Neck Pain Patient Gives Thanks To CINN Neurosurgeon & Staff

From the beginning, my boss, Lake Co Commissioner, Gerry Scheub, recommended Dr. Karahalios and CINN. But I figured if you go to a surgeon, YOU are having surgery and I wasn’t ready yet. I tried steroid injections and physical therapy, all the while in PAIN. By March 16th I had appt. with Dr. Karahalios. I was ready to stay that DAY! He understood the pain I was experiencing and ststed I was a good candidate for an artificial disc. With the help of the CINN staff and Eric Giradot,P.A., we arranged surgery for the 20th of March.

Immediately upon waking from surgery, I KNEW my neck/shoulder/arm pain was GONE!

I have recouperated well from surgery itself and I am so happy to be out of pain. Gerry and I continue to recommend CINN and Dr.Karahalios, WE know how great we feel now.

Thank you!

Claudia

 

 

Cervical artificial disc topic of radio interview today with Dr. Dixon

Dr. Dixon, CINN neurosurgeon, will be featured in a radio interview today with Lakeshore Public Radio discussing the cervical artificial disc as a new treatment for stubborn neck pain.  In addition to providing an overview of the procedure and the symptoms the technology can remedy, Dr. Dixon will invite listeners to join him in a free community education event tomorrow night at Centennial Park in Munster, IN from 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Veterans returning with back problems can benefit from “CINN Gives Back” program

As the U.S. military speeds up its withdrawal of troops from Iraq, more then a fourth of all soldiers will return suffering not from bad battle wounds, but from bad backs. It’s estimated that more than 150,000 active and inactive Iraqi servicemen struggle with back pain. In Afghanistan, American soldiers are reporting similar problems.

The pain is often caused by lifting supplies, carrying heavy backpacks, crouching in trenches and sleeping on unsupported cots. That means a lot of war veterans will be seeking help for aching backs.

These harsh realities prompted the Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch (CINN) to offer a new complimentary program to military personnel who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and who suffer from back conditions. A recent Iraq and U.S. pact mandates that U.S. troops will leave Iraqi villages by the middle of this year and leave Iraq completely by 2011.

“CINN Gives Back” program provides each soldier with a complimentary consultation by some of the nation’s foremost neurosurgeons and pain specialists. It also includes a complimentary pain relief session with a certified physical therapist. If surgery or alternative therapy is needed, CINN will work on a case-by-case basis to provide necessary treatment to American servicemen that served in Iraq who strive to be free of back pain. In addition, all members receive a free pain booklet with tips on core strengthening, treatment options and a resource list of organizations they can turn to for help.

There also is an interactive blog site available where soldiers can seek advice from CINN medical professionals and communicate with other vets who suffer from back pain.

“We are anxious to assist our Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who have back problems,” says Len Cerullo, M.D., renowned CINN neurosurgeon who is often referred to as “a visionary in neurosurgery.”

“Even personnel in top-notch physical condition often struggle with back pain. We realize that immediate intervention can help prevent chronic back pain and related conditions that can last a lifetime.”

Just ask 24-yearold Iraq veteran Matt Breen, who is a personal trainer and performs a daily set of preventative exercises, still struggles with chronic back pain. Breen served as a squad leader and supervisor of armaments during his time in Mosul and Tikrit, Iraq. His days were spent lifting heavy crates of ammunition, carrying 50-pound back packs and crouching during field exercises.

Now he runs daily and works on strengthening his core every day, but it is not without pain. He recently joined the “CINN Gives Back” program, and Dr. Cerullo indicated he may be suffering from a degenerative disc.

Besides Dr. Cerullo, several CINN physicians and medical specialists have volunteered their time for the “CINN Gives Back” program.

Edward Mkrdichian, M.D., CINN neurosurgeon, who escaped from Iraq in 1971 and fled to the U.S., says the U.S. military has controlled the unrest and delivered peace to Iraq.

“I greatly appreciate what these servicemen have done for my family members and friends who still live in Iraq,” he says. “I am honored to return the favor by providing them with medical help.”

“Historically, the maximum ideal carry weight has been considered to be a third of your body weight, and most of these men and women are carrying 60 to 70 pounds on their back, which is way more than their backs can handle. It’s no wonder they are in pain,” says Gail Rosseau, M.D., CINN neurosurgeon.

“Because of what these men and women have endured, many members of our staff — from physical therapists to neurosurgeons and physiatrists – are joining forces to help our military personnel. It’s the least we can do.”

For more information or to schedule an appointment in the “CINN Gives Back” plan, please call 800-441-2466. or go to http://cinn.org/cinn-gives-back/

Throw out your pack, help your back

Complimentary Back Pain Brochure and Smoking Tips Offered by CINN during Great American Smokeout Week

Chicago, November 5, 2008

Smoking cigarettes not only contributes to lung cancer and emphysema; it also leads to back pain and spine problems according to recent studies and observations from leading neurosurgeons in Chicago.

Physicians at the Chicago Institute for Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch (CINN), are encouraging Americans to “kick the habit” during the Nov. 20 Great American Smokeout, a national nonsmoking day sponsored by the American Cancer Society. Throughout this month, CINN will offer a complimentary booklet for back pain sufferers with tips for “kicking the habit.” Read more

New state-of-the-art procedure helps reduce future herniations

Brighton, WI, May 8, 2008

Richard Korth, 44, Brighton, who has struggled with a herniated disc for years, is now pain free and looking forward to a future without complications. For a long time Korth endured constant pain in his lower back and referred pain in his legs, which greatly limited his ability to be productive in his exhibit building business. Read more

CINN neurosurgeons comprise top Spine Surgery Program in the State

CINN is proud to announce that the Neurologic & Orthopedic Hospital of Chicago (NOHC) has been recognized as the number one spine surgery hospital in Illinois by HealthGrades. In addition, the NOHC spine surgery program, which is exclusively comprised of CINN neurosurgeons, is acknowledged as being among the top five percent in the country according to the Tenth Annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America study. The HealthGrades Research analyzed patient outcomes at all of the nation’s hospitals over the past three years. Read more

Neurosurgeons at Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch using new mesh-like device to make spine surgery safer

Chicago — May 22, 2007 — Neurosurgeons at the Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch are the first in the Chicago area to use a new device that is designed to make neurosurgery safer and prevent additional operations.

Today, thousands of patients suffer from pain in their lower back, frequently radiating into the buttocks and legs due to herniated discs, or rupture in the tissue that surrounds the disc. This causes the soft inner part of the disc to push out and compress the nerve root, causing intense and debilitating pain.

To treat this, neurosurgeons perform a discectomy, which requires they make a small incision in the outer layer of the disc, called the annulus fibrosus. Then, the surgeon removes the portion of the disc that is applying pressure to the nerves.

However, according to neurosurgeon Dean Karahalios, MD, of CINN, the disc could re-herniate through this opening or defect in the annulus fibrosus, resulting in relapsing pain and additional surgery. Statistics show that approximately 10% or more of patients have reherniation following a lumbar disectomy and many of these patients require a re-operation.

To help address this problem Dr. Karahalios and his colleagues are using a new approach called Anular Disc Repair. After removing the offending portion of the disc, Dr. Karahalios implants a barrier to facilitate the healing process of the anulus fibrosus. The barrier is an umbrella-like mesh implant made of polyethylene that is inserted through the defect and opened up to act like a seal against the disc material that might otherwise push through after the surgery.

“This procedure provides a unique new method for re-enforcing the anulus fibrosis following a discectomy procedure,” said Dr. Karahalios. “Previously, we did not have a reliable method of closing the anulus of the disc and when it is not repaired, the material inside may re-extrude, compress the nerve root, and result in recurrent pain and re-operation”

According to Dr. Karahalios, the procedure adds minimal time to the overall procedure and is easily completed. Patients are usually walking the same day and commonly begin physical therapy and exercise within 10 days to two weeks.

As in most cases of spine-related pain, surgery is considered only after conservative methods such as medication or physical therapy, are ineffective.

For more information call 1-800-446-1234.

Noted Chicago Neurosurgeons in Vernon Hills

CINN is proud to announce an expanded commitment to the residents of Lake County and the surrounding areas through the opening of an office in Vernon Hills, IL. The new outpatient clinic at 565 Lakeview Parkway is designed with our patients in mind. In addition to accessibility throughout the work week, CINN neurosurgeons are also available for consultation on Saturday morning. Ample free parking is provided in close proximity to the office. MRI and CT imaging is available without leaving the building. While we recognize our patients deserve a convenient location, excellence in care is also a top concern for those suffering from back or neck pain or brain conditions. The CINN neurosurgeons seeing patients in Vernon Hills, including Doctors Cerullo, Karahalios and Mkrdichian are all recognized as some of the best neurosurgeons in America. The bi-annual survey which determines this status asks physicians across the country whom they would chose to care for themselves or a loved one. The neurosurgeons across America pointed to the CINN surgeons in Vernon Hills as among the best.