I’m extremely scared for a decompression surgery, will initial and recovery pain be about the same pain I feel now?
I am 20M diagnosed with Chiari 1 at 13. I have been living with Chiari symptoms thinking I’m just weak, or maybe experiencing whiplash from my middle school obesity years, despite being in decent shape now.
So it’s relieving in a way knowing that it’s the Chiari causing everything.
I’ve had surgery before, actually not too long ago last year. I had a tonsillectomy, so it’s still pretty recent. So I know it’s completely normal and rational to have these fears of pain and just everything about the surgery, especially since it’s more high risk than a tonsillectomy.
I just need to know, despite the countless of hours and days of research I have done, I need to hear it from actual patients who have gone through a decompression surgery. How was recovery?
As the title asks, would the pain be about the same pain I get from sneezing? Are there things I need to be prepared for? What things helped you get past it?
I am terrified of pain, especially since my favorite place to scratch when I have an itch is where they’re going to make the incision. I don’t know how to feel about this.
My surgery is tomorrow but it’s terrible how badly I want to cancel it, but I know I won’t because no matter what this surgery would be life-changing for me.