On Friday, September 1, 2023 I left a message for my VA primary care doctor asking what was the way ahead for my cervical neurosurgery .
She called me in the late afternoon and asked several questions about my status. In answer to her questions
1. I told her
a. my shoulders through my fingers are numb
b. my toes are numb and painful with arthritis
c. my condition is worse than when she examined in in June 2023
2. I told her I wanted to have the surgery at Lock Raven VAMC, Baltimore where I went through a lumbar laminectomy in 2019.
3. I prefer using the VA for bone/neurosurgery, wounds and burns.
B.
1. I am hopeful for a cervical laminectomy rather than fusion of cervical disks
A cervical laminectomy is utilized in cases of spinal tumor, bone spur, arthritis, herniated disc, degenerative disc pain, spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, and neck, shoulder and arm pain.
2. Anesthesia with a Cervical Laminectomy:
A cervical laminectomy is performed under general anesthesia, which means that the patient is asleep and completely unaware during the procedure.
3. Potential Complications from a Cervical Laminectomy:
4. Possible risks following a cervical laminectomy include infection, bleeding, blood clotting, weakness, nerve deterioration and a negative reaction to the anesthesia. It is also possible for disc herniation to recur.
5. Recovery from a Cervical Laminectomy:
Total recovery following a cervical laminectomy is two to four weeks.
Images:
1. Loch Raven VAMC, Baltimore, Maryland
2. Dr Yogini Benegalrao
3. Cervical spine anatomy
4. Cervical Laminectomy
5. Spine Anatomy of Cervical Region

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