Sometimes the movements the spine must endure while you are at work can place extra stress on bones, joints, and muscles. If your occupation happens to involve lifts, pins, and other physically demanding and choreographed moves, there’s always the potential for injury. Even someone as conditioned as WWE Divas champion Nikki Bella isn’t immune to a spinal injury. In her case, it was a herniated disc in the cervical spine (neck) that was the source of her pain. Beverly Hills spine physicians discuss her injury and how fusion surgery has helped her find relief.
Determining the Source of Pain
Before Bella could begin her recovery, the exact source of her neck pain had to be determined. An MRI scan showed the professional wrestling star’s pain was due to a herniated disc at the base of her cervical spine. A herniated disc causes pain when inner disc material pushes outward and presses on adjacent nerves. The resulting discomfort, referred to as cervical radiculopathy, causes pain that’s felt elsewhere, usually in the arms and shoulders if the neck is the source of the pain. Symptoms often include:
- Pain and weakness
- Exaggerated reflexes
- Abnormal sensations
Adhering to Doctor Recommendations
Ultimately, Bella’s C6 and C7 vertebrae were fused to prevent motion in the affected area of her neck once the problem disc was removed. By all accounts, it appears the WWE star has been listening to her doctors and taking an active role in her recovery. Typically, the return to a normal routine following spinal fusion surgery involves:
- Strength training to condition neck and back muscles
- Performing flexibility exercises to increase range of motion
- Making appropriate modifications to reduce the risk of re-injury
- Eating a balanced diet to keep tissues supporting the spine healthy
Bella is expected to fully recover from her spinal fusion surgery. Beverly Hills surgeons and those in other parts of the United States perform this type of surgery more than 400,000 times each year, and it tends to be reliable. Though the WWE Diva will need to keep up her exercise routines and take some reasonable precautions, her recovery is proof that fusion surgery can be an effective means of achieving welcome relief from back or neck pain.
Whether you’re a professional wrestler or not, get in touch with The Spine Institute Center if you’ve seriously injured your spine and are considering surgery or another form of treatment. In addition to being experts in spinal fusion surgery, we also offer a wide variety of alternatives to spinal fusion. Beverly Hills patients trust in the high-quality work Dr. Hyun Bae and his team of expert surgeons perform. Call our office today at 310-828-7757 and schedule an in-person evaluation.