A pain in the neck is no joke. A damaged disc resulting in inflammation around the nerve can lead to further complications, such as tingling, numbness, and even weakness in the arm or hand, as well as arm pain.

If physiotherapy or chiropractic therapy hasn’t helped you, there’s a very good chance that surgery will.

Expert spine consultant, Mr Dan Fagan, is one of very few spinal surgeons in Yorkshire and the North East who has a wealth of experience in this type of neck surgery.

He says: “I’ve seen many patients with this condition, and surgical outcomes, where physiotherapy hasn’t fixed the problem, are very good.

“Neck pain can affect your ability to work, to enjoy sports, and just live your daily life. Many patients are choosing to self-pay and be treated privately for things like slipped discs because it’s much quicker, procedures are less invasive, and recovery is much faster.”

Physiotherapy is often the first course of action when someone is experiencing neck pain – most often due to a trapped nerve caused by a slipped disc. When this fails to relieve the problem, the next step might be injections around the root nerve to ascertain what is causing the pain.

The Northern Echo: Woodlands Hospital surgeon Mr Dan Fagan

In 70% of instances, this settles down the inflammation around the nerve and the disc that is causing the pain.

However, where the pain continues and is having an impact on health and quality of life, an operation may bring the relief needed to get back to a full life without pain.

Mr Fagan explains that it is usually the C5 and C6 vertebrae that are affected, and he specialises in two distinct procedures – disc replacement, and fusion of the vertebrae – which are fully discussed with each patient to find the best course of action for them.

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is the traditional procedure where the damaged disc is removed and replaced with a lozenge-shaped cage shaped like the disc, along with some artificial bone graft, that, over time, fuses the two vertebrae together.

As technology has moved on, Mr Fagan also offers Total Disc Replacement. In this procedure, rather than doing a fusion of the vertebrae, the disc itself is replaced with an artificial one that mimics the natural disc and helps to protect the rest of the neck from further wear and tear.

In most instances, the procedure takes between one and two hours, with the patient remaining in hospital overnight for observation. After that, they can resume normal life within a couple of weeks, although Mr Fagan warns against rushing back to work too quickly – especially where the work involves leaning over a computer.

“Generally, following the operation, people feel so well that they don’t rest long enough,” he says. “But the worst position, post-surgery, is that forward- leaning position. Many of my patients are busy people who want to keep themselves occupied, so I might encourage them to try something new, like learning another language during their recovery period!”

Mr Fagan has his own private practice – SpineArt, based in Yarm – and also works from Woodlands Hospital, Darlington, and Nuffield Tees Hospital, Stockton, seeing patients from across the North East and Yorkshire.

The Northern Echo:

“Although I do get referrals, many of my patients have either been told that they need a disc replacement, or have researched it themselves, but are struggling to get anything done. I can offer a further opinion, and can arrange the surgery for them, if that is what is going to help them,” he explains.

If you would like to arrange a consultation, please contact Mr Fagan's secretary, Beverley Johnston, on 07539 330360 or email secretary@spineart.org

Click here to find out more information about the services that Mr Fagan provides or book online!