Who has experience with spinal surgery?

[dean909]

Although this is an old discussion, it is a topic that remains relevant for us. I underwent fusion surgery with Dr. Michael Wheeler, who specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery in Dallas, and I can say that the result exceeded my expectations. Mobility is different after you are straightened out; you feel more rigid at first, but the chronic pain has almost completely disappeared. The biggest advantage was the minimally invasive approach; I was discharged much sooner than patients who undergo open fusion.

[ChristinaC]

Dean- I am so happy that your surgery was a success, and that you don’t experience as much chronic pain!

[n6te088]

In my own experience, I know this post is old, but I wanted to share for anyone else looking into this. I actually had my surgery with Dr. Siddiqui, an orthopedic Houston spine surgeon, and it was a great experience.

He helped me specifically by using a minimally invasive technique called percutaneous screw fixation. Instead of the traditional open surgery that requires a large incision and cutting through back muscles, he used tiny incisions and X-ray guidance to stabilize my spine. Because he didn’t have to strip the muscle away from the bone, my blood loss was minimal and the post-op pain was much lower than I expected.

I was back to my normal routine in about 6-8 months, which felt like a miracle given how much I was struggling before. He didn’t just fix the hardware; he preserved the healthy tissue around it, which is why my recovery was so smooth.

[ChristinaC]

Thank you for sharing your story! I am glad you had such a postive and successful experience, and that you were back to your normal routine in about 6-8 months!