What is causing the problem I am experiencing?
When patients come to the practice, they often have been seen other physicians or medical personnel, such as orthopedic surgeons, chiropractors, physical therapists, and pain specialists. They may have been experiencing problems for some time.

At Tulsa NeuroSpine, we attempt to answer as many questions as possible about their problems, lessen their anxiety, and give them treatment options. Dr. Rodgers and his staff work closely with each patient to make sure we fully understand your problems so we can determine how best to solve your problem.
How did this problem occur?
Many times a problem originates simply by accident. Sometimes the onset of the spinal problem coincides with a motor vehicle accident or work-related activities and injuries. Documenting this during your initial visit and in your forms is helpful to the physician as well as the insurance companies. Repetitive work activities or repetitive physical activities can at times prove to be the reason for your spinal complaints. If those types of problems are identified, they can sometimes be corrected through preventative measures that help you avoid future problems.
What are my treatment options?
Treatment options available for your condition will be explained to you after a working diagnosis is established. The diagnosis may require imaging studies, including x-rays, MRI scans, myelograms, and CT scans. Electrodiagnostic studies like EMG and nerve conduction velocities are also sometimes necessary. These may be obtained either before you see Dr. Rodgers, or after your initial visit. Treatment options will be determined based on history, physical examination findings and the above mentioned studies.

Options may include:

  • Physical Therapy
  • Changing levels of activity or certain job requirements
  • Anti-inflammatory medications, muscle relaxants, pain pills and even injections of cortisone in the back or neck.
    • Ultimately, one of the options that may be considered is surgery. Surgery may be the recommendation if Dr. Rodgers feels surgery would be in your best interest to speed your recovery, improve the amount of recovery and function of your nerves, and yet not diminish the kinds of leisure and work activities you will be able to do in the future.
    What is my future with or without surgery?
    The answer to this question will be discussed at the time a diagnosis is made, and before making a final decision about surgery. Sometimes ruptured disc or herniated discs in the neck or back simply need time to heal, where nothing but medications and a simple exercise program is recommended. Other times, with significant weakness or numbness, and intolerable pain, surgery is a better option.
    How can I avoid the next surgery?
    Future options and future things to avoid will be discussed in the postoperative recovery phase of your treatment, and even before surgery. Sometimes we don't know why a spinal problem developed, but weight loss, exercise and good muscle tone in the abdominal and lumbar muscles, as well as in the neck muscles, is a must to try to preserve your spinal future.
    What adverse risk factors do I have that might lead to spinal problems?
    Adverse risk factors to spinal health include obesity, poor muscle tone, and not using good body mechanics. These will all be discussed with you either by Dr. Rodgers or by a physical therapist.
    Are pain medications addicting?
    Most narcotics are addicting to some degree. You and Dr. Rodgers will discuss these risks. We do not typically prescribe pain medications much beyond 4-6 weeks after simple neck or back surgeries. Narcotics will be prescribed for additional few weeks to a couple of months longer for major spinal fusions. Because these medications are addicting, we try not to provide too many pain pills, which decreases the likelihood of developing an addiction. At the same time, when patients have "real pain," taking pain medication to control that pain usually does not result in an addiction problem. There are newer non-narcotic pain medications that are quite helpful, and in combination with muscle relaxants and antidepressants help you to sleep at night, so narcotics can be used sparingly.
    Do muscle relaxants help?
    Muscle relaxants do help in that they sometimes provide rest at night, lessen your anxiety about pain, and seem to enhance the ability of narcotics and pain medications to control the pain. There are not very many good muscle relaxants on the market, but early on in the acute phase of a spinal and nerve problem, they can be beneficial.
    Why do I have muscle spasms?
    Muscle spasms occur because a nerve is inflamed, irritated, or compressed. This causes the nerve to fire off, causing the muscle to contract as it would during normal motor activity. The nerve is either firing off to try to keep your spine from moving and lessening the pain, or it is firing off because there is so much intense pain that the muscle works on its own without you being able to stop it.
    Is physical therapy necessary?
    Physical therapy can be necessary both before surgery, as well as after surgery. Physical therapy can be helpful to avoid surgery. Physical therapy can be helpful to strengthen neck, abdominal, and back muscles after a low back surgery to help improve flexibility, improve strength, lessen pain, and help you avoid future surgery.
    Can I do the physical therapy on my own?
    Most of the time, physical therapy is a combination of doing exercises on your own, as well as in a physical therapist's office. Sometimes, however, with neck surgery and with simple spinal surgery, a formal physical therapy office visit is not required.
    Do I have to have a fusion?
    The decision to have a fusion is based on the anatomical problem, the instability or stability of the spine, and whether or not previous surgery has been performed on the same area. Secondary surgeries require a fusion because the secondary problem may not have occurred if there was more stability or immobility of the spine. The decision about a fusion versus not having a fusion will be made by you and Dr. Rodgers.
    Will the metal used to stabilize my spine have to be removed?
    Most of the time instrumentation in the neck is never removed unless a level above or below is subsequently operated upon. Sometimes the instrumentation in the lower back may also remain. In some cases, a muscle irritation may develop from retained instrumentation in the lower back, especially in thinner patients. Improvements in a pinching sensation in the back may be relieved by removing the instrumentation if the fusion is solid.
    Is placement of pedicle screws and rods necessary?
    Modern techniques and the science of developing spinal fusions have shown that instrumentation with pedicle screws and rods in the low back, sometimes cages or interbody grafts in the low back, and anterior plates or posterior plates in the neck have been shown to improve early activity level after a fusion and improve the chances of developing a solid fusion. Sometimes fusions can be performed without instrumentation, but studies show that success rates for spinal fusions are not as high without instrumentation.
    Will I have to have a brace and how long will I have to wear the brace?
    There are different braces for the neck and for the low back. The length of time you wear a brace and corset is dependent on x-ray appearance of how mature the fusion appears, or how much instrumentation was used in the back. Braces are worn less and less frequently with cervical spine surgery because of internal fixation with plates and bone screws.
    Why me?
    Often, spinal problems are simply bad luck. Slips and falls, car wrecks, lifting activities and straining activities that occurred in the past may suddenly push your spine to the point where it fails, causing a nerve compression syndrome.

    We will try to educate you during your time here in the office through interactivity with our staff, printed literature, and Internet resources. We want you to have a good understanding of your problem when you leave the office. This will help you make any decision that needs to be made regarding surgery. Before coming to the office, please write down your questions. Hopefully, most all of your questions can be answered by the staff or by Dr. Rodgers.