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Article: Woman says surgery gave her life back: ; Cervical disc replacement allows patients to retain normal motion in neck
- Article from:
- Charleston Daily Mail
- Article date:
- May 1, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2009 Charleston Daily Mail. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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Patti Burkhart can play volleyball and softball again.
That would not be possible had she undergone spinal fusion to
correct a pinched nerve in her neck. While that common surgery would
have corrected the problem, it would have limited the 42-year-old
Diamond resident's ability to turn her head.
She underwent a cervical disc replacement instead. Each vertebra
in the spine is separated by a shock-absorbing disc, which can be
damaged by disease or injury. Age can also lead to degeneration.
About a year ago, Burkhart first experienced sharp pains in her
shoulder, down her left arm to her fingers and thumb.
"I thought I was having a heart attack."
She said her family physician first thought she ...