A Real Pain In The Neck
A better solution to repair disc degeneration
Cast iron skillets are heavy. And it was lifting one of those old-fashioned pans that convinced Nancy Jipp, Bettendorf, it was finally time to see a doctor. “I couldn’t lift the skillet anymore, and I was beginning to notice that the right side of my body was also being affected.” Nancy had sustained a neck injury several years prior, but the thought of surgery was enough to put off the decision. “I had herniated a disc in my neck about eight years ago, and had tried just about every option available to avoid surgery.”
However, life has a way of changing the best of plans, and Jipp, a 44-year old mother of three, Nurse Midwife and Surgical Services Manager at Mississippi Valley Surgery Center (MVSC), Davenport, found the prospect of further pain and physical limitations unbearable. After years of enduring multiple epidural steroid treatments, chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture, physical therapy and pain management medications, it was time to consider a surgical option.
Disc degeneration and pain
“Her spinal cord was severely compressed and she was beginning to lose strength and function,” says Dr. Anthony Maioriello, M.D., MS, Neurosurgeon, Midwest Brain and Spine, and one of the few in the Quad Cities who performs multiple-level cervical spine fusions. “Nancy’s original injury was beginning to affect nearby vertebrae levels,” he explained. “She had degenerative cervical disc disease. It’s a natural process called spondylosis. As we age, we all experience some form of disc degeneration. But in Nancy’s case, her injury aggravated the condition and she developed a deformity. Bone spurs began to form and pushed on the nerve roots and her spinal cord. And while we always explore nonsurgical options first, in Nancy’s case, other avenues had failed.”
Cosmetically oriented, less scarring, and back home
Recovering from major surgery played a role in Nancy’s reluctance to consider a surgical option originally. However advances in care and the ability to have the procedure performed in an outpatient setting alleviated her concerns. “I checked into the Mississippi Valley Surgery Center before lunch and left the next morning,” Nancy recalls. “The procedure took about three hours,” says Dr. Maioriello. “We removed the three herniated discs, drilled out the bone spurs that were compressing her spinal cord, and realigned her cervical spine. We inserted three bone grafts between the vertebral bodies and bolted a 7 cm titanium plate with eight screws to fuse four cervical vertebrae together to maintain the new alignment.”
“I care about how my patients look and feel afterwards.”
Dr. Maioriello has been performing cervical spine fusions at the MVSC since April 2007. He says while there is a misperception that outpatient facilities are not as safe as hospitals, there are advantages. “Ambulatory Surgery Centers have higher nurse-to-patient ratios resulting in more attentive care and have lower infection rates than hospitals.” Far from what most people imagine when they think of surgery on the spine, recovery went smoothly. “My husband and daughter were able to spend the night with me at the Surgery Center, and they brought in real food. I had two personal nurses that night. They were so conscientious that when they took my vitals, I was never awakened! I went home at 7:30 a.m. the next morning.”
Even more surprising was the reaction she got from friends who wanted to see her scar. “One friend had a similar procedure done and her scar was about 4-5 inches vertically, down the length of her neck. My scar is just over an inch and is hidden in the horizontal crease of my neck. My friend just couldn’t believe it,” Nancy added.
Why does scarring vary among patients? “It’s much quicker for surgeons to create a long, vertical, incision,” explains Dr. Maioriello. “Scarring is minimal because I take the time to do it through a smaller, cosmetically oriented incision. I care about how my patients look and feel afterwards. They feel less violated and there is less of a reminder of the surgery. I encourage patients to ask about incisions prior to surgeries because there are options.”
While looking good is critical to recovery, Nancy regained her strength soon after surgery. “As a mother of three with an active career, my kids and patients demand the best of me,” she added.
