I recently operated on a 26 year old male who presented suffering from a gradual deterioration of neck pain and bilateral arm pain, weakness, and altered sensation after a diving accident he suffered at a water park four weeks earlier.
The diagnosis was of a delayed presentation of a complex neck fracture (bilateral cervical fracture / dislocation with neurologic deterioration), as shown in the image, left. Continue reading…
Spinal surgery is generally very safe. The chances of injury to the spinal cord are extremely small, the chances to nerve structures are also extremely small.
If you’re suffering severe pain from a large disc prolapse or severe nerve compression, then the surgery to stabilise the spine and remove the pressure on the nerves, the benefits of that surgery far outweigh the risks associated with damage to nerves or the spinal cord. Continue reading…
Back pain is debilitating. It is functionally debilitating and it is emotionally debilitating and the patients that I see want alleviation from the constant pain that is preventing them from participating in the activities that they enjoy.
What are the most common back problems?
The most common complaints people have relating to their spinal conditions are referred arm pain or leg pain, often referred to as sciatica or a pinched nerve.
They also experience debilitating back pain or they may experience a combination of both severe back pain and radiating arm or leg pain. Continue reading…
