I had this surgery due to a cancerous mass on my spine called solitary plasmacytoma, a very rare cancer. My dr had to remove the mass tht was wrapped around my spinal cord, and i had a laminectomy and fusion of the C1-C4. I had no pain and only a small loss of neck motion. God bless my neurosurgeon, she is the best of the best. Good luck to anyone having this surgery, i wish you the same outcome i had.
It's now October 5th 2023 and I feel great! My surgery went perfect, my recovery was painless but I put in a lot of work and therapy... I highly recommend spinal cord fusion surgery, I recommend Dr. Zachary Lovato in El Paso, TX I had been in pain for almost 30 years and I kept waiting, putting it off, so and anxious... I wish I had done this sooner but I think my Dr. was barely in HS ☺️
I'd love to know how you are doing with range of motion. I'm REALLY concerned with fusion. I had a baby at your age & I have a three year old to chase around & keep out of trouble. I don't see how I can do that completely fused like this. I have a reverse cervical curve so I don't know that I'm a candidate for anything else. I also live in Texas.
Thank you for taking the time to make these videos! For people who must have surgery, this is so complete and useful. In my country, (Romania) doctors have little time to talk to their patients and explain the process (because of an over-crowded medical system and lack of proper patient-doctor time). I'm sure this is the case in many other countries as well. So your words from far away will shed light on these procedures all over the world, where people will have to undergo them. Amazing!
60 yrs old. My neck all 4 levels Mod to severe. Lower back same. Still do everything i like to do but have to chill and recover a couple days after. Doing everything possible to deal without surgery to get by. Of all the doctors i have spoken with you are by far my first choice when ever it comes to considering surgery just by watching your video's. I can sense you really love your craft and truly care about your patients and they're out come. Keep up the great work..."
Don't put off have surgery to long. I had C3/C7 almost 2 years ago. And I am doing good. It is a scary thing to have to have done. But you will be so glad to get it behind you.
Dr Su is great. Had my surgery in 2018 and haven’t had any issues. Laminectomy cervical 4 through 7, foraminotomy right cervical 3/4, 4/5, posterior cervical decompression and fusion C3 thru T1 with instrumationtation .
My neck has anterolisthesis and 2 vertebrae have auto fused. I’m having intense headaches. I’m waiting for an MRI. Dr. Su is so straightforward. I really appreciate his videos. I wish he would post more about the thoracic spine.
Still and will always follow you. You have taught me more than any doctor I've ever known. To date, no one has ever shown me my x-rays and MRI results and explained them. So for that I thank you sir! The best doctor I've ever met and wish you were mine. Terry
Incredibly complex operations and you still take the time to do these videos. Thank you for clearly explaining all these spinal conditions and treatments.
Another excellent, impressive, and informative presentation.Exceptionally complex surgery requiring significant vast knowledge and skill. I'm also impressed that each comment receives recognition. You are a "God sent." Many thanks and blessings for all you do.
Thank you for this video. I am having C3-T2 laminectomy and fusion in a week. This was helpful in preparing me and giving me some insight. I will talk to my surgeon about C5 palsy. Be well !
How are you doing after your surgery? In June 2024 I had C3 to C7 anterior posterior fusions This is not a walk in the park, it is a lot! be prepared and patient with the healing process. I am excited to finally meet the One Year mark!
Recently underwent this surgery and this is one of the best videos I watched to help reinforce the explanation from my surgeon.... You pretty much explained everything the same way my surgeon did
Had it done at c3,4 and 5 surgery went well without a hitch not gonna sugar coat it.....hurt like hell the first couple days after surgery. 20 days after still a little stiff but progressing....I was afraid going in but had an excellent surgeon and team. Hoping for the best over time.
Just had mine done at c5,6,7 and agree about the early recovery. First 2-3 days were pretty rough but at 10 days now pain is minimal though it can creep up if I try to do too much.
I wish I had you as my surgeon. You explained everything so well. I just had a c5-c7 acdf 3 months ago and developed 2 secondary conditions. Parsonage Turner syndrome and a frozen shoulder. Been in more pain post surgery than before and alot of nerve and spinal damage. I had severe myelopathy. I now need assistance with daily living tasks. I'm still hoping for a complete recovery.
Thank you for such excellent explanation of the entire process including the healing timeline that helps lessen my anxiety of guessing this or that after the surgery.
I had a C-Spine laminectomy and fusion in April of 2023. I have a ladder running down my C-Spine in my x-rays. I have very little loss of motion and have no trouble with full motion of my neck. I am continually active and blew through P.T. My range of motion is pretty much normal for a person that did not have metal put in their neck. My surgeon is awesome and is based on Cape Cod, MA. I had major problems with falls. It doesn't happen any longer. I have a total metallic C-Spine, and no issues from this surgery. My docs look at my x-rays and are so amused when I present in person. This x-ray, does not match your physical ability.
Thank you for posting this. This is the best video I have seen and this is what I had done in June 2024. I am improving, but please everyone do what you can to heal properly. I suggest adding extra portein to your diets for strength after you have surgery. Follow your Drs instructions and be kind to yourself!
❤❤❤This video made feel alot less mortified of fusion. Thanks for explaining range of motion. I'm only in my 40s with a 3yr old & I definitely don't want to look/feel like a robot.
My surgery was C3 to C7 June 2024, I am looking forward to get to that year mark, It is a slow process and we have to be patient with the process. Good luck with your recovery
Dr Su, Your videos are everything I was looking for! Making an educated decision is highly important to me...the more I learn the better I feel. I'm in a cross-road gathering information and understanding what are the options for my cervical condition. Now I know that there are other options, than the only one I was given by the neurosurgeon I was referred to. Thanks to your excellent RU-vid channel...I'm ready to look for a second medical opinion.
Very informative I am having this surgery because of damage from radiation treatment which does not entry to the front of my spine..a little scared but hopefully the outcome will allow me to enjoy life and remain in pain.
Thanks for the deep dive. I learned a lot from watching this video. I had to giggle when you said, "Usually, we're not doing a C1/C2 laminectomy and fusion." Well, guess what I'm here researching? LOL, yep - C1/C2 laminectomy/fusion (Goel-Harms technique).
This is an excellent overview of this surgery. I just had this done about 3 weeks ago and it seemed to turn out fine. Incredible pain in the first week. I still have pain in the neck area and left shoulder near the shoulder blade. Really unsure why. The discs were C2-C7. Really good video.
Hello Dan Hope you are feeling better. My wife is fusing the C1 - to C2 next week. Any suggestions or comments you have would be greatly appreciated! Thank-you Scott
@@DamianDDuncan I'm doing OK. I still have the neck and shoulder blade pain. I stopped taking painkillers about a week+ ago as it wasn't helping this pain that much. I'm surprised how long it's taking to heal to be honest.
@@DamianDDuncan yes, good question...forgot to mention. I was carrying heavy items in a backpack + luggage with my right arm. Overnight, had sharp pains down my right arm with finger numbness. Went to my PCP and diagnosed with a pinched nerved and eventually cervical spondylosis after MRI. Still have limit movement with my neck e.g., left/right.
Thank you for sharing the details. My father in law who is 82 years old has problems of numbness in the right limb and right hand. He has problems with urination. Also he is unable to stand. Some doctors say it's not advised to have laminectomy considering his age But some doctors say it's a must. Can you please share your opinion?
Super Talk! BTW, after my C3-T2 fusion/laminectomy (I wish I had consulted you!), I questioned extended hard collar use (my surg. Rx'd 8 weeks and only in my house) and as a retired PhD rehab neuropsychologist, I scoured the lit. Despite the absence of any clinical practice guidelines, and wide variability in practice (with interesting patterns) based on surveys, there is now very clear, consistent empirical (although dirty, but with decent external validity) findings and even some quasi-empirical suggested activity guidelines. I am thinking of writing this up with a title of something like, Cervical Collars: Is it time to Replace our Security Blanket with an empirical, pragmatic, individualized protocol. Are you interested in considering co-authoring this? Thanks.
I had this surgery back in Sept 23 , I'm 5 months out I still don't have any strength numb and burning in my right hand middle -ring& pink finger. It's hard to get my elbows above my shoulders, and I'm starting to regret this. Dr says he's releasing my and sending me to my primary care Dr and for him to start the disability process, claims all his work looks great. What do I need to do. I'm at a loss
It can take up to one year for the cord to heal it also depends on your dysfunction before surgery. I would have to look at the imaging. You can call 415-925-8200 for a second opinion
@@DrBrianSuTheSpineGuy I just had another MRI on 4-9-24 and got a call from the new Dr and he says there's spinal cord damage and that no further surgery is recommended, he says follow up with my Pain management Dr, . I continue to have severe pain when I look down or up for more than a couple minutes, my forearms to my fingers Middle, ring, pinky are numb and burn constantly. My arms feel like I've been holding very heavy weights constantly, I'll try and call Monday morning THANK YOU SO MUCH
Dr Su, what kind of life can we expect after a laminectomy? I had one c3-c7 six months ago. My neck is still stiff and sore. Headaches are terrible. Can we wear heels ever again? What can we do without fear and curb in our lifestyle?
Hi Dr. Brian , do you use the ultrasonic cutters ? I m not sure if that correct but to my modest knowledge I think it make sense instead of using the old tools that spins and it might causes damage to the spinal cord
That is a marketing ploy. Decompression can be very safely done with ultrasonic cutters as well as with diamond tip and non-end cutting burrs. There are no difference in the outcomes
Thank you, Dr. Su for this video. I am a therapeutic massage therapist and recently had a client who had this procedure done approximately a year ago. They came to me to see if they could have pain relief through massage. They claimed that they had finished PT and were cleared for soft tissue therapy. I was wondering what modality would best be used on a person that has had this procedure and ACDF. I treated them with a variation of friction, both petrissage and effleurage with moderate pressure. I was wondering if cupping with silicone cups would be beneficial. Thank you for your time and attention.
On March 8th I had a Posterior Cervical Laminectomy of C3 to C7 but no Fusion. I can't find any videos or explanations of this being done without fusion. You would do well to make one. More people than you think would watch them.
How do you keep the screws from protruding out creating painful bumps on the skin? Do you have plastic surgeons in the operating room to mitigate this?
I had a frontal laectomy after a few years I developed an adhesion in my esophagus causing the need to remove all hardware. I needed to be on antibiotics through portal for infection for 60 days. Also being tube fed till esophagus healed. Guess I was one of the few that went bad. To this day I have numbness in my right hand causing disruption during sleep with burning sensation I do have some movement in head but driving can be tricky
DR. I’m a 49 year old female that just found out I need a POSTERIOR CERVICAL DECOMPRESSION AND FUSION SURGERY C-3,C-5 and C-7 I’m very scared due to that I’m loosing mobility on my legs and arms .I would like a second opinion.
I am very thin. Do screws from cervical fusions ever bulge out into the skin after the swelling is resolved post surgery? I’ve seen this on a couple of FB groups I’m on. Is this a rare occurrence? I know this is an odd question. Thank you.
Very informative. I have a question, How come this is called Laminectomy and fusion( and not laminectomy and fixation) , when in say Lumbar spine it would be called laminectomy and transpedicular fixation, Vs fusion when interbody device is used.( like TLIF)?
I'm in the room here with my Dad who just had a c1-t2 fusion and pain is high. I'm worried about if he'll regain c5 movement of his shoulders to lift his arms. As of now, it's not working and we're 12 hours out of surgery. Please pray with me.
Hi Dr. Su, my father has visited three neurosurgeons with 2 recommending a cervical laminectomy with fusion and 1 recommending a laminoplasty. Why would there be differing of opinions?
If you watch these surgical options video you will see that there are many different ways to do the surgery. It is always my preference when possible to do a plasty for all of the reasons that the laminoplasty video states.
I have moderate stenosis in my C5 & C6 & some bulging discs. I have severe pain in both shoulder blades. The majority of the time, it’s in the left side. I’d say 70/30. The entire left side of my trunk goes numb. I also get weird electric shock feeling in my left arm. I’ve been the PT and that didn’t help. I’ve had 2 injections & that didn’t work. I’ve been seeing a pain management doctor and a surgeon. I go back to the surgeon next week to see what he wants to do. What do you think he’d do to me? Any help is appreciated greatly.
I think your wonderful for sharing your expertise with us . I have cervical stenosis and you have put me at ease about the whole situation .. thank you 🙏
Hi doctor. Been seeing your videos and you make me understand my condition clearly. Thank you! I have cervical myelopathy with numbness in legs and arms. The first line in my MRI report says "Cervical lordosis obliterated - muscle spasm". I have consulted 5 doctors till now but no one has told me about this. They told only about my c5 c6 bulge and that I need surgery. However I remember 1 chiropractor mentioning that my spine is not curved properly. What does this "cervical lordosis obliterated - muscle spasm" mean?
Dr if polyaxial screws are used for posterior cervical fusion, does this still provide stabilization and if so, do these polyaxial screws allow for more range of motion than typical fixed pedicle screws?
hi, i am a man of 56 years old .after an accident ,I had to have decompression and cervical fusion from c3 to t1 in 2022 and since that time I have the impression of having a bag of sand on my shoulders. I also still have tickles in my forearms up to the index finger. Is there a way to remedy this problem. I already take duloxetine. Thank you for your advice
Dear Dr can’t thank you enough for videos. I have made contact before I had to have stress test prem admin Dr to Heart Specialist last week Friday Heart Special advised advised in his view ok to proceed. How every Hospital has not got back to me as yet so silly. When it was today all last minute lest messages for my Nuro and hospital. God I hope they get back to me
Hey i have 2 level of bulgin cervical disc at 30 compressing the spinal cord. Informed that i have to do surgery. Do u suggest disc replacement/fusion?
@@DrBrianSuTheSpineGuy thank for your reply. Hopefully one day you can make a video on opll since there is limited information on it and seems to affect a number of people.
@@DrBrianSuTheSpineGuyI just found out I have OPLL last week, my surgeon wants me to get CT scan and then schedule my surgery. Would you do plasty for OPLL or lamenectomy?
what percentage of surgeries started as laminectomy and ended with fusion? I'm just asking for information because I may have to undergo the procedure and I don't think that the metal in the spine helps with flexibility and yoga. The question does not cover older people, only active sports people. What is the chance that after the initial procedure I will end up with screws? Because I want to keep body mobility.
Hi Doctor, Is there a reason why the technique of Deuk spine institute is not more universally practiced? Is it really because fusing & other procedures are more profitable for surgeons & insurance companies or is there a catch with that technique?
Laser spine surgery was debunked by the North American spine society several years ago and the laser spine institute went out of business. It was largely marketing gimmick. I don't know the deuk institute
It is not been shown in any study that bracing is useful. However, I always place my patients in a brace just to remind them they had surgery as well as the people around them. I would follow the direction of your surgeon
I have a second fusion which was my 3rd back surgery T11 screw started bending and broke my vertebra now my surgeon wants to do a full spine fusion is there another way to fix it without fusing my whole spine? please help!
Hello Dr. I really need help i have got spondylolisthesis grade 2 L4/5 and i am only 19 years old and i have been told that i should not lift anything or to do squats,deadlifts but there are many people who have Spondy and they are doing this things and they are getting better i am confused for what should i do i want to have normal life without pain with strength i am crying everyday i feel like an old man i am loosing myself i would do anything to get my back as it was before. Thanks a lot
I’m still in a lot of pain sadly. It’s been nearly a year. My left shoulder is feeling more of the affects of it with swelling and loads of pain. I just don’t how much longer I can keep this up.
Dr. Su I had a laminectomy with instrumentation from c3 to T1 for a spinal cord compression in Houston, Texas in 2021. The doctors kept telling me I would go paralyzed without the surgery. I was completely healthy and physically active. Today I got my new MRI and I'm afraid because mri says I have myelomalacia AND myelopathy. Dr. Su 😢is the myelopathy and myelomalacia from after getting the surgery or before and from the severerity of my spinal cord compression? I had a big wig doctor that was Orthopedic Surgeon to the star athletes. But he moved and I need another surgeon to answer my questions about c1 and c2 slipping out in the future. I have means and good insurance. Can you please be my new spine surgeon. Or recommend me a top one like yourself in Houston, Texas or Katy, Texas, please? 🙏🏽
Could you do a video on loss of lumbar lordosis?? I'm looking at a major disc replacement and fusion surgery to correct it, and would like to see what options are out there.
Great video! I have a C4-C6 fusion done by anterior cervical disc fusion. 5 years ago. Last year developed rotator cuff tears and tendinopathies in both shoulders. Coincidence? 🤔
I’m having progressively worse headaches from cervical problems. X-ray shows c4 anterolisthesis and auto fusion of C5 C6. I’m waiting for an MRI. I have left shoulder pain (deltoid) and upper arm pain. Sometimes pins and needles in the arm. I’m starting with the pain management to discuss epidurals. Headaches are keeping me in bed. I’ll try your NSAID protocol after speaking with my surgeon. I hope there are solutions.
hello dr. I really need your help I am 24 years old and I got grade 1spodolysthesis . Should I go for surgery because dr. says it wil be lifelong and I can't lift weight. I am crying i don't want to live life with pain
Dr Su, I have a MRI report and CT I would like an second opinion is it possible I can send you by email ? The neurosurgeon suggested to have surgery . But would like to have 2 nd opinion
Hi Doc. I have straightened cervical spine. C5, C6, C7 radiculopathy. I am not feeling any pain, however, the tingling sensation in my hands and feet are bothering me. Even though I am just lying down, they don't stop tingling. What should I do? Thank you.
Is Myelopathy the same as tethered spinal cord? I have that due to Spina Bifida. Have you done a video on release surgery? I'm terrified of it, but in my mid-40's, the pain & weakness definitely has my attention.
I love all your videos. My entire C-spine is fused down to T1. My last MRI shows that I have four bulging discs in my T-spine along with one rather large blown disc in my L. I couldn't find any videos of yours on disc issues in the thoracic spine. I know they are rare but since finding out my latest scan, I'm feeling rather uninformed about it. Can you shed some light on this condition at some point? Thanks so much.
