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What You Need To Know After Spine Surgery
What is the Spine Center of Excellence?
The Trinity Mother Frances Spine Center at Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler, Texas offers a unique care experience for patients having back or neck surgery.  The program focuses on education and preparation prior to surgery, followed by comprehensive inpatient care designed to ensure rapid and successful recovery. This specialized program offers east Texas patients a healing environment that emphasizes wellness through a collaborative and mutually supportive experience in a pleasant and comfortable setting. The full backing of The Trinity Mother Frances Neuroscience Institute surrounds your experience, safety, and outcome. Our volume of over one thousand spine surgeries performed yearly clearly makes this the selection and designation of choice. We want to be your choice and partner in improving your mobility and quality of life.
Meet Our Trinity Clinic Spine Surgeons
The physicians at Trinity Clinic are committed to caring for patients suffering from back and neck pain. Because of the unique care experience for their patients, our surgeons perform their surgeries exclusively at the Trinity Mother Frances Spine Center of Excellence.
 Martin Holland, MD
Neurosurgery
• Medical Education: University of Michigan
• Residency: Neurological Surgery: University of California, Los Angeles
• Fellowship: Skull-Base/Neurovascular Neurosurgery: Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona
• Fellowship: Skull-Base/Neurovascular Neurosurgery: Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona
 Todd A. Patrick, MD, PhD
Neurosurgery
• Medical Education: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• PhD: Neuroscience (Neuro-oncology/Neuro-immunology) at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Residency: Neurosurgery at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
• Intramural Fellowship: Spine Surgery at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
• Intramural Fellowship: Functional Neurosurgery at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
• Intramural Fellowship: Epilepsy at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
 Thomas B. Volatile, MD
Orthopaedic Surgery
• Adult Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship including training in spine surgery: Brigham & Women’s Hospital / Harvard University
• Orthopaedic Surgery Residency: Emory University School of Medicine
• Medical Education: Alpha Omega Alpha, University of Maryland Medical School
• Board Certified in Orthopaedic Surgery
 Victor G. Williams, II, MD
Neurosurgery
• Medical Education: Medical College of Wisconsin
• Residency: University of Arkansas for Medical Services
Several independent community spine surgeons make Trinity Mother Frances their choice of location to practice. Ask your surgeon about the Spine Center of Excellence.
All of our physicians are dedicated to helping their patients resume their normal, active lifestyles following spine surgery.
Education
Our comprehensive pre-operative education class is taught by our Spine Program Director, Cathy Newman, RN, MSN. This dynamic class helps prepare patients for their surgery, post-surgery days in the hospital, and ongoing therapy and recovery after discharge. In order to participate in the program, patients are asked to join in this educational process, as research has shown improved outcomes and greater patient comfort and satisfaction as a result. A book covering and reinforcing the information taught in class is provided, as well as a take home DVD for viewing.
The Coach
During the recovery process, most patients will have a close friend or family member act as their “coach.” This is strongly encouraged because the coach plays a very important role in helping the patient reach his or her goals. The Spine Center considers patient education, along with involvement of family and friends and positive reinforcement to be the most important factors in the patient's recovery.
Rehabilitation Team
We offer an interdisciplinary, comprehensive approach in the treatment of our patients. Our physical and occupational therapy team will help patients regain their mobility and ability to care for themselves so they can resume their normal activities as soon as possible. Patients can expect personalized quality care after their surgery. Therapy is provided each hospitalized day with a strong weekend emphasis. An outpatient therapy program, and setting, is designed to best meet your needs after the hospital stay is completed.
Nursing Team
Expertise, dedication, consistency, and passion for your best outcome all describe our Spine Nurses. From providing high level neurological assessments, to ensuring your every comfort is attended to, this team is all about spine care. The full support and resources of a Neuroscience Institute is behind them, and thus available to you. While complications are never anticipated we are prepared onsite to handle them with speed and expertise. With over 78 Neuroscience beds in our institute, and 150 dedicated clinical staff, we have your back right here!
What causes back pain?
Causes of back pain vary from patient to patient, but the most common causes of back pain are spinal stenosis (narrowing), herniated disc and osteoarthritis.
The lumbar spine (lower back) consists of five vertebrae in the lower part of the spine between the ribs and the pelvis. Lumbar spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal which compresses the nerves traveling through the lower back into the legs. The narrowing of the spinal canal itself does not produce these symptoms. It is the inflammation of the nerves due to increased pressure that may cause noticeable symptoms to occur.
The bones (vertebrae) that form the spine in your back are cushioned by small discs. These discs are round and flat, with a tough, outer layer (annulus) that surrounds a jellylike material called the nucleus. Located between each of your vertebra in the spinal column, discs act as shock absorbers for the spinal bones. A herniated (also called a slipped or ruptured) disc is a fragment of the disc nucleus which is pushed out of the annulus, into the spinal canal through a tear or rupture.
When osteoarthritis affects the spine, it is known as spondylosis. Spondylosis is a degenerative disorder that can cause loss of normal spinal structure and function. When spondylosis affects the lumbar spine, usually several vertebrae are involved. Because the lumbar spine carries most of the body's weight, activity or periods of inactivity can both trigger symptoms. Specific movements, sitting for prolonged periods of time, and lifting and bending may all increase pain.
What causes neck pain?
Neck pain may be caused by disc degeneration, narrowing of the spinal canal, arthritis, and, in rare cases, cancer or meningitis. For serious neck problems, a primary care physician and often a specialist, such as a neurosurgeon, should be consulted to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment.
Age, injury, poor posture, or diseases such as arthritis can lead to degeneration of the bones or joints of the cervical spine (neck), causing disc herniation or bone spurs to form. Sudden severe injury to the neck may also contribute to disc herniation, whiplash, blood vessel destruction, vertebral injury, and, in extreme cases, permanent paralysis. Herniated discs or bone spurs may cause a narrowing of the spinal canal or the small openings through which spinal nerve roots exit. Pressure on a nerve root by a herniated disc or a bone spur may result in:
• Pain in the arm and neck
• Numbness or weakness in the arm or forearm
• Tingling in the fingers or hand
Pressure on the spinal cord in the cervical region can be a very serious problem because virtually all of the nerves to the rest of the body have to pass through the neck to reach their final destination (arms, chest, abdomen, legs). This can potentially compromise the function of many important organs.
Cervical stenosis occurs when the spinal canal narrows and compresses the spinal cord and is most frequently caused by aging. The discs in the spine that separate and cushion vertebrae may dry out. As a result, the space between the vertebrae shrinks, and the discs lose their ability to act as shock absorbers. At the same time, the bones and ligaments that make up the spine become less pliable and thicken. These changes result in a narrowing of the spinal canal. In addition, the degenerative changes associated with cervical stenosis can affect the vertebrae by contributing to the growth of bone spurs that compress the nerve roots. Mild stenosis can be treated conservatively for extended periods of time as long as the symptoms are restricted to neck pain. Severe stenosis requires referral to a neurosurgeon.
How to know if you need surgery
Your physician can evaluate your condition and discuss the different treatment options with you. Surgery may be recommended if conservative treatment options, such as physical therapy and medications do not reduce or end the pain altogether, and the pain greatly impairs the person’s daily functions. As with any surgery, a patient’s age, overall health, and other issues are taken into consideration when surgery is considered.
How long is the recovery from spine surgery?
Some procedures may be done on an outpatient basis and others may require a hospital stay of approximately three days. Most back and neck surgery patients can return to work within one month but this varies from person to person.
For more information or to schedule an appointment with a Trinity Mother Frances Neuroscience Institute physician,
please call (877) 233-0018.
Meet Our Leadership
 Cathy Newman, RN, MSN
Spine Program Director
(903) 531-5725
newmanc1@tmfhs.org
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