Sugery or Cyberknife?

I made my decision, on the 10th I had the Cyberknife. I actually feel pretty good and after 3 days see a big difference.Thanks everyone for your input!!

http://www.livingwithtn.org/forum/topics/a-positive-mvd-surgery-experience-and-outcome

sara said:

I have the same decision to make I guess. I am going for MVD surgery late Sept. please, let me know any info you have about this surgery?

any info is appreciated.

Do you have any pain now?




wrigley said:

I faced the same exact choice, and this is what my neuro said, and please keep in mind this is just one doc’s viewpoint, and many different ones have different perspectives.

Essentially, he said that if I went with the gamma knife and it doesn’t work, then my only remaining option would be the MVD. However, he felt that the chance of success with the MVD in that case would be lessened, with a higher likelihood of complications.

His explanation was based on the idea that the gamma knife is essentially, intentionally damaging the nerve as the means to address the symptoms.

I spent some hard days going over this very decision, and ultimately I went with MVD with the mindset as follows: I felt like I had a gun with two bullets, one being the gamma knife and one being the MVD. If I shoot the gamma knife bullet and miss, it is more likely that the MVD bullet will never fire. If I shot the MVD bullet and it missed, I could still fire the gamma knife bullet with the same exact chance of success.

So, I went with MVD.

I don’t know if that’s helpful or not, but that’s my own story. Good luck with your decision, because I know it’s very difficult.

Do you have any pain now?




wrigley said:

I faced the same exact choice, and this is what my neuro said, and please keep in mind this is just one doc’s viewpoint, and many different ones have different perspectives.

Essentially, he said that if I went with the gamma knife and it doesn’t work, then my only remaining option would be the MVD. However, he felt that the chance of success with the MVD in that case would be lessened, with a higher likelihood of complications.

His explanation was based on the idea that the gamma knife is essentially, intentionally damaging the nerve as the means to address the symptoms.

I spent some hard days going over this very decision, and ultimately I went with MVD with the mindset as follows: I felt like I had a gun with two bullets, one being the gamma knife and one being the MVD. If I shoot the gamma knife bullet and miss, it is more likely that the MVD bullet will never fire. If I shot the MVD bullet and it missed, I could still fire the gamma knife bullet with the same exact chance of success.

So, I went with MVD.

I don’t know if that’s helpful or not, but that’s my own story. Good luck with your decision, because I know it’s very difficult.

Tough decision!! I hope I can avoid an MVD until the new minimally invasion endoscopic technique is standard-- only a two inch incision and much quicker recovery!! University of Pennsylvania is dfoing them already....

Here is the article I read about it-- http://www.hindawi.com/journals/mis/2013/739432/

Thanks guys. We just met with dr valerio and we are moving forward with our second balloon compression this Monday then down to Miami to see dr wolf about gamma knife. He upped her kappa Meds now.

I did have cyber knife which is a little different than gamma knife. I have not had any problems with pain but i do have some numbness around my eye but no pain. I was told numbness will probably alway be there. If i had known out come I still would have had it done.

Thanks so much for your reply. I’m like so stressed with this whole thing because it’s really not a sure things. I’m so happy that I found this website. I don’t feel alone in this. Xo

I chose surgery...for me, relief from it it only lasted 8 weeks, but it was a massive and much needed jump start. I'd do it again knowing it only lasted for a short term.

For me I was 28, had no complications, and it went really smoothly. I went to work full time 9 days later as a game developer/programmer.

The gamma knife seems to me as more risky, they don't really know if it will help and it can make things permanently worse. MVD can as well, but for the most part when you wake up it either worked or didn't.

I had Gamma Knife in mid July.I was marginally better immediately ,but still had pain.After 9 weeks it faded to nothing and i'm pain free.( : Hopefully it will last...It was quite a bit more involved than the Cyber knife i had previously for a AVM..Also my Doctor was a neurosurgeon and worked closely with Gamma Knife Cancer center we used.Im hoping that put more odds in my favor.Good luck!

Don? Who is your docotrs? Do u live in Florida? It sounds like you are talking about Valerio.

No,Dallas. Desaloms At Presbyterian.I would highly recommend.

JuniorMintsRule said:

Don? Who is your docotrs? Do u live in Florida? It sounds like you are talking about Valerio.

Hi Sara,
Who is your dr at Stanford?
I hope and pray for a pain free life for you.



JuniorMintsRule said:

Do you have any pain now?




wrigley said:

I faced the same exact choice, and this is what my neuro said, and please keep in mind this is just one doc’s viewpoint, and many different ones have different perspectives.

Essentially, he said that if I went with the gamma knife and it doesn’t work, then my only remaining option would be the MVD. However, he felt that the chance of success with the MVD in that case would be lessened, with a higher likelihood of complications.

His explanation was based on the idea that the gamma knife is essentially, intentionally damaging the nerve as the means to address the symptoms.

I spent some hard days going over this very decision, and ultimately I went with MVD with the mindset as follows: I felt like I had a gun with two bullets, one being the gamma knife and one being the MVD. If I shoot the gamma knife bullet and miss, it is more likely that the MVD bullet will never fire. If I shot the MVD bullet and it missed, I could still fire the gamma knife bullet with the same exact chance of success.

So, I went with MVD.

I don’t know if that’s helpful or not, but that’s my own story. Good luck with your decision, because I know it’s very difficult.