June 16, 2022
What began as a primary care visit for radiating neck pain led to a 6-level spinal fusion (C4-T3) within 3 weeks. When Gardner, Kansas, resident Danny Scherdin, 63, began experiencing acute pain that felt like an electric shock, pins and needles, as well as numbness in his neck and left arm, his primary care physician Kevin Punswick, DO, ordered an MRI.
Dr. Punswick, a family medicine physician in Gardner, and Danielle Berg, APRN, had already been treating Danny for radiating neck pain. After failed attempts to manage his pain through weight loss and other conservative measures, imaging was the next step.
Time was of the essence
When results from his MRI came back, Dr. Punswick advised Danny to consult a spine surgeon immediately. Danny saw spine specialist Shyam Shridharani, MD, where he learned he was at risk for paralysis and needed immediate spine surgery.
“What could have been very scary news became digestible information with a clear map for recovery,” Danny recalled. “Dr. Shridharani showed compassion as he explained my medical issues and why surgery was the only solution. He didn’t leave until all my questions were answered.”
During the initial consultation, Dr. Shridharani diagnosed Danny with spinal cord stenosis. His condition was severe, but like many, he went years without signs or symptoms. It wasn’t until the stenosis caused spinal cord compression – which can lead to upper extremity weakness, deterioration of gait, feelings of electric shock throughout the spine and extremities, and paralysis – that Danny knew something was wrong.
Prepared for the long haul
Danny previously had 2 knee replacements at another healthcare facility, and the experiences left him wary of healthcare providers.
“Rushed home too soon – once with drop foot (where the muscles that lift the front part of the foot (toes) become weak or paralyzed). I felt like just a number in their books,” Danny recalled of his knee replacements. “From the moment I walked in the door to see Dr. Shridharani, I felt like a VIP. It was so refreshing to feel seen.”
In the weeks before surgery and the months that followed, Danny was in regular contact with his care team. Before the operation, they armed him with the knowledge he needed to prepare for the procedure and its challenging recovery. After surgery, Danny remembers Dr. Shridharani and James Leap, PA-C, changed his bandages and monitored his postsurgery discomfort.
A turning point
Danny returned home after 6 days in the hospital. His recovery would take a few months, but the care team had prepared him for what to expect.
“The staples being removed was a big milestone,” Danny said. “Cleared for physical therapy, I could begin restoring my mobility.”
Less than a year after surgery, Danny gardens on his own for the first time in 3 years. Whether he is planting flowers, tomatoes or peppers, supervising the warehouse floor at work or enjoying time with his wife, Karla, and son, Danny is grateful for his independence. Free of pain, surgery also renewed Danny’s trust in his healthcare providers.