Feature Symposium	New Patient Stories

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South Palm patients are always seen by an MD on every visit! (not a non-physician or nurse)

• What is Spinal Pain?
• What Causes Spinal Pain?
• Pain Management
• Minimally Invasive Robotic Surgery

• Overview of Spinal Stenosis
• Spinal Stenosis Information
• Spinal Stenosis Diagnosis
• Spinal Stenosis / Nerve Compression
• Non-Operative Treatment
• Surgical Treatments
• Spinal Stenosis - Minimally Invasive
• Spinal Stenosis/Foraminal Stenosis
• What is Spinal Pain?
• What Causes Spinal Pain?
• Spinal Stenosis Pain Management

• Cervical Disc Disease
• Cervical Disc Herniation
• Cervical Radiculopathy
• Anterior Cervical Fusion
• Posterior Cervical Fusion

• What is Minimally Invasive Surgery?
• Interspinous Process Decompression
• Research Presentation
• M-LIFF New Surgical Research

Diagnosing the Problem
When a patient with a degenerative disorder of the cervical spine is examined by one of our doctors, one or more symptoms are likely to be apparent. We will ask the patient many questions to gain a detailed history of the condition. A thorough evaluation of the patient will be conducted, including several types of tests, so as to accurately identify the problem.

A neurologic examination will be done to rule out a neurologic deficit. A shoulder examination will also probably be done to ensure that the symptoms are indeed originating from the neck.

Treatment Options
After we have conducted the necessary tests to identify the problem in the cervical spine, a treatment plan will then be developed. Various treatment options are available, and can be subdivided into two categories:

• Non-surgical treatment
  
• Surgical treatment

Non-surgical Treatment
Non-surgical treatment of cervical degenerative disease provides good to excellent results in over 75% of patients. Our multi-disciplinary approach can include:

• Immobilization can be achieved using a collar or braces; it's most beneficial during acute incidents of pain. Immobilization works by reducing motion at the symptomatic levels.
  
  
• Physical therapy and manipulation (chiropractic) can be useful in decreasing muscle spasms that can contribute to symptoms.
  
  
• Medications might include painkillers, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, and muscle relaxants. In many cases, non-surgical treatment can provide good long-term results.

Surgical Treatment
Surgery may be appropriate if one or more of the following criteria are met:

• Non-surgical treatments have been tried and failed.
• Your disorder is causing spinal cord dysfunction.
• Your disorder is causing prolonged arm pain or weakness.

When surgery is appropriate, it may involve removal of bone and/or possible fusion of two or more cervical vertebrae. In most instances, the preferred approach is anterior (i.e., from the front) interbody fusion. Using the anterior approach, your doctor can perform a complete discectomy (i.e., removal of the disc between two vertebrae), and then seek to restore the normal disc space height and normal curvature of the spine. A metal plate may be utilized to improve the fusion and avoid a neck brace.

A posterior approach (from the back of the spine) is often considered when a cervical disc has herniated in a way that makes this approach preferable.

The surgeons of South Palm Orthospine Institute always examine minimally invasive surgery as an option.