I have had neck problems for years. I’ve had several chiropractors tell me that I had terrible spinal stenosis caused by osteoarthritis in my neck. I would get terrible cricks in my neck several times a year, where I could not turn my head and I suffered great pain. I was an avid equestrian. On October 17, 2010 a green-broke horse threw me into the panels of my round pen at home. When my husband heard the noise of me hitting the panel he found me face-down, unconscious, and not breathing. He gently rolled me over and held me in his lap on the ground until EMS arrived. In Bay City, Texas the doctors did an MRI that showed I had fractured my C-2 vertebrae but they were just as worried about the arthritis damage in my neck. I was life flighted to Hermann Hospital in Houston where Dr. Rex Marco put me in a halo brace for four months. My C1 and C2 fused together, but he told us that eventually I would half to have next surgery to deal with arthritis damage in my neck. Since then I have experience numbness in tingling in both my arms and hands. I often awoke with both my arms completely numb. In March 2016 I started having severe pain in my neck. I huge knot appeared. I went to my primary physician, John Neese, PA, who took x-rays of my neck. He said I was going to need surgery. The bone spurs and calcium deposits between my seat three and C6 would have to be cleaned out. My desk between C4 and C5 was bulging and putting undue pressure on my spinal cord. He immediately said he would not recommend any other doctor to perform the surgery but Dr. Richard Francis at SPINE ASSOCIATES in Houston. From the time husband and I entered the SPINE ASSOCIATES clinic we were treated with such friendliness and compassion. The staff there is very efficient. Dr. Francis before my surgery on April 27, 2016. He said all went well with no complications. I am now three weeks out of surgery and mending well. I have no numbness or tingling in my arms and hands. I would recommend Dr. Francis and his associates for any spine related surgeries. I was extremely impressed by the website and all of Dr. Francis’ accomplishments in spinal surgery. Thank you, Spine Associates, for many more years of playing with my grandchildren.
Deborah Matusek – Palacious, TX
