[Lee]

Hi all

A whiplash a yr ago left me with C5-6, C6-7 protuding into my spinal chord by 50%. No shooting or burning pain down the arm despite the bad situation as shown on MRI. I have tightness/ soreness in neck,shoulders,head,upper back. Transient numbness in fingers now gone. .

I read with deep empathy the immense pain my fellow spinies are undergoing and wonder if anyone out there has gone for an operation just out of a nagging "pain in the neck" and how effective it is. I read that surgery is most effective for alleviating symptoms from nerve compression and not as suitable for treating neck pain alone. I have visited Dr Hoogland at Alpha Klinik (in Apr 07) who advised percutaneous nucleotomy for 2 levels.

My main concern is the chord compression which means I cannot afford to fall again though Dr Hoogland said research has proven a large percentage of people taken off the street has chord compression without knowing and continue to lead lives normally. He thinks that this shouldnt be a concern(?!)

In addition I am worried that if i leave my problem unattended, it might lead to bone spurs or further degeneration, by then minimally invasive method would not be possible. Especially since the entire system is now unstable. Dr Hooglands' view is I should not decide on surgery based on this as no one knows the future. Only operate if the pain is unbearable. Problem for me is the pain is very bearable provided I dont have to work but I would have to go back to work at some point (long hours in front of computer) as I have been on medical leave for a year! I am very reliant on my twice-weekly chinese massage.

I live in Singapore. Singapore professors have advised fusion to stop movement and hence all pain but I am against this method since it would put pressure on my other levels which are already showing sign of degeneration though I am only 28. I belong to the category where my pain is not bad enought to warrant the risk of an operation (1 in 1000 for death/ paralysis risk) but it does interfere with the quality of my life.. hence i feel i ve been living in limbo for a good one year... a recent MRI shows my condition is the same... throwing me back into limbo..

Would appreciate any advice/comment re how effective is a scope surgery in treating pain in the neck only, the danger of leaving chord compressed and anyone who has been operated on by Dr Hoogland or done a cervical scope surgery?

regards,