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Neck Surgery
Neck Surgery IndicationsSurgical intervention is used to treat many common spinal abnormalities including:* Herniated Discs * Degenerative Disc Disease * Lordosis * Spinal Stenosis * Pinched Nerves and Foraminal Stenosis * Spinal Arthritis and Facet Joint Syndrome No surgical therapy offers truly excellent treatment results for any of these conditions and some procedures demonstrate utterly abysmal results, often leaving the patient far worse post-operatively. It is miraculous to me that spinal surgery is still such a popular and practiced modality, since very few patients are actually cured of their pain after undergoing any invasive spinal procedure. Neck Surgery for InjuryCervical surgery is best used to treat emergency neck injuries and trauma where the spinal integrity has been compromised. In these circumstances, surgery is completely justifiable, despite a possibly poor operative outcome. Spinal instability is a serious consequence of significant injury and when this occurs in the neck, the patient’s very life might be at risk. This is one of the best uses for spinal fusion and other drastic neck procedures.Cervical spinal injuries might also need to be treated to eliminate any threat which might compromise or damage the spinal cord. Obviously, a cervical spinal injury is to be avoided at all costs, since the effects on any patient are likely to be devastating and possibly permanent. Neck Surgery RecommendationThe vertebral bones and intervertebral discs are thinner and more delicate in the neck than in any other region of the spine. There is a huge network of nerves and vascular tissue packed into the neck as well, serving the anatomical needs of the upper body. Cervical spinal surgery often causes more harm than good and many patients are left disabled from operations which were probably not even necessary to begin with. Everyday, I get letters from patients with failed back surgery syndrome who are looking for any solution to their dire post-surgical predicaments. Unfortunately, once damage has been done to the delicate spinal structures, there is rarely any effective way of restoring form and function…I can not stress it enough… Please so not undergo surgery on your neck, or any other spinal region, without being 100% SURE that the procedure is your last resort. In addition, make sure that the procedure is actually necessary and has a good chance of curing your pain. Talk to your surgeon about the risks and try to do some independent research to ascertain the effectiveness of the proposed procedure for your condition. Remember… once you go through with surgery, THERE IS NO GOING BACK. Don’t take chances. Do your research and take an active role in your own treatment.
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