The way I understand it, they push a big needle through a disk between vertebraes lower than the syrinx and feed a very small tube up to the syrinx. They either pierce it or flatten it somehow and then remove the needle leaving the tube in place. The tube is then routed to the abdomen to drain. Pain relief is about 50/50 with a possibility of creating more pain. The surgery is usually only considered for people that are loosing feeling and function. Even then doctors aren't real happy withit because it doesn't address the reason the syrinx occured to begin with. What caused spinal fluid to rout within the cord? If anyone knows more about it, Don't think I'll be offended to be corrected or told I'm wrong. I'd love to hear that this has become more successfull or theres a new way of doing it.
john ----- Original Message ---- From: Fragile <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2007 9:42:59 AM Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] syrinx and operation success curious about the surgery to drain a syrinx. How do they get through the vertebrae to reach the syrinx? Drill a small hole or remove a chunk of bone? Do they have to expose the spinal cord? I've been suffering from severe pain for about three years, gets worse all the time, neuropathic pain medications have made no difference. Had an MRI in 2005, the radiologist said everything was normal. On July 19, 2007 I took the MRIs to a neurologist who found a syrinx in less than 10 seconds. He ordered a new MRI with a more advanced "MRI machine." Have an appointment on September 5 to go over the results. On 8/22/07, RONALD L PRACHT <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: I know a few people with syrinxes now, but Ive yet to hear from anybody that had great results from surgical intervention. I do know a para lady that got hers drained with a needle that had benefits from that. Everytime her pain level increases she goes in and gets it drained again. I called the same neurosurgeon and he wont drain mine, lol. I have learned this much though...the shunts that alot of neurosurgeons want to put in fail many times as well as get infected. The knowledable surgeons who are experienced with syringomyelia decompress the syrinx without the need of a shunt. If and when the time comes that I cant live with myself anymore Im going to try to get the newer procedure done. A few keys points to remember is most people with a spinal injury develope a cyst at the injury site. This is harmless and normal.......then...by some craziness over the years the cyst fills with spinal fluid. At this point you have a syrinx.....then as the symptoms progress over time you are classified as having syringomeyelia!!!!!!!! Its like winning the bad lottery Ron c7 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Park yourself in front of a world of choices in alternative vehicles. Visit the Yahoo! Auto Green Center. http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center/
