Patient Testimony: Specialist Spine Clinic
How we helped a patient with a neck injury
After experiencing on and off neck pain for years, this patient visited our Urgent Care Centre with acute neck pain. Watch his video testimony on how he was seen quickly by one of our expert consultants and looked after every step of the way by our friendly and caring teams.
Find out more about our spine clinic, spinal treatments and the consultant who treated this patient.
Specialist Spine Clinic at St John & St Elizabeth Hospital – Patient’s Journey Transcript
I’ve had neck pains on and off since I was about 18. It comes for maybe a couple of weeks and then it goes away and I forget about it and don’t do anything about it. Then it comes back six months later.
Two weeks ago, the clock fell off the wall and then I instinctively reached forward to grab it and I thought I’d been electrocuted. It was like this like really sharp stabbing pains up both of my arms. I thought it’ll go away and then the next morning I still had the tingly stabby pains up my fingers so I went to the Urgent Care Centre.
Immediately I was seen by one of the urgent care doctors. They fit me in for an urgent MRI and it showed that the disc at the bottom of my neck was sticking into the spinal cord and the nerve roots.
A couple of days later I had an appointment with Mr Hayden who said that I probably need surgery. He spoke about all the different options; I decided to go for the surgery at which point I was booked in straight away.
I had a consent meeting with Mr Hayden today where he went through in more detail what the surgery would be. Now I’ve just got to go for a covid test on Saturday and then I’m going to have my surgery on Monday.
Today is the first day I’m not fussed anymore because it sounds straightforward; I know what’s going on and I can prepare for it.
It’s a surgery day tomorrow. I’m feeling pretty relaxed I’ve got to turn up at 6am and my procedure will be from 8 so I’ve got all my stuff packed. I’ll let you know how it goes.
It’s been two months since the surgery. I’m feeling pretty good, moving house soon. I’m thinking of even taking up cycling – so yeah it’s given me a whole new lease of life.