the next day, walking around with IV's and Catheter, then home the next night, Friday. He even took the staples out before I went home. He is a super doctor that is on call for brain surgery in my area, in 4 hospitals.
Prior to surgery, I had PT, Epidurals and treated it empirically. I needed surgery. After the surgery I was fine, but was not allowed to sit for two weeks. Stand or lay down only. Then I was fine. Now it's a piece of cake without having a long scar down the spine. That was 15 years ago.
I had open surgery on my Cervical Spine too, with Cervical Thoracic Outlet disease/syndrome. I had extra ribs compressing the carotid artery, nerves and veins on right side. I had that done about 25 years ago. I was getting arm/shoulder pain, and dizzy when laying flat, and my arm went numb and blue prior to surgery. This might have been my first CCSVI procedure, without even knowing it.
Any help?
CD