How Do you Decide on a Hard Choice?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-26-2004
How Do you Decide on a Hard Choice?
10
Fri, 02-18-2005 - 6:16am

I am going to be making a difficult choice later today. I have serious problems with my neck. 4 herniations and one of them is so bad I have been losing feeling completely in my right arm. My primary doctor told me I have one of 3 options...cortisone shot in the spine, narcotic therapy or speak with a neurosurgeon and find out what my options are for surgery. There are serious risks in any surgery on the spine and some great benefits too.

I don't want to be a "legal drug addict," I hate people touching my neck, and I fear surgery, but on the other hand, I could go to a chiropractor again after the surgery to help with the other milder herniations, I have had pain for 10 years and it could give me range of motion in my neck again.

Risks can go up to permanent nerve damage, paralysis, etc.., but in todays day and age, technology really reduces the chance and recovery times. This has been the hardest decision of my life!

How do others help themselves choose when they are at a dead end? Do you meditate? Or do you have other strategies? I don't want to wait too long to decide, but I don't want to rush either. I got all the info I can muster up and I believe I will go to the doctor knowledgable, but I keep arguing with myself in my head!

Any suggestions on rituals, meditations or prayers that will give me a bit more clarity? I hope that opening this thread could help others in the future too with decision making so all ideas welcome!

Thanks all!
Robbyn

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-12-2003
Fri, 02-18-2005 - 7:02am

Robbyn;


My dh has 2 shattered vertebrae and a herniated disk.

Blessed Be!

Laure-co-cl on migraines & headaches

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 02-18-2005 - 11:50am

Yikes! My heart goes out to you. Not a fun place to be. To answer your question though, I've found generally one option really pulls at me. Not always the one I expect, or that seams most logical or practical. But there always seems to be one that stands out, and that's the one I go with. If something's really bothering me though, I either quilt or pull weeds. Sounds funny, I know. :-D But both are very meditative and therapeutic for me. It's physical and monotonous and allows me to sort of zone out and work through things.

Depending on your beliefs, you might pray asking for a specific sign. A friend whose patron deity is a sun god reflects the various options at hand and watches the sun.

HTH!

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-26-2004
Fri, 02-18-2005 - 2:01pm
Hey!
Thanks for your replies. I didn't get to use them just yet, but I am sure in the future I will have the opportunity! I always struggle with making decisions!
Unfortunately, I will have to have the surgery, but it will be 18 months to 2 years off. He explained that he can't do anything until the discs around the real bad one are under control and the spasms calm down because they are pretty severe. I have to get traction and hydrotherapy and he said spinal injuries usuially take at least 6 months to heal enough to do anything with. I guess that means I have plenty of time to prepare!
Thank you for all your concern and, if anyone else has a good way to help with decision making, I would love to hear them!
R-
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-19-2003
Fri, 02-18-2005 - 11:14pm
Hi, I'm usually a lurker, but I thought hey, why not reply?
When I'm faced with a hard choice, I fast and pray. I start my fast by praying and describe what I'm doing, then ask for help in making the right choice. Then I fast for 24 hours (I don't eat or drink, but if you want you can drink water or eat light foods). During that, I'll read uplifting materials and my sacred texts, maybe even meditate a bit. I'll also listen to any impressions that I get. At the end of the 24 hours, I'll close my fast with a prayer and ask about any impressions I've received or ask again.
My husband and I did that when we were deciding to get married. We knew within a few days. ^_^
But that's my two cents. Take it or leave it. And good luck!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 02-19-2005 - 8:32am
Also a lurker. Since I am an addiction/psyc nurse, I'd say
don't go the narcotic route and set yourself up for addiction.
If you need long term meds, try holistic, see a Chinese medicine
practitioner. I had a class on that and it was impressive, a problem
in one area can be an imbalance of energy in one you wouldn't think of.
IE: ears are kidney imbalance. They go to the source not the symptoms.
We need western medicine for sure, but I like the balance with east. Maybe talk to
your chiropractor. They are holistic so they wouldn't run for the knife, if he/she
says surgery is best for you, I'd probably believe it. Meanwhile pray, see yourself
in light, give love to others, fed yourself WELL. Be in the best shape you can be in.
Esp. if you do end up with surgery, start to prepare, find what vitamins
your body needs or herbs to strenghthen yourself, even if you don't opt for surgery
it will be good for you. It will give you a feeling of control.
Trust, have faith in your guides, hey, do you know of a GOOD
really GOOD medical intuitive, like a Carolyn Myss????? Someone here must know of one.
I'd go for that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love your neck, love your discs. Be calm and the answer will appear. Love and prayers,
Leila
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-11-2004
Sat, 02-19-2005 - 9:10am

Hi Robynn.


This is following Leila's post. Try posting over on the Alternative Health Board too. There are a few people who have dealt with back issues (maybe not to the same extent, but could be helpful in the healing process).

 

"In short, all good things in life are wild and free."  ~Thoreau

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-26-2004
Sun, 02-20-2005 - 4:01pm

Thank you everybody for your replies! I will definitely try them and see if any work for me! In the process, hopefully others may have new choices if they struggle with decision-making like I do!

R-

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-09-2001
Mon, 02-21-2005 - 7:34pm

Sending prayers and healing energies. About 2 years ago I turned around in a chair and I ruptured a cervical disc (the very last one, down by the shoulder blades). The cortizone didn't work for me. I was on Vicodan and a bunch of other stuff. I was a zombie, but it dulled the pain in my left shoulder and all the way down my arm. I lost strength in my hand and could not grip or lift with it. They discussed surgery after the MRI and other tests. They said chances of improvement and full functioning of my left hand and reduction of pain was 50/50 and the surgery was invasive and risky in itself due to the disc's location.

Before making a decision I took three months with weekly acupuncture and chiropractic treatments. In a month I was off the heavy pain meds. Within 6 months I was pain free and regained strength in my left hand. I also studied x-rays and the MRI films and did daily visualizations of healing, full strength in my hand and arm, and being pain free. It all helped and I never had the surgery. I can't say chiropractic and acupuncture will "cure" you, but they might help.

Visualization is a great tool, too. Good luck and I hope things improve for you very soon. Oh, one more thing -- get copies of all your MRI and such and get a 2nd opinion, too, regarding the surgery.

Gypsy




Edited 2/21/2005 7:45 pm ET ET by gypsywolfwoman


Blessings,

Gypsy

)O(



iVillage Member
Registered: 05-26-2004
Tue, 02-22-2005 - 6:13am
Thank you for sharing your information with me! Luckily, I have a pretty high resistance to pain and try to avoid hard painkillers. I don't like the way I feel on them. I wish I could go to a chiropractor, but the way the disc has ruptured into my spinal cord and the overall weakness of the other 3 herniations, could cause permanent damage right now if they tried manipulation on it. I hate it right now because the only exercise I can do is walk. I have been doing the meditating and praying and it is getting much more tolerable. I have also been getting massages too....I can live with that!LOL
I will eventually have to get surgery, but like my neurosurgeon said, he will wait until the absolute last minute to perform it. I am going to start traction and hydrotherapy in a month, too. As the other herniations get a bit stronger, I will be able to do more. I think the hardest thing is the frustration of waiting. I know that I don't want to push it though, either. If I had a broken arm or leg, an infection, ripped tendons, etc...I wouldn't have so much anxiety! Spinal cords and nerve damage freak me out! I guess it must be a phobia! Being 30 with 2 small children...I won't push that issue! LOL.
Thank you so much for your concern and sharing your story!
Robbyn
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-09-2001
Thu, 02-24-2005 - 12:51am
Sounds like you've got a good handle on things and are finding the best tools to help yourself. With 2 young ones I certainly understand your dilemma and your need for caution, also. You must take the best care of you, that you can, not only for you, but your family, too. Hugs, Gypsy


Blessings,

Gypsy

)O(