Complications of Spinal Surgery

Education video on Complications of Spinal Surgery by Dr. Gary Simonds, former Chief of Neurosurgery at Carilion Clinic.

[TonyG-iutd]

Dr Gary Simonds has made the effort here to step outside any ones comfort zone and speak truths. He is balanced with his talk, but simultaneously does not avoid talking about risk. This is a great man and surgeon. Trust me; Sadly they are not all as amicable as this man!

[MovementProjectPT]

I love that a surgeon is actually discouraging people from getting surgery! Nice job Dr Simonds! You really get it. Spinal surgery is most definitely a last resort for anyone dealing with back pain. Exhaust all conservative options that include multiple opinions from different PTs just like you would from a physician.

[speedomars]

You are a great guy for making a video like this...informing in a calm, articulate way....I have sent the video to a friend that is headed toward lumbar surgery as part of his education on what to expect.

[charlesreidy]

Thanks so much, Doctor. I wish other doctors would be as up-front about complications as you.

[gino]

Thanks for this straightforward summary of risks. I had no choice but to have spinal traction and then surgery to repair C5 and C6 fractures, or risk paralysis by doing nothing. But I feel for the tough choice faced by those who are tired of chronic pain, thus whose neurosurgery is elective.

[cmbooks]

If only all doctors would be this detailed in providing a full picture of this surgery. The only thing my surgeon said was it will stop the myelopathy from advancing and without surgery it could lead to paralysis. Despite this information, I did not book the surgery. PT, anti inflammatory meds, ice and PT. I also wear a soft collar at bedtime. Everything is going good. Thank you again for your honest assessment

[stellachipembele]

What the surgeon forgot to mention is that when there's fluid leak, the result is vertigo due to an imbalance in the cerebral spinal fluid.
I had CSF leak, vertigo, and clots due to internal bleeding. All in all I had three operations in 9 days!
Thank God I am able to walk but I am in constant pain. Probably due scarring tissue.

[vannessadawson]

Thank you for the info. Wish I had you for my doctor. 3 neck surgeries and now my thigh is still numb and leg weak. Now my bicep is messed up. No more surgeries for Dr. To get rich while I suffer!

[SkysOnHigh]

Hi 👋🏻 I am 3 weeks recovering from Lumbar spinal surgery. Good to be able to watch again!

[erijqudus]

Thank you Dr. Gary Simonds, I am scheduled to go for lumber spinal stenosis surgery in July (2019), I already had reservations, you have helped me making my decision. I decline this procedure.

[westfield]

A family fiend was the healthiest person I’ve know. Always active, disciplined diet and maintained a healthy weight. He was an avid golfer and developed some nagging back pain. He had back surgery and almost immediately began having issues with gait and digestion. He began losing weight and saw several specialists. None who could figure out what was causing this. He began to decline to when it was very apparent he had nerve damage and was diagnosed with ALS. Over two years he lost most functionality and he died yesterday. He was a good man. I can’t help but think his ALS was triggered or accelerated by the spinal surgery. It was like a light switch. Prior to surgery he was perfectly fine. After surgery he declined.

[greggfridline]

I have had 4 back surgeries. The neck and the lower back. My neck C2 circumferential disc bulg C3 circumferential disc bulg with a small tear on the right. C4 thru C7 are fused, that took 2 surgeries to complete. My lower back started out with L5 S1 large rupture on the left, They did a discectomy on that, then 2 years later L3, L4 and L5 S1 all ruptured and they did a discectomy and leminectomy on those, it lead to Cronic radiculopathy in my left leg nerve stem, basically permanent nerve damage, my neurologist said i have 6 bad nerves running down my left leg. My left leg and lower back hurt most days. After they fixed my neck I had so much atrophy down my left are and chest area, I literally could not hold up my body weight trying to do a push up. 10 years ago I was feeling pretty down on life in general and I read everything possible on what can i do to help my quality of life, everything pointed to exercise. I was very optimistic but figured what can it hurt, i feel like shit anyway. So I started working out. The first week was fing torture, but my lower back actually started feeling better, so I trucked on. Long story short, today I am a super stud, LOL. just kidding, but I am in great shape and strong as a horse. I am a big guy, 6'4" and just big in general. I went from not being able to hold my body weight up to benching 300 lbs and its actually higher but I digress. So my routine is cardio, (elliptical, spinning bicycle and row machine, ) I switch between those 3. No treadmill its way to jarring. Then I lift weights some days and do plyometrics other days, splitting the days between them. Eating right is crucial, keeping the weight down and just eating the proper food. It changed my life, I turned a really bad situation into healthy living and it works 100%, screw the pain killers and pills in general, they help until they don't then your fucked. I thought i would share my story becasue i know how you guys are feeling, it scary and miserable but there is life after back injuries. Just do it, if your not good at working out, get a trainer, i used one for the first 2 years. a good trainer can work wonder. Good luck and never stop fighting, YOU are worth it. I don't want to hear I have a disc buldge and cant do it or a herniated disc and can't do it. I have or had 8 herniated discs in my neck and lower back and 2 disk bulges in my thoracic, Im just saying, By the way, I am 52 so I don't want to hear I am to old. if I can do it and look like this, anyone can. You will be surprised how fast your body recovers and gets into shape. I actually think i may have caused the L3, L4 and L5 S1 to blow out faster by working out, but it hurt like hell, so I I figured, I am either going to fix it or blow fucker out, (that was for the L5 S1, was a little surprised and L3 and L4 but what ever)_ then a doctor will have to fix it. 4 years since my last lower back surgery and going strong.

[dorisbrinkerhoff]

he is telling the truth, amazing, its nice for a change

[Milkman]

I just had spinal fusion from T10 to the pelvic to repair a failure from a previous fusion L2-S1. Within two weeks I developed an issue that has been diagnosed as Kyphosis at T9-T10 at the top of the fusion. Now I’m told I need even further surgery to correct this new issue which will leave me fused from T4 to my pelvic. I am opting to try PT. I don’t want another surgery. So I am going to exhaust all other options before doing so. Once you start down the road of spinal fusion surgeries be sure to exhaust all other options before doing so.

[rubbishboy]

Hi i had a laminectomy, from surgeon mark davies in sydney ..my right arm was parylysed its fine now almost 95 % no pain and i built it back up

[edelquinn]

Beautiful beautiful video thank you so much Dr for your diligence dedication compassion and knowledge

[Mindy]

Don’t forget surgery induced Scoliosis flat back syndrome. Permanent nerve damage and a complete loss of faith in the medical profession.

[maria]

I had a cancerous mass removed around the C2 and cervical laminectomy and spinal decompression and fusion of the C2-C4, with plates and screws. Because of the very delicate area of the mass, the Dr. said I could of been parylized but I had no choice for the surgery I had to remove it. The surgeon did a great job, its three months now and I have pain but nothing terrible. I had 23 radiation treatments to my neck after the surgery, that was way worse then the surgery itself by far, I was sick the whole time. Best of luck to anyone out there getting this surgery 🤞🏻, dont be scared, there are many success stories.😉👍🏻

[pamthetraveler]

Even with world renowned surgeons, things can go wrong. People react differently, none of my fusions actually fused (that's not the doctors fault) and nerve damage (hurts soooo badly) and affects arm control. My two surgeries failed miserably and I'll never be able to work again, and I'll never have another surgery unless it's life threatening. My life was tremendously painful to start, but I now have worse but different pain :-( Disabled is a new way of life and of course that comes with "situational depression" because it's hard to give up your old life to a new life where you can't clean a bathroom, you have to split it over 3 days because you can only do so much per day. Heating pads, I spend about 6 hours per day on a heating pad. So please do EVERYTHING you can before you submit to surgery. Sometimes doctors have no control over how your body reacts (or doesn't in my case).

[annio]

Thank-you. I am feeling very fortunate after a c6-c7 fracture, dislocated/locked facet, and central cord syndrome following a fall from a horse. So far I have minimal damage- just hand and arm weakness/numbness and trouble talking/swallowing. I feel so very lucky and amazed at how surgeons work on such a tiny area with such delicacy and precision. Thanks for this great video series. It has helped me put the brakes on my intense desire to do things I shouldn't be doing at 7 weeks post-accident.