Len’s story
Posterior cervical fusion surgery
Neck surgery restores Len's strength and mobility
Centerville resident sees Dr. Godinsky at Mayfield's new Springboro office
As the stiffness in Len's neck and shoulders turned to weakness in his arms and hands, making it difficult to even brush his teeth, he looked to Mayfield Brain & Spine for help.
A decade before, Len had driven to Fairfield from his home in Centerville to consult with the independent neurosurgical practice, and the resulting therapy sessions had provided some relief. Then in early 2024, Mayfield had opened an office in Springboro, not far from where he lived. The office now includes a spine surgeon, an interventional pain physician and a physician assistant, plus a full physical therapy team and services including advanced imaging.
At the office, Len met spine surgeon Dr. Ryan Godinsky. They discussed how to ease the compression on the nerve roots and spinal cord in Len's neck, and the weakness, pain and dysfunction it was causing.
Len with his wife
"He just told me, 'With the symptoms you are experiencing, if we don't stop the progression, you're not going to improve with conservative measures,'" Len said. "I just established a real confidence in him. That guy is a pretty cool cat."
The symptoms were now making it difficult for Len to do things he had always taken for granted. One example: He suddenly was unable to pull the cord on his chainsaw.
"I just didn't have the strength to do it," Len recalled. "I just attributed it to getting older."
In his right arm, he was losing strength; on his left side, mobility was the major issue. Daily tasks that required him to lift his arms – like shaving or taking a shower – were difficult or impossible. The pain wasn't bothering him as much, but he just couldn't move the way he needed to move. Len realized the problems were emanating from his spine and knew he had to do something.
Len's scans showed degenerative changes resulting in nerve and spinal cord compression at multiple levels
Surgery opens the bony spinal canal to decompress the cord. Screws and rods support Len's neck.
Dr. Godinsky reviewed the physical exam and symptoms with Len, going through the options for treatment. He said Len's scans showed degenerative changes resulting in nerve and spinal cord compression at multiple levels of the cervical spine. He recommended surgery through the back of the neck to take the pressure off the nerves and stabilize the cervical spine. The medical team would remove discs that were impinging on the nerves that lead to Len's shoulders and arms, then fuse the vertebrae together from the C2-C7 levels.
"Len's symptoms were severe and getting worse," Dr. Godinsky said. "He already had lost a good amount of the function in his arms. Without surgical intervention, he faced the prospect of continued damage and a reduced quality of life."
Len agreed to the operation. The day after surgery at Atrium Medical Center in Middletown, he was up and walking. He's looking forward to getting out in his yard this spring, and he and his wife are planning a trip to Scotland this fall.
While he continues to build strength, his mobility isn't really restricted at all.
"I feel very fortunate to be able to recommend Mayfield, and very fortunate that Dr. Godinsky is my surgeon," he said.
~ Cliff Peale
Hope Story Disclaimer -"Len's Story" is about one patient's health-care experience. Please bear in mind that because every patient is unique, individual patients may respond to treatment in different ways. Results are influenced by many factors and may vary from patient to patient.
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