The physical symptoms of spine and neck conditions can be debilitating – and the mental side effects can be worse. As pain increases, everyday tasks such as walking or picking up a fork look more like mountains to climb. Spine pain sufferers feel more than physical hurt. The frustration of not being able to do what you want, combined with the agony of a spine condition is a perfect storm for a poor quality of life.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

The neurosurgeons at Michigan Head and Spine Institute can answer all your questions about what procedure is right for you and how minimally invasive neurosurgery can speed your recovery. Additionally, it’s important for you to understand why choosing a neurosurgeon over an orthopedic surgeon could result in an overall better outcome.

The spinal column and neck house the main route for our nervous system. It’s where all your pain and pleasure sensations transmit to the brain. Doing surgery in this area is, naturally, very sensitive. When considering minimally invasive spine surgery, consider this: Neurosurgeons are the only medical specialists highly trained in understanding the entire nervous system – from the brain, neck, extremities and the entire spine to the nerves into the legs.

In the operating room, you want your procedure to be the least disruptive to the nerves and spinal structure as possible. That’s where minimally invasive techniques come in, to reduce damage and post-surgical pain.

Karol, a patient at MHSI, was in severe pain. She would frequently come home from work in tears as pain radiated from her lower back to her feet.

“There was absolutely no comfortable position to sleep in,” Karol recalled.

She had bone-on-bone pressure in her spine, which was pushing on her spinal column. After a minimally invasive surgery to realign her vertebrae and relieve the pinched nerves, Karol feels amazing.

“My recovery was phenomenal,” she said. “I was begging to go back to work actually. When people go to an orthopedic surgeon they say, ‘I can’t wait until I feel better.’ When people go to a neurosurgeon and have their back done, they say, ‘I can’t believe I feel this good.’ It’s just life changing.”

Also a patient at MHSI, Andrew had two minimally invasive surgeries on his neck and his back.

“I was in so much pain. For me not to be able to even lift a pencil, I knew I was in trouble,” he said.

A minimally invasive laminectomy, in addition to another procedure, has Andrew feeling much better.

“Every bit of it was worth it,” he said. “This is a new chapter in my life. The pain and the problems I had are in the rearview mirror.

Luckily, the neurosurgeons at MHSI are specialists in minimally invasive spine using absolute precision to create the smallest incisions possible. The result is a huge benefit to a quicker recovery.

If you or a loved one is seeking treatment for neck or spine conditions or would like a second opinion on a previous diagnosis, schedule an appointment online or contact MHSI at 248-784-3667.

Watch Karol’s and Andrew’s stories in their own words