I have read through so many of the questions and answers, and appreciate everyone's time and information. I too have done lots of research, literally scaring myself. I was in a car accident two weeks ago, my car just lost control in rain, on the highway, and drove into concrete highway barriers at 65 miles per hour. It was the scariest and most painful moment of my life. I was in so much pain, I knew something had gone terribly wrong and could barely move to dial 911.
I have a fracture in my spine vertebrae, T12, and wearing back brace. I was hospitalized for three days, but after I went home I felt very weird at night sleeping. I had numbness and weakness in my left leg and foot, and left lower arm and hand. I went back to Emergency and was hospitalized again, this time they did full MRI of spine. They found a Syrinx at C6-C7, the surgeon told me so casually and I immediately Googled it while he was still there and burst out crying. He said no need to worry, we will just monitor it, it's not that big. I'm supposed to see him for follow up, but due to holidays it's been so hard to get an appointment with him, so I'll be seeing him in two more weeks. I'm also consulting with a different neurosurgeon who specializes with this in a few days.
Based on anyone's experiences, do you think I should push for surgery? Since I am already having the symptoms? I get jitters at night, like little seizures. Weird headaches too, which a neurologist wrote for a brain MRI too soon.
Anyways, I'm new to this, and like all of you, my life is changed now. I look at things so differently, I used to take my active lifestyle, healthy, and ability to be so active for granted. I love being in the gym, running, lifting weights, and just picking up whatever I want; can't do that anymore. I hope I'm just overreacting. At this point, I'm just happy to be alive, life is so precious and will fight for it.
One piece of information I found as I researched online, this was for a credible research by surgeons and professors. Apparently lifting weights, or anything like constipation can make the Syrinx grow. So I think one way to avoid the growth, if possible, is to not lift heavy things, don't do weight lifting at the gym, just cardio. AND most importantly I think breathing exercises help, like yoga, because it opens up your lungs thus relaxing your mind and body, I think your spirit and being positive does make a difference, and eating healthy foods to avoid constipation and promote bone health as well. We are naturally fighters and want to live, life is too precious, let's not waste it being sad about this. Look on the bright side of things, there is always a bright side. Even if one knows there is little time left to live, why not spend that little time not thinking about the issue and enjoying the time rather than being sad and miserable about it, as that never helps and in fact stress always makes things worse. Just my thoughts, hope to get some feedback and your experiences too.