Infection after cervical spinal surgery is just one possible complication of surgery to treat neck pain. Finding ways to reduce the risk of infection is important, especially as this complication can lead to failed back surgery syndrome, serious scarring, ongoing and worsening neck pain, and even paralysis or death, depending on how serious the infection becomes and how responsive it is to treatment. Read more
Smoking not only leads to wrinkles it also makes you much more likely to suffer from neck pain. This is because smoking impairs blood circulation, tissue oxygenation and nourishment, causes dehydration, depletes vitamin C and other antioxidant nutrients, increases the risk of cancerous growths in the neck, and even adversely affects bone metabolism. Read more
Medtronic's newly approved Prestige LP Cervical Disc.
Manning left the Colts for the Broncos, returning to form after his 2011 ACDF neck surgery.
Having undergone several neck surgeries to address a painful herniated cervical disc, Manning managed to return to form for the Broncos. He’s now waiting to hear if it’s still safe for him to play next season but has he already dropped hints that he’s set to retire? Read more
One of the most difficult aspects of the recovery period after neck surgery is sleeping. Depending on what type of procedure you underwent for your degenerative spine condition and how invasive the procedure was, you can anticipate at least a few uncomfortable nights in the immediate aftermath of a cervical operation. Fortunately, with each passing night, the discomfort should subside more and more, and comfortable sleep will once again become the norm. Meanwhile, here are a few tips to help you grab as much shut-eye as possible while you recover from neck surgery. Read more
What if there were a way for those suffering with neck pain from arthritis to ditch the dangerous NSAIDs and opiates and help relieve pain naturally, whilst improving long-term health? No epidural steroid injections, no surgery, no elaborate physical therapy requirements but you still get pain relief within a week or so and the added benefit of knowing that chronic degenerative processes are being fought against to help improve and maintain your mobility and flexibility. Sounds too good to be true? It might be very real and it might be sitting on the shelf at your local natural products store: MSM, glucosamine and chondroitin, a powerful combination for neck pain relief that is backed by rigorous research. Read more
Cervical fusion is a form of surgery that removes a damaged intervertebral disc in the neck, replaces it with a supportive cage or implant, and permanently fuses the adjacent vertebrae. This procedure halts some movement within a motion segment, usually with the goal of increasing stability and relieving neck pain.
The exact cause of pain in the cervical spine can be tricky to pinpoint, largely because the spine is so complex and has many components – vertebrae, facet joints, intervertebral discs, ligaments, tendons, and muscles – all of which must work properly together to ensure optimal functioning. That said, when one or more of these components is damaged, degenerates, or for some other reason begins to function improperly, pain can often result. Read more
Cervical spinal fusion is a surgery that involves removal of a bulging or herniated disc in the neck (cervical spine), placement of a supportive cage/implant and bone graft material to replace the disc, and the fusing of adjacent vertebrae with plates, rods, and screws. To ensure success of this surgery, the recovery process can be just as important as the procedure itself, so it’s helpful to know how you can make your rehabilitation process less arduous and restore your spine to optimum health. Read more
Two newly published studies have found that minimally invasive surgery for neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (NTOS) can significantly improve patients’ symptoms. This relatively uncommon condition causes neck pain, paraesthesia in the arms, neck and hands, numbness and weakness in the upper body and is more frequent in young, active and generally healthy patients.
One of the studies found that a fairly recently developed type of surgery is particularly helpful at relieving thoracic outlet syndrome in adolescents when the pinched nerves are being caused by the pectoralis minor tendon. Read more
Laser spine procedures are performed to help patients find relief from symptoms caused by nerve irritation and compression caused by certain common spine conditions. After undergoing one of these minimally invasive procedures, many patients are typically able to walk on their own within an hour or two. This is an appealing concept to some individuals dealing with back or neck pain, considering that patients who undergo another possible surgical approach – open spine surgery – may be in a hospital bed for several days or more.