New artificial disk procedure helping people with neck and back injuries
Panama City-- In February, Florida Highway Patrol officer Tammy Tindle-Husar suffered severe neck and back injuries in a car accident on Back Beach Road.
"My arms went numb. My hands went numb. I couldn't lift anything more than 10 pounds off the ground. Obviously I couldn't work, I couldn't wear a gun belt," said FHP Trooper, Tammy Tindle-Husar.
Three different doctor's told the 27-year veteran trooper she'd never work again. Husar was devastated.
"Basically what I was looking at was a life sitting on the couch taking painkillers. And I was very unhappy about that," said Tindle-Husar.
But Monday, Husar was all smiles as she reunited with the doctor's who helped her beat the odds. Doctors at Bay Medical Center removed the herniated disc and implanted an artificial disc into Tammy’s neck. They say it's a better alternative to standard spinal fusion.
"While spinal fusion for herniated disc in the neck is widely accepted, a widely performed procedure, it does have some drawbacks," said Neurologist at Bay Medical Center, Cyril DeSilva.
Those drawbacks include months of recovery and future repeat surgeries.
"I felt immediate relief. I thought maybe it was just the good stuff they were giving my in the IV but when I woke up that evening in my room, the pain was gone," said Tindle-Husar.
She was back on the road in less than two weeks.
"Last night I worked a full shift as a regular police officer as I was told i would never do again," said Tindle-Husar.
The surgery takes less than an hour and a half. Dr. DeSilva says the ideal patient is in their 30's or 40's, a non-smoker and has only one damaged disk in their neck.
Dr. DeSilva is the only surgeon who offers the procedure in our area.
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