At Texas Neuro-Spine Surgery (with Dr. Chris Michael, Dallas Spine Surgeon), we understand how unsettling back or neck pain can feel and how it can affect work, sleep, and family life. Many people worry about whether symptoms need immediate attention or can be managed with outpatient care and feel uncertain about the safest next step.…
Selecting a surgeon is one of the most important steps on the path to treating persistent back or neck problems. Asking focused, relevant questions helps patients compare providers, understand potential benefits and risks, and set realistic expectations for recovery. The guidance below is tailored for anyone searching for a Dallas minimally invasive spine surgeon and…
Meet Lin Sanders—a true inspiration of resilience and determination! Part 1 Lin underwent a complex two-level lumbar fusion at Texas Neuro-Spine Surgery. The procedure involved an anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) at L3-4 and L4-5, followed by laminectomies and pedicle screw instrumentation at the same levels. These surgeries were performed to help address her back…
Patients may be surprised to find out that neurosurgeons spend a lot of time on the phone trying to convince insurance companies that patients need MRI scans. Insurance companies usually don’t approve scans for patients who are only having low back pain. While serious problems like tumors are rare occurrences, sometimes they present with symptoms…
Lumbar stenosis is one of the most common problems that neurosurgeons see in the office. Patients usually have back pain that travels down their legs, which can get worse with walking. Many patients are surprised at the number of ways there are to treat this common problem. Options include: physical therapy, injections, minimally invasive surgery,…
Some surgeries are a long time in the making. This patient in her 70s recently came to me to have surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis. She also said, ”By the way, I was shot in the back more than 50 years ago in Chicago, can you remove the bullet?” I told her that I don’t…
Many patients come to me and want to have the very latest technologies used for their surgery, such as an artificial cervical disc, which is a great operation for many people. Occasionally, patients are disappointed because I counsel them not to have artificial disc surgery because it will not treat their problem adequately. In every…
As a Neurosurgeon, spinal fractures of the neck from diving accidents are things that I see way too often. This young man dove from a boat into shallow water. He presented with some numbness in his arm and hand. He had a fracture with the instability of his cervical spine at C5, requiring anterior and…
Cervical disc disease can be painful and debilitating and, in severe cases, can even be disabling. Successful surgery depends on many factors including selecting the best procedures for the individual patient. Posterior Microforaminotomy (minimally invasive microsurgery), one level anterior fusion, multiple level anterior fusion and artificial disc surgery are all good options in the right…
👉 Spinal deformities / Anterior-posterior (front-back) Spinal Fusion — At Texas NeuroSpine Surgery, our goal is to always find the least invasive approaches for the best surgical outcome. However, some cases require more extensive approaches, as in this case of an L4-5 deformity in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis and years of debilitating low back…