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Article Category: PeopleCare

UlyssesCare

Getting back in action after spine surgery

Published on March 11, 2022

Last updated 12:00 PM March 11, 2022

article-image

If you looked up the word “active” in the dictionary, you just might find Ulysses Price’s picture.

Between serving on the tennis court, racking up strikes in bowling and learning new moves in martial arts, he defines life by what brings him the most joy: movement.

But all that changed when severe neck and shoulder pain entered the picture. Ulysses could barely do a double take let alone hold play doubles on the court.

“Not being able to do simple things like reach for a bowl in the cupboard or turn my neck were big limitations in my life,” Ulysses said. “I tried to tough it out. But when the pain was non-stop, that’s when I decided I needed medical attention.”

Ulysses turned to Wellstar’s neuro experts to help him take control of his health. Now, after a state-of-the-art neck procedure, Ulysses is back in action and doing his favorite activities — even better than before.

From diagnosis to surgery and recovery, Ulysses formed a lasting partnership with his Wellstar care team and knows he can face any health hurdle with confidence.

Health providers who have your back

When pain became a constant part of Ulysses’ life, he sought help from Wellstar Internal Medicine Physician Dr. Tawian Livingston. For more than a decade, the two have had a healthcare bond that’s been focused on keeping Ulysses feeling his best.

Dr. Livingston explained how having an established primary care provider brings healthcare to the next level.

“A primary care physician has your back and is in your corner,” Dr. Livingston said. “If you have problems with any health issues, they’re the person you go to and build trust together.”

Dr. Livingston took Ulysses’ pain seriously. After an MRI revealed a serious spinal issue, he connected Ulysses with expert neuro care at Wellstar right away.

That’s when Wellstar Neurosurgeon Dr. Phillip Parry joined the team, determined to help put an end to Ulysses’ pain. Dr. Parry stressed how important physicians like Dr. Livingston are when it comes to keeping a keen eye out for potential medical issues.

“The value of having a primary care provider who can identify neck and low back pain cannot be overstated,” Dr. Parry said. “Having these conditions addressed early by the right specialists is extremely important.”

Catching neurological conditions at the start is key to helping patients have the best outcome possible. The same was true for Ulysses, whose spine issues were interfering with his everyday life.

“Ulysses had a narrowing in the cervical canal of his cervical spine, the bony portion through which the spinal cord is transmitted,” Dr. Parry said. “As we age, virtually all patients develop some amount of this compression.”

“In Ulysses’ case, his spinal compression had become so severe that it was causing spinal cord dysfunction,” Dr. Parry explained. “His condition resulted in weakness in his hands, being unable to walk with confidence and feeling very unstable on his feet.”

Working together, the pair discussed the potential treatment options for his pain. Because Dr. Parry always kept an open dialogue, Ulysses felt comfortable being an active participant in his care.

“I always try to be proactive about any medical procedure and do my research to know as much about it as possible,” Ulysses said, sharing how Dr. Parry took time to answer his questions. “Dr. Parry listened and spoke with me about the most up-to-date procedures, and that made me quite comfortable with him as a person and a physician.”

Soon, they created a care plan that would help Ulysses live his healthiest life for years to come.

After the surgery, I felt like a human being again — like I could go out and do things and not be in pain. I feel whole again.

- Ulysses Price

Wellstar Neuro Care Patient

State-of-the-art spine surgery

Our neuro experts work with patients to find personalized solutions for their pain, whether it requires a surgical intervention or not. Due to the severity of Ulysses’ spine issues and lifestyle, surgery made sense.

“Ulysses is an incredibly active person. His ability to do all the things that made his life meaningful — like playing tennis, running 5Ks and traveling — was negatively impacted by neck pain and cervical spinal cord compression,” Dr. Parry said.

“Given the amount of neurological dysfunction he was experiencing, surgery was the appropriate next step in his situation,” Dr. Parry explained how the procedure was the right choice.

To correct the issue, Ulysses received an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital.

For this procedure, a neurosurgeon performs the surgery through the front of the neck and removes the damaged discs. The impaired discs are replaced with bone grafts and fastened in place with a plate and screws.

This cutting-edge surgery helps relieve pressure in the spine and can alleviate other symptoms like pain, weakness, tingling and numbness.

“We were able to perform the procedure in a minimally-invasive fashion with maximal positive impacts to his overall condition,” Dr. Parry added.

“Minimally-invasive surgery focuses on small incisions which allows for fantastic post-operative results, while also lessening the damage to the area, blood loss and the amount of post-operative pain,” Dr. Parry said, explaining the benefits to less invasive procedures.

“In Ulysses’ case, he was up and walking the same day as surgery and discharged the next day,” Dr. Parry added.

It wasn’t just the expert care that made the difference in Ulysses’ healing and recovery. He found comfort and support from his Wellstar team every step of the way.

“I was very happy to have Dr. Parry on my team,” Ulysses said, sharing his positive experience. “He put me totally at ease and told me exactly what would happen, so I knew what to expect.”

“All of the nurses and caretakers were also very attentive,” he said. “They took time to explain all of my medications and everything that was required for recovery like how to sit with my neck to avoid any complications.”

Because of the cutting-edge, minimally-invasive techniques used in the surgery, his recovery time was quicker compared to other types of traditional open procedures. For Ulysses, that meant getting back to living a full life, faster.

Stopping pain in its tracks

Since the surgery, Ulysses’ recovery has been nothing short of remarkable. Rehabilitation has helped rebuild and enhance his ability to do daily activities.

“Physical and occupational therapy allowed Ulysses to regain confidence in his walking ability as well as regain strength in his hands and arms,” Dr. Parry said.

Since then, Ulysses has been on the mend and taking major strides towards healing. The life-changing surgery gave Ulysses a fresh start, allowing him to pursue all of his passions, pain-free.

“Before the surgery, I had a lack of mobility and lost range of motion in my arm. It was down to about 20 percent,” Ulysses said. “After the surgery, I was able to do all the simple things again. I can do all my hobbies just as well or better than before the surgery.”

“Identifying Ulysses’ condition early and having surgery to correct the problems he was experiencing, resulted in a near complete resolution of his symptoms and return to a better quality of life,” Dr. Parry added.

During each step of his recovery, he’s gotten many aspects of his life back again, too.

“After the surgery, I felt like a human being again — like I could go out and do things and not be in pain,” Ulysses said, sharing how the surgery impacted his quality of life. “I realized how blessed and happy I was to just feel ‘normal’ again.”

Wellstar knows treating complex neck and spine issues aren’t just about the pain. It’s about helping people live life again like Ulysses is doing today.

“I feel whole again.”

Tags

Tawian McKennon Livingston Phillip Vaughan Parry Sr Kennestone Hospital
Neuro Care PeopleCare Primary Care
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