October 2006, I began experiencing intermittent tingling in my right hand. Additionally, I had varying pain in my right shoulder and at base of neck. Things got progressively worse over the next 30 days. My entire right arm tingled constantly from fingertips to shoulder. The top area of my right forearm went numb. Furthermore, neck and shoulder pain were continuous and debilitating. I?d only get short-term pain relief by raising my right arm above my head. MRI revealed damage to the C5-C6 area of my cervical spine (neck). My neighbor?s coworker, Sid, had very similar symptoms a year earlier and highly recommended neurosurgeon, Dr. Hari Tumu. I met with Dr.Tumu twice before surgery. He was very approachable, empathetic, calm, kind, a good listener, and patiently answered every question from my wife and me. Furthermore, I was very relieved to learn that Dr.Tumu uses a high-tech nerve monitoring device during surgery. On the 9th of January 2007, Dr. Tumu performed my surgical procedure called ?Anterior Cervical Discectomy with Fusion?. Additionally, Dr. Tumu removed bone spurs from both, the right and left, sides of my affected cervical spine neck area. The numbness, tingling, and pain were gone immediately upon waking after surgery. I returned to work, performing light-duty tasks, 19 days after surgery. It has been 9 months since my surgery. My neck is doing great. To date, I sometimes experience a muscle ache affecting my left shoulder-girdle elevation (the upper trapezius and levator scapulae muscles). When it occurs, my physical therapist manages it with therapy and exercise. Massage and ice help manage the muscle ache as well. Work stress seems to trigger the muscle ache. I am extremely happy with Dr. Tumu and highly recommend him and his courteous staff.\r
FOLLOWUP 26JUN2008:\r
Since March 2008, I've had no neck/shoulder muscle aches. Severe injuries take time to heal. Thank you God for leading me to Dr. Tumu.
Pros: approachable, empathetic, calm, kind, a good listener
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