Patient Perspective

Phyllis Wilson* has lived a very healthy and active life for the last 79 years. She tends her flower garden, uses her NordicTrack™ and takes long walks in her neighborhood. But this healthy lifestyle changed about two years ago following a trip and fall accident. She suffered, what was diagnosed at the time as having, a “whiplash” injury. Her pain was severe in her neck, shoulder, upper back and left arm with numbness and tingling into her hand. “My life changed”, stated Mrs. Wilson, “I stopped walking, tending my garden and almost every activity I did due to my constant severe neck pain. I was convinced I was doomed to a future of continuous suffering.” The drawing shows her pain distribution. “I was in such agony that I drew a crude picture to help describe where my pain and numbness were”, stated Mrs. Wilson.

Mrs. Wilson saw a chiropractor who recognized her symptoms were more than a simple whiplash. She was placed in a soft collar and treated with magnetic therapy and sent her for further evaluation. See had a MRI and plain X-rays and was then seen by Dr. Maroon for an evaluation.

She was found to be suffering from severe neck spasm and profound pain with movement of her neck. The MRI showed spinal degenerative disc disease at C4-5 and C5-6, but more importantly her flexion and extension cervical X-rays (see

photos) showed abnormal spine alignment and abnormal movement of her spine. Dr. Maroon told her that she needed a spinal fusion at those levels to stop the movement and most likely relieve her pain.

She underwent a C4-5 and C5-6 anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with bone and a plate (see photos). “It is a miracle”, states Mrs. Wilson, “I am back to walking, house work and my gardening. And best of all my neck has no more spasm or pain when I move it. I have experienced a metamorphosis in my life.”

Mrs. Wilson’s results are usual of this operation. Each patient’s recovery differs and depends on many factors. Age, sex, type and amount of disability and length of symptoms all play a role in the recovery process. Our goal in all cases is to allow the patient to resume all the activities they did prior to your injury whenever possible.

*Mrs. Wilson has signed a released to permit the release of this personal information. We will not disclose any information unless the parties involved agree in writing. Mrs. Wilson chose to permit this information because of her gratitude to Dr. Maroon and his staff.

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Last Updated: Mar 12, 2003