Electrician Peter Lubrano, 69, of Toms River, has always been dedicated to his work. In fact, he can't remember the last time he called in sick.
Things changed in early 2008. Peter noticed that the simple wiring he was working on was becoming more difficult -- his thumb and pointer finger would shake uncontrollably. "At first I didn't think anything about it," says Peter. "I thought I was just getting older."
But on March 17, Peter was performing electrical work at Ocean County Mall when his legs began to feel extremely heavy, his arms became very tired, and his fingers went numb. "Out of nowhere I collapsed," he recalls. "I thought I was going to die."
After speaking with his wife and consulting numerous physicians, it became apparent he needed to see a neurosurgeon. He scheduled a visit with Simon A. Salerno, M.D., a neurosurgeon at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. The diagnosis: cervical stenosis with myelopathy.
Spinal Sensations
Cervical stenosis is a condition in which the spinal canal becomes too small for the spinal cord and nerve roots. This can cause damage to the spinal cord, a condition called myelopathy, which means the spinal cord is pinched in the spinal canal. While some people are born with this narrowing, most cases of cervical stenosis occur in people older than age 50 as a result of wear and tear on the spine.
"Symptoms can include neck pain, pain in one or both arms, trouble walking or balancing, an electrical sensation shooting down the back, and numbness of the arms," says Dr. Salerno.
As the condition progresses, as it did with Peter, weakness of the arms, hands, legs, and feet can cause loss of coordination.
The Surgical Option
Many cases of cervical stenosis are treated successfully with nonsurgical techniques such as pain and anti-inflammatory medications. "If nonsurgical measures do not work, or if there is a extreme spinal cord compression as in Mr. Lubrano's case, surgical techniques can be used," says Dr. Salerno.
Because Peter was in such pain and had spinal cord dysfunction, Dr. Salerno recommended surgery. "The goal of this particular surgical decompression treatment was to widen Peter's spinal canal and relieve the pressure on the spinal cord by removing what was causing the compression," he says.
"Patients who have surgery typically can get out of bed the same day surgery is performed. With a few days of inpatient rehabilitation activity, Peter was discharged."
"Since the surgery in early July, I have not had a single spasm," adds Peter. "This was a very emotional process for my wife and me, but from the first moment that I walked into Dr. Salerno's office, I knew that I was in great hands."
About the Doctor
Simon A. Salerno, M.D.
Neurosurgery
Wall | 732-974-0003
