Spinal Fusion Surgery in Dumont

If you've been watching the news, you’ve probably heard that the Indianapolis Colts’ Quarterback, Peyton Manning, just had surgery for the 3rd time on his neck. He had the disc between two cervical vertebrae removed and replaced with a shaved piece of his own hip to fuse the two spinal bones together. The procedure will leave him with a permanent area of pain in his hip and potentially some loss of motion in his neck, but it might allow him to continue playing football. (Having just signed a 5-year, $90 million dollar contract, let’s hope so!)

As a chiropractor who works with neck and disc injuries, I wonder if there was another way to treat this injury. I have helped many people with herniated discs in their neck.  While Peyton Manning is not my typical patient, there have been several professional athletes who have chosen to use spinal decompression therapy as an alternative to surgery and have extended their carriers as a result.

It is my hope that Peyton recovers and is able to return to his place with the Colts.  However, considering this is his 3rd attempt to fix his neck and after seeing so many disc injuries in my own practice, I fear that his future is anything but certain.