Rachelle
Procedure: Cervical Spinal Fusion
What was your initial medical issue?
Protruding cervical discs causing nerve pain.
What did this issue prevent you doing?
I was in constant pain. It limited the amount of sleep that I got, as well as my day-to-day activities. The pressure from the discs also exacerbated my migraines.
What made you decide to do something about your problem?
The pain continued to increase, causing more discomfort and limiting my ability to do daily tasks. In addition, the frequency of my migraines was increasing to the point that I would end up in the emergency room 3-4 times per year.
Why did you choose Dr. Sinicropi?
I had seen two other specialists before finding Dr. Sinicropi. Within 5 minutes of my first visit with Dr. Sinicropi I knew he was someone I could trust. He knew exactly what to look for in what was causing my pain, he was very straight-forward about the next steps and what my options were throughout the process. He is just the right amount of conservative with his approach toward surgery – and makes you feel comfortable with your decision. He is obviously a very skilled surgeon, but he also made me feel safe.
What treatment/procedure did you have done?
I’ve had two cervical spine fusions by Dr. Sinicropi.
How did you feel after treatment?
I was amazed at how little pain I experienced after the first surgery. The greatest part is waking up from surgery and not feeling any of the pre-existing nerve pain. The second surgery was a little more involved and I had incisions in the front and the back. Granted, with the second surgery I experienced more recovery pain, but that was all due to the incision in the back of my neck and totally expected (there are way more nerves in the back). Dr. Sinicropi fully prepared me for what to expect. Even still, it was completely worth it. Again, I woke up and all the nerve pain was completely gone. What a relief!
What advice would you give other patients in a similar situation to you?
I would definitely recommend trying all your alternatives before having major surgery. But if those don’t work and you’re living in constant pain, as I did, I would not only recommend having the surgery, but would not hesitate to recommend Dr. Sinicropi. I already have several times.
