When you have a cervical disc herniation, the ACDF fusion procedure, where the bones are joined together using hardware, is the traditional treatment. Its effective but leads to your bones being permanently fixated together, thus losing mobility. For some patients, surgery isn’t just about getting out of pain, but also about preserving an active way of life. Fusion is not always compatible with this.
Meet Kara, she is a Bikram yoga and Pilates instructor from Marin who could no longer practice her craft because of severe pain caused by a cervical disc herniation. She had a large ruptured disc pinching one of the main nerves in her neck, causing searing pain down her arm that would not go away after years of treatment including steroid shots.
What happened with Kara was that her pain continued to get worse to the point she could no longer work as a yoga or Pilates instructor, let alone lead her normally very athletic life. She was offered a spinal fusion, but this went against all the principles of developing mobility and athleticism she had crafted her entire life.
After learning about the endoscopic procedure, she was determined to find a surgeon in Marin who specialized in spinal endoscopy. That lead her to our private practice located in Novato, and to an eventual endoscopic cervical foraminotomy. The results were incredible. She was able to be discharged from surgery the same day, and was back to most of her regular activities within several weeks. We can’t take all the credit however. She was determined and had incredible health that allowed her to recover rapidly. She was well informed and knew endoscopy was the right choice for her.
I’m so excited to share her story, and spread the word about spinal endoscopy. Spinal fusions are always a great back up option, but many cases can be treated with endoscopy alone. If you are having second thoughts about a fusion, come check us out!
— Dr. Katsuura,
📍 Spine and trauma surgeon • Novato • Mentoring the next generation• Please forgive typos