Microsurgery for neck, shoulder and lumbar pain

[docklc]

I have both cervical and lumbar DDD that causes severe headache/neckache/shoulder pain, as well as lumbar pain--sometimes all occur together, sometimes it's more one or the other, mostly right-sided.  I am 68 and have always been physically active.  I have done some research on microsurgeries for neck and back.  Anyone have info on results they or significant others have with this?  I don't like surgery, but have exhausted most other options, PT, meds, chiro, massage, heat, lotions, sleep meds, etc.  My  MD PCP, who also has DDD had surgery and injections (he's also an accupuncturist) said skip the injections, go to surgery.  I would be grateful for any input you might offer.  Thank you...   docklc


This discussion is related to Degenerative Disc Disease Surgery options.

[Dr Vinod]

You have to come to the conclusion that surgery is the best option as you have exhausted all the known methods to escape surgery.
The method of surgery will only be determined by a neurosurgeon/orthopaedician and it differs from case to case.
Please go ahead for a consultation to the best known Neurosurgeon in your area and go ahead and discuss the options, take care!

[ChronicPain1]

That's good to hear, I need something done about my C6-C7 bulging discs.

[swpaulsen]

A neurosurgeon (Dr. Massoudi of Orange County Neurosurgical Associates) performed a cervical microforaminotomy around the region of C5/C6/C7 where the nerves to my right arm exited my spinal column.  The surgery was one in 2000.  My symptoms were pain, weakness, and tingling in my right shoulder and right arm.  The cause was a motorcycle accident about 25 years ago.  The first neurosurgeon I seen basically wanted to go in and clean house by removing the two discs and fusing those 3 vertebrae together.  That seemed drastic and asked my primary care physician for a second opinion.  This is when I met Dr. Massoudi.  He acknowledged what the first neurosurgeon wanted to do but given my symptoms, he believed that it was too drastic.  He suggested this lesser operation which involved going in and removing a few bone spurs.  During the operation, one of the spurs was much larger than what was shown on the MRI.  The operation immediately cleared up my symptoms, but my neck was sore and tingled for a few weeks after the operation.  The symptoms have never returned.