Neck pain Types of Surgeries Made Easy by Dr Sanjiv Rampal MBBS MS ORTHO KL MALAYSIA

When Stretches Aren’t Enough: Other Ways to Fix the “Pinch”
Hi everyone, Dr. Sanjiv Rampal here! We’ve talked about the “electric shocks” of a pinched nerve and how to stretch. But what if the pain is still there?
Before we jump into major surgery, there are some “middle-ground” options that are less invasive but very effective. Think of these as precise “maintenance work” to fix the problem without a long recovery time.
Here are two options we often discuss:

1. Nerve Blocks (The “Mute” Button)

• What it is: This is an injection of medicine (usually a mix of a numbing agent and an anti-inflammatory) directly near the irritated nerve.
• How it works: We use a special X-ray to guide the needle exactly to the right spot. It’s like putting a “mute” button on a loud, angry nerve.
• Why it helps: It reduces swelling around the nerve and breaks the cycle of pain. For many, this provides enough relief to get back into physical therapy and avoid surgery altogether!

1. Nucleoplasty (The “Shrink” Method)

• What it is: This is a minimally invasive procedure for discs that are bulging but haven’t completely ruptured.
• How it works: Using a tiny needle-like device, we use radiofrequency energy to dissolve a small amount of the disc’s “filling” (the nucleus).
• Why it helps: By removing a tiny bit of volume inside the disc, the pressure drops, and the bulge “shrinks” away from the nerve. It’s like letting a little air out of an over-inflated tire so it doesn’t rub against the frame anymore.

1. Surgical Options (The “Big Fix”)
   If the “middle-ground” doesn’t work, we look at:

• ACDF (Fusion): Removing the disc and “locking” the bones together for stability.
• Disc Replacement: Replacing the old disc with a shiny new artificial one to keep your neck moving.

Dr. Sanjiv’s Closing Thought: My goal is always to find the simplest solution that gets you back to your life pain-free. We start small and only go bigger if we absolutely have to.

Are you curious about how these procedures feel or what the recovery is like? Ask me in the comments!