After an MRI conducted in January 2019, I was diagnosed with multi-level cervical spondylosis at C4 - C7. In normal speak - three disks had deteriorated in my neck causing my left arm to go numb and throb with pain! I spent the next 7 months researching my condition, learning about treatment methods and watching surgical procedures on YouTube - not recommended if you have a weak stomach! My main concern was to find a treatment I could believe-in and a surgeon I could trust.
I settled on Dr. Thongtrangan (Dr. T) of Minimally Invasive Spine. Before I chose Dr. T, I consulted with two other surgeons from well-known and highly regarded practices: Barrow Brain and Spine and Banner Health. Both organizations and Dr. T were in agreement that surgery was necessary. However, Barrow Brain & Spine and Banner Health wanted to use (what I consider from my reading) an outdated method to treat my condition.
Both organizations were going to use a spacer plus a titanium plate device that protrudes past the front of the vertebrae. This dated design irritates the esophagus and can irritate healthy vertebrae and disks above and below the plate. Sometimes, due to its design, it requires future surgeries to repair harm caused by the titanium plate. This is very troubling, who wants to do 'repeat' surgeries? Dr. Thongtrangan uses an updated modern device that is placed between the vertebrae, is anchored with screws and does not protrude past the front of the vertebrae... this device has been used for about 25 years worldwide. For me, with an engineering mindset, this appears to be the best treatment method available, hence, the primary reason I chose Dr. Thongtrangan.
The second reason I selected Dr T's practice to do the surgery was that at Barrow Brain & Spine and Banner Health I felt like a 'number', just another patient standing in-line for surgery. Both practices are supremely professional and competent. However, I felt that both practices viewed my surgery as perfunctory. I didn't get that feeling from Dr. Thongtrangan's practice - he and his staff are very personable and attentive to patient's needs. One example: early on, I sent an email to Dr. T with 14 in-depth questions. I arranged an appointment less than a week later to consult with him. At the appointment, Dr. T handed me 14 thorough and expansive typed responses. I was taken aback by Dr. T's effort in responding to my questions. We spent the time discussing his proposed treatment method, but the typed answers were a bonus I could refer to if I had any lingering questions.
Lastly, aside from my research on methods and devices, and aside from the personal attentiveness of Dr. T and his staff, the third reason I chose Dr. T was the whole-hearted endorsement of previous patients. I requested contact information for 4 or 5 of Dr T's previous patients. His staff forwarded three: two women and one man. Of course, being skeptical, my thoughts were that Dr. T would only give me the names of patients with great out comes. What made these patients 'believable' was two important facts:
First, was their unbridled appreciation for the work Dr. T completed on their behalf. Secondly, and more importantly, two had prior experience with surgeons. One of the women, who lives full time in Montana, consulted with four Surgeons (including the Mayo Clinic) and was told surgery would not help her. After Dr. T completed her surgery she told me she is now pain free after more than 10 years of suffering. The second women had two previous surgeries with very poor results, both neck and back surgery. She was told repeatedly after recovery from her surgeries that her pain was "...in her head...". Since her surgery with Dr. T, she's also pain free. Finally, the one man I spoke with had a similar neck and back condition I had. Again, he genuinely raved about Dr. T's work. He too is pain free in a labor intensive job as a roofer, and is back to work! After speaking with these three individuals, I withdrew my request for any additional referrals.
I completed my surgery August 3rd, 2019. Within a few minutes after I awoke from surgery, I realized the pain and numbness I had suffered through for about 9 months was gone! My Post-Surgery experience was excellent. I experienced zero pain in my neck from the surgical procedure.
At my follow-up visit, I learned Dr. T gave me another huge bonus - after removing the bandages on my neck, I saw he closed my incision so well that that it looks like it was done by a plastic surgeon! Even though the incision is on the front of my neck, I don't think people will know it's there unless I tell them!
So... if you are in need surgery related to your spine, do your own due-diligence and choose a surgeon you are comfortable with, that will use a method you feel is right for you and will listen to your 'story' attentively. I would highly and unequivocally recommend Dr. Thongtrangan. Put him on your list read more