Ten Reasons To Consider Having Neck Surgery

While most people don’t stop and consider how much they use their neck on a daily basis, they do quickly notice pain and discomfort when it starts in that area of the body. Many patients that experience neck pain try and find relief through non-invasive treatments such as physical therapy. However, there are times that surgery is required to solve any issues with the neck. A few of the surgical options include cervical spinal fusion and cervical discectomy.

Neck surgery is often considered a final option by those suffering from chronic pain and stiffness. Even if patients are not certain about undergoing neck surgery, here are ten reasons why neck surgery is a good option to solve neck issues:

1. Herniated Disc – This is a condition that happens when one of the discs between the vertebrae slips, or even ruptures, and results in pressure on the nerve.
2. Degenerative Disc Disease – Despite the name, this is not an actual disease. It’s a condition characterized by one disc, or multiple discs, in the neck wearing down as a person gets older which can cause chronic pain.
3. Bone Spurs – The spurs are basically outgrowths of bone that are a result of bones grinding against each other over a long period of time. If left untreated, the end result could be nerve damage.
4. Cervical Spinal Stenosis – When the spinal canal narrows, there is less room for the spinal cord in the canal and the patient can suffer severe pain from the narrowing.
5. Spine or Neck Deformities – A good number of spine and neck deformities can be present from birth and are not easily treatable through non-invasive methods. These deformities tend to get worse as the patient gets older.
6. The Pain Is Getting Worse – If any severe or chronic pain suffered by the patient on a daily basis seems to be getting worse, neck surgery might be the best option to correct the problem.
7. Inability To Work – Chronic neck pain can wear a person down and interfere with their ability to perform their job on a regular basis. Neck surgery is an option if non-invasive methods don’t help relieve the daily pain.
8. Neck Injury – A neck injury that does not heal properly can result in problems years later. Any symptoms should be treated sooner rather than later.
9. Numbness/Tingling/Restricted Movements – If a patient is experiencing any sort of tingling, movement restriction or numbness, a visit to the doctor should be scheduled as soon as possible. Any of these symptoms can be a sign of nerve compression in the neck as well as the spine. If left untreated, the patient might require surgery at a later date.
10. The Pain Doesn’t Go Away – No matter what non-invasive treatments are tried by the patient, sometimes the pain is still present at all times. If non-invasive options such as physical therapy and medicine are not helping at all, the patient needs to meet with a surgeon to determine if surgery is the only treatment option left to help solve their neck issues.

- MA