My neck intermittently bothered me over the years, but I was always able to get relief with conservative treatments, including epidural steroid injections, sleeping on a rolled up towel, and taking anti-inflammatories. Just days after my 40th birthday, it became apparent that the most recent flare of neck pain was not just going to get better, and in fact it continued to get worse. The first and second fingers on my right hand were numb and getting clumsy. Fortunately, I was able to get in for an MRI of the cervical spine, which showed me a far lateral right C6-7 disc herniation smushing my nerve root.
Knowing the way I felt and also knowing my anatomy was helpful to quickly come up with a plan to fix my neck. I sat down with neurosurgeon Perry Argires, MD, FACS and came up with a plan for surgery. He performed a cervical laminoforaminotomy, which freed up the nerve from compression. I woke up 95% better than before surgery, just really sore over my incision.
I have operated at the Advanced Surgery Center of Lancaster for years, but this was my first patient experience at the facility. Our hand-picked team provided me with the most advanced outpatient spine care in the area. From walking in to rolling out, it was an A+. Thank you to my work family for caring for all our patients and, in this case, for me.
Over the past month I have been recovering from surgery, and am appreciating this experience with intention, humility, and a return to daily yoga practice. My strength, sensation, flexibility, and resolve have never been more developed. I am looking forward to bringing this experience to bear in my clinic upon my return.
Had your own experience with spine surgery? Want to share or just have questions?
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